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Name: Kissaten Coffee Bar
Address: 88 Piikoi St, Honolulu, HI, 96814
Telephone: (808) 593-1200
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.54

Kissaten Coffee Bar

88 Piikoi St, Honolulu, HI, 96814

(808) 593-1200
Store is closed

Kissaten Coffee Bar Menu

Salads

House Salads

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Caesar Salad

Smoked Salmon Salad

Southwest Chicken Salad

Roasted Beet & Chicken Salad

House Salads

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Caesar Salad

Smoked Salmon Salad

Southwest Chicken Salad

Roasted Beet & Chicken Salad
Soups

Tomato Bisque

Soup of the Day

Tomato Bisque

Soup of the Day
Rice

Gyudon

Gyudon
Sandwiches

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Veggie Wrap

Portobello Mushroom Sandwich

Turkey Pesto Melt

Kissaten Melt

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque Combo

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Veggie Wrap

Portobello Mushroom Sandwich

Turkey Pesto Melt

Kissaten Melt

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque Combo
Other Dishes

Pesto Mushroom Pasta

Truffle Mac & Cheese

Pesto Mushroom Pasta

Truffle Mac & Cheese
Morning

Breakfast Special

Breakfast Scramble Burrito

Smoked Salmon Bagel

Egg White Fritatta

Seasonal Berry Parfait

Fresh Seasonal Fruit Plate

Breakfast Special

Breakfast Scramble Burrito

Smoked Salmon Bagel

Egg White Fritatta

Seasonal Berry Parfait

Fresh Seasonal Fruit Plate
Overnight

Gyudon

Shoyu Ramen

Tomato Bisque

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Kissaten Melt

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque Combo

Gyudon

Shoyu Ramen

Tomato Bisque

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Kissaten Melt

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque Combo
Beverages - Juice Sodas Freezes

Premium Juice

Italian Soda

Creme Soda

Mocha Freeze

Latte Freeze

Chai Freeze

Matcha Freeze

Strawberry Frappe

Fountain Soda

Premium Juice

Italian Soda

Creme Soda

Mocha Freeze

Latte Freeze

Chai Freeze

Matcha Freeze

Strawberry Frappe

Fountain Soda
Beverages - Espresso

Espresso Shot

Con Panna

Americano

Cappuccino

Latte

Thai Latte

Thai Latte

Mocha

White Mocha

Latte Macchiato

Espresso Shot

Con Panna

Americano

Cappuccino

Latte

Thai Latte

Thai Latte

Mocha

White Mocha

Latte Macchiato
Beverages - Coffee

Hot or Ice Coffee

Cafe au Lait

Hot or Ice Coffee

Cafe au Lait
Beverages - Tea & Milk

Hot or Iced Tea

Tea Lemonade

Tea Latte

Chai Tea Latte

Matcha Tea Latte

Hot Chocolate

Hot or Iced Tea

Tea Lemonade

Tea Latte

Chai Tea Latte

Matcha Tea Latte

Hot Chocolate

Healthy Meal suggestions for Kissaten Coffee Bar

Salads

House Salads [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Salmon Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Southwest Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Beet & Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Salads [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Salmon Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Southwest Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Beet & Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups

Tomato Bisque [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup of the Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomato Bisque [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup of the Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Rice

Gyudon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyudon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Grilled Cheese Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portobello Mushroom Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Pesto Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kissaten Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portobello Mushroom Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Pesto Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kissaten Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Other Dishes

Pesto Mushroom Pasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Mac & Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pesto Mushroom Pasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Mac & Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Morning

Breakfast Special [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breakfast Scramble Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Salmon Bagel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Egg White Fritatta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal Berry Parfait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Seasonal Fruit Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breakfast Special [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breakfast Scramble Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Salmon Bagel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Egg White Fritatta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal Berry Parfait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Seasonal Fruit Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Overnight

Gyudon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shoyu Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomato Bisque [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kissaten Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyudon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shoyu Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomato Bisque [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kissaten Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages - Juice Sodas Freezes

Premium Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creme Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mocha Freeze [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte Freeze [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chai Freeze [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Matcha Freeze [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Frappe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fountain Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Premium Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creme Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mocha Freeze [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte Freeze [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chai Freeze [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Matcha Freeze [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Frappe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fountain Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages - Espresso

Espresso Shot [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Con Panna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Americano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte Macchiato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Espresso Shot [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Con Panna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Americano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte Macchiato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages - Coffee

Hot or Ice Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cafe au Lait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot or Ice Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cafe au Lait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages - Tea & Milk

Hot or Iced Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tea Lemonade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tea Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chai Tea Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Matcha Tea Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot or Iced Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tea Lemonade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tea Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chai Tea Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Matcha Tea Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Honolulu for healthy meals suggestion.

Honolulu Coffee ( Ala Moana Shopping Center,1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste 3066 )

Honolulu Café ( 741 Bishop St )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Haein P.

During my entire college career at UH after transferring over from UW was spent avoiding Sinclair library at all costs. Why?! It's ill-equipped for the "serious" and "diligent" student (eh hem, moi) and on the other hand, it's far from the ideal hot spot for the chill and procrastinating student (again, like moi). SO, you can imagine after years and years of "studying" within the confinements of my not-so-perfect-for-studying home, it was a pleasant change to be at a cafe that has a decent selection of food, drinks, and free wi-fi. Plus, all the people that work there are friendly and relaxed, only contributing to the chill atmosphere that Kissaten exudes. The drinks/coffee may not be stellar, but if you're the type of person that can handle eating and then studying, make sure you try their truffle mac & cheese (DELICIOUS). Although I must admit, I wanted to go to bed from food coma afterward. Regardless, you can bet I'll still be coming here to "study" or...well, at least to acquiesce to my fat girl cravings!
(4)
Drea L.

It is such an awesome coffee shop that I stumbled upon as I was staying nearby. Very convenient 24 hour spot located off Piikoi across from Ala Moana Mall - on the Sears side. Friendly service, wifi, decent coffee and actual hot food is served for breakfast versus the normal muffin, loaf bread or bagels you get at other coffee shops. I got the croissant breakfast sandwich which was nice, warm and flaky. The set up is casual with assorted types of seating. You can bring your laptop to study or else you can sit with a few friends as they also have a couch set up. I would definitely recommend this place to my local friends or those who are on vacation. I wish I had something like a Kissaten in my neck of the woods. lol.
(5)
Mari S.

Kissaten is the new hip study and/or hang out spot in Honolulu. Why it's awesome: + open 24 hours + lots of tables/seating, incl. 4 comfy sofas + wide range of Coffee & Italian sodas + kitchen always open w/ cooked, hot food available to order **my favorites: tomato bisque w/ grilled cheese and the truffle mac & cheese** + desserts + Internet WiFi (w/ purchase) + safe environment + not TOO noisy! I hope Kissaten sticks around for the long haul because this coffee shop is really what Honolulu needed!
(4)
Erika M.

Favorite 24 hour place in Honolulu! Their tomato bisque and grilled cheese is to die for!!!!
(5)
Ka'imi L.

With a funny name like that, you can bet I was interested in finding out what this place was all about. A lot of my friends (all college students) told me they liked coming here to study on their downtime. Tonight I spent my first night at Kissaten. This place has a great atmosphere for a coffee shop. The ambiance really adds to the whole package. Prices aren't too steep either. I paid $1.50 for a small coffee, which I think is cheaper than Starbucks. The downside? The WiFi isn't free!! You have to buy a product at the cafe, and when you do, you only get one-hour's worth of WiFi. Seems to me like free WiFi and coffee shops go hand-in-hand don't ya think? In any case, this place is definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a nice place to study, relax, and/or cram for finals because you haven't been to the past 305980928 lectures.
(3)
Lynvi S.

I'm kind of on the fence about Kissaten because the food is so inconsistent. It's a nice cafe to chill and study, lunch is great, but the late night food is bad. I've come here a couple of times for lunch and I really enjoyed everything I tried: Turkey Pesto Melt - Yum! It's a winner for $7! Kissaten Melt - I loved the mustard aioli and melted fresh mozzarella with the pastrami. This is my favorite thing so far. Tomato Bisque - On the sweet side, but I really enjoyed it and I would order it again. Potato and Leek Soup - At first it was kind of bland and starchy, but it all makes sense after mixing in the poached egg yolk and the bacon. Truffle Mac and Cheese - Good, and for $10 the portion was huge! I still think the 12th Ave Grill mac and cheese is better, for this one is right for the price. As for the late night food...sigh. My friend and I ordered the Turkey Pesto Melt, but it had no pesto and it wasn't toasted. It was some kind of weird mystery turkey sandwich with mayo and definitely not worth $7. The tomato bisque was really watery, ridiculously sweet, and just plain gross. The clam chowder was really bland and watery as well, as if the cook added water to stretch it out. We came another night to try the pho and that was a mistake. THE PHO SUCKS. It wasn't pho; it was some kind of dark brown, almost black mystery broth with rice noodles. I'm Vietnamese so I know my pho, and that stuff at Kissaten didn't look like pho nor did it taste like anything like pho. I really hope they figure out how to make decent pho because Honolulu really needs a late night pho place. I think it's best to avoid the food and just stick with the cafe drinks after 9:00 PM. One of the Kissaten employees said we can park next door in the KHON2 parking lot as long as we don't park in Joe Moore's stall, hehe.
(3)
Kris O.

I wanted to visit Kissaten Coffee Bar for a really long time, but I couldn't figure out where to park when the street parking was full. Luckily, Riana of RUDIFIEDmedia, was a frequent visitor during finals week last semester & quickly solved the parking dilemma with all of her Kissaten insider knowledge. Kissaten Coffee Bar has this warm & inviting interior, that makes me wanna purchase a snuggie & return with my laptop + DVDs. But the most appealing thing about Kissaten Coffee Bar is they're open 24 hours; a dream come true for insomniacs. Sometimes it get lonely being alone with my thoughts early morning & I love that there's people sprinkled throughout Kissaten Coffee Bar; its also nice knowing that I could socialize with other people. Riana & I went to Kissaten around 1 AM, there were other insomniacs refueling from a long night of dancing. Kissaten offers a limited & rotating menu during different times of the day; which is perfect for me, since I'm indecisive when I'm really hungry. Since it was my first time at Kissaten, I copied Riana & ordered their grilled cheese sandwich with tomato bisque. If you're not a fan of fruit (apples) in your grilled cheese, be sure to tell the cashier that you prefer your sandwich without fruit. Kissaten Coffee Bar was the perfect ending to a long night of dancing & taking pictures; my favorite part of our trip was the chefs being really nice & reheating my tomato bisque since Riana & I were busy with girl talk. So if you're a fellow insomniac & want to be around other people, stop by Kissaten Coffee Bar for background company & a quick bite to eat.
(4)
Jerrene T.

After the Yelp Elite Event, I really wanted to try this place out. So luckily right after, Hot Deals Hawaii came through with a good deal that sealed it for me. So one night after shopping, I was just too pooped to think about going home and cooking dinner. Lary and I came here for a quick bite to eat. It was quite empty so we were able to place our order quickly and eat fast too! I ordered the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. Lary ordered the grilled vegetable panini which came with a small salad. We both ordered drinks too, I had the apple cider and he had the iced coffee. The apple cider was misleading since it was in the cold drink section but it came out hot! I was expecting sort of like the Martinelli's chilled apple cider or something. I wasn't in the mood for it being hot although if it was a nice cold night, I wouldn't have minded so much. Food wise? They were good but I was still sort of hungry after. I wish that their portions were a tad bigger. Price was a bit expensive for the amount of food we received. I really enjoyed the tomato bisque. I sort of wanted to steal Lary's vegetable panini... it was sooooo good and my sandwich just didn't fill my belly. People were really nice even when I pestered the server for more water a few times. The ambiance was perfect... not too quiet that I felt bad when Kent wanted to go "ahhhhhhhhhh ababa baba" the whole time we were there... but it also wasn't too loud that he wanted to cry and cling to us the whole time. I'm sure he would have enjoyed sitting on the couch with us but I didn't want him to fall off... I think it was much better than Starbucks... 24 hours, bigger menu, and MORE OUTLETS!!!
(4)
Kevin W.

Open 24 hours. open Christmas day A TV playing ESPN/sports games Bad Pastrami sandwich. Please don't call if a pastrami sandwich if you're putting a razor thin 1 slice of pastrami in the sandwich. Come on now! Comical. (see pic 170 in pics for a good laugh. $10 for that, huh?). Is there a worldwide pastrami shortage that i'm unaware of? Good mac and cheese. With cubes of chicken and some bacon bits.
(3)
Donna Lyn B.

My first visit here was around midnight to catch up on some work. My husband ordered Texas Chili (no beans) and he loved it a lot. So much he even told the guys behind the counter how much he loved it. I had a sample, too, and I thought it was pretty good. I ordered a Thai Iced Tea and it was really good; not too sweet. The employees were friendly even at that late hour. I would definitely return, especially when I need a late night place to catch up on work again. One negative is the limited Wifi access that you can only get when you order something and you have to enter a code to link up.
(4)
M K.

Excellent coffee place with WiFi. Usually filled with students cramming at the usual times but otherwise finding a table is easy. Food is slightly overpriced for what it is, apple cider was lovely.
(4)
Michelle L.

So I've had Kissaten as an unfinished review for about two months now. I listed it as a four star review but boy, did things changed over the months! Back then, I really thought Kissaten would take over the Ward Starbucks scene but now I see their shortcomings. Back then: Decor was very nice, lots of seats, free unlimited wifi, and inexpensive drinks. Service was inconsistent. The girls behind the counter told me they will call out when my drinks were up. First drink ready was the mocha freeze. There was no chocolate syrup on the one I ordered but they added that to my friend's one. Consistency issues? After I went back to my table to drop off the drink to my friend, my tea latte was called which was like 10 seconds later. I rather them not call it as it comes if both drinks will be made a few seconds apart from each other to save a trip back up to the counter. Now: They now limit you to only ONE hour of wifi! What the hey is up with that?!?! Luckily, a friend who came by had a hot spot thing on his phone to save the day or else I would've been super salty after that hour! I understand it's to prevent people from camping but an hour is just too short of a time for those who genuinely want to study or do work. My friend ordered a regular hot coffee and they gave it to him lukewarm. I thought I was being smart for waiting by the counter until my drink was called but that wasn't happening. I stood there for almost 10 minutes. (No, I don't exaggerate). My friend's coffee was finally remade so we just decided to take a seat. Once I put my bag down to the chair they called out my drink. Yup...I have nothing more to say on that. While Kissaten is a nice place to study and do work, I wouldn't recommend staying for a long while because you will need to buy a drink for each hour of internet you use. Some of the drinks are cheaper than Starbucks but you get what you pay for. Not a bad place to just chill and get some work done but service needs some tweaking.
(3)
Eve C.

Checked out the place because it was open late and I needed to study. Upon arrival a friend and I found a table and started to set up. The table was sticky, it stuck to everything, my sleeve for my lap top and my papers. I ordered a chai tea latte, it didn't taste very good. Assuming the barista making my drink was new I let it slide. Went there a second time and and still the same thing. Tables were sticky and the coffee sucked. Does anyone there make time to wipe the tables down? Or is it the customers responsibility. I'm big on cleanliness so that was a big one for me.
(1)
Kimo S.

Very snobbish and no Decaf. Caters to foreign taste but you can be romanced by the menu. I for one bring my own decaf espresso shots in a mug if I have to go there and ask for hot water and cream. They will not be happy but ask them why no decaf like every other coffee house in Hawaii. Say arigato they say it back. Expensive fare as in Tokyo.
(1)
Val Y.

I was on the back end of this diet that I was on and was really feeling food horny. I had this constant, hungry obsession for food that made it difficult to concentrate on anything. Hors d'oeuvres, hot pockets, kumquat, breakfast in bed, had whole different meanings to me. Seeing Rachael Ray holding a 12" Polish hot dog would fill my mind with wild imagination. I daydreamed of sinking my teeth into a nice, slender chicken neck; and sucking the thing, leaving a hickey. And as gross as this may sound, licking the cumin off the front side of a pork butt or a hot tamale just seemed something natural to me. For a man that's food horny, these kinds of thoughts aren't that weird. I read about this place called Kissaten CafÃ© and the "Kiss-" part of the name got my attention. I was horny for food and the "Kiss-" arouse my desire to try their food. I got in my car and while driving, I felt like one of those guys that own trucks, that pick up girls (or boys that look like girls) in the back of the Pali Longs at 4:30 in the morning. I know those guys are definitely horny. I drove down Piikoi and turned into the 88 Piikoi/KHON2 parking garage. I found that you can't get to Kissaten directly from the parking garage. And when I walked on Piikoi and into the 88 Piikoi entrance; I discovered that you can't get to Kissaten that way either. Kissaten Cafe sits right on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu Streets and I wondered how, I never noticed this place before? yelp.com/biz_photos/4M4Nâ€¦ Kissaten is a sweet little 24 hour coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner place. It is a step above Starbucks because they serve real breakfast, lunch and dinner meals in addition to coffee and pastries. It is a step above YogurStory because they have more breakfast, lunch and dinner options on their menu. But on the other hand, it is a step or two behind; and not as big or sexy or beautiful as YogurStory in decor and ambiance. It is an airy, comfortable and adequate place, I think, for coffee and (or) a satisfying bite to eat. I was extremely horny for some food and saw a few things I wanted to try on the menu. I started with the potato leek soup which had a poached egg in it; which I thought was pretty s-a-t-i-s-f-y-i-n-g! Next I had the Turkey Pesto Melt which is a turkey, bacon, mozzarella cheese, spring greens, pesto aioli, focaccia bread sandwich. For $6.00 it was a really good trick. Ahhhh! I don't know if they use saltpeter as a seasoning here, but noticed I wasn't that hungry or horny after eating these two dishes. Nah! I think this is just another one of my wild imaginations. For dessert, I ordered the Lilikoi Creme Brulee which sounded sexy; but for me, it made me limp. It's prepared in a small disposable aluminum dish and though the taste of the lilikoi is there; the creme brulee was watery and the taste not up to my standards. And what I really didn't like was the very noticeable metallic aftertaste of the aluminum. I was a guy that was really horny for food when I walked into Kissaten CafÃ©. I wasn't looking for a place to hang or to study or to meet friends. I was a guy that was looking for something that was good, quick and dirty; and that satisfied my horniness. In a way, kind of like the guys in their trucks driving in the back of the Pali Longs. I found the items on the menu at Kissaten very reasonably priced. This place are clean and polished but not sexy. The wait staff don't ask too many embarrassing question and they let you do your thing. This is a nice, obscure place to eat with acceptable service and good food. Kissaten CafÃ© is definitely worth trying and for me, even if I'm not food horny, I'm coming back. P.S. On parking. My recommendation is to feed the meter and park on Waimanu Street or in the Ala Moana Shopping Center parking lot. It is hit or miss finding parking in the 88 Piikoi garage.
(3)
Masumi K.

This place is nice and in a good location. I got tired of going to Starbucks to get work done and Starbucks is sooo over-rated anyway. I got tired of going to Starbucks and seeing people there only to leach Wi-Fi to play their SC2 or WoW. JEEBUS!!! The nerve! So I wanted to find another comfy place where I could get Wi-Fi. A friend had mentioned to me about his cousin working at Kissaten. So I made my Metal Gear Solid infiltration and checked it out to see what the hype was about. ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT: NO SEATS! Or just not enough seats! The food here is not too bad. Though the potato soup was really starchy and didn't really like that. The taste was exquisite though! Great place to eat a small lunch or dinner with friends. ***NOTE: Do not bring huge parties. You will be out of luck finding seats! Now that Kissaten is starting to get well known, a lot of people come here and in my eyes, it has turned into another Starbucks almost. Nooo! :( But I will continue to come here because I do like some of their food items and drinks. Compared to Starbucks: I love how Kissaten is 24 hours!
(3)
Annie L.

Kissaten is my new favorite study place!!! I adore the atmosphere and the fact that it's open 24 hours. WHAT!??!!?! You heard me, I didn't stutter....24 HOURS! Aaannnndddd they serve late night pho. I know right? Get outta here!!! Came here one afternoon because starbucks was too crowded. There is street meter parking and also limited stalls in the KHON2 building, but I just parked across the street at the mall and walked over (shhhh, the security guards from Ala Moana already tagged my car twice from when I worked there!) What's nice about this place is that there are literally electrical outlets every 2 feet in the shop. You know how in Waikiki there's an ABC store everywhere you turn? Yes, sockets popping up everywhere like that....AAAAMMMMAAAAZZZIIINNNG! The food's good, but a little on the expensive side. Boyfriend and I both got a sandwich and a bisque at 9 bucks a pop. Delicious but a little rough on my budget. Fun Fact: did you know that Kissaten literally means Coffeeshop in Japanese? Neat huh?
(4)
Juliann C.

Their coffee is SO bad. SO bad. Other than that, the atmosphere is definitely an A+, and their food selections are pretty good. I ate their grilled ham cheese panini, oh man.. it was so yummy. And ofcourse 24 hours. Yes :)
(3)
Jason W.

Pros: Open 24 hours, Free wi-fi (time limit during certain hours of the day), Coffee is cool, the different menus (which I'd still like to try) are appealing Cons: Service was just a'ight, crowded, which is good for them but I've gone here choke different times and was unable to find a seat, or where I've driven by and given up trying to find parking, or parked at Ala Moana to walk over (and not get a seat). Wild Card: I bet they could expand because they are so popular And Finally, Did you know: the reviews about Joe Moore keying cars aren't all that awesome either. What's up with that?
(3)
Ellison U.

Kissaten Coffee Bar Place is great for studying or just to have a cup of tea. I wish this place existed or wish I had known about this place when I was in school because this place is awesomely open 24hrs!! Amazingly its not that busy, its kinda hidden on a one way street in the Khon Building. Fun fact (random) Kissaten means Coffee Shop in Japanese :). And ofcourse you're welcome to Kiss a 10, Me! DÃ©cor was very trendy asian essence. It had asian anime art on the walls. My artist friend Remi was featured and held an art show here has paintings of her Koi's and self portraits on the back wall. Kissaten also serves cafÃ© food, sammiches, pastas, acai bowls, variety of asian snacks. Coffee sucks though! Sorry I just had to admit that. I make better INSTANT coffee at home than this place. It's like an asian influenced Starbucks but open 24hrs! I can't emphasize enough that they're open 24 hoursss!! Amazing. One thing that bothered me or is kind of bad about this place is you would have to purchase something to use their internet. Which is okay but its only good for 2hours than you would have to buy something else. I guess it's good for the business, because they are open 24hrs and it's also a good way to regulate the length time people stay in there. Meh... I just like this place cause I can have meaningful conversation at night with girls here.
(4)
Billy W.

This place is all kinds of trendy; trendy interior decor, trendy people, trendy food?! I came in not knowing what to expect as I'm not really a cafe kind of person but on this day, was looking to eat something light. I ordered a Southwest Chicken salad which comes with BBQ or Ranch sauce. I asked for sauce on the side and they gave me both sauces! The salad is a big portion for $9. It's mainly greens, onions, corn, cherry tomatoes, and some kind of crunchy stuff that looked like corn flakes. I liked it! It was light and refreshing which was exactly what I came for. My friend got the Turkey Pesto Melt and it was awesome. It came in 2 large pieces of triangle-shaped paninis, along with a small salad. The panini was awesome! The bread was fluffy and a lil crispy, comes with bacon, turkey, cheese, and a pesto/mayo blend. The salad came with a fruity vinagrette. Despite the panini, it was still very light! I'm getting this next time! I thought the menu placement was a bit odd. The main menu on the wall is only for drinks. Look for the chalkboard near the floor for food. It's a bit small as I couldn't read the small descriptions but I didn't want to go up to it as that would block everyone else's view. Also, I totally missed the specials menu which was on another chalkboard to the right and above of the line. Didn't notice it until I sat down after ordering. For the drinks, I was a bit disappointed they didn't have much iced teas. They have limited parking (only 6 stalls available) in the building if you come during daytime. I'd definitely come again to try their other paninis and desserts!
(4)
Robert C.

Rating: 4.25/5 Date(s) Visited: 3/23/11, several times previously Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Kissaten is a poor college student's dream - surprisingly affordable and delectable food and drinks served in an environment that is equally suited to both socializing and studying. Plus it's open 24/7! It's perfect for all-nighters, study groups, and just plain relaxing after finals. Food: Let me begin with their coffee. It's amazing. Their selection might not be as large as Starbucks, but the prices are much more reasonable. I can get a large iced coffee here for only $2.00, whereas the same thing at the mall would cost me much more. The coffee isn't nearly as acidic as it is at Starbucks and I always feel like I'm actually getting more coffee than ice, which is a godsend for sleep-deprived me. Their food is equally amazing. I've had their "Hamakua Tomato Bisque" several times and it's always very good. It comes with a sprinkling of cheese and a squirt of oil which serves to balance out the acidity of the soup. When combined with their grilled cheese, it makes a perfect, light lunch. The grilled cheese is made with mild Gouda and has a hint of sweetness in every bite thanks to the slices of apple. Definitely not your mother's grilled cheese. I'm also a fan of the "Kissaten Melt", which was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. I struggled to finish the whole thing. The thinly shaved pastrami made the sandwich hearty, and the mustard aioli combined with the caramelized onions gave it a sweet, but tangy bite. There was also quite a bit of delicious, melted mozzarella in the sandwich which oozed out with every bite. Service: Reading the reviews, a lot of people seem to be turned off by the rudeness of the staff. Though I admit that they don't always serve with a smile of their faces, I have yet to observe or experience any unprofessional behavior on their part. They seem more than willing to answer questions or explain things on their menu, if not with a smile, then at least without a grimace. My food and drinks have always arrived within a reasonable amount of time and I'm always asked if I enjoyed my meal. If there's one thing I wish they did, it would be to ask with every purchase if I needed the Wi-Fi code. I mean, I am almost always tethering my phone and using that for Internet, but there have been occasions where I've forgotten my cable and couldn't be as productive as I'd like to have been because I didn't have the code and didn't want to buy something else in order to get it. Atmosphere: Though it can get pretty busy here, I don't have a hard time getting into my school work as long as the music or TV isn't unusually loud. Even if I'm just there to relax, I can enjoy watching people or reading the TV's captions. They also have a large selection of magazines, but I haven't bothered to peruse their offerings. If there's one thing that can get annoying if you come here to get work done, it's that people who don't need the outlets always take the tables that have the outlets or one person might take a table that's meant for four without having a clear need to do so. So it can be a wait for people who come here with a large group or to try and get work done. Price: As I mentioned earlier, the price for coffee here is very reasonable. Their food is also fairly reasonable, particularly for their "Grilled Cheese and Hamakua Tomato Bisque" combo. As good as their "Kissaten Melt" was I'm not sure it was worth $9.00... maybe if it were like $7.50 or so, then I'd feel like it was a better deal. Other than that, I really don't feel like you could go wrong price-wise with anything on their menu.
(4)
Sodakine Y.

Came in for a late night dinner, around 9:10 pm and went straight in line to order my usual truffle mac n cheese and a smoothie. The lady that took my order told me my total, but when I busted out my card she added a dollar or so more. Is that normal? Ah, whatever, I'm hungry. Anyways, I go sit near the front where the food comes out and wait. Finally my drink comes out. I expect my food to come out not too long after but again, I wait...and wait....and WAIT. I'm pretty observant so I'm looking around and realize I didn't get my number when I ordered, but, I don't think it's a biggie since I made eye contact with the lady who took my order like twice and you would think I'm obviously waiting for something especially if I'm jiggling my keys and leaning on my hand. I see a truffle mac n cheese come out with some salad thereafter. I then watch the lady who took my order take the salad ONLY to its' customer and leaves the mac n cheese. What tha?! Finally one of the guy workers takes the mac n cheese, but totally walks past me as I watch him bring it to a table where it just sits there. I knew that was mine. A few minutes later I ask him if I can check my order and he's like, "yeah, what'd you get?..." He checks the orders and is like, "Oh, I think it's with...uh..." and sure enough goes to the table that he just left sitting with some kid. He comes back and tells me because my number was left at the counter it was given to someone else. OKAY first of all, DO NOT insinuate that I left the damn number there when that lady never even gave it to me! And second, where's my damn apology!?
(2)
Alejandro M.

What good can I say about Kissaten other than being open for 24 hrs? Nothing. The coffee is not anything to rave about and the prices are steep for the quality of food and coffee served. This place is NOT student/study friendly. It's loud, the seating is terrible, lack of outlets and they seem to not want you to stay for more than hour. Hey, Kissaten! Why do you think coffee shops like Starbucks are so successful? Because they make their customers feel welcomed and they want them to stay to BUY MORE COFFEE! Plus their parking sucks. Such a shame for a 24hrs coffee shop in Honolulu. Honolulu students and coffee drinkers deserve better.
(2)
Christa Lei S.

I like Kissaten because of the fact that it's 24 hours, and the fact that it's close to my apartment. As in, within walking distance. Problem about Kissaten is the food is mediocre. The risotto is not really risotto, rather cooked arborio rice with soup and vegetables.Not bad, but not exactly what I was expecting. And the drink prices are cheap, but for the price of a large, I get what would be equivalent to a tall drink at Starbucks. I'd rather pay more for more drinks. I'll give it another chance, but I def. won't have the risotto again.
(3)
Francesca L.

Came in for late breakfast on a cold & cloudy weekday. It's a great relaxing, chill environment, nice people, and good food. My friend and I shared something that I can't remember for breakfast and hot blueberry tea (yum). We chilled until it was 11 so we could eat lunch! Ha! Grilled cheese panino with gouda, cheddar, apples & bacon, with super rich and creamy tomato bisque. It was worth waiting for. If you're nearby and want a place to chill, check it out.
(4)
Chad Y.

Kissaten is probably the lesser known little sister of YogurStory. You might have heard about it, you might not have. It is a cute coffee shop where you can go, sit back, relax, enjoy a cup coffee, and maybe even do a little studying? The fact that it is open 24 hours is a big plus. Considering it has just opened, I must say it is off to a good start. They definitely need to work a few kinks out of their system, but I do believe that they have enormous potential to become something very good. They offer a decent menu offering and I truly hope that it expands so that its kitchen is open 24 hours, otherwise the food offerings are rather limited in the evening. That being said, its pastries are decent and nothing to sneer at, nor are they anything to rave over. The coffees and teas are what you would expect at a shop and certainly does not disappoint. The service is good, not great, but good. They are still learning the menu and the operation itself so they seem nervous. However, they show great promise and I think if they had a few big trainings, they could truly make that place work and shine. The ambiance looks as if Rachel Ray went to Ikea. Th chairs are comfortable and the tables well sized for a laptop. There are quite a few outlets nearby so I am truly glad they have taken that into their design asthetic. Should you not find street parking, they have quite a few stalls in the Hawaiiki Tower garage, just drive down Piikoi towards Ala Moana and just past the KHON studios, you'll see a driveway leading into the garage. Park in any of the stalls marked "Kissaten." They don't have a great deal, so I could see it becoming a problem when they get popular. Definitely a cool and unique spot to check out. With its comfortable ambiance, great hours, good prices, and location, it definitely has enormous potential to be great.
(3)
Riana S.

I agree with Scott A. I would've given it 4 stars but they recently started limiting their internet to just 1 hour and you HAVE to buy something. I knew this place was too good to be true! Here are a few things I like about Kissaten: 24 hours. This is so essential for procrastinators. Sadly we don't have any coffeeshops on the Leeward side that are open 24 hours with wi-fi :( The food. The other day I shared a grilled cheese panini with tomato soup with Nicole K. The panini had bacon in it and some...unexplainable crunchy vegetable in it that kept throwing me off. Something about the taste didn't match...the soup was delicious, creamy and pulled on the sweet side. The first time I came here I ordered the pita bread with hummus and it was really good. It came with olives and I usually never eat them but it all matched :) I had their iced caramel coffee and it was strong. It kept me awake for awhile. My concentration was pretty good over there, it's typically very quiet, like a library. But damn it they have those damn TV's everywhere. I ended up getting distracted by Nacho Libre :(
(3)
Lei P.

Conveniently located across the street from Ala Moana Center - this coffee bar features elegant delicious food 24-hours. Prices are affordable and the ingredients fresh. Service is ok. The food is made to order so its not fast food. Love the breakfast croissant, the breakfast burrito is also great. The sandwiches are delicious and crispy - made panini style. I also love the tomato bisque. I am not a coffee drinker, but hear the coffee isnt that good.
(4)
Min K.

Kissaten was introduced to me by the fabulous Sheryl S, whom I had lunch with today. We both had mixed feelings walking into the cafÃ© because she had read reviews that the coffee was bad, tasted tinny, and was not all that good. As we walked in, it's a definite industrial lofty but yet trendy space, with cool orange chairs, HUGE love seats, and exposed ceilings. My sort of place. Dead, probably due to it being a new cafÃ©, so I'm presuming the guy with pierced ears and the ankle tattoo is the owner; he greets us hello. We say hello back and go to the counter to order. They use the old fashion cash machine, which took us by surprise because the whole place is very modern. Sheryl got the nonfat latte, I got the skinny cafÃ© au lait, potato leek soup, and the mushroom risotto. Quite a bit, but bear in mind I rewoke up at 12:30 and had no breakfast or lunch. Plus sharing is caring!!! Nonfat latte, it isn't that hard to make, but Sheryl did mention it was watery. My cafÃ© au lait was okay but the milk froth was very weak. Starbuck's froth is thick, white, and opaque while Kissatens was clear and bubbly. It didn't have it's own atmosphere between coffee and froth. Somewhat disappointed, but it was pretty tasty. Not tinny, or bad as what was heard. I guess you really do have to experience it yourself instead of listening to hearsay. The potato leek soup was on the cool side. I'm assuming it was left out. It came with a hen's egg that was poached and topped with bacon bits. A little salty, but nonetheless it was good. Next time I'll try their chili that was on special. The risotto, I'm sorry, I'l stick to Tango for the risotto. It was creamy, but so much Parmesan was dumped in it I couldn't really taste anything but. All in all they are striving to be a 24 hour cafÃ© and would be a great place to go to instead of the usual Zippys. They have free wifi, ask for the password. Btw there is parking for Kissaten; as you're coming down on Piikoi, make the right into the parking garage and parking is on the left and labeled "Kissaten".
(4)
Alice C.

I can't stress enough how happy I am that this place exists! Service- is great especially late at night. They'll bring the food to where ever you are seated. Sometimes they give you more than just an hour for internet especially on slow nights which is always a plus. Its actually smart to be providing the hours so the net isn't lagging. The staff are friendly. Its easy to make small talk with them! Food & drinks- My favorite is the italian creme soda. You can choose any flavor syrup they have. I've tried raspberry, strawberry, apple, pink grape fruit. Oh man its like fruit syrup heaven. I've also tried their grilled cheese sandwich (which they have thin slices of apples in them) Interesting combo but I must say its pretty good! their signature Kissaten melt, melts in my mouth :) potato leek is definitely divine as another yelper tipped us off. Tonight I'm having the Tomato Bisque. Again, I'm more than satisfied. They also have dessert! I haven't tried that out yet but I will definitely need to one of these nights soon. Their main menu is open till 9. After 9 will just be selected items (the ones I've mentioned above basically) Price- is cheap! Especially when you pay cash, they don't charge tax! But they do accept card as well. Music- is therapeutic. With variation of all sorts. Ever since I discovered this place (which is only a week ago) I swear I've been here almost every night.. I probably only missed *one night. I practically live here late at night. && that's how much I love this place.
(5)
Tom Y.

Me and my two co-workers went for lunch and we were very pleasantly surprise by the location, high quality of food and the atmosphere. All get high marks. When I go to a new place, I'll take a glance at the prices. For me, I take a look at how many $10+ items there are and to my surprise, there were just a few. Generally, soups are $5-7 with sandwiches and salads are in the $8-9 range. For some people, this may sound expensive but if you work in downtown (as I do), paying $10+ is a regular occurrence. I had the pesto mushroom pasta. Penne pasta with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes with a little parmesan cheese. Pasta was cooked perfectly with tons of flavor. My co-workers order a smoked salmon salad and veggie wrap. Both were extremely tasty with bright colors and a balsamic side salad to go with the wrap. The atmosphere was very comfortable made for the plugged-in on-the-go lifestyle of powering up your laptop/cell phone, etc. For those not into that, they also sell art work and have a flat screen tv on with soft music in the background. You just feel very comfortable there. They also have coffee (which the name implies) as well as shave ice. Didn't try them but worth trying again on future visits. Will definitely come back again. Made a good first impression. Note: Very limited parking during the daytime as I parked along the street. Park in the building during overnight hours.
(4)
Joe W.

I studied here this past Saturday from about 9am. I like the vibe of this place and the fact that when I get hungry, thirsty, sleepy, or bored all my needs are conveniently available for purchase. It really takes away all my excuses to stop studying, so I ended up getting a lot done. I give Kissaten 3 stars for overall prices, quality of food, feel of the venue, and friendliness of staff. I ordered the grilled cheese (complete with bacon!) for $6 and was thrilled to find out that it came with a tomato bisque. The bisque was too salty, but had a nice flavor to it otherwise. My grilled cheese was made panini style--the bread was cooked perfectly, but unfortunately the cheese was barely melted. As far as it being a good place to study (and Kissaten has no control over these things), I found it to be kind of noisy and a little difficult to concentrate. I guess school's out, because every middle schooler and their cliques were there with their OMG gossip and iPhones supplementing the music of the cafe. At one point, I think I heard 4 songs playing simultaneously, adding to the cacophony that made my head throb in my already stressed out state. I'm not sure if it's quieter at night (past their bed times), but be warned that you should bring your headphones if you want to study!
(3)
J P.

Kissaten according to Google is known in Japan for coffee shop, similar to Starbucks. I walked in at 10:20AM and they where already closed, they said this is there soft opening from 5 to 10AM, but soon they want to be open 24/7. Inside the place is huge and nicely decorated; it looks as if there is a coffee bar and smoothie bar and perhaps a sandwich Bar. They are located in the Hawaiki Tower aka KHON building, metered parking on the street fronting Kissaten is plentiful and I assume the building offers parking also. Kissaten sounds cool! We are looking so forward to the 24/7 opening and the short walk to grab a bit to eat.
(5)
Marisa O.

Kissaten is a very interesting little place. 3 stars for the coffee. Don't get me wrong, the coffee is delicious. However, I asked for a Caramella with skim milk, and the girls says okay. Not "we don't have skim, is 2% ok?". Or even a rude "No! Get out! No SkIm!" Anyway, I get it, and it's a little TOO delicious... and creamy. Then I go again, and the girl says they don't carry skim milk and never have. So FYI to the first girl, 2% and skim are NOT the same. 4 stars for the food. Great sandwiches, and decent breakfast. I especially enjoy their grilled cheese with bacon and apples and their kissaten melt. I also really liked their potato leek soup with a poached egg in it, but (don't hate me) I wasn't so crazy about their "famous" tomato bisque. It's ok. But the tomato soup at Nordstrom Cafe is FAR superior. Even the Safeway Tomato Bisque is better. 5 stars for the atmosphere. It's very nice, soothing and modern in there. I LOVE the paintings with the funny fish, and I enjoy the mish mash of tables, chairs, and stools. 5 stars for the pricing. They give a good amount for what you pay. I understand I may get brained for this, but in Hawaii, the food is plentiful and fresh for what you get. Gotta say. 2 stars for the parking. Metered street parking, kind of pricey, but free on Sundays. And I've never gone (maybe I've been lucky) when there was no parking. So based on weighted categories, 4 stars is what Kissaten gets in my book. Minus the mix up with the 2% vs. skim, the service is usually decent, the wait is usually not to long, and it's never crazy, loud, or annoying.
(4)
Megan R.

I'll admit Kissaten has a pretty shabby interior. A large variety of seating to choose from. Nice furniture - modernish - but still homey. Good lighting, nice warm color scheme - an ideal cafe. The staff behind the counter seemed friendly :) My friend and went here to do HW - we were pretty disappointed when we found out you had to pay for internet by the hour! I understand - they want to avoid squatters... and they can't afford it like Starbucks. But at least hook it up if people do buy something! I know some restaurants provide you with a temporary internet code on your receipt which lasts for like 2 hours. ANYWAY.... I won't be coming here to do hw. The coffee was okay - nothing memorable. The iced black tea is good & if you're feeling like something sweet you can get a flavor to go with it. They have a cute chalkboard with all the specials handwritten in such it way - it makes you feel the food is going to be SUPER good. haha, if that makes sense? I made a mental note to come back and try the potato soup with the bread bowl. A FEW WEEKS LATER.... I brought the BF back & we both got soup and bread bowls. He got clam chowder, which I can't review cause I can't do seafood :/ but he said it was good! :) I got the potato soup. Well the term soup wasn't used, I forget exactly what it was called.. but the consistency wasn't soupy. More like really creamy mashed potatoes. I was sad because it wasn't HOT. It was warm, but I like to see some steam! There were yummy bacon bits and sour cream! Which added the perfect amount of flavor to the dish - and weirdly an over easy egg? Overall - it was good, but I had EXTREMELY HIGH HOPES :/ & it left me craving a really good potato soup with a bread bowl! I'll just make a bread bowl and get Safeway's potato soup! hahahah.
(3)
Brooke N.

ok..so I've been here before...last time I guess it was bad timing or they were trying to get the kinks out cause the food was just eh'. It was apparent this is the place where people like to hang out and "meet" because the place was packed!! This is my 5th time and I kept my fingers crossed when I walked int he front door...and sure enough I got a seat by an outlet...SCORE. The table was also by the window..double SCORE, I get to people watch as I take study breaks. The food definitely improved...the quality and a bigger selection. I love potato leak soup and they have it. So it's not exactly as good and creamy as CPKs (which is no longer on the menu)they got their own twist to it, it's got a poached egg. hmm interesting, different but it works! The highs...it's open 24 hours, cool place to hang out, they have a tv, there's a food menu (more than the average coffee shop scones and muffins) and a variety of drinks. The lows...the WiFi is limited and parking is minimal. I'll be back Kissaten
(4)
Jasmind T.

Loved the ambiance of this place, and their Jasmine tea rocked my socks, so why only 2 stars? Well, its a 24 hour coffee and tea bar where you can also get fancy soups and sandwiches, cookies, scones, muffins, cupcakes, or small entrees. They have a ton of outlets, ample seating space, and TVs throughout. However, I think their food is a little on the pricey side and they charge for their wi-fi services by the hour (you get an initial 2 hours for free if you purchase food though). That sucks seeing as how its attached to the KHON building and directly across the street from the Ala Moana mall (I'm sure you can hop on someone's wi-fi)! Its a neat little spot for the college crowd, or if you don't want to drop $6 for coffee at Starbucks. I'd hang out here to read and drink some tea, but if I want to take my computer along, I'll just go to the 1,000,000+ Starbucks within walking distance.
(2)
Kathleen G.

Update, Update!! Since April 8th (i think it says), they will be charging 4% tax if you pay with card.... so, if you have cash, use it. You can save cents! Also.... I didn't know until yesterday that it does matter where you sit in the cafe, if you want to jump in their wifi. I bought a drink and wanted to access their free wifi while in there. If I sit on the counter, it'll be two hours. If I sit on the couch, it will be one hour... Since I don't stay here longer than two hours, I don't mind. Even after those finds from yesterday's visit, I'd still come.
(4)
R M.

I am working and staying at places without wifi and Kassaten is close by. I drop in during the mornings when just a few customers are at the tables. I buy a drink and use their wifi for my iPad. The iced coffee is a little weak and the black iced tea a little strong--as I prefer.
(3)
Daren D.

A pleasant morning spot to help get things going. I had a usual latte or dirty chai with a plain toasted bagel and butter. The artwork and background music create a unique atmosphere to relax and kill time. The girl working was friendly and brought out my bagel on a plate and napkin and butter side. Nice(!)
(4)
Sara S.

Sometimes you just can't study at home. Or at a library.... especially when you're not a UH student. Anyways, studying for the MCAT sucks and I'm just way too tempted to lie on my bed at home so I go to Barnes and Noble. However, B&N closes at 10, oh drat. In comes Kissaten, a 24 hour cafe that I greatly appreciate!!! I ordered a medium iced matcha tea latte for $3 (getting an iced tea drink takes a long time bc they have to wait for it to cool first) which was... average. I'll try a cream soda next time. They will print you a Wifi password and user name, but mine was only good for one hour whereas my friend's was good for 2 hours! Why!!??! Sad panda. Anyways, we got there around 8pm on a Sunday so we were able to snag free street parking and secure a table by the outlets. However, it started filling up quickly! I agree, they need more tables, or people who are by themselves should NOT take a 4-person table. The couches looked comfy, but not conducive to studying at least for me. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be more of a social or study environment, but either way, I had my noise canceling headphones so it was all good. Definitely bring those btw if you're planning to get some major work done. As far as a study place goes, I will give this 4 stars, at least way above Starbucks and maybe even B&N. However, I will leave it at a solid 3.5 stars rounded DOWN until I try the food!! They have late night pho for $7, among other soups and grilled cheese for a late night study snack.
(3)
Marjorie C.

Came here at 2:30am and found the service and the food lacking. If you're an eatery/coffee shop that is open 24hrs in an area that is in the midst of clubs and bars shouldn't you be equipped to handle a small rush of late night customers? Got the Kissaten melt, blueberry cheesecake and belgian waffle. My friends got the pho, tomato bisque and grilled cheese sandwich. The pho came out within 10-15 minutes of ordering...the presentation was...meh. The pho was flat and the accompanying veggies and lemon were pressed and not at all fresh looking (and it was pretty small). My bf and I ordered a melt each and it came out in 20-25 min. Our belgian waffle and waters didn't come out till we asked for it again...30-35 min later. One of our friends waited 35 minutes for their bisque and grilled cheese to come out...we were pretty much all done eating. The food was alright, the price was a little high, there was no customer service. We should have gone to Taiyo. I would suggest that this place is more of a 24 hour coffee shop and not somewhere to eat after an event or when other places are closed. If you're hungry and want a meal go elsewhere (like Zippy's or Sorabol).
(2)
titus n.

What do you know about Pho at 2 in the morning? Ask Kissaten! Although this is not all this 24 hour coffee bar / Bistro is about. It all depends what time of the day (or night) you walk in the doors of comfortable shop on what type of experience you'll get. The menu varies on the time of day and the coffee is always amazing. My personal favorites are the omato bisque or the smoked salmon salad. Rotating local artists provide eye candy for the occasionally needed distraction. parking is tough but theres limitless stalls right across the street at Ala Moana.
(5)
A A.

5 Stars all the way - you know why..... because it's a coffee shop and it's open 24 hours! Not a 24 hour diner kinda place where you gotta bring extra money to tip the waitress - just a coffee shop (that has food too). I came to this place at 1AM on a Wednesday night and was pleased to see that the place was pretty full of people (seeing all the people helps me feel like I am not such a weirdo for being up so late on a weeknight). The ambiance was cool - house music was playing (at a not to quiet or loud level) in the background - all the people inside seemed to be quietly reading, studying / doing whatever on their laptops. I just had a small hot coffee - nothing fancy - the coffee was good. The place has a nice bathroom too. If you come late at night - it's pretty easy to find street parking on Waimanu street. I recommend this place. I have not yet tried the food - but I don't care what the food is like - as long as I can get a cup of decent coffee in a cool environment where I can hang out late at night - I'm happy.
(5)
Sara Y.

Open 24 hours!! I have came here for events, dinner, and to just sit and chat with friends. Relaxing atmosphere with a couple of couches near the front. People mainly come here to study, but I always come here for the food or drinks. I really like their mushroom pesto pasta, paninis, and soups. I forget the exact name of the drink, but the strawberry shake was also good. This place can get quite crowded in the night, so plan accordingly if you are planning on stopping by at this place.
(4)
Dayna T.

i came here specifically to try the Tomato Bisque and grilled cheese sandwich because I was told that it gave Nordstom Cafe's tomato bisque a run for it's money. My thoughts? Nordstrom Cafe suits my tastebuds better. The bisque here was on the sweeter side but I did like the texture, it was thick and rich. Definitely not bad but I do prefer salty over sweet. I would say that it is worth trying (your tastebuds may be different). The grilled cheese sandwich was tasty! It had bacon in it as well. Not super greasy like other places, went with the bisque nicely. My friend had the strawberry lemonade. It tasted a little watered down to us. It was in "icee" form not just liquid. Not too sweet/sour (i.e. not much flavor). I do like the atmosphere. It's larger than it seems from outside so there are lots of seats. Most have instructions (i.e. only sit for up to 1 hour...or 4 people or more only etc.). It is a cute coffee shop and I do plan on coming back to try more of their foods. Update to come after my next visit.
(3)
Cameron B.

I use this place as my office from time to time. There are plenty of seats with electrical outlets all around. I just plug in, turn on my wifi and i'm good to go. I haven't eaten anything (yet), but the drinks are pretty good.
(4)
Rosiey P.

I came here with the expectation that I will be able to study after the school library has closed down. Being a college student with very little financial stability I was underneath the impression that if I buy coffee I will be able to use their wifi! Great but only for an hour before you have to make another purchase (laughs not even Starbucks will do that to you) I can understand that limiting users to a time frame will conserve bandwidth but having to constantly purchase something to use their wifi service is ridiculous. Bad service, bad attentiveness, this place is a joke.
(1)
Ericka B.

Cute little cafe! I loved the atmosphere and vibe. There weren't alot of people there when we went so, lots and lots of seats + couches! Went here after a night of karaoke, drinking, and sanoya ramen. I guess it was the final place to sober up. We sat on the couch without ordering anything. The girl that was working came up to us and told us we had to order something in order to stay. I didn't mind though, cause she was really polite about it! I ordered a steamer with caramel (steamed milk). It was my first time tasting it, and it was delicious! I want to try their tomato bisque and grilled cheese one day, great comfort food. They also serve Pho after 10pm! For those late night Pho cravers :)
(4)
Joy Y.

Have you ever been to Starbucks Ward and find it distracting because you bump into an old friend (when you want to study), the creepy guy playing Xbox is loud or its simply crowded. Well, that's NOT the case here... I like to hide here to study and have my alone day. I hope this place NEVER becomes too popular and loud. It's perfect. PROS: 1. The food is fresh and flavorful. They even have a late night menu too :) Recommendations: They have a great variety of salads! Yummy! 2. Cute, contemporary, and casual setting. 3. Usually quiet and very clean CONS: 1. Parking is limited at times.
(5)
Kasey B.

Grilled cheese and tomato bisque, perfect combo!
(5)
Jason H.

Great place to get a bite to eat while studying. It's normally busy on the weekends because the UH libraries are closed, especially during finals. Parking is free in the KHON 2 building on the stalls marked with the Kissaten sign. The Turkey Pesto and the Tomato Bisque is really good! If you're torn on what to get, I'd definitely say give those a shot. Happy Studying!
(4)
Cat T.

Pros: Good place to study. You get internet password if you buy a drink. The internet will last 2 hours from start of printing the receipt for you. Ample amount of outlets. They have designated parking, or parking on the side street. Drinks are decent. Love the interior. Cons: The service unfortunately sucks. I'm sorry, but people need to be trained to give customer service. The food is not that great, but they are not known for that. What to expect: During college finals or certain times of the year, its busy with students so you may not be able to find a seat.
(3)
Jarrett W.

I'll admit this is a nice place with a cute atmosphere. One thing that I wish they didn't have are the set rules... Seating limited to 1hr and certain tables you must have 3 or more parties to sit. Limitation to Internet usage to 2hrs. I understand you don't want people to freeload and just sit around using your Internet but c'mon that's really how you bring in customers in this age and time? We ordered the kissaten pastrami, potatoe leek and tiramisu. The pastrami was ok but plain. The potatoe leek was watery and not much taste. The tiramisu was dry. I was also looking at other people's food, looked pretty good.
(1)
Kellen I.

So I'm no coffee drinker. In fact, I don't like coffee. So why would I be giving this "kissaten" (literal translation means "coffee shop") a "kiss" a 10 out of 10 (bwahahaa! Aren't I funny/ingenious/hilarious!!!)?! It is simple yelpers. It is not just about coffee and this review is about everything EXCEPT the coffee! First off, the location is great. It is in the KHON2 news building @ Hawaiki tower. It resides next to the bustling madhouse of a shopping center known as Ala Moana. Yes its parking is limited and I can attest to that as my car as I write this review (in Kissaten!) is parked at Ala Moana Shopping Center across the street. The environment that this place resides could best be described as an "oasis of relaxation" next to the fast-paced and hectic world that is the mall, the traffic, and the swarms of people with wads of cash aching to spend it at the biggest mall in Hawai'i (that would be you, yes you, tourists. We love you all muchly! Promise!). Next the atmosphere inside inspires higher-level thinking and increased consciousness (trust me, I'm a teacher!). You can have your drink (mine is a diet soda), a seat (if...you can find one, I'm on that comfy couch in the front right now!), and engage yourself in conversation with a buddy, do your homework, or go on yelp and write your opinion on things (like I am!). Of course, you could multitask and do all of the above while enjoying other awesome things like their food! While the food is a little pricey, part of that cost has to be for the atmosphere. I've been here about four times and so far I've tried the following: Tomato Bisque: Freaking awesome! I don't know what about this tomato soup makes it superb but it just is. It is served with a sprinkling of parm, drizzle of olive oil, and a roll. Rich and flavorful, tart and yet sweet at the same time, it goes really well with my next food listing! Face rating of :D Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Again, I'm not sure what it is about this sandwich. I think it's the bacon. Yeah probably. Bacon make everything taste better doesn't it? No, yelp, no opinion for you. Bacon makes everything taste better period. End of story. Well, I guess the different kinds of cheeses and the thinly sliced apples give it an additional "yum" factor of 10+. Face rating of :) Truffle Mac and Cheese: Not sure where the "truffle" part comes into play since I don't know what truffles tastes like but this is pretty good. Not tomato bisque good but still pretty good for those of you who are cheese heads (my gf is one!). I think there is an added richness and an earthy note to the mac n cheese. That might be "truffle" part. Not sure. Face rating of :| Potato Leek Soup: This soup is totally different than the Tomato Bisque that I like so much. It is very starchy in that it has potato in it and a poached egg is dropped in it to add some body and balance out that heavy starchiness. A very hearty soup. Possibly good for sobering up. Face rating of :| I have yet to come here late night, but the offerings look delicious. They have Pho. I'm a sucker for pho. I wish they would serve it when I'm here! :( Oh wells, I'll just have to come here after 9pm and before 6 am. Kissaten is only open 24/7. So yelp, as I sit on this comfortable couch within the confines of this cool, chic, and modern art decorated coffee shop and work out the thoughts I want to display to you online, I hope that you'll join me in partaking in this experience at a great coffee shop sometime in the near future. Hopefully you'll see what I mean about the great atmosphere that makes up for such "downsides" as parking, price, and the inability to get that "perfect" spot (like mine!!). As a place to relax, enjoy, and think its the best you'll get in the Ala Moana area. I mean, the place is jam packed right now. They gotta be doing something right. Right!? As I work out the thoughts I want to display to you online, I hope that you'll join me in partaking in this experience at a great coffee shop sometime in the near future. Hopefully you'll see what I mean about the great atmosphere that makes up for such "downsides" as parking, price, and the inability to get that "perfect" spot (like mine!!).
(5)
Allison S.

The ambiance and cafe setting was as expected. I entered the cafe during a weekday morning anticipating the morning rush of coffee lovers on their way to work, but was presented with quite the opposite. Kissaten Coffee and Tea Bar is a small cafe near Ala Moana that is influenced by modern designed to attract the college student and business professional. I walked in to get breakfast which ended up being coffee and a sandwich. Upon entering I noticed that there was a lot of spaces to sit, the room was fairly empty. From the look of it ninety percent of those at the Cafe were students studying. As I approached the counter I was greeted by the Barista. Being a former Barista myself, your knowledge of the menu is very key to identifying and then satisfying the customers' needs. I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted because I've never been there. So the Barista decided to ask simple and direct questions. I ended up getting a large iced white mocha. This drink was perfection it had just enough sweetness and just enough coffee flavor. Sometimes getting the right balance is hard, but the white mocha was on point. I peaked over the counter and after my drink was made the station was very clean. I was impressed at how clean it was. In addition the Barista thoroughly cleaned when he wasn't serving customers. The lady who delivered my breakfast sandwich was nice as well. Although we had barely any interaction she did her best to leave with a good impression. I enjoyed my breakfast at Kissaten the environment was ideal for studying, and it wasn't crowded like Starbucks usually is. I looked around, tables and chair were set up spaced evenly away from each other, creating a spacious feel. Overall the cafe was larger than expected which is great, and the service was reputable. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone needing to study or just catch up with friends.
(3)
Sasuke N.

Finally! A decent place open 24 hours! Thank you!
(5)
Jesse C.

My favorite spot to catch up on some reading. It's open 24 hours. Lots of parking in the KHON building. And the tomato bisque is rawesome! They removed the 2 hour restriction so it's free wifi too! The food is good. Music is nice. Spaceous. And best of all no "Starbuck creepers." You know the ones at Starbucks that gives you the creepers. Ya, none of those.
(4)
Timothy L.

I would have given zero stars if possible. Completely rude staff. Forcing a $5 credit card minimum is against any vendor credit card agreements. Check out Kona Mountain instead, or the Coffee Beanery in Ala Moana mall. They lost my business and I would suggest you bring yours elsewhere.
(1)
Carolyn S.

Well... it's okay, but honestly, I have had better, especially for the price. I have been a few times before, and always come out thinking, "meh." The decor is cute, and I really want to like them, but somehow I am just always disappointed.
(2)
Joanne M.

One big thing that I love about this place is that is it open 24/7. I first started stopping by for caffeine before working late or after, because it would be the only place open. Their prices aren't that bad either. The workers were nice and attentive, and they even offered me a stamp card. That was last fall. I returned recently and noticed some changes. The comfy couch is no longer there, however, they have added additional seating. I suppose that as the months went by, more people were learning about this awesome 24 hours source of caffeine and food that they needed more chairs and tables. The workers were also different. I noticed they weren't as friendly as the ones before. Usually I would expect them to ask me about my stamp card (that I couldn't find) but nothing. It felt like the cashier wanted to take my order quickly as possible. When I thanked the waitress for bringing over my food, there was no response. It kind of bothered me, but it's not like they gave me attitude so that's fine. It was just a different experience from last year. They still do a good service. Other than service, I myself tried something different. Instead of caffeine on this visit, I ordered Italian soda for the first time. And they said I could add any syrup that I could see on the shelf...which was a lot!! I tried the Mango, which was awesome. But they also had Peanut Butter and Macadamia Nut, which very tempting to try...maybe next time. I loved that there were so many options of flavors. I also ordered a grilled cheese sandwich that had bacon (!!) in it. That was a great surprise. Parking isn't too bad; it is in the KHON building. Kissaten only has about 4 stalls or so, but I go there when KHON is closed. They said you can park in the KHON stalls after hours.
(4)
Sean W.

I love this coffee bar! The coffee is great and the food is delicious! I had the Turkey Pesto Melt and Potato Leek soup... both were fantastic. The Turkey melt had unbelievable ammounts of mozzarella cheese! I also liked the egg and bacon bits that were in the potato leek soup... this is my new favorite coffee spot! The design of the place is very modern looking with the unique orange walls and furniture.
(5)
Chantelle T.

Hawaii definitely needs more cafes with wifi, good drinks, and food options. It's one of the things I miss most about LA when I'm back home. Kissaten isn't the perfect cafe to satiate my need for this type of cafe, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. It's very spacious and there's ample plugs for all the electronic devices you'd need for your study/work sessions. Oh, and did I mention that it's 24 hours? Definite plus!!! I got their matcha latte with soy milk and was happy with it. Not too sweet and definitely super matcha-ey. My friend recommended their veggie wrap, matcha freeze, and grilled cheese. I think I'll definitely make an effort to try these the next time I come!
(4)
Sam R.

This place is a great place to get yo shit done lol. Not that many places that are open 24 / 7, and Kissaten is a great option for those who need to study or work late. I highly recommend the grilled cheese and tomato bisque combo. Both the grilled cheese and the bisque are pretty good, but when you dip the grilled cheese sandwich into the bisque... glorious flavor explosion of delight.
(4)
Christy K.

I love me some Kissaten! First of all, their Thai Tea ROCKS!!! I crave it like I used to crave Caramel Frappucinos. I hope that they make the Thai Tea part of their regular menu, forever! It's like super sweet black tea with condensed milk. Second, I love that this place is open 24 hours. Third, I love their music. Fourth, I love that they have outlets everywhere. I wish they didn't limit their WiFi access to 2 hours... though I can see why. And okay, I know late-night pho is like every young Oahuan's dream (to satisfy that post-drinking appetite), but their pho is... less than average! If they revamped their recipe and didn't overcook the noodles, they'd really have something, but until then... eh. To their defense, though, the rest of their food is pretty good. Bottom line is, Kissaten is my #1 destination for studying- they have the right ambience, good beverages (I also like the apple cider), and free Wifi (ask the cashier for the code upon purchasing). Five stars for that!
(5)
Jen H.

2 stars for food, +1 star for atmosphere/interior = 3 stars. I've been here only twice, the first time I went I thought the place was nicely decorated and trendy looking. Reminds me of a Yogurtland without the yogurt. I really liked that they had couches in addition to tables with chairs and counters with high chairs. It seems like it would be an ideal place to study (by yourself or with friends), or just have a chat with someone over coffee. I like that this place is surrounded by large glass, so the sunlight comes in naturally and makes the place look really inviting. First time my bf and I ordered the Loco Moco and Truffle Mac & Cheese. The loco moco meat was super soft, it tasted good but was kind of expensive for what it was. Also, they took forever to make it so we waited about 15-20 min. before they brought it out. The truffle mac & cheese was good, but kind of rich and oily and the chicken wasn't good (I ended up leaving all the chicken untouched). Also, it disturbed me that the ladies at the counter were talking so loud that it kind of ruined the mood and I ended up listening to them instead of concentrating on my food. For drinks we ordered the lemonade and Strawberry Italian soda. The lemonade was super tangy and good, but I was disappointed with the soda, all the syrup was at the bottom and yet it still tasted like it was just plain soda water. Idk, I've heard from other yelpers that the place is hit and miss depending on who makes your drink, so maybe I just got a bad one that day? The second time I got a mocha and that was really really good so I guess it made up for it. I still have yet to try the tomato bisque and grilled cheese that everyone keeps talking about. Haven't used the wi-fi yet but I hear its good. I was actually expecting the place to be more packed, but I guess its pretty empty around 5pm. Also, there's no parking so you'd have to park at Ala Moana or find street parking.
(3)
Scott N.

This is the best place ever! You can just study here or hang out with friends! Workers are just so nice and they have good food but a little pricy. The workers seem happy to be here. What's cool about this they show other peoples art. I come here like ALL THE TIME. I only go here to study. If you're thinking of what's there, try their tomato bisque! Sweet kick to it. Try that with the grilled cheese. Like heaven.
(5)
Adrienne P.

Food: Delicious! I ordered a tomato bisque with grilled cheese sandwich and it was awesome. I also had the belgian waffle dessert which was super yummy. Ambiance: Seems like a good place to study. Service: Friendly Parking: The owner said there were a few reserved stalls in the building, but we just parked on the street in front of the cafe.
(4)
Jessica M.

My best friend used to live in this building and I live right down the street, so we would find ourselves at Kissaten a alot more for convenience than anything. While we were there, we would normally order a drink and catch up for a minute before going off to wherever we were going. For this, Kissaten is awesome. Open 24 hours! If you want to use the internet here, expect to come early to try and scope out a seat. The seating, while very comfortable, is pretty limited, and is normally all taken by students in the evenings. The internet is free with a purchase, however you only get it for an hour. The food, while a bit overpriced, is pretty good, and when I asked for a vegan option on a dish, the chef who was working was more than happy to work with me to make sure I was satisfied! 4 stars on this aspect. The coffee...2-3 stars at best. It was just subpar after going to the coffee bean across the street. They only have one sugar free option, and it just tastes a bit watery. The staff are always friendly, and the atmosphere, complete with bookshelves and an interesting monthly-rotating art display, make up for what this place lacks. Definitely give Kissaten a try, but go early if you expect a seat!
(3)
Brent K.

This was a late night stop.Went with four people. Ordered all different dishes. Food was two stars. Three of my friends dishes were kinda junk. BUT my Pho was ok for a Japanese guy making it. LOL I like 24 hours places. Gives us refuge from the boring fast food joints. Even though the food wasn't good. Maybe I should try something different next time. I'll be back. If I park my motorcycle outside, At least I can see it.
(3)
Andrew G.

This is by far one of my favorite places to get a quick bite to eat. It helps that I've lived above it for the last three years and witnessed their growth. It always has amazing food and an awesome atmosphere! Whether its packed or just a few folks it always has a cozy feel. From coffee to diner and ice cream, they have it. My favorites include the breakfast croissant, turkey pesto melt, truffle Mac and cheese, and the pork fried rice. They get local artists to showcase their work so it gives it a trendy feel and keeps the atmosphere interesting. The manager/owner in very polite and she has done great things with the place over the last couple years. I always recommend it to folks when they're in the area.
(5)
Sharon V.

This is my new addiction! Food is very good and it has an energetic vibe without being too loud. Lots of young people studying and surfing on the internet. Free wifi! I always get the house salad which is a great portion, fresh and delicious. There pesto pasta and sandwiches are very good too. Tried their shaved ice which has a softer smoother consistency...chocolate flavored with mochi balls and a drizzle of choc syrup! Amazing!!!!!!!
(4)
Vincent Q.

One friend once mocked the fact Kissaten in Japan is exactly what it is, a coffee bar. Now, she frequents here almost daily as a mainstay. I, on the other hand, have only come here a handful of times since my first visit, enjoying their version of gourmet comfort foods. I saw one item on their menu I had to try, so I made time to stop in. Even on an off-day, the place was nearly packed. Note: Lunch and Dinner 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Late Night Menu is 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. Potato Leek Soup- 4-stars- I can honestly say, I am not familiar with the flavors of leeks. Of course, we are all familiar with potatoes. This soup comes with a light, earthy scent. Stirring thick like gravy, and gritty with generous portions of liquified potatoes. The flavor is definitely light, yet satisfying, making the additions more essential. There is an egg dropped at the height of the dishes heat, becoming at least half-cooked by the time you receive it. This little white island is covered with bacon and green onions. Mixing these additions in, you get the smooth texture of egg in some bites, then fresh, firm bacon in other bites. This also comes with a potato bun to add to the enjoyment. Of course, the bun is floured which makes a little mess, considering these tables are also utilized for studying. Still, the strength of the buns' flavor gives another layer to this, either by dipping or just dropping it into the soup. Delightful for the price of $5. A good, small meal, yet still heavy for those with a light appetite. Truffle Mac and Cheese- 5-stars- As truffle is one flavor which weakens my knees, I had to try this dish out. You get large penne pasta covered with a rich creamy sauce, reminiscent of alfredo--heavy, creamy, and buttery. What looks like bread dust seems to be finely grated parmesian, lightly browned. Add on top their fresh, cooked bacon, and you once again get layers of flavor. The truffle oil is added in, mixed, appearing and disappearing with each and every bite. I honestly couldn't deduce when I'd bite into a particularly strong mouthful, but mixing the dish helps a bit. To top it off, you get large cubes of white chicken. This almost becomes a carnivore's dream, yet a connoisseur's wonderland. The price ain't bad either. Definitely a must-try for truffle explorers and meat-lovers. Ambiance- There are televisions here, but not really placed for usage. Purchasable art lines one wall, and huge windows look out--rarely facing the full-brightness of sunshine. The tables are assorted very tightly, which makes eating somewhat uncomfortable, when people in nearby tables are studying and you're eating a delectable delight--they stare! Still, there are bar and counter-seats. One places you in sight of the cook preparing your food, if you're into this sort of thing. There is a bathroom on premises. There is even special parking in the building for Kissaten users, but they fill quickly. Service- Basically, you only deal with people at the counter and when they give you the food. After your order, you get a table number, and that's your marker for your meal. I am honestly unsure when or where you can leave a tip, or when it would be appropriate. Of course, there are times I want to tip the chef, especially since this one was easy on the eyes, too. Conclusion- I've heard many tales of this place, from the chef bringing recipes from all over the island, as he's worked everywhere to the mixed crowd of workers coming from other businesses from the same owner, some more risque than others. Still, it's a packed location right across from Ala Moana Center. If ever lost for a meal, I can be assured to end up here to find something small, yet heavy to fill me up.
(4)
Mailani S.

We started visiting Kissaten before it got popular and in the beginning, it was a nice place. But quality has really gone down since then. My boyfriend and I went back today after a few months and ordered an Italian Cream Soda and a Vanilla milk steamer (which they've since taken off of the menu) but I was still able to order it. I have the steamer sitting here by me and it taste like warm milk flavored water. It's supposed to be 1. Vanilla and 2. 2%. I taste neither. I just...I can't bare to drink it... And for two drinks it came out to $7 which always irritates me when I feel like I waste money. My boyfriends Italian soda didn't have as much flavor as it could have. I haven't tried their food in months, but when I did try it (The Tomato bisque, Grilled Cheese and Breakfast croissant) -- all were delicious. But I also only ever tried their food once. Service is nothing spectacular. A lot of the girls are young and often don't seem to know what they're doing. Overall, you don't feel welcomed when you walk in. There's no connection. No chit chat. They just want to hurry up and get work over with. My boyfriend and I are photographers and seeing all the "art" -- and I'm using that word kindly -- on their walls, we asked (like we always do in cafes) how we could show our photography. We must have gone in three or four times to talk to the owner but he was never around and our number was always taken down by some girl and probably misplaced or not important enough to pass on. Finally we got someone to give up how they usually acquired their wall art and it was through a private art dealer. When we asked for his information, the girl at the counter called over to another girl (doing nothing) sitting at her computer at the food counter about what to do and that chick said she didn't want to give out his number. Understandable so again, we gave them our card and have not heard back, nor expected to. I've read a few reviews on how this place needs to up their quality of service and they're absolutely right. I've heard some stories from friends about how they were treated and it's slowly making me like this place less and less which is a shame because they had a good thing going there for a while. Especially with it being 24 hours and them having Wifi. You used to be able to buy one thing, ONE THING to have Internet all night. Now, you have to keep buying stuff after your hour of Internet is up, and frankly, I think that's ridiculous. Kinda sad. But hey, there are other, much better cafes on the island that are worth my time and money. And this place with it's mediocre atmosphere and over priced food and drinks, is unfortunately not.
(2)
jeffrey w.

Props cuz they were open on Christmas day and we were hungry. The truffle mac and cheese was not bad. But the pastrami sandwich? OMG. They put a grand total of 1 slice of pastrami on that bad boy. And it was a very thin slice mind you. Are you kidding me? A pastrami sandwich with only ONE slice of pastrami? My idea of pastrami sandwich is a big ass mountain of pastrami with bread as an afterthought. Now i wasn't expecting that but at least a few slices please. This was a joke. So don't order the pastrami unless you really like bread and don't like meat. Coffee was not bad.
(2)
Kevin B.

For people who know me, they know that Kissaten is my equivalent of the MacLaren's Pub (except that there's no booze), where I spend my time there reading/researching/watching movies/eating et al. I've basically tried everything on the menu and my favorites are the Kissaten Melt, the Pesto dishes, and the Truffle Mac and Cheese. If I am to fairly rate the food, I'd give it a 4/5. But it's not only about the food: Need Wifi? Just grab a Matcha freeze and a salad, and you've got two hours of internet. People nag that internet should be free, but then again some people just go there, take other people's seats, and buy nothing. If I were the owner, I'd protect my restaurant from these people by not providing them free internet in a similar fashion. Hungry after long hours of studying? There's a nice list of sandwiches, dishes, and salads you can choose from. Not to mention their daily specials. The setting is quite modern and [some of] the staff is quite friendly (especially Erin and Cat). Pros: Good food: Check. Wifi: Check. Setting: Check. Parking: Check. (Street, Hawaiki Tower, and Ala Moana Shopping Center) Cons: - Power receptacles to charge laptops/phones are limited to tables located next to walls, so plan your seat accordingly.
(5)
David D.

Joe Moore keyed my car!!!! Watch out if you're parking in the structure. The parking for Kissaten is missleading, because joe moore parking spot is on the opposite side of the pillar. if you park in his stall, he will key your car!!! WATCH OUT!!! Other then that, Kissaten is awesome!!! Anyways.... Joe Moore will key your car!!!! Watch out for his stall. The guy is a total prick. P.S: Found out that two other friends got their car keyed before too... So watch out.
(5)
Andrea J.

We went around 10pm on a Friday night. We wanted to avoid the long wait at other restaurants in town and settled for their "ok" food. The place wasn't crowded and there was no line to order. I chose the grilled cheese and bisque combo that I usually order and my boyfriend got the pho because it was the only other thing on their "Late Night Special's" menu. His arrived first, and it was beyond terrible. First of all, the pathetic stem of about 5 basil leaves were WILTED, and the green onions and bean sprouts were soggy. The broth was unusually dark and SOUR. The rice noodles were cut short as if someone has been already eating it. He had to douse it with Sriracha sauce for it to be even palatable. My bisque was nothing special. The grilled cheese was stale and it's crust was borderline burnt. We even got our drinks after our orders, after I had asked the server the second time for them. The service was abysmal. The girl at the register was also our server. I don't think 10pm is an ungodly hour for a 24-hour establishment so I don't think we deserved such an unwelcoming and unaccommodating treatment. She seemed as if she was on death row-- she was very tight-lipped and we didn't get a slight hint of a smile from her. If looks could kill, we would've already been dead. Whenever our orders were ready, we get an annoyed and dry "here." Needless to say, she got zero tips from us. I had to fight my urge to ask for the manager because we didn't want to end our night on an even more sour note. Overall, if we can give this place negative stars, we would. The food was unappetizing, and by far had the worst place we have ever gotten service from. I highly DON'T recommend this place. That was the last time we'll ever step foot in this place and we will be sure to tell our friends about our experience here.
(1)
Michael S.

Wanting a nice breakfast and having given up on the trying to go to Koa Pancake house I decided to listen to a friends recommendation and try out Kissaten. I was surprised to find a very cheap breakfast which turned out to be pretty good. Parking: Apparently this place has a pretty good parking lot, but after going twice I still haven't found it. I've always just parked at Ala Moana (by Sears) and walked across the street. If you are parking the entrance is on Piikoi Street. Atmosphere: Kissaten is a pretty cool space. Very much a hip coffee shop with tons of place just to veg out and lounge. Service: Both times I've gone (the latest for breakfast) the service has been excellent. No wait and my food came out pretty quickly. Kissaten does have wifi(you have to ask for the print of the code) and being open 24hrs makes it one of better places to go late night. FYI kitchen food isn't served 24hrs to my knowledge. One thing to note the first order came out about 10 minutes before we got our second item. Price: The reason why I wanted to check Kissaten out for breakfast was because of the really cheap eats. You can get a $5 breakfast which includes 2 eggs, meat and rice. My girlfriend and I also choose the $8 breakfast burrito which was more then enough for one person to eat. Food: The $5 breakfast was pretty straight forward and nothing spectacular. It's the kind of cheap breakfast you would find in the industrial neighborhood which they might sell for $3. The breakfast burrito, which might be the most expensive item for breakfast, was pretty good. It was filled with egg, mushroom, spinach and a "Vienna" sausage type sausage link. I thought the breakfast burrito was pretty good and I'll probably go back for it. Overall: As a breakfast place I think Kissaten is a winner for a cheap and easy breakfast joint. You don't have to worry about long lines or filled tables to enjoy a nice simple no frills breakfast in town. Plus if you want to veg out with a coffee and some wifi after breakfast you probably could stay all day.
(4)
Edmar C.

Lately this place has been getting pretty crowded since college students have begun to acknowledge the existence of a 24 coffee shop. WIFI is free for every hour you pay for your item at Kissaten i.e. if you buy a $3.45 coffee then you will receive 3 hours of free WIFI. Parking is located within the first floor parking garage of KHON building. Parking can also be found on the streets. Plus one can park at Ala Moana and simply walk over in case there are no parking. Kissaten carries a studious and industrious vibe. Rivals Starbucks for their coffee-related products and comfortable atmosphere, but Kissaten carries a mini-restaurant for those hungry students in the wee hours of the morning. The workers today are generally warm and genial as you approached them. The chefs are calm and cool and, if you're lucky to find a seat near their cooking area, you get to talk stories with them. Be aware that service may be slow due to the amount of people ordering (there is a lot). There are tons of outlets throughout the room for people to plug in their computer, phone etc. Tables and chairs are movable to situate a small amount of people or a big group of people. Sofas and chairs to sit on. AC. Two TVs in which to watch a game or whatnot. Very artsy room.
(4)
Shelby A.

I was really looking forward to trying this 24-hour place. I finally did. Their service was okay, but it could use some improvement. It was almost like the young employees had no idea what they were really doing. We had a party of six and wanted to sit by the window in the corner. They told us we couldn't because we would be blocking the way (no, we wouldn't have because it's pretty spacious there). They didn't even allow us to move the tables and yet here comes a group of three that totally took over one section and moved the tables. Wth? One of the sandwiches we ordered was the Portebella (as they spelled it) sandwich. Half of it was only bell peppers, and the other half had maybe 4 THIN SLIVERS of portebello mushroom and more bell peppers. Not only did we send it back for more mushrooms, but it took them 5-10 minutes to bring the same sandwich back out with a few extra slivers of mushroom on the side without it. Okay, when you hear about a portebello mushroom item, you think of the whole huge mushroom right? Well, their excuse was that they were running low on the mushroom. Really? Then take it off the menu! We also had the grilled cheese with apple and bacon. It had 1 SHAVING OF A SLICED APPLE in it! Don't get me wrong, the food had flavor and was pretty good, but you can't fool people who love food and work at restaurants, except maybe if they're drunk and stumbling in at 3 in the morning. But seriously, if you plan to be open for 24 hours a day, please improve your service and ingredients. It was our first experience there and we don't want it to be our last. You have a good thing going with the hours, so hopefully the minor kinks get worked out. Your prices are pretty good, but don't skimp on the food.
(2)
Hiro I.

Good place to hang out and have a meeting. And it's 24 hours. Food and drinks are decent. Free wifi if you make a purchase.
(3)
Leon D.

Kissaten is almost everything you can want in a coffee bar. Almost. It has excellent options for coffee and tea. Sandwiches, soups and even risotto if you need to get something to eat. Plentiful seating if you study by your lonesome or in a group. Just the right amount of ambient noise to keep you from losing your mind. Open every single hour of every single day. You can even park at Ala Moana mall and walk over. So why four-stars? Because the wifi isn't free. THE WIFI IS NOT FREE. Damn capitalists.
(4)
Mary H.

Coffee only slightly better than Starbucks but not as comfortable seating for meeting a friend. Food marginal. Great to have a coffee shop alternative to Starbucks but sorry it is not better coffee.
(2)
Dan R.

Big time fail. Went at 9:30pm on a Tuesday evening for coffee and a study session only to enter a coffee shop that had 7 tables reserved for dinning only. To top it off several of the tables required 3 or more people. The icing on the cake, patrons that were dining in non-reserved tables. Wont be visiting again when in need of a place to study or do work. Happily enjoying my free WiFi and Starbucks coffee as I write this. Hugs and kissessssss.
(2)
Mika H.

I haven't written a review in a long time, but my experience here needs to be shared. Poor customer service at the end of my visit. The end is what matters, because that's what you leave with, so if not for this encounter, I would have given this place at least 3 stars. I like to try new places, especially coffee. I like coffee. The pictures from Yelp made me want to try the food, too, so we went in for a late lunch. I got the Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Bisque ($9). The bisque was a little sweeter than I would prefer, but it was still good. The sandwich was very interesting... two different cheeses with thin slices of apples and bacon (I took out the bacon, because sorry... just don't like bacon). The sandwich was grilled on a panini grill, and it was a pretty good sandwich. Overall I think the price is a little on the high end, but I tend to expect that sort of thing in the town area. I ordered an iced espresso. This is how I judge the espresso at coffee places. I'm not one for hot drinks, so I'll always get it iced. Their espresso is pretty good, not bitter if served right away, it has a slight sweetness in the crema. Pretty good. Here's the part that really put me off from this place. After lunch, I decided to buy an Italian Creme Soda. I went up and ordered, and the person who took my order, either the manager or owner, asked if I had a stamp card. I said no. So, he started one for me. Then, I asked, "What about my previous purchase?" "Oh, there's no back-punching." "But I just ordered today. He took my order." "We can't just punch cards for previous purchases, how can we be sure when you came or if you already had punches." "I have my receipt." "This is just a promotional thing. We're not required to give you a stamp card." That was the gist of the conversation. I was already pretty pissed, and he seemed upset himself (as he turns to the other worker and says, "We should just stop the stamp card thing"), but kept my composure. I work at a cafÃ©, and I have worked in retail for a long time. Is this really the customer service you provide to your patrons? Was I just not of the demographic you intend to have in your cafÃ©? Does that justify the way you treated me? Do you expect to expand your clientele if you treat ANY customers like this? EDIT: To be fair, they did give me the stamps for my purchase. My biggest gripe is the way in which the situation was handled. I've been working in retail/customer service for 10+ years, and I guess I'm used to places having a standard of operations. One person offers a stamp card, everyone should be taught to do so. That's something that could have avoided this, because the person who rang me up for the lunch would have offered me the stamp card as well. I thought this would be a great place to hang out with friends, since it's 24-hours. Not sure if I want to go back, ever.
(1)
Vanessa B.

I love this place. Starbucks used to be my favorite spot until I discovered Kissaten. I no longer have to struggle to find a table, there's outlets everywhere, great coffee, free wifi, food, and an ice cream parlor!!! The place is open 24 hours so i'm sure i'll be hibernating here come finals week.
(5)
Jonathan P.

For the past month my group of gym friends have been teasing my friend who practically lives at Kissaten. But one by one we went out of curiosity. Yesterday was my first time and today I'm back again! So Kissaten is located at the corner of the KHON2 news building and across of Nijiya near Ala Moana. I really like this place! What really separates this place from other coffee/cafe places is the ART! There's always a lot of interesting oil paintings, you can even buy it if you want (but it's super exepensive). Prior to my visit I read up on the beverages...luckily I don't really care for coffee! Besides the coffee they have a pretty large selection of food to choose from. The other day I tried their pesto mushroom pasta ($10) yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ and the grilled cheese and tomato bisque ($9) yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ . And today I had a chocolate Ã©clair yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ dishes were a little pricey but it was delicious. I especially liked the grilled cheese and tomato bisque! The grilled cheese had provolone and cheddar cheese with bacon and thinly cut up pieces of apple. Apples in a sandwitch?! Who knew that mix could be so tasty! They also have a stamp card where you get a stamp for every $1 you spend. Once you fill it up ($40) you get a free drink of your choice! So when you're buying something ask for a stamp card (if you don't have one) because they won't always offer you one. Another thing to keep in mind is to ask for a wifi slip whenever you buy something. Otherwise you can't use the internet and will have to buy something even though you may have just bought something! The best part about Kissaten is that it's open 24/7!! So it's a perfect place to come to study for a bit, hangout with friends, or recover from a hangover (they have a Pho that will surely sober you up)! Maybe this will be my equivalent to the coffee shop in Friends.. Just keep in mind that the parking in the structure is limited but there is street parking. Sorry guys I think I have to be the grinch who stole the parking stalls. I can't share where the structure is here! But feel free to message me if you want to know =) Oh and if you're going to stay past 2am DON"T park in Ala Moana, because they will chain up and close the lot! But there's a lot of street parking especially late at night. Yelp 365 Challenge: Review 3/365
(4)
Tiana I.

I come here for meet ups and to wind down after a night on the town. Last week, I had the Turkey Pesto Melt with Tomato Bisque and a Thai latte. Delicious! The Turkey Pesto Melt was spot-on. Great flavors that melded together and the Tomato Bisque was sweet and reminded me of cold summer nights in SF. I used to come here for the milk steamers with flavor shots, but I don't see this on the menu anymore and it makes me sad. The internet connection is pretty slow here. It's seriously faster for me to tether off the 3G from my Android. And the bathrooms are down this long, quiet, creepy corridor. Be a girl and go with a friend.
(4)
Kevin M.

Was here for lunch service was alright but the meal was even better. Simple 24hour joint more like a Starbucks that serves Zippy's food that's been gourmet-ed if that's even a word. Not sure if they have an on-line menu you can check out but had the Clam Chowder Bowl and Kissaten Sandwich which I ended up taking both home and still have enough for dinner and possibly tomorrow lunch get my drift on the size of the portions haha was awesome. They also serve coffee and tea like a normal cafe. Parking can be trying as they are located in Hawaii Iki Tower so parking on Waimanu St. (meters) not sure if building has any Customer... Should be back after checking out the menu more...
(4)
T Y.

Greatest pho I have ever ate in my life. And I grew up in vietnam! Maybe they should rename to Killapho! Anybody who likes, loves pho or even any type of noodle soup go down and try it ASAP! BTW they run out alot, so make sure you go early!
(1)
Robyn S.

Good idea, I love the feel of convenience this place brings. I'm pretty sleepless so I guess I feel suckered into being promised a home twenty four hours on the daily... which is awesome if you're a sleep deprived college student, a tweaked out drug addict... or me. Anywaaays, on my first visit I ordered: Matcha Latte and the Potato/Leek Soup. The latte didn't particularly pique my interest, semi-bland with very little matcha flavor, nothing splenda couldn't fix. The soup on the other hand... was on point like decimals, creamy, a nice hot temperature, and a soothing contrast to the cool blast of the ac that runs through the establishment. I really love the vibe of this place. I was also pretty bummed about the late night selection in comparison to the daily selection. Although it's understandable why you wouldn't offer fifty million choices at two AM in the morning... people love their choices! I feel determined to try this place out during the day to get a better feel of their culinary prowess. Don't break my heart Kissaten.
(3)
Natasha T.

I only went to this place once, but the ambience was really cool! Free wifi, laid back setting, art, etc. The menu seemed kind of limited, or rather you could only order certain things at certain times, so I wish I could go back and try more things. I ordered the mac and cheese (truffle i think?). It was honestly just okay, a little too rich for me. My husband ordered a sandwich and really liked it. (I think they are more known for their sandwiches.) Didn't feel in the mood for coffee or ice cream, but I loved that they had those options! Overall a really chill place to hang out, study, whatever and grab a bite.
(4)
Matthew R.

This is a good change from typical coffee shops. They also have a good local brewed coffee option (Kona-Waialua blend) that I like. I mostly only drink coffee or tea as this is where I go to town Sun mornings for a Japanese speaking group meet-up, but I did try the breakfast burrito once and it was tasty! Nice ambiance, artwork on the wall, seems to have a decent menu selection.
(4)
Maka I.

I really like Kissaten! :) ... Kissaten is a great coffee/tea place. It is very convenient in the way of computer/cell phone outlets and I really love it for this! :) ... It is really awesome cause it is open 24/7 so especially good for studying or working on projects ... have even been there for long hours studying and they haven't kicked me out even when I was out of it and didn't order anything for awhile, although some of the girls have attitudes. I love the couches cause I feel at home eating on a comfortable couch :) ... I don't drink coffee but the food, although not the healthiest is really good and the pastries are really cute. I love the tomato bisque soup! :) ... the prices are decent compared to most places and I really appreciate this. It's not a restaurant so don't expect anything fancy. When the guys bring out the food it comes out really fast. When the girls serve, it is not so fast and have even had a few of them forget my water entirely even after requesting it a 2nd time ... felt like they were kind of snubbing me for ordering a water for awhile and then months after I had been frequenting the place, one of the girls finally told me that I was supposed to get my own water. Glad I finally learned what they were huffy about cause I'd rather get my own water than deal with drama & attitudes. The owner of the place is super nice and gives the best service of any of them. I wish I could clone about 10 of him because he works really hard to make sure everyone has a great experience. He's really polite but not super social but then I think he must be exhausted from working all the time and overnight too. Make sure to take a jacket if you get cold easily cause the air is on high sometimes and I don't mind as long as I have a jacket. The music is sometimes a little louder at night too but probably to help everyone stay awake. The parking is a little limited as there is metered street parking and then paid parking in the back. But there's always the mall garage. Thanks Kissaten for providing a relaxing atmosphere to study in! :)
(4)
Jon R.

Interesting that they would be open 24 hrs. But that's the only plus I can see. Food was so so, prices a little high even for the breakfast special. Nothing to write home about.
(3)
Jared T.

breakfasts are awesome. I can't speak to the coffee or drinks but I definitely enjoyed the food ive had here. The Egg White Frittata (pronounced - free TAH -TAAAAAAAAA, emphasis on the TAAAAA for best effect) are consistently my favorite food here. A nice olive oil coat on egg whites with a touch of spinach and goat cheese. greatttt stuff. can't go wrong with it. It'd be nice if it came with a side of salad like the other dishes but oh well. the breakfast burritos - tortilla, egg, italian sausage, cheese and bacon - are not bad as well. they have a healthy flavor to them, which can be drowned away with the side of sour cream and salsa they provide. but i wouldn't say those are even necessary - i like the rustic flavor.
(4)
S E.

I had a totally decent hot chocolate and was surprised by how much I liked the art on the walls after being a bit underwhelmed by the space (it reminded me of too-large coffee shops in the suburbs in the late 1990s-early 2000s). I can understand why it seemed like a popular place for local teenagers.
(3)
Kristen C.

#61/365 Overall, 3.5. Came here because i was craving for some risotto and i had a $20 coupon to use. Plus, ive been meaning to come here anyway so might as well ;) i came around 11 and it wasnt crowded so that was nice, i was even able to snag some parking in their garage...sweet! You order at the counter and if u want to eat in they give u a number and you just choose your seat. I got the vegetable risotto for $9, kissaten salad for $5, pb choco chip bread pudding for $3 something and the small mocha freeze for $4.25. Food came out pretty fast since there was no one in front of me besides a guy that ordered a drink. As for the entrees, the risotto was good but it didnt even have vegetables, ONLY freakin mushrooms...i mean, it was good but if they say its a vegetable risotto then put veggies of call it a mushroom risotto. Another gripe was that for $9 it came in a small stinkin bowl! O_O. The salad we pretty good though, it had a balsamic vinaigrette
(4)
Tiffany H.

Basically, my first experience (other than the americano I ordered, which tasted kind of bad) at Kissaten was a good one. It was a cute hole-in-the-wall coffee shop and wasn't crowded like Starbucks. However, I'm writing because my second experience there was a bad one. I was very turned off by the fact that you can only get wifi with a purchase, and it's only good for 1 hour (I've read other yelp postings that it's 2 hours with purchase of food; 1 for drink). To add to that, you have a time limit as to when to use the 1 hour voucher by. To me, this is really inconvenient. Coffee bean has a 1 hour voucher as well, but you can save it and use it on any other day. Another reason I was turned off was the barista. When I asked her about the username/login for the wifi, she looked at me like I was stupid, and talked to me with a kind of rude/impatient attitude. Unfortunately, due to the wifi limitations, I probably won't be going back.
(2)
papaya s.

Had the turkey pesto melt on focaccia, potato leek soup, tomato bisque soup and house salad. $20 for a light lunch for two. The turkey pesto melt was good -- focaccia not too heavy, subtle pesto flavor, two slices of turkey, and some great bacon. Potato leek soup was served luke warm and with a strange hard boiled egg in it -- not a huge fan of that. Tomato bisque was topped with olive oil (?) and rather on the sweet side. Pretty good, though. House salad was OK, but nothing special. A roll came with either the tomato bisque or the salad. Nice decor, not too crowded at lunch time. Not a bad place, but not somewhere I feel compelled to return. Everything was just OK.
(3)
Frances B.

I love the atmosphere of the cafe. The lively orange walls make it less coffee-house and more chillin-at-a-cafe. Additionally, you have the option of sitting on a sofa or at a table. Their grilled cheese and tomato basil soup is muy delicioso! Coffee - strong and flavorful, just how I like it. They forgot my order once, and I was surprised with a nice treat. It is one of my favorite spots to keep my friends company during their late night study sessions.
(4)
Ethan T.

Here's something new... I'm reviewing Kissaten, FROM KISSATEN! This is like a new parallel universe I'm in! And it's only possible because (1) it's open at all hours of the day and night and (2) they have FREE WIFI! I've always dreamt of a world in which 24 hour businesses were the norm. Unfortunately beyond the world of Wal-Mart, this is but a dream. Kissaten however, helps bring that dream to the forefront of reality by making themselves available throughout the long 24 hours of a day. I've always wondered where I could go if I wanted to take a date out somewhere that wasn't creepy or closed at 11pm+. Kissaten will be one of those hidden gems I can now impress a date with instead of taking her home for a "cup of coffee." But I digress... Beyond the hours of operation, this place serves some surprisingly good food, their Kissaten Melt is delicious (though a bit pricey, minus a dollar or two and this thing is GOLD!). Their soups, impressive! Simple and yet well done, the two soups I've tried have been nothing but liquid soup porn oozing at the cusps of my love for soup. Their potato leek soup is divine, the poached egg is the cherry on top. The Tomato Bisque isn't even close to "marinara in a bowl," which of course I feel like most tomato soups live up to. This Tomato Bisque is creamy and yet tart, the two flavors blend well while the oil dressed blots dress the soup up nicely. Their drinks... leave much to the imagination. They're either watery or bland at times OR they're delicious one-off drinks that you can't get at your local corporate Starbucks. Depending on your waitress, the drinks are a mystery as to whether or not they'll turn out to be as good (or as bad) as the last drink you ordered. Their Italian and Cream Sodas are a good safe bet in my experience if you're just looking for something to compliment that order of food you're destined to try here. Parking, come after 6pm and it's free street parking. Come anytime before that and you're dumping quarters by the boatload (20 minutes per). Park at Ala Moana and you will save a few dollars but risk the minute chance that your car gets towed. Overall, I'm a fan. With all the deals going on (from those social coupon websites, Groupon maybe?) and the upcoming TweetUP for V-day, this place can be worth the try at a discounted price. INTERESTING TIDBIT: "Kissaten" literally means "cafe," but when used in dialogue in Japan, usually refers to a place you would take a date for casual reasons (i.e. getting to know each other). It is a common understanding that a male and female going to a "kissaten" is the same as going on a first date, as cafes are an acceptable place to interact with the opposite sex in a relaxed setting. Anyone want to take me to "Kissaten?"
(4)
Claire P.

good place to get fun coffee and drinks but for wifi and studying pretty loud and have to buy somthing every hour for new wifi password
(4)
Todd T.

I have heard a great deal of positive commentary about this place, and I passed it on the way to somewhere. So I just had to com eon eday, and now this is my new hangout joint! Drinks are great. I don't like a sweetend Macha Latte, and they took out the Vanilla for me. And the cafe ole is oishi~! I had the Turkey Pesto Sandwich and Potato Leek today. LORD that was to die for! This hidden secret is open 24 hours and is really a clean. The workers here are incredibly friendly. I can tell you, I'm definitely coming back!
(5)
Nicole K.

Agreeing with Riana S about the Internet. That made me really sad. One hour of wi-fi depending on what you buy. The last time we went, we only got drinks at first, and we received 15 minutes of wi-fi. What are you supposed to do with 15 minutes? Seriously? I do like their food, however. It is a tad bit expensive, but when I'm studying I do tend to feel the need to splurge. I like their tomato bisque a lot, and the wedge salad is to die for. The pho isn't bad. And I have yet to go there for a breakfast menu. But I'll do that one day soon and update this review. It also made me sad that whenever we go to study, I can never find seats. So, we usually meander our way to the bar area and awkwardly sit in front of the cooks who are preparing food. I love watching them, but I think they think I'm weird or something. I tend to zone out at them when they're making food (my bad guys). There is an abundance of outlets, but I wish there were some in the middle of the floor. The few tables that are in the middle don't have floor outlets. The last time, our friend Elsi totally just brought a huge, long extension cord and plugged it into the wall. It was a riot.
(3)
Kayfo T.

Would've been a 4-star review, except for the fact that they now limit use of their internet to 1-hour. Seriously, who does that?!? When Kissaten first opened earlier this year, I was pretty stoked. In fact, I was pretty big fan, stopping in at least 10 times in the last month. Oahu definitely needed a 24-hour coffee shop. Could've definitely used one during the college days. Plus, I'd much rather support a locally-owned, independent coffee shop than a corporate chain, even if Kissaten's drinks are more expensive. The decor is modern-chic- I think they furnish from INspiration across the street. Their coffee is pretty good, but not nearly as good as Glazer's (who by the way makes designs in your mocha froth). The workers don't seem too excited to be there...or even be alive for that matter. Granted it is just a coffee shop, but at least the Starbucks baristas have a personality. I guess "corporate" does have its benefits... All in all, if you don't need wifi, then yay- you'll be a fan! However, if wifi use is a factor, then meh-I've experienced better at Starbucks right down the road (with cheaper drinks).
(2)
Chris O.

Kissaten is located on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu on the first floor of the KHON building. For parking, there's metered parking along Waimanu, so make sure you have quarters. Another option is to park at Ala Moana and walk over. Edit: apparently there's a few reserved stalls in the KHON building as well. After walking in, you're greeted with a surprisingly spacious room with a few tables scattered in the middle and a couple of couches along the walls. Despite the orange accents through out the room, I really get a mellow feeling here. As a coffee joint, this place great. There's your free wi-fi, nice couches, and most importantly, it's open 24 hours. However, it was the food that slightly disappointed. I am a french onion soup lover and I'll automatically order it if I see it on a menu. Kissaten's french onion soup was probably the worst I've eaten. No cheese, no bread, and biting into a bunch of whole peppercorn wasn't appealing. Although I personally didn't eat it, my friends Ethan T. and Ed K. seemed pleased with their paninis, but noted that if it weren't for their $6 coupon they may have passed on it.
(3)
Catherine K.

24hour Coffee Shop, I did not think these existed in Hawaii ! But yes, it's true, it does exist and it's called Kissaten ^-^ My friend showed me this place, and I am grateful that I was The only thing about this place I'm not completely crazy about it is the parking, there isn't much in the KHON building (only can park where it says kissaten on the posts) but I usually just park at the lot in front of Ninjiya Market across the street and get a bit of cardio just walking there, every step counts ! First of all, it's a bit quiet, but the atmosphere is really cozy with lots of orange accents, suede couches and chic furniture. You can bring your laptop here and study too, which is a big plus for me (starbucks gets much too crowded sometimes) The food here is really good, I still haven't tried much yet but as I try more and more things here I will update this review ! Oh and yes the teas and coffee's here are very scrumptious. I usually just order an iced black tea latte but their italian sodas, espresso and smoothies are tasty as well Anyways, check it out ! OH ! did I mention they serve late night pho ? :) ----------------------------- update ! the lilikoi creme brulee, yogurt parfait, and the assorted panini's (changes on different days) are so delicious try em all
(5)
Amanda Z.

I really wanted to like Kissaten Cafe, but the slow/lack of service and average food made the experience fall short of my expectations. First of all, it was really confusing where to order our food - the menu is over the cooking/counter area and the register is all the way to the right. The only highlight of the meal was the short rib loco moco = bomb. Super tender, falling off the bone, tasty gravy, plethora of veggies. And now for the negatives...about 30-40 minutes to receive all of our meals, repeatedly had to ask for water/utensils, lack of uniformity in meals (friend's short rib loco moco had about 5 veggies, but ours had 15) and to top it off: the seafood risotto was super fishy/tasted old. I was intrigued by the late night pho for $7 - maybe we will return to try that...in a few months after they work the service kinks out.
(2)
Gemma R.

After reading about all the desserts and such, I stopped by. I wasn't impressed by the lack of desserts but maybe it ws beacuse it was lunch time? I dunno? I thought that they'd have more available. The place is really neat but packed for 12ish during the weekday. I'll try again and hopefully they'll have desserts. I do like the fact that it's 24hr :)
(3)
Zack N.

Good eats after a long night of drinking. Took it easy with a grilled cheese layered with apple slices and an iced coffee. I'd give it four stars if they cold brewed the iced coffee, rather than hot brew and cool.
(3)
Grace Y.

A 24 hour coffee shop in Honolulu! It's like a cross between Zippy's and a coffee shop. The location is very random (in the KHON building), but if you go late at night there's street parking and apparently Kissaten has parking in the building (but I couldn't find it). For a place where you can stay as long as you want, the coffee drinks are actually quite cheap. Maybe I'm just used to Starbucks prices. They also serve a variety of food, depending on what time you go. They were advertising "late night pho" when I went at midnight. Atmosphere was very casual. Couches, tables, TVs. A good place to hang out with friends and talk or to study.
(5)
Wayde F.

A 24 Hour cafÃ© in downtown? Can this be true? How long has this place been here? Wasn't Tropical Smoothies here before? What's going on people??? Yes, finally a 24 hour CafÃ© that serves much more then just Coffee...O SO MUCH MORE! The Coffee is good here, the food is good here and the service??? Well, lets just say it's acceptable. I even told the girls behind the counter I was going to write a review about them and they just seemed really chilled out and helped me anyway they could. Not too much on personality but whatever...I give them a pass for their smiles. The prices are reasonable on the entire menu as well so high five on that one. The atmosphere is just GREAT. I love it here! When meeting with clients it's a real great place to make everyone feel comfortable and everyone else is either working on their laptops surfing the web or just studying for that big exam. When here late at night the students can sometimes PI$$ me off when I'm trying to do some work but over all not a problem if I have a head set if it gets noisy. KISSATEN's seating setup is a little less desirable. Some serious thought should be put into this. It's a big draw back with this cafe. This place does bring me back to my collage days when I was so craving for a coffee at 3am to keep me awake for another hour to finish that paper I had been procrastinating on that was due that morning...wow that was a long sentence...lol Now there is one draw back here, but let me be clear...Rules are put in place at KISS to deal with the friggin leeches, and there are plenty of them! It is COMPELETLY understandable that one must PURCHASE ITEMS on the MENU to sit and VEG like a couch potato when using the WIFI INTERNET...But lets be honest here...only for an hour????? That's F#$%ING BULLS#!T! It's a GOD DAMN CAFÃ‰...are these owners on crack? If I purchase a Bagel, Coffee and maybe a Breakfast wrap for example...I EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE WIFI for a few hours...maybe even 3 if I get another Coffee... If KISSATEN plans on curbing the leeches they better come up with a better plan for those who actually buy items and use the internet there...In the end this is just going to PUSH PEOPLE away. Put it this way...If Starbucks was 24hrs as well...trust me, KISS wouldn't be putting limits on WIFI ACCESS...if they did...they would be screwed but because they have the upper hand in a 24hr location they can get away with this arrogance. I don't like it when owners treat good customers like this...NOT COOL! The good return paying customers shouldn't suffer because of the few leeches that show up at all hours of the night! Don't push it KISS...you will lose your most trusted customers. This is KISSATEN's double edge sword...Students are the business who also can leech off them as well but if the staff knows the repeat customers that spend money here they can start to give those people leeway and get rid of the leeches that sit there and get a coffee and veg for 4-5 hours...Seriously you morons...get a LIFE and go HOME! I would recommend KISS come up with a card system, sorta like a CLUB CARD...Offer it to return customers...have them put money on the card and use it when they come in...If you have a card the more you use it the more unlimited access to WIFI you get until you reach UNLIMITED STATUS...You reward students and customers that return and spend money at your cafÃ©...EVEN AN IDIOT can come up with this good idea...So I can't see why KISS wouldn't implement it in the future...this will weed out the leech bags fo sure and create a sorta club/member atmosphere! So what do I give this cafÃ©...Four stars...Five once they fix the Seating and WiFi issues that any good owner or manager can fix in a few weeks...Make it happen people. And for those who just buy a Coffee and a Donut...2 Hours WiFi is reasonable...come on KISS...It's time to get your head out of your Puka and be realistic.
(4)
Aimee C.

If you've read my first review, I probably won't eat, but considering this is as a study spot -- YES! They have good coffee/drink choices and I have not been disappointed. Nothing to go crazy over, but good to have while you hang out and study. Wi-fi is free (as long as you buy something) for an hour at a time. You can ask at the register for access and they will give you a paper with a code - and literally, when that hour hits, boom! you are logged off. They have tables and stools that aren't the most comfortable. I haven't had a problem with the accessibility to outlets (yay!) which is very helpful. There is street parking nearby, but I usually find a spot across by Sears (not completely sure that's ok, but so far it's been ok). They have a bathroom that I believe is shared with other businesses in the Hawaiki Tower, so it's a short walk but a clean bathroom. It's a very spacious, well-lit (listen, you'd be surprised how many places you feel like you might need to bring a lamp from home at!) and cool atmosphere to hang out and/or study in. Highly recommended if you don't mind uncomfy chairs and logging onto the Internet on the hour....oh yeah, and they are open 24 hours! Sweeeetttt.
(4)
Crissy K.

As much as I would like to say that Kissaten is just, as Christopher H. says, "working the kinks out," they need to do a lot more than that. They pretty much need to start all over again if they're going to survive. About the only things this place has going for it are its hours and its cuteness. It's a 24-hour spot with a lot of outlets for your laptops/iPhones and apparently free Wi-Fi, and they have a ton of space. But if people come for food and coffee, they will be gravely disappointed. FOOD: My friends and I ordered a number of dishes to try. The mussel lunch special was actually fairly good, though you couldn't really taste the truffle oil they listed on the menu. The tomato bisque was thick, but not creamy, and while the menu said it was made with Hamakua tomatoes, it tasted almost like it came from a can. The potato leek soup was a little better, especially once we got the egg yolk flowing into it. We were expecting a lot out of the Kissaten Melt, since it bore the name of the cafe itself, but it came with just a sliver of pastrami and wasn't very flavorful. The biggest disappointment, though, was the "vegetable risotto." It is not an exaggeration to say that it had no flavor at all. It was basically arborio rice with chicken broth and bell peppers -- nothing to give it any sort of kick. Even a little bit of butter or some sort of seasoning would have helped, but it's almost as if they didn't know any better. SUPER disappointing. COFFEE: I ordered a nonfat cappuccino. I know skim milk is a little runny, but my cappuccino seemed to be watered down. The espresso flavor and caffeine-ness just didn't come through at all. SERVICE: While the employees were all quite nice, they didn't seem to have their act together. We were one of only three or four parties in the place at lunch, but they couldn't keep track of which parties placed which orders. I felt bad for them, but this is why you hire people who either have service experience or a good memory. I know I always say it, but it's always true: I really wanted to like Kissaten, but the magic just wasn't happening for me. Hopefully they can take criticism constructively and turn things around.
(2)
Jessie D.

Hawaii is a city of late night spots. We want to have them; there's not enough of them. So, you can imagine my surprise that there's word of a new 24-HOUR COFFEE SPOT at Ala Moana. This HAS to be tried, easily. First things first, the decor is quite nice. With this spot and Yogurstory opening up within the past month, the interior design game of Hawaii restauranteurs is definitely stepping up. It's clean, modern, TONS of outlets (always a good thing at a "coffee shop") and a TV with ESPN playing College basketball. Always a good look, IMHO. I would like to note the quotation marks around "coffee shop." The bar LOOKS like it should be good: the right equipment (portafilter Espresso machine, freshly ground beans) and a nice assortment of drinks. BUT! As was noted in another review, the shots "died" in front of me and it led to an overly sweet, kinda weak Soy Thai Latte. VERY little coffee flavor and not something that would keep me awake at 2am, if I needed it. I was a little disappointed in the food, as I was looking to try the Grilled Cheese and Soup combo. I appreciate the effort of putting bacon in the grilled cheese, but to run out of it? UNACCEPTABLE. So, I switched gears and got the Hamakua Tomato Bisque. It was quite delicious, but $5 for the serving you get is stretching it a bit. A side note, the baristas apparently don't have a dress code, as I don't know how safe it is to be handling steaming hot milk while wearing hot pants and knee high boots. From the taste of the coffee, Seems like the baristas are there for eye candy first, then making drinks second. Hopefully, they can figure this out, as the potential for great is there (24 hour coffee shop in town? EXCELLENT idea), but execution needs some help. I would probably go back one more time to try the lunch menu and figure out whether or not the food is worth it calling this place a cafe. But definitely "coffee shop" this is not. Not yet, at least.
(3)
Chris M.

Kissaten is a great place to go for some caffeine and hot, made-to-order food. Prices for coffee drinks are reasonable. I like that they'll take the time to make sure my soy latte is at the perfect temperature (at Starbucks, most times they just pour in the cold soy milk). BF likes their iced mochas. Truffle mac & cheese and the Turkey Pesto Melt are our favorites (because both come with BACON!), but we've also tried and enjoyed the Mushroom Pesto pasta and the Kissaten Melt. Food is more impressive when you realize that they cook off of a hot plate and panini grill. Wow, imagine what they could do with a real kitchen! Portion size is good; I have a very healthy appetite and it is enough to fill me up. As far as wi-fi goes, yes, you'll have to make a purchase to get their passcode. What is disappointing is that only one person can use that code - so when BF and I go together and spend over $20, only one of us can use the wi-fi. I guess you could just do two separate transactions to get one more passcode though. We've come at various times of day - mid-morning, lunch, late afternoon....each time we were lucky enough to find street parking in front, service was good, and food came out hot.
(4)
Dons A.

food awesome wifi free chai tea always good coffee yup good parking also free 24/7 raaar! find a good reason to get out of the house...kiss a ten
(5)
Emiko T.

YES for the 24 hours, great (safe) location, awesome lighting and relatively good drinks at Kissaten cafe. Full of students and trendy people of all sorts, there are several regular tables, high counter tops and couches on which to lounge and study. Yes, the one downside is they're kind of shady (and sometimes generous) with their internet allowance, and so unlike Starbucks it's not an unlimited supply unless you buy more food and drinks. So I guess that's how they make their money and can afford to stay open 24 hours. Small price to pay I suppose! They've got a cool bookshelf on the side of the cafe which has some magazines and other things to read, just in case you really are there to totally relax and not do "real" work. Their pomegranate iced tea lemonade is really delicious and refreshing. I highly recommend it, though it's a little on the sweet side (but who's complaining about that?) I've also had their ice matcha green tea latte which is good as well. I've yet to try their food and pastries but first on my list is going to be one of their sandwich melts and a tomato bisque. Nothing gives me comfort like a good, creamy bisque. The staff has always been friendly when I've ordered. Though sometimes getting your drink takes a little bit of time but just be patient, they'll call out your order eventually. Yelp challenge: #22/365
(4)
Michael C.

Kissaten is a new cafe located on the ground floor of the Hawaiki Tower (KHON building). They offer a good selection of coffee and tea drinks as well as free wifi. Kissaten is open 24-hours a day, however full food selections are only available until 7:00pm. Every visit to Kissaten has been an enjoyable one as the employees are very friendly and accommodating. The potato leek soup is one of their signature items and is very good. If you're looking for the full experience; order before the kitchen closes as dishes come with fewer accouterments otherwise. There is ample seating and electrical sockets strewn about the shop. Parking may be an issue for this small establishment as street parking is limited. There is however, super secret parking in Hawaiki Towers in the stalls marked for the cafe; currently there are four.
(4)
S D.

I like the idea that it's 24 hours... Also FREE wi-fi w/ purchase, but it's only for two hours time limit. Tried the FAMOUS / highly recommended "Tomato bisque and cheese sandwich" it's just hype. If that's the best dish that they serve... I better go there FULL. Drinks are good... Service is great! Nice, polite and friendly staff.
(4)
Jermy D.

Went back again for another go round at Kissaten. Food: The food is good this time. I had the tomato bisque and grilled cheese with apples and bacon combo, which cost me about $9. It pretty tasty, and they get points for the unique bacon, cheese, and apples combo. Drinks: The drinks seem to have gotten better. The last two times I've been happy with my drinks. The iced tea is better, and no longer tastes like colored water. They seem to be training their baristas a little better. Their espresso tasted like espresso this time around. Give them another try. They seem to be working out all the kinks.
(3)
Justin Y.

Finally...a 24 hour coffee joint again! 24 hours or not, there are certain things a coffee shop needs to be at least decent in my book. Good coffee, decent food, and a nice ambiance. Thankfully Kissaten does a pretty good job on all 3 marks. Coffee - I'm a simple coffee purist when it comes down to it. I love coffee. I love it with no sugar and no cream. So if the stuff tastes like tar (starbucks) it really comes through. Kissaten's didn't stand out as ridiculously good or anything, but it was good enough to where I was happy with it. They don't serve the burnt coffee on the bottom of the decanter thankfully...they'll just ask you nicely to wait while they brew a new batch, which I personally prefer. Food - While i've never ate a full meal here, i've had the small stuff like the risotto & tomato bisque. Both were pretty good, and i'll probably order them again. The risotto was a little on the smaller side, but it was enough. The tomato bisque & grilled cheese option really hits the spot on the days a little comfort food is needed. (Rainy day + coffee + bisque & grilled cheese = awesomeness) Ambiance - The decor is pretty cohesive and contemporary, which is great. The best thing I like about this place is that everyone tends to keep the volume down. Every time i've been there its been at most a 2 on a scale of 1-10...probably because the crowd is mostly students studying, but given that the volume level of any other coffee shop tends to be more of an 8, the quiet is something that i'm definitely thankful for. The service has always been decent, if a little on the slower side. The employees are pleasant however, and the wait has never been beyond reason, so no complaints there. Not a fan of the Kiss-a-ten thing...but eh that's just their weird little marketing push. Nothing to do with the actual place! :) Overall, i'm sure to be back...i just hope theres a seat left during the peak night hours!
(4)
Mari F.

Kissaten is a cute place to hang out and chat with friends or have a nice study date with yourself. They have a wide variety of Italian Soda flavors to choose from if you're into that sort of thing. They have improved the amount of seating tremendously from when they first opened which is a plus. The only gripe I have with this place is its location. I have not tried to park in the Hawaiki Tower Building, but I heard it is confusing. There is also never any parking on the street (and even if there were, I hate to parallel park!) I usually park at Ala Moana and walk across the street as other people do, but beware that when you do that you are actually trespassing because Kissaten is not affiliated with Ala Moana...I know this from personal experience. It is probably ok to park there during the daytime, but at night at a certain time, they block all the entrances and exits so don't get trapped, you'll get an angry lecture from the security guard ha, ha! Also, some workers are nicer and friendlier than others as stated in other people's reviews.
(4)
Mark G.

I like this place, they have a nice selection of soups and sandwiches. They seem to care about presentation, adding garnishes and such to the soups. The coffee was above average. Their pastries are small, but that's ok. I don't really need a 1 pound cinnamon roll anyway. It does bug me that almost every table in the joint has someone with a laptop computer doing who knows what. So it was hard to get table with all the squatters, but that's not entirely (though partially) the fault fo the coffee shop. Do they still have libraries at the colleges? It's been a while since I was in school. Parking wasn't too bad on Sunday when I went.
(4)
Benji P.

Before I say anything good about Kissaten, I just came home from there today and they took away the totally FREE wi-fi! Now it's a 2 hour maximum with purchase of food, 1 hour with purchase of a drink. One log in per computer. Now I have to work EXTRA fast just to get my 2 hours worth. Besides the new internet policy. The food was AWESOME. They really take time into preparing a "gourmet" menu at such a good price! PLEASE dont change the prices, you'll just totally drive me away! The espresso drinks are awesome but their regular drip coffee was pretty nasty. I guess I had the last of the batch but I'm not sure. I'll give it another try. Get there quick and reserve a two top, or bring a group of 3 to save a 3 top because it get's pretty busy later in the evening. I love Kissaten, it's my new favorite coffee shop but if they make any more changes to the internet policy I will surely bounce.
(3)
Royden A.

Awesome place to go late at night to study or sober up after the club, this place is great because its open 24 hours. I love coming here! Food is awesome, during the day and earlier in the night the menu has alot more things to choose from but most of the time i come only the late night menu is up. i always order the tomato bisque and grilled cheese or turkey pesto when i can. The workers are great, very friendly and easy to talk to.
(4)
Kaipo G.

Extra kudos for being a 24 hour coffee shop. This is an excellent venue for reading, studying, homework, etc etc. There is an open space floor plan with a large amount of seating. I've only visited during the hours between 6pm and 5am. From 8pm-12am it can be a bit challenging to find a seat in the house. It's always extra crowded during that time. After midnight, people start to trickle out. Its normally empty by 2:30am. The food is just okay. Can't complain too much since they serve food 'round the clock. I've seen the dishes their kitchen pops out, and its nothing to write home about. I've had sandwiches on two occasions there, both times, there was one slice of meat between 2 thick slices of bread. Bad meat:bread ratio :( Parking can be a bit of an issue. If you go after horus, Ala Moana parking is closed. I've seen people park near Payless Shoe and Nijiya Market. There is roughly 16-20 metered stalls along Waimanu Street. Wifi is free with purchase, usually 1 or 2 hour increments.
(4)
Kimi L.

Parking in KHON building - look for stalls labeled "Kissaten Cafe". Also, metered street parking. They've got Wi-Fi, which is great for those of you who need to study. Perfect lounge, study atmosphere. Clean - huge in my books. They have a huge drink menu (coffees, teas, etc.) Their food menu is fantastic - visit their website (morning, lunch, evening and late night menu). Their smoked salmon salad is sooo good. I also love their green tea w/ lemon drink - very refreshing.
(5)
Kristen K.

This place would get a 5 star review if they had unlimited wifi with any purchase. I'm a grad student and two hours is not enough time to get anything done. Overall, friendly staff and cute environment; love the art on the wall and the way it is decorated!
(3)
Judy L.

I came here on a Thursday night to do some work. When we first got there, the place wasn't packed, but there were no chairs next by a power outlet except for the bar. While I was pondering on what beverage to get, the bf snagged a table while a party was walking out. Score! Window seats and ooh, the chair is comfortable. I ordered a green apple iced tea, large for $3.00. He ordered a thai latte. The drinks left much to be desired from my opinion. My green apple iced tea was still a bit warm. It tasted like iced tea and apple juice mixed together. Nothing special. Am I expecting too much?? Maybe. I suppose I was just expecting to be quenched by some cold brisk tea. The thai latte, on the other hand, did not taste anything thai-like. It tasted more like a mocha latte. Definitely needed more condensed milk. Overall, drinks were kinda meh for the price. The thing that appeals most to me is that it is open 24 hours, so you can always find a place to hang out or work and the location is very "hip". Beware that buying a drink will only entail you to 2 hours worth of internet time. The atmosphere is very outgoing in this place, with large groups of friends around tables. I also noticed girls kissing each other on the cheek goodbye. Might not be odd to you, but it is to me. Hehe, people watching is amusing. O_O
(3)
Guava G.

I like to come into Kissa10 when I'm hungry and don't want to deal with the mall and its traffic or other weird hole in the wall food places in the area. Basically, it's a good place to order some non-boring food, take in some caffeine, and sit down to take care of online business in a clean, air-conditioned, and calming environment. Also, service has always been great.
(5)
Aaron K.

I love how there is a 24 hour coffee shop to go now! Been there twice already, once for lunch and once for dinner. For lunch I had the grilled cheese and potato leak soup. The grilled cheese was unique cuz there were fresh apples inside, as well as bacon. I wasn't a huge fan of the apple, but it wasn't bad. The soup was bomb though. Usually potato leak soups can be a little dry and grainy, but this one was smooth and tasty. For dinner I tried their meatloaf and their caprese salad. The meatloaf was not the best. It was not firm enough to be meat loaf, a little grainy, and fatty. The flavor wasn't too bad, but tasted like bbq sauce. The caprese salad on the other hand was pretty good and fresh. I never had strawberries in mine, but it actually worked! This place has a lot of potential and apparently hasn't 'officially grand opened' yet. Hopefully it will stay and become a place where people don't just go to use wifi or because they have no where to go at 3am, but because there is ono food!
(4)
J K.

All the study spots close early nowadays so Kissaten is my go to place. - drink prices aren't bad. I usually get a med tea latte ($2.75) - service is average - atmosphere is pretty chill... sometimes there are loud crowds but that is to be expected at a 24 hour place - food is tasty but I would rather eat somewhere else and have drinks at the cafe. I have only tried their tomato bisque (sweet) and grilled cheese sandwich and James had the mac and cheese (it was too rich) - lots of plugs and places to sit! yay! - internet usage is limited depending on the amount of money you spend
(4)
Crystal A.

Came here on one of my vists back home because I wanted to know what all the hype of a 24 hr coffee bar was all about & what was so much better than Starbucks. I went with my mom, brother, and bf (all of whom have graduated college within the past 3 years). It had a very trendy ambience filled with college students. The music volume was very acceptable in a studying environment unlike starbucks where it can be just so loud that you can't hear yourself think. They also have a cafe with a kitchen so you can order real food if you got hungry while studying, very convenient since you dont need to leave the area for some good eats. However, we just ordered their different coffees & lattes. The latte I got seemed alright, I like Starbucks better (then again, I am biased). For a brief 10 seconds, while sitting on their trendy orange furniture, it made me feel like I wanted to be in college again and come to a place like this to study (since I was an avid Starbucks go-er) but then i snapped back to reality & felt so happy that I finally finished college and there is no reason for me to study anymore. The only downside for this place is that wi-fi is not free (I'm not too sure how you pay for it) but for some people, wi-fi is a must.
(3)
Tze M.

I've read a lot of this place so made a plan with my friends to go have lunch there. We got there and there were NO SEATS. Looking around, a whole bunch of people on their laptops mostly surfing Facebook. And seeing how no one was moving towards finished. We bailed. I wouldn't mind going back to check it out, but the hassle of parking, and seeing that there's free wifi, I won't be trying to visit there anytime soon.
(2)
Brian K.

First of all, I've wanted to start a 24-hour coffee shop for years. I guess someone beat me to it. Great idea and nice atmosphere. Here's a tip: because people are working and studying here all day, they should strongly consider selling supplies (pens, pencils, etc.). Wi-fi should be good for a longer period and they should have a sign explaining their policy. Service was average. With a few tweaks, this place could be THE BEST coffee shop on the island. I see a lot of POTENTIAL for this place..
(3)
Michael V.

Perfect place to study or just hang with friends. I like the design. Food is average but customer service is really nice! Theres always a positive vibe about this place and it's workers.
(5)
Stewart S.

I'm here more than most of the staff, but that's because I have too much free time, no friends and not enough ambition to do more with myself. Which is why a 24-hour coffee shop is a perfect place for me. The risotto is fantastic, and the salads are healthy and fresh. Renee makes my drinks perfect every time and always greets me with a smile! It opened just a couple of weeks ago, so it's still working out some kinks, but they've already won me over.
(5)
Edward K.

This place is awesome! I wish I was still in school because I always needed a place to go and study during all the those late nights. Not to say the library wasn't good but this place is air conditioned, they offer free WI-FI, and the food and drinks are good and reasonably priced. I had the opportunity to chill here with a few friends for around 6 hours and I had no problems with anything. The place is still new so there isn't too many people taking up all the chairs but they have both sit down tables and couches to either eat or study at. Parking is a bit tricky with a few pay stall outside but it's close enough to Ala moan where you could park there and just walk over. I actually had the Kissaten melt and although it was a bit pricey, it was delicious. The coffee itself is cheap with 2 bucks for a small cup and no more than 5 for the largest size. I would definitely go here instead of starbucks for pretty much all reasons.
(5)
Jo H.

After the movies at Dole Cannery we looked for a place open after 10:30pm. We found Kissaten to be one of the few restaurants in town open 24hrs a day. We parked in the bldg. and found the place buzzing with customers. The restaurant was modern with ample seating. We ordered the late night special Tomato Bisque and Grilled Cheese sandwich combo with an ice tea and the Potato Leek soup combo with the cheese sandwich with an Italian soda. The soups were hot, thick and delicious. The grilled cheese was ample with bacon. The service was quick. We have to come back to try the other dishes shown on the pictures on Yelp. The menu appears reasonably healthy which is an alternative to the starch and meat places around town. We hope they will have other sandwich specials for the returning customers and that the prices stay moderate.
(5)
Chi-Hye M.

I went back twice and like everyone said the coffee/drinks are a hit or miss. First time it was creamy and delicious! Second time it was watery and kind of burnt. I finally had a chance to try their food! Ordered the Loco Moco (It was really good! meat was tender and sweet, but it was a little salty) Tomato bisque was served with a fresh baked roll. The roll was still warm when we got it and went perfectly with the soup. I would like to come and try their late night Pho next :)
(4)
Lisa B.

oh my !!! poor service.. not even acknowledging me when i was at the counter.. i walked out.. lucky i live in the building.. BTW, this is not the first visit.. i have noticed that they have poor customer service.. :(
(1)
Jillian V.

Came here to "study" with my friends. It's cute place with a relaxing vibe to it. We came around dinner time so it was a bit crowded but luckily we found seats. I ordered the tomato bisque and grilled cheese sandwich. I LOVED IT. One of the best that I have tasted. I do love Nordstrom's tomato bisque but Kissaten's was REALLY good. For my drink I ordered some kind of strawberry smoothie. It was a little too sweet for me. The staff was nice and I do like the free wifi and how it is open for 24 hours.
(4)
Deanthony N.

After hearing about this place from a friend, I had to check this place out. Since Satura Cakes at Ward closed down, and I don't really like to go to Borders (wifi problems, lol), and Barnes and Nobles can get crowded depending on the time, having Kissaten as a place to study and maybe grab a cup of coffee (or even food) is great. Like how some people have stated, the place is a bit "new" and I think their staff is a bit nervous or inexperienced, but I'm not super anal about that kind of stuff (hey we were all new once), as long as they improve. Here's my little story. A friend and I decided to hang out there and grab a bite to eat since we were kind of hungry. I got a mocha (I think, lol) and my friend got an Italian soda. Unless their Italian soda is a little different, my friend's drink did not have any cream in it. For our food, they practically forgot about it. There was a group of three that ordered food after us and their food came before ours. I just assumed that "oh maybe their food is easier to prepare" but after waiting about ten minutes after the group, we noticed that the chefs weren't cooking. My friend being the more assertive one, went to ask them about our food. Unfortunately they "forgot", but luckily I had the receipt and they didn't question us about the food since one of the other workers remembered that we ordered stuff. Another ten minutes later, our food arrives. The barista apologizes profusely and no worries I didn't give her attitude or anything. I got the macaroni and cheese and my friend got the salmon tartare. My friend enjoyed hers and I liked the macaroni and cheese. It seemed a bit "lighter" compared to others that I've tasted, but I thought it was pretty good. The chicken in the macaroni though I wish they used chicken breast though, or if they're going to use the meat from the bone, clean it out a little better (but then again, I'm like a dog when it comes to Kalbi and stuff, so go figure haha). Oh and the barista gave my friend and I free tarts also, I thought that was nice of her :) Overall I really like the ambiance and location of Kissaten. I just hope that maybe they work on their efficiency and order and I'm sure they'll be a success.
(3)
Rick B.

I usually come here around 3am just to have grilled cheese sandwich, tomato bisque, chocolate caramel cheesecake and ice americano; also they have free wifi and parking. All that for less than $20. :)
(5)
Radiant C.

I came here throughout the Spring semester with my UH Manoa classmates. I would usually roll through about one or two in the morning once I got sick and tired of being at Sinclair Library for countless hours. I have to be honest that my review will be biased to only the late-hour service and food. It is open 24 hours, and even allowed for a bottomless amount of time spent on the internet. I remember the stamp cards that we are allowed for the purchases that are made as well. Great system! The best, and most likely the only thing you would want to eat at that late would be soup, and a hot beverage. I love the potato leek soup, and the turkey pesto melt. Perfecto! Then again, their menu is minimal due to the late hours. I have heard from some of my friends whom I recommended Kissaten to that the internet services have changed. But, why? They now have a closing time, and have a limit on internet-usage. Really? When did this happen. Surely, I hope my friends were just too chicken, and weren't completely aware of the 'haps. But, if it is the case, I do hope that Kissaten will return back to its free WiFi for an unlimited amount of time per person, especially since Sinclair has halted their 24-hour service throughout the week.
(4)
Tyler H.

Excellent in store ambiance for a coffee shop. this place is pretty big so there is a lot of inside seating. unfortunately, there is no outside seating. really, it doesn't matter because this place is open 24 hours which is awesome. the espresso here is alright, i would say it is a little lacking in sustenance. a few steps behind starbucks and coffee bean in regard to their espresso, but the food selection her is pretty great. I tried the pastrami melt and it was excellent. A friend mentioned some late night pho so i'll have to be back to check that out. i was a little disappointed with the limitation on the wifi and the way they aerate their milk. if the barista could deliver nice silky foam, i could often look past the taste of the espresso. upon hearing the barista aerate her milk, i decided to go with an iced latte. friendly staff, and great service is what led me to give them the 4th star (they offered to help me carry my items out to my car).
(4)
Ayaka H.

Sadly, there are only a few cafes in town that one can study. Kissaten is one of them. The service here is usually mediocre (as for the food, it depends on what you get). Today, the service was less than that. Two workers were bickering about a different worker at the counter, as they took order from customers. When my food was brought out, the worker was on the phone, talking loudly in my ear. It took them a while to get my food out, but I didn't even get a "thanks for waiting." Definitely experienced better here, but today makes me not to come back.
(2)
Dale H.

Gyudon was ok, nothing special. Tomato bisque was salty. Grilled cheese chewy. Red bull slush drink advertised too sweet. Went with friends. Nice place to relax. Great atmosphere.
(2)
Tracey N.

Study fanatics and procrastinators alike will enjoy the plethora of simple yet artsy tables and chairs ready to support you through the long hours of practicing kanji strokes or cramming the parts of the nervous system into your own cranium. Simple but sweet, Kissaten is your go to 24 hour study session place, coffee and tea, and delicious gourmet goodness in the form of grilled cheese and tomato bisque at the price of reasonable fashion that is both satisfying and visually tantalizing.
(4)
Kevin F.

Ah, Kissaten has really grown on me... Chill spot right by Ala Moana in a location that's perfect for me as I can walk there. Open 24 hours. Hip Artwork that sometimes has me killing 10 minutes just admiring the intricancies and the playfulness. Great comfort food such as the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. Always a satisfying combination. I also will get the truffle mac and cheese. Finally, interesting drinks! Especially them cheesecake lattes. The cheesecake lattes are very delicious.
(4)
Phoebe R.

One of my favorite coffee shops in Hawaii! Love the atmosphere. Great food! Open 24/7 can't go wrong with that. Can get a little noisy due to it being crowded or music a little loud. So if you are doing "hard core studying" or really need to concentrate, i may not want to suggest coming here.... but great place to meet friends, catch up, and food is great!
(4)
June K.

My friend showed me this place and I love it! It's fantastic to know that there other 24 hour places open beside Zippys when I'm in need of coffee or just a place to sit around and chat. I love that there are outlets throughout the cafe so that you can continuously charge your laptop or other electronic devices. The place is very spacious and the orange colored seats just pop at you. I did order the matcha green tea latte, the price was alright, but the end result was kinda bummers. The flavor was okay, however, the mix or whatever was used wasn't thoroughly dissolved and became clumpy at the end. I love green tea lattes so I'll definitely give it another shot! Next time, I'll order some great looking food from the menu or maybe even get the late night pho for $7.00!
(4)
Daniel B.

I've never been here for the coffee... yet. But italian sodas, cream sodas, and tea, yes! The ambiance is very relaxing, comfy chairs... sofas, televisions... stuff like that, in fact it was too relaxing the dude on the couch was awaken by presumably a manager for dozing off... a no no i'm guessing. Since I haven't been here for the coffee, yet... the three stars given is simply based on service & price. It takes a considerable amount of time between drinks and i found myself waiting about 5-7 minutes for an italian cream soda. Not to mention, even for the hot tea... hot water + tea bag = shouldn't have to wait too long. I'm impatient I guess. For a 24 hour spot though... I have to say, I'm glad I have another place to go to for caffeine in the middle of the night -- that is, aside from Jack in the Box and McD's.
(3)
David C.

Had lunch today and ordered the Kissaten Melt. I loved the flavors of the caramalized onions , homemade mozzarella and aioli sauce on the panini style rosemary loaf bread......but I could barely taste the pastrami because there was such a small portion of pastrami and caramalized onions... for a $9 sandwich I had greater expectations. They have a takeout menu that shows a picture of the sandwich which shows a slab of pastrami on the sandwich but I guess for your eyes only. I did also enjoy the small portion of leafy greens with a balsamic dijon mustard dressing that came with the sandwich. i would give them another chance.....
(3)
Moody F.

Absolutely a great find! 24-HOUR CAFE!!! The staff here is very friendly. The food is also really good, but the only downer is that it's sort of pricy for the vibe the place gives and for the actual amount and quality of the food. Don't get me wrong, it's good food, just a little pricy. I like the free wifi with purchase. It's a bummer that it's limited though to only an hour or so based on my last experience. I know a lot of people wish they could get more than an hour for free. Also, the tables and chairs aren't exactly the best, but they get the job done. Really, this place gets 4 stars because it's 24-hours and the staff is really welcoming and cool.
(4)
Joshua P.

Kissaten is in my opinion one of the best coffee shops on the island. It's a place where I can study or just hang out in peace. Staff is friendly and I love the atmosphere. When it comes to food they got some of the best sandwich melts I have ever eaten. Get the kissasten melt if you have not had it. Coffee is good but I usually get the teas and Italian sodas. And they have really good chai if you like that kinda thing. Now the desserts omg get the waffles... Seriously get them. Also they got a mean bread pudding. So in all I love this place it's great and I hope they are around for a long time. Also don't forget to get your Internet code if you gonna study or go on your laptop or tablet.
(5)
Liana M.

OK place for a low-key first date...however the server looked put out when I didn't get my drink and asked where it was when she brought our food. Turns out they put it at about 6' high level on the glass case next to the cashier, where I, at 5'2", couldn't see it, and made such a production of going to get it 10' away and bringing it out to me. Picture Frankenstein's monster, walking with his arms outstretched - this is how she held my drink and the straw, from the glass case, to our table - THEN reached across my date's face to hand it directly to me. REALLY??!! Did I mention she sighed too as she did it? The food was good cafe/bistro type food. I had a salmon salad dish. I did notice that they were out of some items that sounded delicious. Take it off the handwritten menu if you're all out, for crying out loud and stop rubbing it in my face that you don't have it! This place is full of hip, well-dressed preppy Asian students on their laptops, as well as some older business looking people, even on a Sunday. My date? Not too bad, but didn't score a second date :P
(2)
Crysti W.

Ok, I love this place, but I'm writing a review in the heat of the moment. (All of my reviews have been negative so far- I swear I'm not that negative. It's just the negative customer service that gets me spun up because I EXPECT places I go to treat their customers well.) Hours- brilliant! Twenty four hours- yes! Food- so far SO GOOD! Grilled cheese is nommers. Brownies- delish! Coffee is... meh, it's caffeinated. So I go there frequently to study. As some other reviewers have pointed out- it's perfect for this- get sleepy, get some coffee; get hungry, get some food. Repeat. Today, I went there first thing. I hadn't eaten yet and thought, "This is great. I'll get some coffee, work on my paper a bit, order lunch, work some more, then leave." Twenty minutes in, one of the girls walks over, slaps a post-it note on my table, and says my table is reserved for 12:30 and whips away. No discussion. No "hey, I'm really sorry, but if you want to move to one of the FIVE open tables over there..." Yeah, I know I was taking up valuable space and just drinking coffee, but c'mon! I've been there 3 of the past 4 days and almost always buy food or snacks... or food and coffee and one of those stupid brownies for later. And.... and... AND! I tell everyone I know what a great place it is, especially if they have less than traditional schedules like mine. So, I know it was one very customer-service-awkward employee, so I'm sure I'll be back, but I think I'll stick to the late night crowds. Twenty four hours is too good for a student to pass up... though Denny's is 24 hours and has free internet and the mediocre coffee comes straight to your table.
(3)
Scott K.

Located on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu Street. Its on the bottom of the Hawaiki luxury condominium across from Ala Moana Shopping Center. 24 hours.....thats huge now days when the economy has cut hours at local coffee houses like Starbucks. Centrally located provides for late night studying or late night coffee fix. Its modern and reminds me of those little coffee shops scattered around DC or SF. Free Wifi and plenty of plugs to tap into for iphone/mac users. On my recent visit, I had the Kissaten Melt. A generous portion of Pastrami with a special Mayo/Mustard spread and cheese. Add some Pomegranate juice and a salad and you got lunch for less than $10. The staff is helpful and polite. You order your food, then find a spot to sit. The staff will come and find you to deliver your order. Although i havent really hanged out at coffee shops, I think this would be a great place to have some business meetings.
(4)
Kittie W.

LOVE + The music being played! Its exactly like my playlist!! Its not too loud either, so you can study without being too swoon by it and you can have a nice conversation with your friends. + Good lighting!! Well, it depends actually. One area I don't particularly care for is the corner counter. The main counter has very good lighting, so I usually sit there.. but the corner counter with the four seats don't. And for me, who is a student, lighting is a big thing, especially if I need to read! + Sandwich and Soup combo! Can't go wrong there!! Read other yelpers to read which sounds yummy~~ + 24/7 OPEN!?!! Which is awesome for a student like me to pull a long night. Which brings up a good thing about this place... + Coffee!! Not many places is open 24/7 and coffee is a must for me! Coffee literally is my blood and for a person like me who doesn't like to study at home (which is probably cheaper to make coffee at home, and I do) this is awesome!! + Other drinks. LOL. Yes, I am a coffeeholic but the other drinks are good too!! Especially the tea lattes (and I'm Chinese and love milk tea ^^v) + Wifi with purchase CON - The internet. While you get free wifi with purchase (usually in increments in 1-2 hrs depending on the amount of purchase) its not the greatest. Yes I've mentioned its a good thing earlier, its not so great when you're trying to research something or go on Laulima (which I use). It is horrible and won't load! Although... this could be a good thing if you're there to study... so... PRO + If you don't need internet to study, its a great to not have, LOL! Because honestly, how many of you guys will get horrendously distracted if the internet was so awesome that all you do is go on Facebook and Youtube?? Yea, thought so. BUT...!!! Facebook miraculously still works great with this poor internet. LOL~~
(5)
J L.

This is a cute little coffee place right by Ala moana Shopping center that is a nice place to grab a bite to eat and for some quick coffee drinks. It's also a nice place to bring your laptop to work on stuff and to have a good conversation. I went here with one of my friends and we didn't order any food from the food bar, but we ordered 2 drinks. I had one of the italian cream sodas and my friend had one of those cream teas (I recommend) It's not like a starbucks, so don't expect a huge list of fancy drink combinations. But they still have good stuff. We sat down by a counter with seats around it and started talking for a while. It's a pretty big coffee lounge. It has couches, a TV, tables, the food bars. It's not very noisy (not like starbucks) and you can actually focus on whatever it is you're doing. There are colorful walls and cute little drawings on the walls. The color theme goes well throughout the room. The only thing I didn't like is the bathrooms. If you need to use the bathroom, you have to go through this back door and down this long creepy hallway that I guess is part of the building that the cafe is apart of. The hallways is kinda scary (dim lighting, very quiet) and you feel like someone is going to pop out of somewhere. I feel that they should have their own small bathroom somewhere in the cafe so you don't have to walk down the eerie hallway. Overall, I would definitely come back here again and try some of the food this time!
(4)
Jason H.

Hard to beat 24 hr convenience and a comfortable atmosphere!
(4)
Miss D.

Reminds me of LA. (sigh)
(4)
p s.

I wish they had actual creamer in a pitcher rather than in those packets. But it's a fair go-to place for a late-night coffee date in town. The service is inconsistent, I think it depends on the work shifts- day time seems to be better than the late night. Sometimes you get really great and quick service and sometimes you don't.
(3)
Stephanie K.

I come here whenever I have a ton of homework and studying to do. I swear, that is the best time for me. Their potato leek soup is awesome, their drinks are alright to me, and their service is okay. Overall, Pretty good place to be for a nice vibe.
(4)
Stephanie K.

I've only been here once, but this place had a really great vibe. It has a cool atmosphere and is really mellow. Looks like the kind of place you could just relax for hours and some people apparently were, since about half the folks in there at 11pm on a Tuesday night were working on there laptops. I'm actually surprised they had that big a crowd at that hour. The food selection was a litlle limited, but everyone in our party enjoyed what they ordered. I had the roasted beet and chicken salad. It was very tasty, but had too much chicken for me and I ended up finishing the greens and having chicken leftover. I would definitely go here again.
(4)
Janette F.

Being from Japan, finally having a kissaten on Honolulu was a long time of waiting. The American coffee places just don't cut it. So, needless to say, I was looking forward to my visit. I could not figure out where to park, but since it was Sunday, there was street parking so it was fine. There is a door from the parking into the kissaten and I forgot to ask how to get there but it is there. You should not expect any restaurant ambiance because the objective of a kissaten is to serve coffee and tea, and sweets and other foods. The decor is very simple, contemporary and geared toward the younger generation. You can sit at a table (for dining for one hour) or at the counter. The seats are orange so it works your psyche to not linger around too long. You go up to the counter to order and they give you a number. They had great looking specials but they all had sticky notes saying OUT, so that was not an option. From the regular menu we ordered clam chowder, potato leek soup, wedge salad, portobello mushroom and sweet peppers focaccia sandwich and caprese. Yes, a lot of food and our eyes were way bigger than our tummies. They brought the food to the table, and not all at once so that was nice. We started with the clam chowder for my mother and she said it was excellent. I had potato leek soup and it was just okay but when I broke the poached egg that was inside, it improved the taste. Next was the wedge salad which I had to save because my sister tried to chop it up and toss it as soon as it came, so had I not intervened, it would have been a disaster! Next was portobello and sweet peppers sandwich on focaccia. I am not fond of focaccia so my sister and mother sampled the sandwich, and they both said it was good. The last dish was caprese and we all enjoyed it. It had the right amount of dressing blend. All in all, we enjoyed the food with enough for my sister to pack her lunch for the next day. My mother wanted a cheesecake so we took that home. The following day she ate it and said it was superb. Of course, our idea of kissaten food includes some usuals: doria, spaghetti napolitan, dry curry, and simple finger sandwiches for starters. Those were missing and I would love to see such selections. Maybe they are trying to be "healthy" but you can do that without venturing too far from what they serve in Japan. A couple came in with a bottle of wine and asked if there was a corkage fee. I couldn't hear what the response was so went to ask the couple and they said that there apparently used to be one, but they did away with it. If you pay cash, they don't charge you any tax. Not sure how that works but they may just take the tax into consideration in the price, and if you use plastic they charge it to recover the merchant fee. A little odd but who cares, I paid cash. They also give you a card and stamp it for every dollar spent. I cannot remember what the reward was but I shall enjoy it whatever it is. It is clean, simple and welcoming, and the service is a 10! I will definitely go back and see if I can try some of those specials. After I do that and see some improvement in their menu, I shall adjust my rating. But for now, I am limiting it to 3 stars. So, BYOB and enjoy a very simple night out with your friends at a friendly, bright and welcoming place!
(3)
Resty T.

bad drinks and bad baristas. food is just ok free wifi 24/7 would be the upside i suppose.
(2)
Mahina C.

Located in the same building as KHON news, it's literally on the corner of piikoi & waimanu street. There's only a few parking stalls in the lot so you either need to park there or find street parking on waimanu. It's great to find a place to go to late at night that's open 24 hours and a coffee shop. Usually in Hawaii you'll find places to go late at night are bars or restaurant but this place reminds me of the mainland. Just a hang out spot with coffee or tea in a relaxed modern space. They use to have free wifi but they changed it to where you need to buy something, which is understandable because I wouldn't want people just coming to use the wifi and not purchase anything, after all, they are an establishment trying to make money like everyone else. The food here is good too. They came out with a late night pho, i havent tried yet, but im sure i will soon. The pastries here are delicious and nothing heavy like other places. it just curbs that sweet tooth that's not so sweet. I would recommend this place to any coffee, lounge, tea person. If you like coffee places thats 24 hours and more modern and different then your average starbucks then this is the place to be!
(5)
Robert D.

Went tonight to go study, whoever was in charge of the music for the night has an awesome taste in music, made it easier for me to relax and focus on my work. But their Internet policy needs to change, got pretty upset when the stuff I was working on got lost when the internet time expired so i had to re-do everything later when I got home... Coffee was okay tonight, just got kinda bummed that I hit the bottom of the barrel when I ordered my coffee and had to wait for them to brew another batch.
(5)
Cameron M.

In terms of quality most of the coffee, tea, and food is average or 3 stars in my book. Nothing to write home about. But what made me gave kissaten 4 stars is the fact that it's open 24/7 and I just adore the decor/atmosphere. A real chill place to hang out at.
(4)
Esteban W.

Kissaten has been a mixed bag for me, and it's really only been "seriously" open for about a month, maybe. Mostly, I have had beef with their customer service, and for some reason, I feel like I am being lied a lot from workers... but now that they are "officially" open for 24 hours, the kinks may have been worked out. The GOOD: One thing is for sure, they have promised to be open twenty-four hours now, since January 7th, 2011. As far as I know, it's one of a kind here in Honolulu. As for a coffee shop or "cafÃ©" it's mega-huge. The floor space has endless possibilities and its size is impressive. There are a good number of tables and chairs, free internet (with purchase), TV's to distract you from your work, couches to share with people who think you love them. In addition, they are working on a menu to tantalize your taste buds. Currently, they have the basics for a simple cafÃ©, a solid soup selection with a sandwich co-pilot. When talking to workers, they promise to (at some point) have a late night menu. This late night menu is also said to have late night Asian comfort foods like saimin, ramen and curries - that though will not be until a later date. The BAD: Besides looking like Rachael Ray's wet dream because of all the orange, the coffee is pretty pathetic. They may want to pull off that, "Oh our coffee is special because _______, and that's why it's better and you may not be used to it" SullBhit, but I have tasted better brown water coming from spigots in Tijuana. Their drip coffee is bland, and its freshness is questionable, while their Americanos taste...ironically... watered down. The peach tea is syrupy sweet and not very 'peachy' at all, not to mention you really only get about seven ounces when they fill the cup up with ice. The massive floor plan is beautiful; unfortunately, I think (in my humble opinion) that with such a spacious location, even the owners/managers are lost as to what they can be doing with it and it loses some of the welcome-factor and home town feel. It does get brownie points for feeling hip and trendy, but loses some soul. Prior to my first visit, I was excited about coming over and trying out the new coffee joint (especially since one of my favorites from the past: Satura closed its doors). It was challenging however because when I would call, I often encountered a very bitter male worker. Asking for times I was told different answers and at one point I was told they were only open from 6am to 1pm, only to find out by someone else that they were there until 11pm one time. During my first visit, I asked for clarification of times, I was told they were open from 6 to 10am, and then later was told until 10pm. Whatever it was, I was turned off right from the very beginning by the lack of customer care. I mean, the door says twenty-four hours and they were only open for 7 - who do they think they are? 24HourFitness? Overall: I haven't tasted their food, and as of yet, I am hoping that that will be the savior because their coffee down-right sucks. At $2 per 18oz cup (tax included) they are similarly price to the double-finned mermaid empire. If you are compelled to try the peach tea, ask for no ice - at $2.50 for a medium, I want all freakin' 16 ounces. Potentially, this place can be 'the' place to be especially with it being twenty-four hours. I can already imagine the swarms of the half-drunk and the obliterated, 'tweens' marching across Piikoi from BAR7, reminiscent of a "Thriller" video. Note to self: Don't be here when BAR7 closes at 4am... especially after Saturday night. Will I come back? I hope the food is phenomenal, because with a place that is 24 hours, I want this place to be amazing so I can enjoy coming here. I will be back to try the food, and I am sure staying away from a twenty-four hour coffee shop will be impossible for me, but until I find a reason to enjoy being here, I'll just feel like I am cheating on my other favorites: Fresh CafÃ©, Glazer's and the late Satura Cakes.
(3)
Lance N.

Kissaten is every college students dream...a 24 hour coffee shop! The coffee is nothing special, but the food is decent. The workers are very friendly. The only downfalls are that it gets crowded and Internet is no longer free for all, but I guess it pays for a life of luxury. 4 stars!
(4)
Hnl -.

I read about this place in the Dining Out section and wanted to give it a try. Had to try the Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. Parking is kinda junk unless you want to park at Sears/Ala Moana and walk over. It is at the old Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Walked in at around 8pm on sunday. It reminded me alot of the old Volcano Joes. Lots of college type students with laptops. The menu is kind of limited. I thought there'd be more choices. Got 3 items: 1) Clam Chowder - it was ok, not great, not bad. 2) Truffle Mac and Cheese. Wasn't impressed. It was really rich. I couldn't finish. 3) Salmon Salad - highlight of the meal. Yum. Wish there was a little more salmon and capers. Also wished they had more desserts. For a 24 hour cafe, they should have ice cream and other cakes. I like that it's open 24 hours a day so it gives better choices than Zippys and Likelike. But if it's regular lunch or dinner, I think there are better options in the area.
(3)
Sara H.

been to kissaten twice now so i feel like i can fairly write a review. my fave parts about this place are the decor (feels kinda trendy yet still comfortable coffee shop type vibe), hours (love that it's 24 hours even though i prob will never take that fact to its full advantage) and the groupon deal. :) but honestly, if not for the groupon deal, i probably would not come here regularly. the crowd changes rapidly and this is def more of a hangout place than a study place. people talk so loudly! also, the staff is pretty hit or miss. the first time i went the baristas seemed kind of judgey and rude but this time they were all really nice and helpful. as for the food, i've had the yogurt parfait (highly recommend! the granola is the chewy kind - which i've never had before - but it was sweet and delicious! i loved it!!), the grilled cheese (small for the price but very cheesy with thin apple slices and bacon in it), the tomato soup (pretty yummy but i'm not a huge fan of tomato soup. after a few bites it just tastes boring to me) and the caesar salad (pass. too much dressing!). the only drink i've tried is the green tea which is fine (pretty standard / hard to mess up). tips: - go early to ensure you get a table. the place fills up in waves (never tried going at night) but if you're planning to camp out all day like i do, you should probably go before 10 to make sure you have your pick of seating :) - don't go here if you want to use the internet for extended periods of time. you only get 1 hour / purchase you make or 2 hours if you sit at the bar area. whaaat? i think from 12 PM to 10 AM you get 5 hours with purchase so that might be good for you night owls. - parking is in the khon building area. look for the kissaten signs. there're quite a few spots!
(3)
Zenny Z.

The modern urban industrial decor and the quietude of Kissaten contribute to an inviting atmosphere for its patrons. The seating area is really spacious with lots of seating, and I am always able to find a place to sit unlike some other coffee shops around town. The employees are really nice. The coffee is great; I especially love the Kona blend. Don't forget to ask for a stamp card; once stamped 40 times ($1 per stamp), you can order ANY drink for free. I did get one free drink so far and splurged on the frozen coffee drink with 4 shots of espresso in the largest cup size of course. It was very good and comparable to a frappacino from Sbux. I especially love love that Kissaten is open 24 hours a day! For real, not even San Francisco has a local 24 hour coffee shop (over-priced greasy spoons don't count).
(5)
Lance M.

Awesome Place for Friends to meet up and study/hang out. Cream sodas and sandwiches are great and waffles will help you through them drunken nights!
(5)
Ellise U.

Oh my gosh, I found a coffee shop open 24 hours, hurray! Coming from Seattle, late night studying with espresso shots is a must. So when I came back to Hawaii I was bummed to find that hardly any coffee shops are open past 11p. However, my friend introduced me to Kissaten last night and I must say, it's amazing! The food there is really good, I had the tomato bisque and an apple cider. Next time I want to try the dessert because they look amazing. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is that the atmosphere is a little stuffy... Maybe because I went late at night and wasn't there to study, the people gave us weird looks because we were talking. It's not a library people! It's a coffee shop! But other than that the place is great! Will definitely be back to try more things.
(4)
Celena F.

A friend and I ventured here during restaurant week to sample their event special: iced coffee, tomato bisque, ceasar salad, and mac n cheese. No complaints about the food. Everything tasted good and was presented nicely just not anything special. Bisque was a little sweeter than I usually like, salad was not overly soaked with dressing, mac n cheese with bacon on top...nothing wrong with that! Portions are good. My friend and I left full. Very reasonably priced. Service was decent, they seemed short handed by at least a couple people. The restaurant was not overly crowded but the line to order was a little long, service was slow and we kept missing something. We were given food without utensils, given drinks without straws, the only server on the floor couldn't find the cream for the coffee...and each time we were served, we had to get up to retrieve the missing items. The girl at the register didn't give me the special pricing and I didn't notice but she caught it about 5 minutes later and came to our table to ask for my card to refund me the difference (extra star for that). All in all, not a bad experience. I may return to try the "ice cream parlor". Parking could be better but it's not horrible.
(3)
Johanna U.

Perfect place to study. Short of one star because the wifi is limited per dollar spent and cannot be transferred to different devices. I used the wifi on my ipad but had to transfer my notes to my lap top but was unable to do so. That's my only gripe. Besides that, it's a pretty awesome place!!!
(4)
Eric L.

What can I say, 24 hours and there is a lot of seating. Its just like any other study place, except a lot less busier then Starbucks. The one gripe I have about this place, was their new found changed policy of.... Free Wifi** **Limited to 1 hr, and only if you purchase more then $5 dollars worth of items. If not they'll give you the 15 minute pass. HUH?! MOST of the drinks on the menu are below $5 dollars? Well, good thing I have my wifi on my phone, for those that dont have it, sucks to be you lol. I guess theres Starbucks for you guys? Nah, but in all honestly, why do you have to be so chang about the wifi? It's pretty common for mostly all places to have unlimited wifi, and if not they'll gladly give you another code to use it, unlike this place :( But I have to say, I tried their late night pho and it's pretty good! For all the noodles you get too, their broth is a little above avg, (better then what you get at ala moana).
(3)
Ashley C.

This is such a great little place to study. The food and drinks are good, and they're open 24-hours, so it's perfect for bringing along your laptop and pulling an all-nighter to finish that paper that's due tomorrow morning at 8am.
(4)
Nan E.

I am the manager of Fantastic Sams right across the street from KISSATEN. My staff & I venture over for lunch & snacks all the time. The grilled cheese is AMAZING along with my fav the caprese salad!
(4)
Mark V.

Tucked away on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu next to the KHON building is this quaint coffee shop that opened not long ago. Kissaten offers a respectable selection of coffees and teas and the prices are on par with the other large coffee chains. However, the difference between the two is the ambiance. With a seating area about 2-3 times larger than most other coffee chains, seating usually isn't a problem. They also pipe in music at a reasonable volume rather than the obnoxiously loud music that the other coffee chains blare at you. Definitely a plus if you plan on coming here to study. Speaking of studying, they have a bounty of outlets available for you so that you don't need to fight for a table near an outlet. They are also open around the clock for those of you bummed that (insert location here) is closed for the evening. For parking, they have a few parking stalls allotted in the KHON building, but if those are filled then park at Ala Moana across the street. The baristas are friendly and can easily give you a recommendation for you first timers. They have a kitchen staff throughout the day as well, so you can satiate your cravings for a good soup or panini if you've grown tired of pastries and confectionaries raising your blood sugar. For those late night owls, they also have a refrigerator of energy drinks and bottled beverages if your palate needs a change of pace from coffee or tea. The only downfall of this shop is the Internet access. Internet access if awarded after a purchase and only for a certain amount of time is given out, based upon what is purchased as I understand it. If you plan on coming here to study or browse the Internet, bring some form of mobile Internet so you can browse at your leisure. I could easily give this place a 5 star rating if it weren't for this issue. I understand that they opened not long ago and there is room for improvement, but I do believe that this is an impressive start for a business given the current economy. Here's to the growth and increased popularity of the coffee shop. Overall, I am pleased with my visit and do believe I've found my new favorite place to study. Make sure to visit on Sunday mornings and ask for Brianna. Tell her that Mark sent you.
(4)
Aldora K.

I like the food and beverage menu. My favorite is mac & cheese with strawberry italian soda. ^^
(4)
Dino K.

i love this place! been here so many times already! the only thing that i would like to see is the kitchen staying open longer, which i think they're working on. Other than that, it's a pretty good place to just chill with friends. Its a 24 hour operation so that makes even better! As soon as this place opens the kitchen longer, i'm going to give this place 4 stars! i recommend the tea latte with Earl Grey tea! its what i always get! Also the cream sodas are win!
(4)
Brandon B.

Nice looking place. Could use a few more seats or standup tables though despite how spacious the place is. Food options are small, but good. Not really a food place to go for a large meal. It's really a chill place to camp in for cafe freaks. The thing I like about it is that it's 24 hours so you can pop in here after your night of partying for a quick cup of coffee because you need to work in an hour! YEAAAAAA
(4)
Joy W.

I like the idea that this place is 24 hours because parking is probably a lot better at night on the street when the meters are free. I thought I was lucky enough to score a spot in the parking garage but upon leaving, I found a scratch on my car due to the tight spaces. Still, I don't know if I'd be coming back, even at night. It's not kid friendly at all, there are no high chairs or even a ramp for a stroller, I had to carry my stroller up the stairs. Also, the space appears large but you'll notice just about every seat taken by folks not really eating or drinking but glued to their computers. We were there for almost two hours and pretty much everyone who was there when we arrived was still there when we left, and in the same seating positions too. Despite the lack of actual eating customers, service was pretty bad, they weren't very helpful at the front counter when we asked questions about the food and they weren't very apologetic when they brought out a wrong order. In fact, they took it back and then instead of bringing out the right one, they just placed it on the counter for my friend to come and get. Every other order they brought to us, but with nary a smile or even an "Enjoy your food!" Not the friendliest vibe. The food was actually pretty good, despite all the other negatives about the place. Sandwiches are huge and come with a salad, all for $6. The desserts in the case are really pretty although some aren't labeled or even have prices on them, so you have to ask (again, beware the surly attitudes). If they deliver, then I'd like to try more, but otherwise, I doubt I'll be going back.
(2)
Sarah G.

5 stars for the round-the-clock hours, ice cold AC, ample seating, and free Wi-Fi with purchase. 3 stars for the food, which is decent, although nothing to write home- or a glowing review- about. 1 star for the chai tea latte, which was terrible. So terrible, in fact, that I threw it in the trash after just a few sips (and I hate wasting).
(3)
Brad Y.

Didn't actually get to try any food or coffee here.. But I did stop by a few times to meet friends that were finishing up their studies. For a study place, this is amazing. Open 24 hours, tons of outlets, and very spacious. Check it out if you need a late-night place to study and Sinclair Library is packed!
(4)
Kristen M.

I love this place. The atmosphere, food, drink selection was superb! Can't wait to go again!! Btw tomato bisque and Mac and cheese are to die for!! :)
(5)
Mariko A.

Love that they are open 24 hours. First couple of times we went the girl was very friendly, which helped make up for the 10 minute wait for the drinks. But the last time I went in, there were at least 6 workers behind the counter all pretending to be busy. No one helped me for about five minutes before one girl asked me, "Do you need something?". Yeah, I'd like to order a drink if it's not too much trouble...For a new place, it doesn't seem like they are trying very hard to develop a good customer base. I'm still willing to give it another chance, they are one of the only 24 hour coffee places after all, but if the service doesn't improve....
(3)
Nikki L.

So I came here yesterday with my boyfriend to grab some lunch and coffee before work. We had a little under an hour to eat and the girl who took our order (the one with the lip ring and super straight hair) was completely and thoroughly incompetent. We ordered two different soup & sandwich combos and a blue raspberry Italian creme soda. Not too difficult, right? Apparently not. So first off I told her while ordering that I was in the system for the points thing they do and she said okay. So I paid, but she didn't ask my name or anything so I asked if she gave me my points and she said with a very bitchy tone that I have to tell her before ending the transaction. Umm hello....I did! So she said she would put the points on in a little bit (I'd be surprised if she remembered to). Then my drink came out and she made it a blue raspberry AND green apple soda....not sure where the apple came from, but it was still good so I didn't mind that much. So then we're sitting there and my sandwich combo comes and I start eating....and we're still waiting on his. I'm about half way done with my meal and he's starving so keeps picking at my food so finally we ask where his is and she says they read the ticket wrong. Seriously? At that point we had to leave already so he just got his food to go. So overall I'd say I do like this place...the food is good, the coffee is decent and I like the atmosphere, but the workers are sometimes really crappy. They just kind of look like they hate their job and don't care about anything and they're just plain rude (except for Kevin, he's awesome).
(3)
Kyle C.

Nice atmosphere and a great place to study.
(4)
jonah A.

The pastrami sandwich was tasty the day that we visited Kissaten for the first time. It was chock full of tasty, chewable pastrami with cheese. The cheese sandwich with cheese and apples was delish. The highlight of the meal was the tomato soup--yum, yum. We're all returning for the soup. The soup smelled delicious, it was a great presentation in the creamy white bowl, and it was a great portion size. The orange walls are a great color except that the painting of the walls was probably done by the employees--the roller marks were not even at all. They should maybe cover up the walls with paintings or something because it makes the classy cafe look unprofessional. The staff seems new and still getting to know the menu. It's okay to smile at the customers.
(4)
sandie g.

went at lunch time on friday, it was busy as we expected. person who took out order was very friendly. we ordered the kissaten melt & the truffle mac & cheese. like the menu says, it takes a bit longer than other items. being our first time there, while waiting for our food, we entertained ourselves w/ the extensive art on the walls. to our delight, the food arrived & was pleasantly surprised at the integrity of the ingredients. everything was very fresh & you knew whomever the chef was, he/she enjoyed their craft. look forward to the next visit.
(5)
Marc B.

choose this place over starbucks when it comes to sitting to get some work done. usually not as loud which I prefer. pretty good selection of coffee. i did notice the new ice cream bar, have to try that next visit
(4)
Elysia G.

I can't stress how much I love this place. I was introduced to Kissaten by a friend who I was with one night, while everyone else wanted to go for Vlounge pizza after a night in Chinatown. As much as I love Vlounge primas...I wasn't feeling like having a pizza..again...and tempted to drink more! I just wanted to chill. We came here and I had no idea what it was all about. The whole atmosphere; from how their furniture was placed to the calming silence of people just having a coffee and finishing up work, welcomed me in quickly. First thoughts were "I found a new study spot" haha. I was so curious to see what the rest of it was about and fell in love with the apple grilled cheese, with a side of the tomato bisque. To die for!!! I come here by myself all the time,for that and find myself getting more work done in here, than a lot of other coffee joints. I think it's a little pricy for their after hour specials, but the food is quite filling and worth it. So chill, so good! Plus, open 24 hours daily...are you serious?!
(5)
Jo M.

Can't believe I never noticed this place since its so close to home! Its a cute moderate sized coffee shop and its main perk!?..its open 24/7! :D And no I did not come here for coffee because I don't even like coffee. I came here with a friend after we went out, so it was about 4:30am and wanted a quick bite to eat. I ordered the Pho and she ordered the tomato bisque with a smoked apple ham and cheese panini. I was not impressed with my pho, 1 because the broth was warm instead of hot when it was brought out and 2 because it lacked flavor...It just was not good. On the other hand my friends order was delicious! She gave me half of her sandwich and some of her soup..both were amazing! I would def. recommend that! Also the sandwich had real slices of a actual apple inside..who would have ever thought! Anyways not to mention the place was very clean. I will be returning soon :) All and all not bad!
(4)
Jamie O.

i really enjoy this place - the food, drinks and atmosphere are great. everything is reasonably priced and affordable. my favorite thing to eat is the grilled cheese and tomato bisque, it's $9. i also get a large strawberry italian cream soda for $2.75. finding this place can be a confusing for people that aren't familiar with the roads or area. it's in the KHON news building, and there isn't a real big sign where customers can see the shop. parking can also be some trouble, with all the one-way streets around the area. parallel street parking is available on Waimanu St., or they have a few stalls available in the parking structure on Piikoi St. if you miss these stalls or the structure, you'll have to make a huge circle around the big block. i've found it most easy to park at Ala Moana and walk across the street - there's always stalls open. the food is tasty, but sometimes inconsistent - but it's not bad enough where i won't recommend this place to others. one time, my grilled cheese was served to me completely cold, like it had been sitting on the counter for a while. my boyfriend ordered the salmon salad, and i think the salmon was spoiled - he ended up throwing salmon up several hours later. what i do like about this place, is their stamp card. for every dollar you spend, you get a stamp - once you fill up the card, you can redeem it for one free beverage of any size on your next visit! another great thing about this place: they do not charge tax for your food when you pay cash! they do charge tax when you pay with a card, but one of the workers told me that when they switch over their cashier system, sometime soon, they're thinking of not charging tax for both cash and card... i hope that's true!
(4)
Jin Hee K.

I would drive by this place all the time but never went in. One night, a friend happened to suggest we try this place at 3am. I had no idea this cafe was 24 hours.....LOVE!!! They have good desserts & decent coffee.
(5)
Minda G.

Went there for lunch today. My husband goes there quite a bit so he told me that I should check it out when I got the chance. He goes on and on about their thai coffee with soy. I tasted what little he had left when he brought it home the other day...uum...totally not for me. I went in with a friend and thought it was a cool little place to just hang. Every other table had their laptop out with full on concentration. I ordered the turkey pesto and a bowl of the potato leek soup. My friend also had the turkey but with the salad. OMG! That was alot of food! First of all the sandwich was awesome. Usually turkey pesto sandwiches can be either salty or a bit on the oily side. This was neither. I had to open my sandwich up to see exactly what was in it. I was surprised to find bacon, quite a bit of turkey, cheese, and the pesto aioli, which was perfect. The bread was a little crumbly, but still made for a great combination. My friend really liked it as well. The soup was thick and not as flavorful as I hoped, but there was also a whole poached egg in it. That was a first for me. I thought it was a potato at first...oh well. It was alot of food, so I decided I'd rather finish the sandwich than the soup. I had the creme soda strawberry flavor, which is an italian soda with cream....wish I had more cream. As stuffed as we were, was curious about the pastries, so ordered the vanilla cream roll. Was a little on the expensive side, since it was $2.50 for two small pieces. It was good, but I don't thing I 'd pay for that again. The total for the two of us was about $28. A little more than I expected, but I did say it was a lot of food. Just a tip, if and when you go, pay with cash. They charge you whatever amount they post. If you pay credit they say they have to charge tax. Conveniently, there just happens to be an at, right by the counter, but I can't imagine the fees for that one! All in all, my friend and I like this place and would definitely come back to try other stuff.
(3)
Heather D.

Love love love! I come here once a week while i wait for my hubby to finish work, parking isn't the easiest thing to find, but the tomato bisque is worth a trip around the block. Has a laid back atmosphere & large comfy couches to curl up, read a book & enjoy a cup of tea, or a latte, or a soy cafe aulait :)
(5)
Katherine L.

My new favorite coffee/study/girltalk spot! I live a good drive away from town and commute to town almost everyday, so I'm always on the look out for places to chill and study. Kissaten has all the qualities of a great coffee shop: decent price drinks compared to other coffee places, FOOD, nice staff and opened 24 hours. Plus it's right in the heart of town and is pretty much walking distance from Ala Moana. They offer free wifi for an hour with any purchase. They have a pretty eclectic menu, you can get sandwiches to soups and even pho on their late night menu. Their food is a little on the rich side, but good nonetheless. The only complaint I have is the really strong smell of food the permeates throughout the place and sometimes it's not a very pleasant smell. Other than that, this is definitely a place to check out :)
(5)
Chelsea S.

cute place. nice lighting. chill atmosphere. would love to study here one day. tomato bisque and grilled cheese was aaaahmazing. but... customer service wasn't too friendly.
(3)
John B.

14 April 2011 Update: Went back for lunch today. Pretty good crowd inside, perhaps 25 people...but no line for ordering food and drinks. Of course, ordered my old standby Kissaten Melt, and tried the Potato & Leek soup for the first time. Order took 15 minutes to prepare but it was well-worth the wait! The soup came to the table just the way I like all my soups...almost boiling hot! The fresh-cooked bacon pieces were fried perfectly crisp, adding the salt flavor that's missing from the soup itself. The $5 bowl came with a hot bread "muffin"...it's 100% bread, but about the size of a muffin. Delicious. The Kissaten Melt was excellent, as always. One thing I totally hated about this visit is their recently-adopted policy to charge customers an extra 4% for using credit cards to pay for their purchases. I don't know about the rest of you, but I pay enough taxes already without businesses starting to gouge me for even more. So, if you go, bring cash...Kissaten management seems to be strongly discouraging credit card transactions. Not very consumer-friendly. They lose two stars because of it.
(3)
Ken M.

Very convenient and cheap. Love the decor and people. Portobello mushroom sandwich is delicious along with the Chai Freeze. The stamp cards are great idea! Love the wifi and the modern feel of the place. All around awesome!
(4)
Natalie V.

I wish everywhere was open 24 hours. I'm a student and I work in a restaurant so my schedule is ever changing and I have a lot of late nights when I either need to be studying or I'm just getting off of work and I'm hungry and would love a place to grab a bite and relax. This place is perfection. The first time I went in there was with my boyfriend, and I'd been noticing this place on my walk to work. I actually got nothing but he got a hot apple cider - it was freaking delicious. We plopped onto one of their ridiculously comfortable couches, and took in our surroundings and decided pretty immediately that we loved the place. While he sipped his cider, I checked out the menu and the food in the display window. Beautifully made cupcakes with fantastic flavors like cream cheese lime and really amazing sounding soups and salads. I went in on Valentine's Day to buy some goodies for my coworkers, and everybody was super impressed with the light, very fresh, super buttery deliciousness of the pastries I'd brought and I was sure to tell them all where they came from. Getting the pastries together seemed to be a somewhat painstakingly slow process, but overall I have been really pleased with this place. It's still only a couple months old, so I'm sure that with a little time, it will only improve and get better. And hey, you really can't beat a 24 hour coffee shop with free wi-fi and great couches!
(4)
Michael C.

sometimes this place can get super crowded. alot of people tend to come here to study since its a 24hr coffee shop. parking is kinda limited either in the KHON building or on the side streets. i usually park across the street by Chodangs and walk it. as for food, i haven't tried it but i heard its pretty good. nothing fancy like starbucks but it gets the job done.
(5)
Julia P.

i will be back i tried the mac and cheese it was a little salty but still good.. wanna try the potato leek soup.. next time! i also really like the decor and cool coffee shop scene i would of gave 5 stars but my first exp.. they would not accept my hot deal Hawaii coupon cuz it was on my phone....and the second time i order and paid for the mac and cheese and then they walk over to our table and say they thought they had but were out of the mac and cheese.. but they said i could get the special and got a free cheesecake.. but then someone forgot their order and offer it to me .. then they realize they did have some mac and cheese left.. and gave me that one.. .my eyebrow was raise many time with expression "really?"
(3)
LesliAnn K.

Pluses are that its 24 hours, and groups can hang out for hours without feeling like they are being rushed out of there. I'm not a coffee drinker, but the coffee that my friends had looked good. Maybe because there's no close time and they expect people to stay for long, the service takes equally as long. I am sure the workers are trying, but they could not cover the basic things, like give us a number for our order, give a receipt, bring us utensils, bring us water, offer extra water. Or maybe because its not really a restaurant I shouldn't be so harsh. We went for dinner and the short ribs were pretty good. We ordered three dishes of the same thing at our table, and the dishes were spread at least 15 minutes apart. And there was inconsistent presentation...my friends short ribs dish had lots of veggies, ours barely had any (it was the same dish). I would not recommend the seafood risotto...rarely do I have complaints about food but it tasted awfully fishy. I don't think my stomach or my friend reacted well after eating it. Stick with the non-seafood dishes and the simpler fare and you should be fine.
(2)
JJMM R.

Great atmosphere, great food.
(5)
Dijon Y.

My ice tea latte tasted like watered down milk. Either I don't like ice tea lattes (quite possible) or they don't make a very good one. You have to ask for a WiFi password as it changes everyday. Kind of a hassle. Not as busy as Starbucks. Good to sit down relax and or study. There's outlets for the 4 tables along the wall. There's a few parking stalls in the KHON building but its cramped in there. You can also park at Ala Moana and walk across the street. Its roomy but not huge. The couches in the middle give it a relaxed feel but reduces the amount of folks that can study in there.
(3)
Jennie P.

Why does it take 20 mins for toast? Thanks my toast was cold by the second time asking for it. "Do you still want it?" YES I DO! I ORDERED IT 20 mins ago!!!! I don't know why you have 2 people cleaning up and then sitting down. As if they have nothing else to do?
(1)
melissa b.

I just had their greek salad and was not impressed. It should not be called a greek salad there was more pita bread then anything. It had black olives not kalamata olives, too many red onion, capers and cucumber. No tomatoes, feta cheese or even dressing. The hummus is ok but i will never order it again. The portabello panini is good though.
(3)
Andie H.

I love the ambiance of this cute little coffee shop. Its just so cheery and makes you want to study/do your work...right??!!! Actually I like this place to chill out with some friends and sip my iced mochas and eat their pretty decent foods. Most of the crowds here are college kids, business people, and just the younger generation hanging out. Hardly any babies running amok!! Can we keep it that way?? Open 24hrs, they sell some specifics during certain hours, such as breakfast in the morning, soups/sandwiches for lunch and pho after hours. I must say their soups and sandwiches are delish! I will definitely have to try the pho one day. They have specialty drinks, but I tend to stick with my usual mochas. I did try my friend's iced honey latte recently and it reminded me of autumn. Haha! Decent coffee for the price (remember I'm a starbucks lover). They have wifi, but to my understanding there is a time limit and if you buy something you get like an hour free (?) Or you can just buy the passcode for the amount of time that you need (?) please correct me if I'm wrong. To me, I live for wifi/ipads/iphones and am constantly on it. I may be spoiled by starbucks by this...so this does not work for me, and wouldn't study here for hours and hours on end like I do at starbucks. Parking...sucks. Street, inside the marked stalls in the KHON building, or park at Ala Moana (although Sears isn't there anymore...so does that make it more obvious??). Late nights are pretty good, and empty inside the building. For the most part, I've never seen it overwhelmingly busy where people are fighting to get tables. There are a lot of high tops which makes it uncomfortable after a while for a shorty like me to sit in high chairs. Oh and the bathroom is a one person stall for you ladies, which was so deceiving the first time I went in there. Try it at least once! I shall probably have an update as soon as I try more of the menu.
(4)
Jennee G.

Very cute and mellow 24 hour coffee cafe. A small but delightful menu at very good prices. They have a 10 item breakfast menu that's served all day and a 6 item lunch and dinner menu served from 11AM-10PM. Inclusive of daily specials for both breakfast and the afternoon menu. They also have snacks for all the late nighters. In addition the the food and drink menu they have an Ice Cream Parlor! I haven't tried it yet but I will one of these days. I've tried just about everything on the menu and it's all pretty good given it's a cafe and it's inexpensive! They have lots of space and free Wifi! Great place to gather with a group or to study. I've been finding myself here just about every morning because there is no crowd and minimal wait time!
(4)
Linda D.

After a movie, we wanted something hot to warm us up on a raining night. So instead of Like Like Drive Inn or Zippy's we stopped by Kissaten. Since the Clam Chowder was not available we ordered the Ramen and the Grilled cheese/tomato bisque soup. We sat down and waited. The Grilled cheese sandwich came out, but no soup. After, eating most of the Grilled cheese sandwich, the Ramen came out. I mentioned the soup, no answer. I was half way done with the Ramen, when my friend went up to inquire about the soup. They told him that they were warming it up. They didn't expect customers to order it tonight. (lol, with the rain and windy weather?...really?...). The soup still wasn't ready, so he cancelled the soup. When he returned to the table, I was done with the Ramen. From reading some of you reviews, the grilled cheese sandwich/tomato bisque combo is a popular item....so why don't you have it warmed up? Just doesn't make sense. We won't be back for a while.
(1)
Michele M.

Turkey pesto melt minus the cheese is my favorite!!! Also comes with a side of greens drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. Total comfort food. Chill vibe here especially since there's wifi service. So chances are you will see people busting out their laptops and scoping out the wall outlets. Menu is simple. Food is fresh. Flavors are robust! Prices are reasonable. Parking on the street off Piikoi in the KHON building. Great place to catch up with a girlfriend. Not a place where you will feel rushed at all.
(5)
Dan M.

Kissaten is the kind of place where you can spend hours there and never feel pressured by the staff to leave. for me, this is crucial when I need a place to study. (and yes, I continue to buy things so I'm not just mooching off their free wifi) during the busy times, I could imagine it being a little noisy due to its openness but if you have a pair of earphones then it shouldn't matter. I ordered the focaccia turkey pesto sandwich. the focaccia bread was the overall winner in this sandwich, which almost made the actual contents a little light in taste. I also found their chai tea latte lacking the spiciness I would find elsewhere. their other menu items look appetizing however, and I'll always need a place to study so im sure I'll be trying this place again in the future.
(3)
Trevor T.

Main upside for this place is that it's 24/7. I studied here late nights and it's a decent place to study. As far as the food offerings, there are better places to go. Same with the beverages. I do like the staff, they've always been pretty thumbs up in my experience. Parking is available in the building and ala moana is right across the street. Bottom line: check it out if you're looking for a late-night coffee shop, but don't expect to be wowed.
(2)
Andy N.

One hour limit on Internet? 10 minutes for a tea latte? Only tables? No sofas or comfy chairs? 24 hours is great but everything else sucks, only the good looking girl with the tattoo on her shoulder knew what she was doing too. Two stars for being open late that's it.
(2)
Sarah V.

9.50 for a sandwich panini thing might sound a bit much for the broke population, but you just have to keep in mind that the turkey pesto melt is pretty much A GRADE edible AND legal cocaine. THEN it's a sweet deal. (plus it comes with a salad and you can get water and an hour of internet so whoop) but I'm serious. put... put that sandwich in your mouth and forget everything bad that has ever happened to you in your life. there's also a vending machine by the bathrooms with little snacks as an add on get excited brah they stop selling the turkey pesto meth after 10 p.m. because life's not fair so keep that in mind. But i mean, only rebels are up past 10 p.m. anyway amirite so it shouldn't be a problem. Now do the do man
(5)
Paola R.

This is a nice, spacious coffee shop with plenty of tables and pretty good coffee. It seems to be the spot for students to hang out and/or study. The huge downer, however, is that they only give you one hour of free WiFi. The baristas are usually nice enough to give you another password without having to purchase something new, but it can be pretty tedious--especially if you need to study for a few hours.
(3)
Kailee M.

I came here with my family at 10 pm on a Sunday. We ordered 3 grilled cheese sandwiches and 2 tomato bisques. Half an hour later we still did not get our food. We asked the waitress if our food would be coming soon and she shook us off and told us, "I know. Everyone keeps coming up to me and b**tching." 45 minutes later our food came. The cheese was barely melted on the grilled cheese. The waitress did not even apologize for the wait.
(2)
Chris L.

My new favorite place to hang out! Nice selection of food & drinks, clean & comfortable with a coolness factor, and 24-hours! I had the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque combo...delicious! The Grilled Cheese had several types of cheese, bacon, and fuji apples inside that gave it a unique flavor which went perfect with the cream Tomato Bisque soup. For drinks, because there were so many I had a couple! First, Strawberry Italian Creme Soda, then the Strawberry Frappe, and finally the Passion Orange Guava (POG) Italian Soda! It was too late at night for me to try the coffee, but my friend said it was strong and tasty. I'm going to try that next!
(4)
Mike H.

I think imbeciles work at this location.. How hard is it to make a grilled cheese with apples on the side... Instead I received my order and was told " we put the apples inside.. If you don't want it, you can take them out." why don't you actually OPEN you're ears and follow directions? I don't think anyone would like to stick their finger in melted cheese to remove apple slices.
(1)
Jenn T.

I've uncovered another studying place, with coffee, food, tables, outlets...man it's a student's dream! I actually came here on a whim to grab dinner with some friends. It's a nice little coffee bar with lots of seating and lots of people studying. The menu was pretty extensive for a coffee bar. They had salads, soups, sandwiches and some entrees that all looked delicious. I got the turkey pesto, which was super awesome. Grilled, warm and the cheese was melted. It came with a nice salad as well! They seem to also have a wide variety of coffee, tea and assorted beverages.
(4)
Angela A.

Delicious food, refreshing drinks and great staff... what more can you ask for in a coffee shop? Lots of space to talk with friends, eat a snack or conduct a meeting with your clients. Whatever the reason, come try something to eat and drink at Kissaten. Lots of parking on the street, if there is none, look in the KHON building for their stalls. The only downfall for parking in the structure is you have to walk around, outside of the building. Gets really congested during midterm and finals week... after all, it is one of the only 24 hour coffee shops here on island.
(5)
Nohea T.

I'm definitely a fan of this place. Being stuck on the grave at work, on my days off Kissaten is a great little study stop for me when I'm wide awake at 2-3 a.m. The surprising thing about this place is, no matter what time in the middle of the night I come in, it's packed! I never knew so many people like study at 3 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. First off, the staff is great. They've always been super friendly, and bring/clear dishes like waiters (rather than just barista/cooks). Atmosphere, decor, and layout of the place is great as well. They have a lot of local art displayed around the restaurant, and there are some that I would seriously consider buying. I've slowly been making my way down the menu at this 24-hour coffee shop. Grilled Cheese / Tomato Bisque combo. I gotta say, the tomator bisue is BOMB. It's a pretty cozy feeling to dip a grilled cheese into it, but if you're not feeling that hungry, you can still get the bisque on it's own and it comes with a little blob of bread for some dipping action. Kissaten Melt was pretty good. Came with a little baggy of lays chips. Pho was good, too. Could use being a little bit hotter. I like getting my pho with a bit of steam coming off of it. Also, the side herbs and veggies that come with it could look a bit fresher. The morning special was a little dissapointing. I was expecting more food for the price, but it came with (looked like) 2 scrambled eggs, 2 bacons, and scoop of rice. I believe it ran about 8 bucks. I guess not too bad considering it came with a cup of coffee too, but it wouldn't hurt to add another egg or more rice to make it look more ample. Reasons for only 3 stars: I haven't really enjoyed any of the drinks at this place. I've tried a few different ones (Thai latte, honey latte, a few others), but each time I've felt like they are a bit too sugary (granted, I guess that's what you'd expect for the honey latte). The wi-fi at this place is kind of junk, and I'm still not really sure on their timing policy. There's been times I've ordered the same dish and gotten a 2-hour ticket one time, and 1-hour ticket another time. I know for sure that drinks are 1-hour ticket. I understand the reasoning behind time limits on wi-fi at places like this, but if you're not going to do free wi-fi, maybe be a bit more generous with the timing (especially for the late nights). It's kind of junk to plan on a late night, 4-5 hour study session, and have to spend 15-20 bucks just to sustain the wi-fi throughout your stay. Also, wi-fi can be kind of bumpy and slow at times, and I've had it just stop working for 10 minutes at a time before.
(3)
Jan A.

Kissaten has always been a top study spot whenever I'm in town. The environment, tables, food, coffee and refreshments are excellent. They're menu changes from breakfast, lunch and dinner. Best thing is that I could come during anytime of day/night because they are 24hrs. Besides parking, this place is legit.
(5)
Jane L.

TOMATO BISQUE, Enough SAID. LOL I love that soup. Creamy and delicious. I also had their green tea latte non fat, it was quite delicious. I also had the turkey pesto, the only thing that sucked was they ran out of foccacia bread but it was really good. The ambiance is quite cute and comforting. Parking is very limited if you can't find any in the marked stalls you will have to park in the street.
(5)
Rebecca C.

finally came to redeem a hot deals hawaii voucher that expired back in 2011. per hdh and kissaten the paid value will still be redeemable. so just to make sure I called before heading down and employee told me it should be no problem. bf and i shared the kissaten melt and a iced mocha. it is actually smaller that some pics depict and i thought. in all it's a cool place to chill, chow, and study. why weren't these type of places around when i was in school. beats studying at the library or at home.
(3)
Amy S.

I came here to kill some time before a meeting. It was relatively calm for a Wednesday evening, but school is out of session. The cashier/ barista was friendly and answered my questions. I got the honey latte-- which I loved, but seemed a bit pricy. Perhaps they should just have a wi-fi usage card, and not charge so much for coffee. The service was super slow. I ended up losing a lot more time than I had meant to.
(4)
Levie G.

Summary: pretty standard coffee shop Review: Kissaten is a convenient coffee shop to go to. Its located right across Nijiya market near Ala Moana. This makes parking easy. As for the coffee, it tasted pretty normal and nothing special. The atmosphere is casual. I tried the clam chowder bread bowl and found that there isn't a lot of chowder included. The worst part is the wifi is limited. I understand making a purchase justifies wifi but if i buy a big meal and get as much wifi as someone who buys a single small coffee i think somethings wrong. Therefore, i don't recommend Kissaten for students, unless they are burning the midnight oil and don't have wifi at home.
(2)
lily d.

I really wanted to like this place, but after getting sick from eating here, I don't think I'll make it back here anytime soon. I booked a reservation with open table, but that wasn't needed cause they were slow at the time. They only had one other patron I the store. I originally bought a living social deal worth 50.00 for a one time use, so we picked up a few things: a Caesar salad, tomato bisque, hummus, a sandwich, gyu don, and a caramel coffee called the Carmella. My husband wasn't as bad as I was, but I don't know what it was that could have caused it. Since then, I couldn't eat anything but soup items for two whole weeks.
(1)
Monique N.

Came here to study, but I had a hard time looking for parking. The building parking was full, luckily I found street parking. Food was great but a soup and sandwinch is about 11$? I think it's overpriced. The ambiance was alright, in the morning there is less people. WI-FI is limited only for 2 hours which is a bummer. But I would rather go starbucks by Kakaako it's really nice to study there. And I would just spend less than 5$
(3)
Samantha L.

Pros: They have a great menu. Half way through my studies, I bought a turkey pesto melt and it was amazing. I also liked their high tables and floor to ceiling windows. Cons: You have to pay for wifi- I think it lasts about 2 hours
(4)
Justin U.

Pro: Coffee spot with the most available outlets to plug into, period. Con: If you're not directly sitting next to the outlet, but instead at a neighboring table you might get scolded if your battery cord is stretched across the floor as it poses a safety issue. Pro: Wifi Con: Wifi is only available with a purchase and it's only for 2 hours Pro: Wifi login passwords tickets don't expire so save them up if you're just there studying and never intend on using them! Pro: Seating. Lots of seating. Con: None Pro: Opened 24 hours Con: None Pro: Free parking after 6. Choke parking across the street at Ala Moana Con: If you miss a parking spot on the street, you must circle all the way around (which isn't too bad) All in all, this is a good spot to get your study/video making/work stuff on. The food is decent, the coffee is stiff, and there's always good talent walking by. If you really wanna be cheap, Chodang is only right across the street for some 6 dolla meat jun!
(4)
Derek N.

When I left the house yesterday, I never imagined I'd end up in a place I've never been, with strangers I'd never met until that night, until 3 AM. I had always heard that Kissaten was a good place to hang out and study, I'd never gone or invited to go with my friends; my friends suck, apparently. Well fortunately for me, last night I made some new friends! We were hanging out at a McDonalds with some mutual friends, and someone recommended we move to a classier setting. I was in favor of this as I had never been there before, so away we all went to the magical land of Kissaten. I wasn't hungry, but I saw several people with the tomato bisque and it looked and smelled quite tasty, as did the sandwiches! Maybe next time; I just wanted to get a drink so I wouldn't feel bad about hanging out. I ordered some tea and the guy offered me the wi-fi password. That was nice of him, since I'm just buying tea. Anyway, we stayed until 3 AM playing board games. This is a pretty cool place to hang out! It's nice, there's wi-fi and it's open 24 hours. Usually when I want to hang out with my friends we go out to this place in Aiea that's not 24 hours, but usually stays open late. But there's a place we can do that here in town! Perfect! The parking situation isn't perfect, but there are some signs in the parking structure indicating where to park. I figured it out and it was my first time going there, so it doesn't seem that big a deal to me. However, I can see how it might be more crowded and therefore confusing during the daytime. But in case you haven't figured it out, I'm a night owl and so are [some of] my friends. In any case, this seems like the perfect place to pass the nights for me and my friends after other places close. I will definitely be back and probably try some of the food! Oh, $5 minimum for credit card!
(4)
Lisa L.

Good place to have coffee, tea, or a small bite to eat & catch up with friends. But if you plan on using their wifi to do homework DO NOT COME. Its ridiculously slow and you're continuously getting timed out. Stayed here for an hour and got nothing done. And to even get wifi, you need to make a purchase. Keep in mind the food is not the cheapest for the portions, but its pretty tasty :)
(2)
Paul Axel C.

because hunger has no time frame. kissaten is a good place to hit up. ****open 24 hours*****great place for a late night snack, to study, to chill, and to eat! my personal favorites: -grilled cheese & tomato bisque melty cheddar & smoked gouda cheeses, bacon thin sliced fuji apples -kissaten melt shaved pastrami, mozzarella, caramelized onions & whole grain mustard aioli on sourdough. -truffle mac & cheese aged white cheddar, roasted chicken breast, finished with truffle oil. topped with bacon & torched crumbs tips *there is limited parking in the khon building, more parking on the street *it's open 24 hours but they stop serving certain foods at a certain time. check out their menu on their website. yelp 31 day challenge 1/31: hungry 24/7
(4)
Justine R.

I did not come here with the intention of studying so my experience was pretty good. We got there around 11 and there wasn't much people hanging around. Mostly people just having a drink and chatting. I was really looking forward to trying one of their ice cream cakes but sadly they discontinued it. So we ordered other things instead. Thai Tea - If you are a Thai tea fan, this is a must. I have been to Thailand before and this taste almost exactly like the real deal. It's not too sweet with just the right amount of tea and condensed milk. This will be the really main reason why I would come back. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque - The grilled cheese had two different types of melted cheese with bacon in between. It was pretty good for a grilled cheese but too cheesy for my liking. The tomato bisque on the other hand was absolutely yummy. This tomato thickness is great for dipping the sandwiches and resembles the taste of pizza sauce. Very yummy! Kissaten Melt - This was ok. A bit disappointing because I was looking forward to trying this out the most. It was pretty good but nothing relatively amazing. It had two pieces of black forest ham and cheese with aiola mustard? Definitely not worth the price of $9. Decaf Mocha - Seriously? This thing was so bad bad it was ridiculous. It was a mixture of weird sweetness. Do not order the coffee drinks here. Everything else is ironically good. You would think the coffee would be the best product. Overall it's a pretty good place for hanging out if you have no where to go. Although the interior design doesn't produce that homey ambiance. Maybe a good place to study but I think I'll stick with Starbucks. =)
(4)
Shauna S.

Kissaten Coffee Bar is definitely the hippest little study shop on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu. Every time I walk through that big glass door, I am instantly transported back to my college days when many of my evenings were spent camped out at coffee shops studying my brains out. What that means is that every time I walk into Kissaten I get a nice dose of reminiscent butterflies and an equal dose of "sorry dude, that sucks". And then I'm just happy to devour a delicious wrap, sandwich, or salad, and sip on some yummy coffee while reading a magazine, surfing the internet, or doing other non-studious tasks. This coffee shop has a really nice environment, quite unlike any place I've seen here in Honolulu. They provide lots of seating options, GREAT food choices, and oh-so-yummy drinks. Check it out!
(4)
Chloe M.

Mmm Kissaten I'm very upset with you. I'm obligated to give you four stars because even though your drinks aren't the best and your food portions suck, YOU'RE SO DARN CONVENIENT! I came here twice on christmas eve because it was the only coffee shop that I knew was definitely open at 10pm (besides Starbucks). Food: I've tried the clams, tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwich, cheesecake, and pho. I suggest you not order the clams because for the price you pay the clams are pretty tiny and they don't give very much. After I was done eating I was left with a big pool of clam/butter juice that I wish had pasta noodles swimming in it. The pho was pretty tasty (better than I expected from a coffee shop), but you can only get this item past 10pm. Grilled cheese comes with bacon and apples. The portion for the bacon was perfect but I didn't taste any apples. If anyone who works here is reading this, please put more apples in the sandwich! Tomato soup ($2 w/sandwich) and the cheesecake ($3.50?) are the winners for me. I have no complaints about these items. Perfect portions and both are rich and delicious! Drinks: On christmas eve I bought the cheesecake latte (seasonal, $3.50) and a frozen strawberry lemonade. Both were okay but I wouldn't get them again. I also tried their green tea lemonade on a different day which was blech. Definitely wouldn't get that again. Ambiance: Comfy couches, lots of seating, cute art, big TV. A+ Overall: It's open 24/7, has a better food menu than any other coffee shop in the area, and the location is very convenient. I just wish their drinks were good and they put more apples in the sandwich.
(4)
Chuco T.

Kissaten Coffee Bar, is quickly becoming one of my favorite late night hang outs in downtown Honolulu. Besides being open 24hours a day (A dream for a coffee addict like myself), they have a pretty extensive menu, and excellent coffee. We usually go late, perfect for coffee, and their delicious soups. The Pho was much better this time around than previously, and the Tomato Bisque is always really good. We also got the grilled cheese (with apples???), and the kissaten melt. All very satisfying.
(4)
Pumehana A.

I love the atmosphere here. It's extremely "chill," for lack of a better word. Kissaten is located right by the esthetics academy I attend, making it more than convenient to pop in and enjoy their Breakfast Special (scrambled eggs, scoop of rice, two strips of bacon, a piece of fruit and a small coffee, hot tea or juice) for only $6.00, or their delicious parfait. The other day, I stopped in to pick up a can of Red Bull. When I went to pay, I mentioned that I am a part of their frequent buyer program-- they went paperless, so instead of a stamp-card, you just tell them your name. After giving my name, one of the barista's jumped a little, and proceeded to tell me that earlier in the week, I was overcharged for an item I had purchased. Someone had put the $3.75 aside with my name on it, in hopes that they would give it to me the next time I came in. I thanked them profusely and decided to leave $3.00 in the tip jar for them. I really appreciate the girls going out of their way to make sure that the overpay was reconciled. These kids work hard. Sometimes I don't know how they do it with only one barista working the graveyard shift; and again, only one barista working in the morning. Hats off to you, kids. Way to make that dollah bill. ^_^ Oh, and I absolutely LOVE the artwork they display. Imma buy one... one day.
(4)
Ray L.

Good place to come and relax. They have light sandwiches and salads. Place is open and quiet not like the hustle and bustle of othe coffee bars. The salads are decent size and tasty.
(4)
Yena C.

The food here is amazing. It surpasses the categorization of cafe food. I've tried almost all the dishes and they are never short of flavor. I recommend the grilled cheese with tomato bisque or the turkey pesto melt. But order anything because you won't be disappointed. The drinks are really good too! My favorites are the peach tea and raspberry tea lemonade. They're very refreshing and thirst quenching. Parking can get a little difficult but at late night you can park in the KHON stalls I believe. One of my go to restaurants to eat!
(5)
Greg B.

I would use a metaphor but there would be no point. The waffle was superb. It was quite excellent. I believe this is the first time that I have said no to coffee. It was late at night. But the banana shake was excellent and then the Belgian waffle got my attention in a snap. It was so very lovely. I would go on but it is truly a wonder that this place is 24 hours. It reminds me of a nice oasis in Ala Moana area. Wait a minute - it is. It's great!
(5)
Al D.

Big space. Some parking available in the structure off Piikoi. Seating is not comfortable here. I had the grilled cheese and tomato soup combo. It was just ok. The soup was too salty. And the bread for the sandwich tasted old and dry. The sanwich could've used more bacon and cheese. The free wifi is only good for 2 hrs. I might return but this would not be my first choice
(3)
Avian M.

Truffled Mac n cheese are still #1. The employee gave me 2 forks which is great since that my friend and I were sharing a plate.
(4)
Gray G.

The only 24/7 coffee place I know! They're right next to Ala Moana. I used to go there all the time to study during the semester. It's pretty chill inside, the staff is friendly too. The crowd mainly consists of college students so that's a plus. I normally park at Ala Moana but you can find roadside parking too, might be hard though. The food is unique and appetizing, decent sized portions. If you want wi-fi it's technically free but you gotta buy something every 2 hours to get the code. Definitely worth it though!
(5)
Tony D.

Fits time here and all I can say is not bad... Foods a bit pricey but overall taste is good. I had the truffle Mac and cheese it was 10.75... I really enjoyed it but too cheesy for my wife... She had the chicken bbq wrapped and she loved it... Great place to study you get two hour wifi password with purchase... Seems like ppl stay here all day everyday
(4)
Aubry A.

This place is alright. I like it, but don't at the same time. Yeah, it's a good place to hangout and do homework. They have good food especially the pesto panini, and a wide variety of drinks. Only thing is the wifi is limited. You have to buy something to get wifi here. Plus it's really slow!!! Everyone here is trying to turn in work online, and my computer lags badly!!! Parking sucks too. I don't really know what to say about this place. It's a good place that has many flaws. I've only been here in the evening, so I'm not sure if it's exactly the same during the day.
(3)
Tyna A.

Worse place ever!!!! Service was horrendous. Never acknowledged us. My husband's breakfast came within the first 10 minutes and mine never came. I walked up to the counter with my husbands plate untouched and asked for my money back, never got an apology, and she tossed my money in my hand with an attitude.
(1)
C H.

I've tried lunch here 3 different times but each time it's a fail. Their menu choices look great but the end result isn't much. The wait for food is so irritating. I have been here once when it was relatively busy and twice when it's dead. Each time the wait is long. Really long but unfortunately it's not the worst part. The worst part is the staff. One girl behind the counter seems annoyed by her job and with my relatively simple order. She doesn't know the menu and doesn't ever clarify what side choice you want... It's almost uncomfortable to order from her. I came here with hopes of finding a good lunch place based on proximity to my schedule but this is a major fail. I would give it lower starts but I have hopes it could somehow be improved. I would definitely start with staff. Maybe people who actually want the job?
(3)
Claudia M.

Walked into the cafe and there were many people on the lap tops with a drink by their side. Tjhey have free wi-fi. We went for dinner. I had the penne pasta with mushroom. I was disappointed because it was my first time and with all the hype I've read, I expected a delicious dinner. It was just penne pasta with mushroom, very plain and nothing fabulous about this dish. I heard the salads are delicious. If I ever go back, I will definitely try the salad.
(2)
Kehaulani B.

This was my first visit there, and while I didn't order any food, because I was in a hurry, the service was very friendly. It was about 2:30pm, and there were only about 20 people in the restaurant , which I am told, there are times it is standing room only. It was a quiet place to meet at (@2:30pm) for a quick iced tea, and chat with my brother for about 30 mins. Overall, I look forward to enjoying one of their scrumptious pastries and delicious sandwiches.
(4)
Cathy T.

Originally I thought Kissaten would be my new after hours spot to sober up after a late night at V-lounge/Bar 7. It's just a 5-7 minute walk/stumble from Ala Moana and I usually park right in the vicinity. But since I'm a little older and those nights of closing down those bars are fewer and far between I never got my chance to explore this new and shiny 24 hour coffee shop. Instead I took another route and what did I get out of it? 4 solid hours of studying, a delicious soup + sandwich, and an awesome caffeine buzz. #WINNING! On Saturday afternoons Kissaten is my "secret" study spot. It's a lot quieter than Starbucks and their food & coffee is better. They're also used to people camping out at their tables for several hours (but please be respectful of the signs that tell you which ones are reserved for dining customers!) Parking is kinda tough sometimes because they only have 3 stalls in the KHON garage but there's street parking (If you got quarters) and Ala Moana is right across the street. As far as the food goes I'm a big fan of their grilled cheese & tomato soup combo. (Comfort food while studying!) I also like the Kissaten melt, vanilla creme cakes, and Thai ice coffee. I'm guessing their baked goods must be pretty bomb because every time I'm there the only things left are the sad, broken crumbs that were left behind just to taunt me! I've never had really outstanding service, but I've never had horrible service here either. It's usually a positive experience and I've always gotten tons of studying done. (Yay productivity!)
(4)
Ariana M.

I like this coffee joint way better then Starbucks! It's a great place to study, hang with friends or have a casual business meeting. This location is open 24 hours! Which is great for college students because we never know when we will have time to get work done! Haven't tried any of the food yet. Only had a ton of drinks! Mostly because when I come here, it's usually to work on assignments or having meetings for work. I feel like when I eat and try to focus on my work, it never really works out for me ha-ha. I guess I'm just really weird, but what else is new! Never had a bad experience here yet and I hope it stays that way! =)
(3)
Krysten I.

I experienced Kissaten for the first time two nights ago. My friend reluctantly came with me and complained the whole time about this and that--the food portions aren't as big any more, there arent any couches anymore, blahblahblah, hes a little stuck in the past if you ask me. :P (I hope youre not reading this wesley). We went at around 8:30 or 9pm and the Kissaten parking lot stalls were full, so we parked in a stall, hoping it would be okay. Not very conveniently, the map of where to park is located INSIDE kissaten, not in the parking lot. So you need to either 1) memorize the map/times etc. 2) take a pic and store it on your phone and then remember you did that for next time or 3)run in, check the map and then run back to your car if you have to move it. Good luck. I tried the beet salad they had on special and the grilled cheese with tomato soup, both $9. Not bad at all!! I've never had apples and bacon in my grilled cheese before, but I'm pretty sure I'm making it like that from now on. The salad was pretty good too. I had a chai latte and Wesley J. had a thai tea. The drinks are pretty expensive and not amazingly good. The cashier was super nice too! I got like 30 stamps in one go too! I will most definitely be back to do me some late night studying. Its comforting to know that I can stay as long as it takes me to finish. The plethora of asian FOBS also allow me to reminisce about my undergrad years in LA.
(3)
Aimee N.

Typically I find myself looking for places to eat agree 9:30pm...kind of hard on a weeknight especially when I don't want to go to a bar. I often think of Kissaten since it's 24/7 and their apple-smoked bacon grilled cheese w/ tomato bisque is to die for! Really it's so simple but I can't find this combo anywhere else. I'm sure I can make it at home but I'd probably be disappointed. I recently tried the Mac and Cheese with truffle oil and it's really yummy and filling! I wish I was more hungry so I could have finished it. I've had the Thai tea before too and it's better than their coffee for sure!
(4)
Jhoren C.

Friday night: Mission was to grab a bite to eat and go over financials right after dinner. So Kissaten was the go-to place! For 1; it was bookmarked on my yelp list and 2: it was nearby and I remember reading from reviews that people would usually come here to study so I knew there would be seats and FREE WIFI. Parking is located in the KHON building where they have 6 designated stalls otherwise you'd have to park across ala moana (sears) ground floor walk across. But be sure to get your car out of ala moana garage by 10pm or you'll get towed. Food: a little overpriced for sandwiches and soup but it was tasty! I ordered the vegetarian wrap w/ tomato bisque combo (drink not included) Ambience: was pretty chill, music wasn't too loud and for a Friday night it wasn't all that busy but maybe because its summer and school isn't in session yet.
(3)
Mike Y.

I've finally awakened from my Yelp winter hibernation to review Kissaten Coffee Bar. AWESOME space. High, open duct work ceilings with great airflow. This place has a great feel to it. Here are my favorite things about Kissaten: Free wireless internet for 2 hrs, OPEN 24 HRS!!!, lots of seating, coffee is pretty good, food is delicious, right by Ala Moana Mall (and the parking lot.... mwaaa haaa haaaa) Negatives: Haven't had any issues yet! I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Both were devoured in under 2 minutes. The grilled cheese had cheddar/smoked gouda and thin, smokey bacon. Yum. I'm really glad I found a 24 hour coffee shop that serves food. What a great place to unwind or get some work done late at night. Honolulu is definitely lacking businesses like this that are open all night. I'll be back again and again!
(4)
Krystal S.

Tried this place for the first time today. I had a hot white mocha and my bf had an iced coffee with cream. They were both good. I also had a truffle Mac and cheese. It was really good! The staff was friendly and pretty quick. They were quite busy with college students studying. Good atmosphere for young adults. The only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 is because of my friends hot green tea latte. I tried a sip of it and it tasted like just milk and froth. I, personally, couldn't taste the green tea at all. I took the bus, so I didn't have to deal with parking.
(4)
Amanda A.

First off, trying to find parking for this place can be a bit tricky. There's the street parking to the side but there's also parking inside of the KHON building but only in the marked stalls so you have to look. I think they're available only during certain times of the day as well but don't quote me on that. Anyway we came here for a brunch meeting with my sister and her boss. We got there around 10:30am and she bought a parfait, breakfast croissant, hot cocoa for my nephew and a coffee for herself. Her total was a lot more than I expected, let's just say that. There were only like 3 other people in there at the time and they all just seem to be drinking coffee on their devices. Our order took awhile to come out. I think we waited like around 20 minutes just for the croissant and it's just a simple sandwich that shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to make. Also, her coffee has waaaaaay too much syrup in there. It was syrup with a dash of coffee instead of coffee with syrup. We asked for the wi-fi password and you have a limit of 2 hours on it. Each person needs their own password so there's no sharing. Beside the food though, if you need a quiet place to study or get some work done this is a nice place because it's quite and not as busy as Starbucks and the wi-fi is faster since there's not a lot of people. I'd probably come here, if I needed to, for that but the food not so much. It's more on the expensive side for something that shouldn't be. $11 for a sandwich and soup, not for me, thanks though.
(3)
Arthur S.

Oh yup that's right. Im a regular here. Many an hour i have spent consuming copious amounts of coffee and other carb based meals during the late hour of night. I love this place because the atmosphere is quite different from that of starbucks'. For one there is a more spacious seating area, that include hardtop tables and chairs for those dining, as well as comfy sofas and chairs for those that enjoy lounging around, or studying in a more relaxed manner. The music here rocks, none of that strange wilderness flute like music that's being played at starbucks. I always wonder if starbucks has to promote music like that, or if one of the workers just has a very unique sense of music. In contrast who ever picks the tracks that play here has an awesome sense of music, perfect for studying, and not like you've just wandered into another dimension. The Food Menu- So they have different specials everyday. It usually written on the chalkboard to the right as you walk up to the cashier. There's also pho served after a certain hour, but i forget exactly when that is. One thing i always get here is the turkey pesto melt. The bread they use is so soft, but also has a crunchy surface, which compliment the turkey and sweet and sour pesto sauce. Ive tried the potato leek which was good, but i actually like the tomato bisque more. They also have a different number of snacks and pastries at the front counter in case you don't want to buy a full on meal. The Drink Menu- They have various types of coffes, i wouldn't say their selection is as lengthy as starbucks or coffee bean, but they do offer other sweetened coffees and teas, as well as espressos. Service- Nice service, the staff is always making sure the trash is collected and the tables are cleaned for the next customers. They're also quite approachable and easy to carry conversation with. When you order from the cashier, they will hand you a number, and you take that back to your seat where everything will be brought to you. (Keep in mind this is also where you ask for an internet slip, with the number you have to type in to use the internet.) Only downside is internet usage is limited to 2 hours at a time, then after that you have to order another item to receive another two hours. Usually i just get a energy drink or espresso. Other than that, i have had great study sessions here, and am looking forward to visiting again soon!
(4)
April A.

Great place close to my office to fulfill my coffee fix (until a Philz opens here). Not sure when their busy time is, but I've been there mid-morning during the week and at lunch and didn't have a problem finding a seat like at other coffee places (aahhemstarbucks). I had a grilled mushroom sandwich yesterday and it was good. Really good. Good atmosphere, good food, good coffee.
(4)
Angela H.

Kissaten is a 24 house coffee shop that offers free wi-fi and boasts cool artwork. If you're a student during midterms and need a place to study at 3am, this place is perfect--but, if you're just jonesing for a fancy coffee drink, skip, and go to Starbucks instead. The drinks are mediocre, at best, but the service is pretty friendly and helpful. Overall, great place to study at all hours (and get a coffee while you're at it), but if you're wanted a wide variety of coffee/tea drinks, skip, and go with Coffee Bean or Starbucks.
(3)
Kori T.

Oh sweet baby jesus I dream of their Tomato Bisque and Clam Chowder... *drool* and their Kissaten Melt.. (Oh bob all mighty I just died thinking of it) This place is FABULOUS! Their peach tea has peaches at the bottom to make it just the right amount of sweet that I don't need to add sweetener and I'm from the South we love our teas super sweet. And did I mention its open 24 hours!!! Oh and free wifi!! I found heaven in the place with beautiful art work on the walls for sale (and some really odd art work as well @_@) This is a heaven for those looking for an awesome dinner or lunch, heck even breakfast is great with their bagel and lox and cream cheese mmm Ok I'm driving there now (^_^)/"
(5)
Iris J.

Kind of over priced and visited at end of a work day for comfort food but plenty "sold out" items which is very disappointing! !! Wish they offered more soup options...
(4)
Kiichi R.

Actual Rating: 4 Stars Ambiance: It's definitely a cafe. Random types of seating all around (bar stool/tables, sofas, round table, etc.). Amply lit, with lots of windows for outside lighting to hit in. They have a few TVs and some some artwork hanging on the walls. I haven't come here for the studying aspect (never have gone to any type of cafe to study so..) but it's perfectly fine for casual eating. Service: You order and receive a number to take with you. I'm not sure how it's done with take outs, but you sit down and they bring your order to you. As far as when you're finished, I've always brought it to them. I can't recall if people have left it to be picked up, but I see no sense in being lazy. Food: I was surprised at the quality of food! I am absolutely in love with their pesto turkey panini. Their salad dressing is also really good, and I am not a dressing person. It's a bit tangy and sweet, which was far from what I was expecting. Price: Not bad AT ALL considering the location. I mean, it's not a steal but it's not a ripoff either. If anything, they're bottled water is expensive but that's about the only thing haha. Other: I usually park across the street at Ala Moana and walk across. I'm not sure whether or not the parking in the KHON building is pay-to-park, but it's literally a 2 minute walk from across the street. The place is popular, so it's a hit or miss whether or not you'll find seats. Overall - Pros: Delicious food; relaxed ambiance; decently priced; no real parking issue Cons: Can get a little crowded
(4)
Lauren M.

I could not get through finals without this 24 hour cafe! Be sure to spread out your purchases to get the wifi codes.. I love it here!
(4)
Amber B.

I have 3 full stamp cards for this place since it opened. This means that $150 of my hard earned money has been spent in false hopes of "maybe better service next time!" At first, I would come here to study late at night. Since beginning to work full time & not being in the area as much, I only stop by when I "have to" (i.e. every other place is closed and I need a place to hang out and kill time in town). The staff turnaround rate is so high that probably none of them would recognize me as a regular, which is just as well because I doubt I'll be back after today's visit. To be fair, nothing particularly awful happened today, but it was like when you're in a bad relationship and you finally realize that you deserve better and shouldn't be the only one putting in 99% of the effort to make it work. I had some time to kill and decided to maybe redeem one of my free drink cards. When I got in there, there were only a few people in the shop. I asked the "barista" (I use this term VERY loosely) if she could honor my free drink card. I am aware that they had switched to a new electronic system, but if it were MY shop, I'd absolutely make an exception for a customer who kept returning and spent over $150 in the process EVEN THOUGH they had awful service EVERY TIME they came in. I realize she couldn't have known that as well. But I digress.) Needless to say, she was not taking my seemingly unreasonable request. I didn't put up a fight. I know what it's like on the other side of the counter, so I voluntarily purchased a drink. I really just wanted a place to sit & write in my journal for an hour or two while I wait for my fiance to finish work. Every time I come in here, the "baristas" ROLL THEIR EYES at my drink order. Double iced espresso with a bit of whipped cream. They have it on the menu as a hot drink, but I prefer it iced. Is it REALLY that strange?? One girl even told me they "don't do that." AWESOME customer service! Normally, I drink it black but I wouldn't have to order it with whipped cream if ANYONE in here knew how to pull a shot of espresso. And sadly, the whipped cream doesn't even save it. JUST SAYING. Maybe I have battered wife syndrome for this place...I keep going back in hopes that they will change. It does change, but it's always for the worse. When I first came in, wifi was free. I was happy. Next time, they made me buy something every hour for a new password. Next time it was something about sitting in the less-desireable seats in order to get 2 hours of internet and spend at least blah blah BLAH BLAH. It was too confusing and stupid! My advice to the owner, who seems like a tech-savvy social media guru since he's always sitting at the bar with his macbook, is use the money to provide wifi to your customers instead of buying new furniture. I understand that you don't want people "camping out" & hogging seats...but your venue is HUGE. It's kinda missing the point of an inviting community coffee shop. The only positive thing I can say about this place is that the tomato bisque & grilled cheese combo is pretty good. And that it's open 24 hours. Other than that, I've never had good service here. I consider myself a pretty pleasant person & don't believe I do anything to warrant the snooty service I ALWAYS get. The prices are unfair for the quality of espresso. The employees seem to be hired based on how they look in short shorts & not how much they know about coffee and even less on their customer service skills. The idea of this place is GREAT. I just think it's a shame how poorly executed it is.
(1)
Nicole M.

I love this place! Nice atmosphere, great food, and open ALL THE TIME! Perfect for studying or if you're tired of the usual Zippys hang-out after hours.
(5)
Annie W.

I've only been here a handful of times and remember liking it each time. I've had their delicious macaroni and cheese, tomato bisque, clam chowder, risotto, decaf lattes, their sandwiches, salads and never once tried their pho. The macaroni and cheese is not my favorite, but only because I've discovered my coworkers mama's recipe. You can taste the real cheese they put in this sucker. No replacement or imitation cheese here and sure to create smiles. The tomato bisque is delicious because its so simple, but makes me feel warm and fuzzy on a cool day. For some reason the trade winds were going wild that day. The clam chowder is super thick. It's no chowder from Monterey but it's still filled with the right ingredients and allow for dipping of sandwiches taste even better. The risotto is so so. It just looks like rice, but luckily I added some chicken to this dish and with the mushrooms, it's to die for. The smell of the mushrooms brings out the entire dish and I must say they cooked the white meat chicken perfectly. Thumbs up for a small price for add-ons. The decaf is yucky! I'm not sure what kind of blend they serve, but it was bland. It tasted okay, but half way through the drink, I ended up tossing it away. I'm not too sure what went wrong there. As much as I hate to admit it, that's why I like Starbucks even though I love to support local coffee shops. I'm a walking contradiction. There is really not much on the menu for the health conscious. There is some comfort food, free wi-fi to keep you entertained and a really comfortable environment to relax or even study.
(4)
August A.

Kissaten... Insomniacs, procrastinators, and hipsters unite!!! I've been coming here as my late night option for awhile. Wifi with purchase, late night food, brilliant coffee drinks, and great atmosphere with interesting art installations. The espresso here can be a little strong but it can always be balanced out, not too bitter as well. There's also a full ice cream shop inside, in case the need for a brownie sundae hits. The food menu changes throughout the day, although I do stick to Pho or the Kissaten Melt (Pastrami) and bisque since they are on the menu at all hours. The service here has always been awesome for me. As a professional designated driver, this is my Cheers.
(5)
Fagatron P.

The biggest things going for Kissaten Coffee Shop is that it is open 24 hrs, and is clean. I've been there multiple times, different hours (9am, 3pm, 8pm, 11pm) and they always have been busy. As other yelpers have stated, the staff does, at times, have ATTITUDE (look honey you work with the public, so lose the TUDE). Lastly we come to Price; can see say Expensive, even for Hawaii. But I guess you have to pay a premium for 24hrs availability and a good location.
(3)
Jean B.

What makes a good study cafe? 1. Free parking 2. Free, reliable, fast wifi 3. Ample, clean tables 4. Ample plugs 5. Comfortable chairs; bar stools (optional - in case you need to stand/work; stretch your back) 6. Clean bathroom 7. Open 24/7 8. Good drinks (coffee & tea) 9. Good selection of sweet and savory foods at reasonable prices 10. Other people working hard (and talking about interesting things) 11. Good people-watching 12. Lots of lights (natural light preferred) 13. High ceilings 14. Not musty; fresh air 15. Perfect temperature (not to hot or cold!) 16. Nice patrons who will watch your stuff if you need to pee (or otherwise...) Best study cafe in Honolulu: Kissaten!
(5)
Jennifer D.

Kissaten, I've been here 3 times and you still are not that great. I only came here when I had to study. If I wanted to get good coffee, go anywhere else. The coffee is not good and I don't dare want to waste time by trying the food. 24 hours. That is the reason I came here. Not that I ever was here at a weird time of night, I just liked the comfort of knowing I wouldn't be kicked out at 9pm right in the middle of a study sesh. Wifi. They give you a code when you buy something. Everybody has a unique code to type into the login page. One time I was here and the internet was down. It was like a natural disaster for Kissaten. Coffee. Nast and not worth your money. I tried the lemonade tea which was ok, but still not good enough for me to order again. Staff. Not the nicest. They can be rude at times I find. They know you will come back because they are the only 24 hour coffee shop. One guy acted like he was doing me a service by taking my order. Pfft! Parking. Pain in the ass. There are 5 or less reserved parking stalls in the parking lot for the building and the rest of the people have to find parking in the streets. Not easy at all. I guess you could park in Ala Moana and walk across, but that is annoying too. I also almost got my car towed from the lot because I parked in an unmarked stall. Only park in the Kissaten spots! Not coming back, unless I need some wifi at 2 in the morning.
(2)
Rico A.

Horrible service, the people working there are clueless, food is mediocre at best, and the coffee sucks. Furthermore to the people that study there, what are you reading? High school algebra or Fifty Shades of Grey? Overrated tripe.
(1)
Dennis M.

You will not find a friendlier staff. The coffee is great. The food I tried is really food. The prices are really reasonable. Did I mention that the staff is great (and good looking)? I'll be back any time I'm in HNL (rather frequently). You'll miss out if you don't try it.
(5)
Shannon H.

One of my favorite late night places--reminds me a lot of LA. Kissaten is a casual internet cafe attached to the KHON building across the street from Ala Moana and open 24-hours. The food is really tasty but also a bit pricey. However, if you're looking to eat, I'd recommend the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. Kind of salty for some people, but I enjoyed it. All the food I've had here has been good but the grilled cheese + tomato bisque combo was my favorite. I think late at night they also have pho? Never had it but I'd imagine it'd be wonderful after a night out. The place has ample seating although good luck finding an outlet if you're hoping to get some studying done and plan to stay a while. The center tables are reserved for dining customers but there's still a fair amount of seats available at the periphery if you're just looking to order a coffee and finish that paper you've put off until the night before it's due. The parking is a little tricky. If you aren't daredevil enough to park at Ala Moana and walk over, there is a designated lot shared with the KHON people although I recall them only having about half a dozen stalls reserved for customers. Also if you're staying late, don't park at Ala Moana as they chain off the exits after a certain time. There aren't a lot of late night options in Hawaii if you're not down for Zippy's so it's nice to have Kissaten here (and in such a convenient location too!)
(4)
Danica F.

This has been such a great study spot throughout and before nursing school. The food is good, the service is alright, and the 24 hour deal is so darn convenient. Not quite sure what's up with some employees, but I need to highly commend the owner/owner's daughter. She probably knows I come here often, but she's always so nice and friendly. Some of the employees need a lesson in Customer Service 101 (especially the genius cashier who explains a strawberry hibiscus drink as "it's like strawberry... And hibiscus..." Yeah that's so helpful, thank you for all you don't do and please don't work night shift again). They always have something new to eat or drink and I really appreciate how patient most of them are even when it gets really crowded. My second gripe would just be the bathroom distance, it gets a little creepy and I'd have to run it in fears of someone stealing my belonging as I utilize the bathroom. Otherwise again, great spot to be to study, hang out, or for a place open 24/7 that has one of the best strawberry shortcakes in town!
(4)
Debbie R.

I don't see what all the hubbub is about with this place. Had several peeps tell me "you must go to Kissaten"!! Ok, so I went. It was decidedly mediocre and lackluster. Nothing special. You have your typical espresso bar drinks, a few hot food items, wifi available and a some standard pastries (sound like another coffee joint that we all frequent?) However, the difference between the large chain coffee house and Kissaten, you get nice and friendly baristas that are engaging and friendly, and sometimes if you are a regular, remember your name. You also get free, unrestricted wifi regardless of amount of purchase, and open seating. Not here. Here you get restricted, metered wifi access (based on purchase amount), limited seating (tables reserved for folks dining in, parties of 3 or more, etc) and unfriendly, borderline attitudinal baristas. Thanks, but I'll stick with my usual coffee spot. Why spend my money somewhere that apparently can do without my business? Its competitive out there Kissaten!!! lose the attitude and unrestrict your seating and wifi, and maybe I'll be back!
(2)
Thomas O.

I've come here many times and haven't written a review! How awful of me, or rather how awful of you, Kissaten? More often then not, Yelpers are labeled as "complainers on steroids," and I hate to support this stigma; however, I do write reviews based on my noteworthy experience. If it's something extremely sub-par, I think people should know about it. If it's something extremely super awesome, I think people should know about it too. Enter my dilemma. For the most part, I don't have a problem with service. In fact it's normally fast and very friendly, but last night was just appalling. I came in with Nicole K to study and what not. I put my stuff down and went to order a Thai Iced Tea ($4.50) I paid in cash and was not given a receipt. I also didn't get my card stamped (nor was I offered a new one) 'cause I couldn't find it. I sit down, open up my laptop and wait a few minutes. I went up to the bar to wait 5 more minutes. Ah, no drink, so I sit back down and begin working. Five minutes after that one of the bussers accosted me, saying, "I'm sorry to bother you, but my manager said that you can't stay in here. You have't purchased anything." Stunned that someone would even say that to me, I responded, "Oh really? Because I've been waiting 10 minutes for my drink." She said, "Oh. Thanks for telling me." No apology. No "I'm going to check on it." No. Nothing. Here's a suggestion, why don't you look out for my best interest and ASK to check on my drink order or better yet, ask if I would like to order something to eat. Please don't offend customers with the Drink Police. I seriously felt as though I was in Coffee or Tea? You're busy enough (and I actually drop some dough here) so either find a better way of kicking people out, or they will find another place to do business. 1 star for this experience. On the other hand. The food and drinks here are actually really good! I've had iced and hot coffee, italian sodas, chai lattes, iced teas, Americanos, and most recently the Thai Iced Tea (which I recommend). For grindage, I've experienced their bisque/soup, grilled cheese, turkey pesto, truffle mac & cheese (recommended), breakfast special (recommended), pho, and some cookies. When I come here, I like to try different things on their menus, which are constantly changing. I award the kitchen/bar 5 stars for creativity, somewhat consistency, and overall tastiness.
(3)
Kyle N.

Tonight was my first time here. I used to manage a cafe around the corner and kept being told by my customers I should come check this place out. Finally did. The service was decent. But I just posted a picture of a book on the counter...it has roaches crawling all over it. YUK. I haven't even gotten my coffee yet and I want to leave. This is not cute. Even if once I receive my coffee, and I find it to be the best cup of coffee I have ever had (which I highly doubt) I still won't be coming back. Wow my coffee just arrived. I ordered a WET cappuccino and the guy just said its a WHITE cappuccino.... Yup. White chocolate. Thumbs down, sorry friends.
(2)
Chass B.

I've frequent here and do enjoy coming to Kissaten. I had just gone in yesterday to meet a couple of girlfriends and was shocked at how it changed (nothing bad), just a bunch of added tables and added reserved signs (which I've seen before, but not that many). It looks a lot more fuller, good for them! Lots of tables, good food and drinks, good value for the amount you get, there is wi-fi (but for a price. A tiered price...), and staff is generally nice, but may be new to the customer service/ food waiting gig....which brings me to explain why I say this... One incident So yesterday, I ordered my breakfast croissant ($6) and halfway through eating (with a fork and knife) one of my girlfriends says something to me in a halting way. At the same time a piece of my croissant falls down. Thank God!!! Cause she says she saw something linty on my food, then I looked down and I see it. So I touch it (with my fork) and it turns out to be a brown (pretty long) piece of hair!! EW!!!! No its not mine, we all have black hair where we're sitting! I decided not to say anything at the moment. Maybe when she comes back to clear it off, I will let her know. So finally, the girl comes by and I mention it to her. In a quiet manner as to not bring attention or embarrassment. She looks at it and says, "Oh..." Oh??? Okay... she apologizes after a few and looks at me confused... LOL girl!! Another Incident A girlfriend of mine (one of the girls from above) on another day orders a fruit plate and I order a breakfast croissant. My food comes out before hers and I wait before eating my food. But, awhile passes by and still no fruit... So finally we ask. No apology, and she says she's going to check on it. Finally it comes out about 10 minutes later. I seriously think she forgot to put the order in! Same day, I ordered a matcha green tea latte, and for some reason it tastes bland. Again, I approach and say that I think it's missing vanilla. Thankfully we got what we wanted at the end. I do like it here. They're the only ones that pop into my head that I can go to study at since they're open 24 hours. It is just a bummer that the max for internet usage is 2 hours and you have to spend x amount to get that tier. Also, parking is a little tricky. If you can find street parking right next to the restaurant, lucky you! Otherwise park in the garage, which is good...until it's raining =(
(3)
Malia M.

Cute venue , designed very cool. 24 hour spot with wifi as long as you buy something so technically it's not free and it's only a 2 hour usage . Good place for a college student to study like myself . Coffee wasn't spectacular but enough to keep me awake to get stuff done.
(2)
Cindy K.

Finally, a late night place to study. One of the VERY few in Hawaii. A nice place to chat and have lunch. Good drinks and decent food with generous portions :)
(4)
Zeus R.

I should give 0 star but I gave 2 stars just because of their food. There is no doubt that they got good dishes. The problem is only teenagers could enjoy the atmosphere. If you are 20 years old and above, it might not be a good place to go and try to study. It is noisy and crowded even after 10 pm. Most of the tteenagers don't care about others privacy, basically all the teenagers go there to hang out. If you really want to study, Starbucks is the better option for you. Starbucks is in the different class of coffee shop and you could see more mature people.
(2)
Tiffany O.

Open 24 hours, Kissaten has gotten really popular over the past year. I usually come to Kissaten to study, either alone, or with some friends. During the month of exams, I've noticed how busy it can get. I guess some people just don't want to go to the library to study. The food is good here too, btw! I usually order: - Grilled cheese and tomato bisque combo ($9?) - It is delicious!!! But the tomato bisque gets cold fast, and isn't appetizing so you should eat before you start studying! - Kissaten melt w/ clam chowder soup ($14) - I really love the Kissaten melt, which is just pastrami and melted cheese on sourdough. The clam chowder is really good too!! I recommend it, if you are going to get a soup. It is kind of pricey though, just for a sandwich and soup, but once in a while is okay. I'm not sure if this is what it is actually called, but I like to get the Strawberry watermelon italian creme soda? It is my usual. Also, my friend tried the mocha, or latte freeze and it was not good at all!! Warning you now!! I just don't remember if it was the mocha or the latte though. Also, I think if you want to use your card, you need to have a minimum of ($5). They also have stamp cards, but you need to ask for it. You also need to buy something to receive the wifi password. One of the workers told me that the orange counter receives 2 hours of wifi, while anywhere else only receives 1 hour. I obviously complained after I found this out (because the counter was full), so she just gave me 2 hours instead. lol. The interior and ambience of the "coffee shop" is really nice. I think they play a wide variety of music, from old school, to korean pop or japanese pop. I think it all depends. There is free Kissaten parking available in the garage of the KHON2 news building, or I think it's closer to just park across the street at Ala Moana and walk over. Overall, I love coming here, when it's not busy. For food, studying, or some chit chat with friends, this place is a good spot!
(4)
Emily R.

So I have been to Kissaten a few different times and have really liked it mainly because it is open 24/7 and they have Wi-Fi. There are not too many places on island that stay open late at night so its definitely a plus. Now to use the internet you do have to get a password for two hours of time but its not that bad you just have to ask the counter for it. I've tried a few different things food wise. I get the grilled cheese with the tomato bisque soup now almost every time. I have also tried their cheese cakes and for the price they are actually very good. The drinks there are about average but not too bad. I would say some of the food and drink items are a little bit pricey but business wise its a smart decision on their part so I understand it to a point. Because most of the people who are coming in here stay for quite some time and want to use the internet. You just have to find the right things to get. There are always people in there no matter what time of day or night but it is never really super crowded which is nice. The workers are EXTREMELY casually dressed so it seems to be pretty relaxed on the management side of things....but that is not necessarily a good thing. Some of the workers should probably be wearing a little more. Saying that all of the workers I have come in counter with have all been very nice and helpful. If you need to park there is not really any parking so that can be a pain but I normally drive so it doesn't really affect me too much the bus stop is just right across the street at Ala Moana so not too long of a walk. All around this place is for sure worth a stop in when you need a place to study or just hang out. :)
(4)
Shay F.

Aiye. I'm feel the hate coming already. Yes...i'm giving this place 2 stars because I just can't get myself excited to go back. It's conveniently located for me, so location isn't a problem. It's the food. I've never been satisfied with their food. What topped it off was the fruit cup that I got. I thought, how can you screw up a fruit cup. Well, they can. It tasted like rotten fish. Yes, rotten fish. We told them that they should yank the rest of the fruit cups off their line up, but they kept them there to sell rotten fish fruit cups to others. *yuck* They gave me a yogurt cup instead since I told them about the fruit cup rotten-ness, but that was blah. Nothing special. Will I go back? Probably for drinks since it's in my neighborhood, but I won't be eating anything. Yelp 365 Challenge #139/365
(2)
Thomas F.

Came here for the first time today. Good vibe, good food, good drinks. Crowded, but only because its a good place to study. Only thing is, minimal areas for parking
(5)
Masato I.

A Japanese term meaning tea house, Kissaten seems modeled after the small corner shops in Japan where people get coffee, breakfast, and light fare, but not typically dinner. This shop takes it the next step with having some creative original dishes that accompany their staple menu and being open 24 hours. Week nights and Sundays, it can get a bit crowded with people studying and working on their laptops. With that said, it's not a great place to study solo as it does get a bit noisy and the wifi is limited in duration per purchase. Perfect for group projects if you can grab one of the few big tables. Breakfast is served from 6:00 to 11:00 am and that's my favorite time to come. Their scramble burrito and smoked salmon bagel (toasted w/ cream cheese, greens, capers, and cherry tomatoes) are my favs. The pastries and belgian waffles are a bit sweet for my taste, and I wish the drip coffee was a bit more bold and it is a little expensive for what it is. Panninis and the Tomato bisque are also awesome for the lunch offerings. The shop also consigns some local artwork available for purchase and I picked a beautiful painting of Lanikai off the wall for $150... which I thought was a steal for a hand painted original. (cash only for the art) Parking on Piikoi and a few spots in the KHON building marked for Kissaten, or hurdle some homeless if you walk from Ala Moana Center.
(5)
Nat N.

I think they need to remove the word "coffee" from their name because their coffee is definitely not the draw here. For one thing, it's $1.75 for a small. Seriously? Not only is that a hefty price for a cup of coffee, but the coffee tasted horrible. Their selection of pastries is virtually non-existent, and what they do have does not look appealing at all. I would like to revisit them again though, to try their sandwiches, since the Yelpers seem to like them. But I'm definitely not coming back for their coffee.
(2)
Nikki G.

It is a nice place for small group meetings, studying, working and more. They have internet access and outlets to plug into. Assortment of food, snacks and drinks. Not many choices of food for a vegan but they will make adjustments if able to accommodate for a vegan or vegetarian. Staff seem friendly and helpful. It gets really packed in the evening to the point that there is no seats open to sit and work! I find that during the morning and early day is the best time to go in to work. It is also quieter during those times as oppose to the later hours when groups of people come in. It can get pretty noisy but still manageable environment to work in as long as you can find a seat! Best part is that this place is open 24 hours a day! It is also open on most holidays! Not sure they ever close!
(4)
Janice H.

K, I get it ... you're da only competition in town dat people can come, order drinks/foods, and study/relax 24-7. Starbucks closes anywea from 10 PM - 12 AM, depending on wat day it is, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is anywea from 9 PM - 10 PM most days, and Fresh Cafe closes at 11 PM mostly everyday. You fill da niche fo' da crackheads like me who like fo' study late. I get it. BUT, it no mean you have permission to treat your customers like we are DOE special ed students! Your passive-aggressive tendencies are beginning fo' infuriate and irk my friends and I who come to your establishment and purchase meals/drinks on a regular basis. Last week, a friend ordered your grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup combo ($9). She asked for an extra spoon, and the lowly peon gave her attitude while demanding to know, "Oh, why are you asking for that?" (To shove it up someone's ass, watchoo tink?). Btw, your tomato bisque tasted like a combo of SpaghettiOs and Ragu sauce that night. My home dial-up internet service back in da mid-90's was way faster den da current wi-fi you have now, sadly. On another occasion last week, I saw wat appeared to be da supervisor/owner consulting w/one of his employees and overheard him keeping tabs on which tables ordered drinks, did this certain person order something, etc. Hey, Drink Nazi Police, pull ovah! Yes, I get you're a business and it's difficult to conduct it in a state dat has laws, regulations, and taxes dat are small business UNfriendly, but treating your customers - regular, loyal kine - with such derisive, passive-aggressive, and UNaloha attitudes is a not jiving well with me + other customers. You're not gaining fans, but grilling customers who request an additional napkin and/or utensil like they're wanted fo' first-degree murder. If you no like give out one extra utensil/napkin, just say so! No make da customer feel bad fo' requesting it! I love your turkey pesto melt ($9, thinly sliced turkey breast, bacon, mozarella, and pesto aioli on foccacia bread) + grilled cheese sandwich ($6, cheddar + Gouda cheese, bacon + thinly sliced Fuji apples), but am willing to give it up in order fo' study at home, at other national chain coffee shops, etc. just to avoid you.
(2)
Alice A.

Perfectly fine. Good soup and sandwich combo and tasty grilled cheese sandwich. I am pretty sure they use Campbell's soup because I saw cans in the kitchen. Service is a little slow but it is open 24 hours, which is good for students.
(3)
Gspot H.

Seems to be a chill WiFI Food lounge spot for humans. comfortable. Nice Humanoids behind counter. They usually have 2 soup offerings which are always good. Healthy Choices. Not sure the best parking scenarios, so don't holla.
(5)
Sara A.

Terrible. Absolutely terrible. I brought my other half here after getting such good reviews from friends of mine. We ordered peach tea and bread pudding and the cashier told another worker to heat up the bread pudding. After 5 minutes my boyfriend got his drink which was pretty delicious and I still have yet to receive my bread pudding. The worker that the cashier told to heat up the bread pudding left the store, the cashier and a few of the other workers were eating, and I still didn't get my order. After about 15 minutes of trying to keep my cool I went up to the cashier and asked for my bread pudding, her response, "Oh yeah!!" Oh yeah? Seriously? 20 minutes for something so simple!! Anyway, as my boyfriend and I were walking back to our car, we took a bite of it and spat it out. It wasn't warmed and there was no flavor. Next time I want bread pudding I'm going to Zippy's.
(1)
Alicia D.

I really like Kissaten. Its a great place to go thats open 24/7. They have good food and drink selection. They are usually very friendly and quick. I am a fan of the pesto melt and their salads. They also have a few reserved parking spots in the building on the KHON side which is nice except you still have to walk around the building. Parking on the street can be difficult otherwise. I really love the decor. Its a great vibe in their to get things done. They could do with more seating options though. The Ice cream bar is a little weird for me but its a cute idea. I didn't give it a 5 because they got stingy with the seating and the wi-fi. Its really annoying to come in to work on my computer to have all the tables blocked off for only people to eat at and it doesn't count if you order food and want to sit there and then work. The bathrooms are a mile away and are not always clean or stocked. The prices for some of their products are too high but some others are very good. I will continue to recommend this place to anyone.
(4)
Lexi H.

Cons: slow service, lacking customer service, parking Pros: many electrical sockets, quality food and coffee drinks, spacious, 24 hours
(3)
Kate T.

My biggest problem about this place is how to find it and parking. It literally took me 15 extra minutes just to find parking and I parked at Ala Moana. Other than that this place is super cute. They have a full menu of food and cute coffee drinks. The drinks were okay but not good enough for how much they were charging. I also had to wait 20 minutes for two drinks. It was kind of rediculous. I wouldn't come here again.
(3)
Kim C.

Good portion sizes, good value, cool atmosphere and nice service. The Big kicker...it's open 24/7! I first had a taste of Kissaten through a Yelp event. I didn't know that everything was served to us was sample size. So the next time that I went I ordered a bunch of stuff. I couldn't finish my first order, tomato bisque and cheese sandwich. The first time I bit on the cheese sandwich, I was surprised to find apple bits inside. It complemented it well and saturating it the tomato bisque made even more delicious. Of course I always have room for dessert. The frosting that they add to the butter mochi is just the right amount. Soft, fluffy, and adds a nice touch. I'm still searching for my favorite drink here. I've tried the mocha freeze and latte served hot. They were alright. But I know I'll keep coming back for the tasty food. Yelp Challenge 365: 19/365
(4)
Naomi L.

I love Kissaten! I have taken or met up with multiple sets of friend here and have always had a good time. It's so nice that they are open 24 hours! I mean really, there are so few places that you can go to study late night or a fun place to meet up after 9pm. I've heard bad things about the parking in the KHON building (like people getting theirs cars scratched or whatnot), so I usually park on the street or at Ala Moana and then walk across. If you park in the KHON building, there is a passageway between the garage and the back entrance near where the bathrooms are. They have steadily increased their seating to include several different types (high tables, a counter, smaller tables, larger tables, couches), which is nice, and lots of plugs for people with computers. I personally enjoy sitting on the super comfy/soft/squishy/awesome/grey couches the best. The art on the wall also changes from time to time (I think you can actually buy the art), which is nice since it's great to feature local artists. The menu has changed ever so slightly since I started coming here, but is always good and they have tasty vegetarian options. I also like the pastry case, which has everything from donuts to tiramisu (all are yummy). Best of all = the hot chocolate. When I'm in the mood for a good cup of hot chocolate, I go here. Seriously, it's that good. I'm sorry, I like Sbux for a lot of things, but they don't do hot chocolate any justice. I dunno what goes in it, but I certainly love it! In addition, they have a huge array of flavored syrups for Italian sodas. I tend to always get passion, but I'm sure other flavors are good too. They have a stamp card, which is nice for frequent flyers. It's $45 to fill it up, which seems like it takes forever since the prices are reasonable. You can redeem it for 1 drink of any size and it's doesn't expire for more than 1 year (not like Coffee Bean, where the card seems to expire more quickly). At first I thought "what a strange name for a coffee place." Then my friend told me it was like the phase "to kiss a ten" (you know, like a ten on the attractiveness point scale). Then, Wikipedia tells me that kissatens are popular coffee shops in Japan where students and salary men go. Whatever, I like this place either way. In my mind, this place is definitely a 10/10 and I will be back kissing or otherwise! (Sorry that was a bad joke, I couldn't figure out a more clever one right now :p)
(4)
Monica B.

This was one of the places that my mommies group would gather, and the staff was always so friendly and welcoming to us. We would drink coffee, some people would eat meals (the food is surprisingly very good for a cafe), and just chat for an hour or two here, fairly often. We were never rushed out, and everyone was very helpful and service was great. Would highly recommend for a nice spot to catch up with a friend, do some work, or grab a quick bite to eat. Their croissant breakfast sandwich is delicious!
(4)
Amy Y.

A best place for late night talk! I wanted to try the drinks here for a while. I ordered the green tea latte (hot). I didn't really like it. It was mixed in with too much water. I couldn't taste the green tea flavor. So very disappointed. Sigh. I tried my friend's green apple Italian soda, that was good. Maybe I'll try something else next time.
(3)
Lei N.

After dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, I wanted to get some ice cream. As I looked up on Yelp! what places that had ice cream were open that late, this one of the places that showed up. I hadn't been here and I've been wanting to for quite a while. There's stalls in the garage in the same building it's located (by KHON). The stalls are marked off for Kissaten customers and for KHON guests. Inside the shop, there were a bunch of students sitting at tables lining the walls mostly. I guess they didn't want to be in the center where everyone can see and less privacy. I'm just guessing. The menus were up behind the counter. Another one to the right as you wait in line and a special's board propped to the side on the left. We saw they had ice cream listed for $2 but flavors weren't listed. I got coffee ice cream in a cup and Gail got a chocolate ice cream cone. After we ordered we waited around at the front but he said he'd take it to us. We took a seat by the pillar. I liked the interior of the place. Seems cozy and a place I may want to come and study if I wanted to. He soon came with our ice cream. Ice cream is cream, nothing special with theirs. We sat there talking until we were done. I took my cup up to the front where the other dirty dishes were because I didn't know what else to do with it.
(3)
Emi H.

If Kissaten was a girl, then I'd have to slap her upside the head because my boyfriend would be having an affair with her. But thankfully for Kissaten (and my BF) this is a cafe and I won't need to break out my box of Samoan love. We both work out of the house and when he is in need of a place to work for a few hours he heads to Kissaten. I met up with him for lunch at Kissaten and found him set-up with his Macbook, iPad, iPhone on a table while he made phone calls. I'm not saying I'm jealous but...I pondered the question of: "What does Kissaten have that I can't provide at home?" +My BF's Brain: Grilled cheese sandwich and homemade tomato bisque +My Brain: Hey buddy, I can make you a cheese sandwich and this can of Campbell's soup has got your name written all over it. You'd better watch it or the can will be flying at your head pretty soon. +My BF's Brain: Yummy coffee drinks +My Brain: Oh so you're saying that you my Mr. Coffee just isn't cutting it? Are you saying that I'm fat? +My BF's Brain: Peace and quiet +My Brain: You know who gets peace and quiet? People in comas who've been hit in the head with soup cans. That's it. You're watching the baby tonight!!!
(4)
Sheylei B.

Modern spot to hang out with friends and get a bite to eat, free WiFi, and great service
(3)
Mary T.

My friends and I came here to do some studying, and it was very quiet and peaceful. They also have many meals and drinks (salads, pasta, pastry, coffee, drinks, etc) anything a coffee place would have! I really enjoy their environment including the customer service here. They're all really nice and have great recommendations. It's convenient how they're open 24/7 so if you're in the mood to eat and study, they're open! I ordered a smoked salmon salad was really good and a green tea ice tea, great combination and got me in the mood to study! I recommend this place if you ever need to do work and eat!
(5)
Samantha T.

Really cool place to hang out. Free wifi! Coffee are really good and creamy! But don't go super really for food because if the cook isn't there you can't get any food...
(3)
Gary N.

I never thought it would happen: A 24 coffee place in Hawaii!? What a excellent idea! Besides coffee, this place has a lot of other things to offer. My sister and I stopped by here a couple of nights ago and we ordered two bowls of pho, a fruit salad, a guava cake, and a small vanilla steamer. The fruit salad and guava cake were already ready, so we tried these first. The fruit salad was good, but interesting because the fruit was cut really small. The guava cake wasn't that great because it was dry. The phos and the vanilla steamer arrived shortly after. The pho arrived with all fix ins of basil leaves, cilantro, onions, sriracha sauce, hoisin sauce, and thinly sliced rare beef steak. I enjoyed it. It was pretty good for only $7. The vanilla steamer was just ok though. It wasn't as good as I hoped. It had many bubbles in it and wasn't frothy. Overall, a good place for some expresso, sandwiches, soup, pho, or pastries late at night or anytime during the day. I really like this place as it gives more choices late at night. #Yelp 365 - 25/365
(4)
Jeffery A.

Wasted my time on this one. Gonna make it a quick review: Grilled cheese and tomato bisque: grilled cheese panini, Gouda rubbery, overpowers the cheddar, and if it sets, it just one clammy mess. Tomato bisque? Nice, so good that I dipped my cheesy (is there a pun here?) sand in it and it was eatable. Pesto mushroom pasta: wayyyyyy to salty, mushrooms were nice, grilled soft, but retaining a chewy consistency. Pasta, al dente, just fine. Once again, beautiful wife enjoyed it better dipped in the tomato bisque (she has always preferred tomato base vs. basil). Place is nicely situated, plenty of room at 2pm. No one making loud noise, most seemed to be studying etc. There is a nice atmosphere, but the seating is a bit confusing with some tables marked for '1 hour only' but I guess with so many using the wifi, they have to keep the traffic flowing. Back ground music was some kind of acidic new age, I found unpleasant, and mostly noise. Just fluff. Had MNF on the overhead, enjoyed stealing a glimpse of Pats and Eagles, but most attention had to be on beautiful wife (more sophisticated taste buds than mine). Oh well, it was worth a shot, and by the way, the coffee? Ehhhh? Hit up Fresh Cafe, and tell me there is no difference. Restroom shared with KHON, clean but not spotless, but it was 2pm.
(2)
Jon T.

Kissaten is one of those cafes that I imagine in a movie: clean, quiet, and good food. I've come here for dinner a couple of times with friends, and despite each meal being around $10, the food I've had is warm and filling. Tomato bisque in a breadbowl or grilled cheese with bacon is a lovely thing to have on a chilly night with friends. I almost wish that Kissaten had a restaurant section separate from the cafe area, because the limited wait service, shortened menu and sometimes sparse seating keeps it from being a place that I would like to return to. If you're looking for a sit down cafe to study I'd say go for it, but it's definitely not a great place for groups. (which is a shame because I love the food and love eating with friends)
(4)
Eric M.

We went in a group to check this 24 hour coffee shop out mostly because Starbucks has been cutting their hours left and right. While it is bright and clean, there isn't much to draw us back. Admittedly, we didn't try the food, just the coffee drinks. Tastes more like McDonald's than Starbucks. At least the prices are reasonable - closer to McDonald's than Starbucks as well. Wifi is free for an hour with purchase. Others might not like this but I'm pleased. We could actually browse web pages. Compare that to "other" places that place no limits - too many people (some of whom didn't even buy anything). They have restrooms but going involves quite a trek down a lighted but usually deserted hallway. I do want to try the tomato bisque and grilled cheese sandwich. But I might have go by myself since my friends really don't want to bother going back.
(3)
Anna D.

*Update on another delicious thing on their menu... okay, i still wanted to try the salad .. but my unhealthier side of me decided not to. I was told that the breakfast wrap is good so i tried it.. YES IT IS! I cant even begin to explain the size of it! The eggs were fluffy and juicy and the apple glazed sausages were delish. It comes with spinach and mushrooms on a grainy wrap with a side of sour creme and salsa. Totally yummy and totally worth the money. however, I felt a little bad since this time i only spent a little over $10 and studied for almost 5hrs-its just that i was really full and couldn't eat anymore so i kept trying to add little things here and there. it's so hard knowing that i have to spend so much to spend time there. I feel bad and wish there was something that I can do. My goal is to keep them in business but also to not be broke. I'll have to improvise for now-- i'm looking at other options of places that i can study at and will dream of kissaten while i'm there. heads up, they've also started using a limit of wifi usage based on the amount you spend. my first purchase of the breakfast burrito and drink got me 2 hours. my second purchase of a bottled drink gave me another hour.
(5)
Gail S.

Finally got to this place after talking about trying it out for a long time, I tried the portabella mushroom sandwich and it was very yummy, I also tried the strawberry frappe and that was also yummy, kind of reminds me of strawberry nestle quik . I'm not sure if there's any other parking then street but I'd like to go back and try some of their other food and drink items!
(4)
Raych D.

Great little coffee shop that opens 24 hours...perfect for studying, relaxing, getting some alone "me" time and perfect for after the club eating. I've only had their coffee drinks because that's the only way you can access their wifi when you buy an item they give you their code on the reciept...only bad thing is that, the free wifi only last for an hour. It's located right across from Ala Moana and you can usually finding parking on the street of Piikoi or ground level in the Khon 2 building (but very limited). Space is pretty big and usually there are free tables for you to sit on...From what everyone has told me, they have awesome panini's and tomato soup but I have yet to try them!
(3)
Evanthia K.

After waiting for over 25 minutes for two sandwiches, we finally asked for it to go. We ordered the turkey bacon pesto sandwich and the vegi wrap...sounded good enough, but when we were back on the road and opened them up they were far from what we expected. Firstly, there was NO pesto on the turkey pesto sandwich! Just burnt bread and turkey with a few measly strips of bacon that were burnt. It was dry but soggy at the same time...how that is possible-I'm not sure. My vegi wrap was just full of soggy bell peppers. It was dripping with water and just a damp, soggy mess. The only reason I didn't give them one star because their coffee is great. Other than that, they're overpriced and the food is close to unbearable. DONT waste your time.
(2)
Todd T.

10:30pm and need a place to kill time for 2 hours because we had to do bug fogger in apartment. Not many options that late at night. Drove there hoping to find street parking right in front but no stalls. Then decided to go to parking lot and they have reserved stalls for the coffee shop. We each ordered a drink and played games on our phone watching the time go by. The late night crowd looked like college students studying, after movie crowd, and some guys playing their DS. Drinks are reasonable price and good. Would go there again if I need a late night spot to hang out other than a bar.
(4)
Rhi S.

I've heard a lot about Kissaten from my friends and finally got the chance to check it out. The first thing that bothered me was that it's on a one way street. We went at 11pm and had to drive around the block 3 times until we finally found a stall to park in. The employee said there was a parking garage but we couldn't find it, unless she was talking about the one at Ward, but that's a bit far. O__O I orded a Mocha espresso and the Strawberry Lemonade with an eclair. The mocha espresso was soo good! Better than Starbucks and Coffee Bean. The strawberry lemonade was a little too sweet for my taste, and the eclair was really hard which made it difficult to eat without using a knife but it was tasty. I like the who ambience of the place, but for 11pm at night, it was really packed and there was only one 2 seat table open. For the size, I think they could fit a few more tables. Prices aren't bad, and the food is good. It's great that it's a 24 hour place but unless it's less packed, I don't know how often I'd make the drive out here.
(3)
Anita C.

Came here for a study session and I won't be coming back. I ordered the Melt which was tasty and a passion tea lemonade which was okay but Starbucks is better. There was a 2 hour time limit for the wifi which they give you a special password for. There are tables in the middle of the restaurant which are reserved for dining patrons and there's an one hour time limit for that. I understand the time limits but seriously, that's just tacky to me. I mean that's why Starbucks is as big as it is, because they trust that people come in and spend money no matter how long they stay. Business people are great because they come in, grab lunch or a drink, have a meeting and go. Students stay a little longer however because they are staying longer, they usually order more drinks because they get thirsty and then they order food because they get hungry. This place is 24 hours and I'm not sure they give out the wifi password if you are ordering just a drink, so be sure to ask first.
(3)
Emma P.

Clearly I am not the target consumer here: I'm not on a mission to obtain internet connection beyond my own home, my bedtime is before the evening news, and I'm about ten years too old to hang -- but sometimes a girl just needs a grilled cheese sandwich and side of soup. The sandwich was great (and my boyfriend is always happy when sandwiches come with surprise!bacon) but the tomato bisque was too sweet for my taste (although my tastes are admittedly low brow... Safeway Select all the way!). I went for a Thai latte against my better judgment as well and paid for it dearly (i.e. restless sleep). Delicious drink, but caffeine at 7pm is a no go for this lady. I will be back. To drink my coffee at a reasonable hour, mind.
(3)
Amy L.

The quality of the place is great and the service is awesome . It's a pretty good quiet place to study despite the overhead music (heads up if you're one of those people who needs absolute silence to study) except .... The food is expensive . Not sure if to worth it's money though.
(4)
Loren O.

I had an hour to kill the other day so I decided to stop by kissaten and get some work done. Cute little coffee shop-- lots of tables, not too loud, yummy food, resonable prices. The first time I came I had their turkey pesto melt which was pretty good. I think it was their aioli that made it stand out :] I also got to try their truffle mac & cheese which was good. This time, I decided to try one of their "new items", so I got the peach iced tea. Sooo refreshing! They put two slices of peach in there too to add some flavor. I'd go back just for the tea! I had an issue trying to connect to use their wi-fi, but that might have just been me and my non computer skills self :p Parking seems like it could be kind of tight.. theres some meter stalls on Waimanu St that you can park at, or I ended up just parking at Ala Moana and walked across the street :p
(4)
Mark M.

What's this? A 24 hour cafe across the street from the biggest mall in Hawaii? How could I pass this up? After reading some very positive reviews (and looking at the pictures of the food) I wanted to give Kissaten a go. Now keep in mind that my gf and I came in on the day after the tsunami. The place was empty except for about four other patrons and it seemed like they all had placed and received their orders. It took about 15 minutes for the girl at the coffee bar to make our two drinks and about half an hour for our food to come out. We had ordered the smoked salmon bagel and the breakfast omelette. The girl apologized to us for the long wait and stated that they were backed up from last night. What they could possibly be backed up from is a mystery to me. Maybe they had to shut down because of the warning and they were trying to recover from that at ten in the morning? I don't know. She wasn't the most friendly of people, but at least she apologized. The cafe itself is pretty nice. It's got a Halloween type orange and black theme going on and there's lots of space with lots of tables and outlets for power. In the end, it's another cool place to hang and grab a drink while getting some homework done. I just hope the food won't take so long next time, but I think that's par for the course according to the other reviews. And those reviews were made when there was no tsunami in sight.
(3)
Kevin C.

Oh happy day! Open all day errrday! Finally somewhere that can satiate my insomniac study habits. Tucked away in the corner of the KHON2 building on Piikoi, Kissaten is 24 hour cafe that offers both drinks and food. There is a special-limited menu for 'late night' after 9pm. I've gotten the Caramella, which is an espresso drink with caramel, and a Strawberry Italian Soda. I enjoyed the soda a lot! It was not too sweet and the syrup was pretty tastey. They print out Wifi passwords for you with your purchase. It only lasts an hour. Sucks, I know. What can you do in just an hour?!? I want me some free wifi please, Kissaten!! Seating/parking are the biggest problems for this place. It can get pretty damn busy. Came here on a Sunday night at 730PM and every seat in the house was taken. Left to grab dinner and came back around 10PM and luckily scored a big table for me and a friend. Parking spots are available in the KHON2 building lot... if you're lucky. There are about 4 stalls marked with a Kissaten sign. Lucky enough, street parking is freeeee after 6PM. Overall, a good place to study. Why 3 stars? Just need to work on the seating and internet situation. Those are really important for a place I study in. If you like to study in the quiet, this place is anything but, so bring good headphones.
(3)
Sunhee K.

This is one of my favorite places to study. My only complaint is that it gets pretty loud. There are conversations permeating the cafe, music playing on the speakers, and the ubiquitous sounds of the blender gears grinding. However, noise aside, it's a pretty neat place. I enjoy studying here! I feel happy knowing that I can stay as long as I want. I don't have to keep checking the clock as I would at other coffee shops near the usual closing times. I feel motivated seeing other people with books open and laptops out. It's nice that if I'm hungry, I can grab a bowl of their infamous tomato bisque soup. Even when it comes to Wi-Fi, the staff is very generous with printing out new slips of the Wi-Fi username and password. Kissaten is in a really convenient location - right across the street from Ala Moana. If you subscribe to the Sunday paper, you can always find awesome coupons in the "Dining Out" section. Sometimes it's hard finding seats near an outlet, but now that it's summer, it's been a lot easier. Overall, I think the teas are better than the coffee here. Stick to the teas :) Also, just to reemphasize, when it comes to food, get the tomato bisque soup! If you like the one at Nordstrom, you'll love the one here.
(4)
Pam H.

Food is great there. Not to metion the specialty drinks - hot or cold.
(4)
Suellen G.

One of the best late night places to hang out. I simply adore their late night udon soup.. simple awesome. Only complain is that sometime the late night staff blast their music a bit too loud for me to relax. I still love this place !!!
(4)
Richard H.

This is a hidden gem, among so many great restaurants in the Ala Moana area. I love their soups and salads and friendly service. Their location attracts a young, professional crowd (may be some executives from KHON). You order your food at the counter, they give you a number, then personally deliver your meal to your table. This location offers espresso drinks, Italian sodas, but no alcohol :( Get the salmon salad, which features smoked salmon over spring mix, walnuts, and bacon bits.
(4)
Jay C.

A pretty famous place to get something to eat, study, drink coffee, talk story. It must be written about in japanese tour books because there are quite a few tourists as well as exchange students who frequent this place. Lighting is a little dim, but there are plenty of places to sit. Parking is probably one of the downsides to this place. It can be really tough to find a spot inside the garage (only select stalls are for kissaten). Street parking is metered up to a certain hour. Also, bathroom is down a concrete walkway which was safe but might bother some late at night. Music is a plus, not too sleepy. While I was there, they played Zedd/electronic as well as some hip hop (common, etc). Volume is just right-not too loud to bug the crap out of you, but just enough to create ambient noise. Another plus is the hours to this place. you can always burn the midnight oil here!
(4)
Susan W.

Finally tried this place out and depending on what time you go, it gets pretty packed. I came here with some friends at like 11pm and we had to wait maybe 15-30mins for a table. We were complaining about the people who grab a table and literally, they are sitting there ALONE with 3 empty chairs. Seriously. It gets on my nerves too, I mean be more considerate. If you're here by yourself, at least sit on the counter or something, but don't go hogging a table because some other people might actually use all the chairs...... Anyways, we wasted some time by going to the bathroom in the back. The hallway looked like some kinda alleyway and they joked around that it was haunted or something. Pshhh. When we came back out, we were lucky enough to grab a table. We weren't that hungry for food, so we got drinks. My friend and I shared a white mocha and omg, it tastes better than Starbucks to me lol. Or maybe that's because the barista messed up on my drink earlier that day but whatever. If I was in the area, I'd def. come back here just for this drink...and maybe try their other stuff.
(3)
Angel L.

I enjoyed the atmosphere of the cafe immensely. However the food was a bit lacking for the price. We ordered the Truffle Mac and Cheese to split, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. It lacked simple seasoning, if they had added salt and pepper it might have perked up. On retrospect, it might just be how they serve the food? Because my Clam chowder was very dull as well. Perhaps they lack salt and pepper on purpose so customers can season to taste? If that's the case, please don't. There is a difference between salt to taste and nothing there in the first place. The sandwich I ordered was the Turkey pesto, it was pretty good as far as melts go. However I wasn't expecting the fried egg I received on it. Maybe I didn't read as thoroughly the ingredients as I should have? Or maybe it was a surprise addition? All in all, it was alright. I would go back, the service was friendly which made up for the foods lack in seasoning. The prices though; two sandwiches, one with a combo and a side of Mac and cheese should NOT equate $35 dollars. For that cost I could have went some where where they seasoned the food.
(2)
Lance K.

Kissaten is great for lunch, dinner and open late nights. I often come here right before an exam to do some last minute studying (aka cramming lol), but this place is one of my favorites. The baristas are always friendly and usually pretty quick when it comes to drinks and food. Be careful though, when finals weeks and midterms come around the place is swarmed with college students. Their menus differ depending on the time you go, the day time menu is similar to most cafes, with salad, soup and sandwiches. The late night menu is a condensed version of the lunch menu and the late night menu begins at 10pm. My absolute favorite from the daytime menu is the truffle mac and cheese or the turkey pesto sandwich!! From the late night menu my go to dish is the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. My only gripe with Kissaten is the seating arrangement. The tables are kinda small making it difficult to study and maneuver when you are studying as a group or if you just have a lot of books out.
(4)
Lyn L.

Met a friend there for lunch on Monday....Kissaten is clean, airy and pleasant....the owners were working and very friendly...nice that they make it a point to visit with the customers...and made sure I got the code to access wifi. I had the pastrami sandwich...served with a nice tossed salad....it was good! My friend had the portabello mushroom sandwich...he enjoyed it too... Parked at the mall and crossed the street...easy jaunt... They were out of a lot of their specials...the only thing is I wish I'd seen the specials before I'd ordered....the board is up on the wall, so didn't notice it until I'd allready ordered and turned around.... I'd go back....
(4)
Brandon Y.

This is a great place to study at and they're open 24 hours. It's located in at the bottom of the Hawaiki Tower next to Ala Moana. They have a few stalls in the lot that you can enter from Piiko St. or you can park in the metered stalls on Waimanu St. There are lots of seats but it does get crowded since people that study tend to stay there for awhile. I've never had the coffee here but the food is pretty good as long as you're eating during the day, their night menu is not that great. I love their turkey pesto melt (the aioli in it is really good) and the truffle mac and cheese. The tomato bisque is good but is a bit sweet. Prices are very reasonable for the amount and quality of food that you get.
(4)
Priscilla N.

24 hours of studying with food and drinks? Say what?!! Pretty much that is the main reason why I venture out here. I can study without worrying about going somewhere to fill my (ALWAYS) hungry belly with some grindz any hour! My favorite has to be the tomato bisque. Yum yum! Bummer is that the internet is only for 2 hours. When I'm studying and have constant need internet service, I tend to ditch this place for Starbucks for this very reason. Come on coffee shops, we need free unlimited internet service! I know why you do it (so we spend more!!), but coffee shops and unlimited internet go together like lungs and air! PARKING Tid bit - There are reserved spots marked with the Kissaten sign. But....from 10pm to 7 am, there are additional spots that Kissaten customers can use. They have a map in the cafe. Otherwise, you may refer to the picture section and look at the picture of parking map posted. Go ahead, look.
(4)
Niki N.

I've heard nothing but good things about this place so I decided to finally give it a try. First of all, kind of difficult to find if you are not paying attention especially if you are driving you will guarantee miss it. Props to the person who posted the picture of the parking. PARKING: inside the KHON9 news and residential building. If you are going toward Ala Moana Blvd on Piikoi you will turn right into the residential building right after you pass Piikoi and Kona street. It will say parkers ONLY for KHON9 visitors and residents. However, there will be a few marked stalls once you enter the parking garage. There are only a few stalls reserved for Kissaten customers so hopefully you are lucky at the time you go. My friend recommended me to get the tomato bisque soup & grilled cheese. I was not disappointed! The soup was rich and creamy, sprinkled with parmesan cheese. It could have been heated up a little bit more than what I expected for soup. The grilled cheese was like no other, with gouda cheese & apples, oh, and can't forget the bacon! For the price that it was, they could have been more generous with their serving of cheese. I will definitely be back to try something different on their menu. If you are looking for a place to study, I would recommend here if you need to squeeze in some study hours. They also have a wide variety of coffee & teas to get you through the night since after all they are 24/7.
(4)
Renee D.

What I like about this place is that it's open 24hrs. It is spacious with a good amount of large tables. Though they need more outlets. I'd always go in the mid-afternoon and it was never busy. There's free wifi with a purchase. The Thai tea is good... but then again, Thai tea is always good :) Coffee was ok. It's a decent place to study. So come here if you've found yourself studying the back of your eyelids instead of that exam you should've been preparing for weeks ago ;)
(3)
Krystal C.

I used to go here to study, have coffee and usually ended up grabbing a bite to eat every now and then. They reserve a lot of their tables for customers who buy meals, if you buy a pastry only or just coffee you might get stuck with a bar stool. There's usually no electrical outlets other than one spot if you're trying to use your computer. The staff are usually pretty rude. And don't even think about bringing your hydroflask/kleenkanteen in even if it's just water inside. Their pastries are usually pretty good but the food on the other hand could be better. Their only upside is that they're open 24 hours. Parking is limited.
(2)
Cheryl F.

Service on Sunday mornings is extremely slow. The girl at the cash register has the personality of a doorknob. She is extremely unfriendly and should think about not working with the public. 2nd week in a row she stares and hands you receipts Internet... Without even one word. I knew to take the number but she did not say a word. Others in the past have been nicer. Also bring cash because they will charge you more if you use a debit or credit card and expect a tip before you sit.
(3)
Erica A.

I can see why people like Kissaten, but at the same time, I always wonder why I come. Parking is impossible, I always end up having to park across the street at Ala Moana and navigate my way across busy Piikoi to get there. It does have a nice laid-back atmosphere, very cool with art on the walls and appeals to students. There's plenty of tables, and wifi, which makes it a popular studying destination. But the service never stood out to me, and my opinion took a nose dive the other day when I walked in, almost overheating from walking over from Alaz on a hot day. First of all, the clerk didn't say anything to me. It looked like a customer was wrapping up a transaction, but he was standing off to the side, so I lingered back a bit. She just stared at me. No "Hi, welcome!" or "I can help you right here!" Not even a smile. It was super awkward. I finally walked up, and she still didn't say anything. I glanced at the menu, with some idea of what I wanted and asked if they have soy milk. She said unfortunately, they were all out- no problem, I used to work at Starbucks and know that happens. So I got a bottle of water instead. There was no problem with that until she said they have a $5 card minimum. I asked her if she could make an exception since they didn't have what I wanted. She said, "You don't have cash?!" Seriously? Wow, sorry for not having cash on me. I would have left, if I wasn't supposed to meet someone. When my friends finally came, my friend offered to buy. I wasn't going to get anything, but the same girl said "So are you gonna get your water now?" That was when one of my friends pointed out there was free ice water out on the counter- that would have been nice to know. When my friends were finally brought their drinks, the waiter forgot straws too. Sure, the food is okay, and it is BYOB, but the service, morale or something needs improvement.
(2)
Joanne A.

A few years ago when I was in grad school, I often went to Kissaten to do some late night studying and to work on my research paper. It was nice to have a place to go to with food, coffee, air conditioning, and free wifi (with purchase). I am a fan of their pesto mushroom pasta, truffle mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, and tomato bisque. I remember staying at Kissaten for hours and going home smelling like the food and drinks here. Kissaten was walking distance from my old house in town, so I never had to worry about parking. Since then, I have been to Kissaten several times. Parking is tough, especially since there's no longer any street parking in front of it, and only a limited amount of stalls in the KHON building. Service is also a hit or miss; I guess I never really noticed the wait time before since I used to camp out there overnight. Lastly, the wifi is limited and slow. While Kissaten brings back memories of late night cramming, it just isn't as appealing to me as it used to be.
(3)
Amanda T.

Today. Monday at 12:30 pm I came to get lunch and work. There were 10 people in the cafe. It took 30 minutes to get my sandwich and happened after I went up to the counter to complain. The guy at the counter was unapologetic and could care less. I thought maybe he was waiting for my food to bring me my tea but no he forgot that too. I'm so disappointed.
(2)
Christopher T.

I love Kissaten, you don't come across to many cafes that serve out of the norm drinks and food. The vibe of this restaurant is very chill and it's great place to study or read a book. It's attracts everyone from college students to families. I recommend the pastrami sandwich, but don't get chips as a side. I love their ghost chili mango-ade. The only downside is: 1. Scarce Parking (Park in the marked stalls in the building, you can park there 24/7) 2. No outside food or drinks (yes, water bottles like hydroflask are prohibited) bring nothing but books and laptop 3. They have internet but you'll being paying for it, and it only last 1 or 2 hour. So prepare to pay even if you're not hungry or thirsty. Want to know if WPA-2 enabled? Wpa-2 is not enabled, so I recommend no shopping online. Coming from a computer geek. 4. If you order a drink that has syrup, ask for little more water, because it might be too much, at least the drinks I order do. 5. Minimum for using any credit or debit card is $3. Carry cash if you won't be spending much, and want the wifi. Besides that, they are pretty awesome to just chill with friends or study.
(4)
Kristyn K.

The first time I came here, I was with my current bf on our first meeting. Cute right? Not really, I vomited within five minutes of being here, but him not running away proved he was a keeper, lol! Thankfully, that didn't happen last night, as we relived our date. Of course this time, he came armed with a bogo coupon! Upon arriving, we were asked if we were dining in. That option was never available, so we confusedly said yes. Bad move. Dine in usually implies full wait service but usually tip is necessary. Considering we had to refill our own waters and we weren't checked up on during our meal, and we had to get our own utensils, uh...the dine in option is just a big ol ball of confusion. Regarding our food, the two of us each ordered the bacon cheeseburger special for $11 (server didn't ask salad or chips, but luckily we wanted salad anyway). I was excited upon reading garlic aioli and kimchi ketchup. What a combo! Unfortunately, we got the last two burgers and instead of the ketchup and aioli, there was bbq sauce. It's not that it tasted bad - in fact, it was quite good - but it was not what I ordered. Now I'm no food nazi by any means, but I definitely wasn't in the mindset of buying an $11 bbq bacon cheeseburger, so I went to the counter simply to ask about the situation. Another worker, Casey, went in to check on why the error occurred. ...And this is where Kissaten saved themselves from a 2-star review. Casey handled the situation spot on by apologizing for the error and offering up other menu options. Since nothing seemed particularly pleasing for me at the time (Yeah, was totally craving that burger the moment my eyes hit the specials menu), I asked if we could get some sort of discount. He apologized again and said it wasn't possible, but another option he offered was that we could have a dessert on him. We agreed to this - their strawberry cheesecake is delicious btw - and thanked him for how he handled the situation. At the end of the night, despite being confused about the whole dine in and lack of service thing, we opted to personally hand Casey our tip, even though it is likely tip is distributed amongst workers. A few tips ~ - Don't do dine in - Come early for specials as they tend to run out of ingredients - The day before college starts up is indeed a very busy night!!
(3)
Brigitte S.

I have recently been having one of those weeks; nope, a month of where everything seemed to be going slightly wrong. Needless to say, we had a big event to attend to and were missing a few key items. After rushing to an early morning work meeting, I ran over to Ala Moana and was having a mild anxiety attach when I happened to look up and see the glorious Kissaten sign. Thank the lords, coffee solves all! I see amazing photos and have read excellent reviews of this place but always seem to just drive by. This was finally my chance. I absolutely adore the atmosphere. Bright warm colors of orange and red help bring a local sunset vibe with artwork along the walls and shirts for sale. There's a cool rounded ice cream bar looking area by the counters. I loved all the seating of various levels along with the seats along the window which is perfect for sitting down solo. While I was sad to not be able to try lunch foods, the breakfast menu had a nice selection. Simple and comfort is what this menu reminded me of. Bonus, a lot of the breakfasts come with coffee or tea! I love waffles & that almost won me over but I went with the croissant breakfast sandwich which had bacon, scrambled eggs & cheddar cheese on a warm, toasty buttery croissant. The coffee menu had all the usual suspects including cold brewed coffee which I appreciated. I wound up going with an iced large nonfat vanilla latte. I include the milk only because I find nor a all coffee places have options. I was given a number and my food came out very fast. My sandwich was delicious - the bacon was crisp but chewy with just enough grease & the warm croissant was so flaky. My coffee was good, maybe a little too much milk. The staff were all quite pleasant and I was actually disappointed to miss out on the dine in experience. I will definitely need to come here again [hopefully for soup & grilled cheese] with a good book, my laptop or a group of friends to enjoy the comforts of Kissaten.
(4)
Coreen L.

One of my new favorite hideaway spots, when you want to get work done, be surrounded by good creative juju and of course have access to yummy goodies! The crew here are always friendly and efficient, which always scores bonus points in my book. The menu at Kissaten offers an array of delicious drinks and food (salads, sandwiches, wraps, and daily specials) -- everything I've tried has been great. My favorite for caffeine has been the dirty Chai latte, yum! There is a list of things that I still hope to taste including truffle mac & cheese, a waffle with ice cream I saw a couple enjoying and the late night menu which offers different items than the day shift, including ramen. Follow them on Instagram and you'll see a whole bunch of goodies! My only wish, is that there was more parking. Some days it can be challenging but otherwise, an awesome spot.
(4)
Shelly N.

Really, the best thing about this place is that it's open 24 hours! I always found this hard to believe! I studied here with a group of colleagues for an exam. We thought it was a convenient location for all of us, had a good amount of seating, and food available for anyone to order because we studied around dinner time. It helps that there's other activity going on here, so you can talk above a whisper and not feel bad (compared to a library). The hard part is the parking. I can't really say much about the food because I haven't actually ordered food here much, but I got a delicious peach iced tea. Highly recommend it!
(4)
Melina P.

I tried Kissaten out at the insistence of my coworker for our lunch break a few days ago. It's about a block away from our job so we walked over. It can be a little tricky to find if you aren't familiar with it. It's tucked in on the corner of the KHON2 building (Piikoi & Waimanu). I was immediately impressed with the cleanliness of the outside sidewalk & stairs & the cute designs of their windows. I was SUPER excited to see there is an ice cream parlor joined with them as well! I'm not sure if it was open when we went; there was no one behind the counter & no customers on that side. The employees were very friendly & helpful. They could tell we weren't familiar with their menu & offered explanations to their cream sodas & things. I ended up with the pesto turkey sandwich, soup of the day (cream of mushroom) & a melon cream soda. Everything tasted AWESOME but was pretty pricey. $9 for the sammy (it was crammed full of turkey meat & bacon though & was very filling), $4 for the add-on soup & I think ~$3 for the cream soda. I hope they make chicken noodle soup since that's my fave.
(4)
Lily H.

This is by far one of my favorite stops for any time of day. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late night fare - a simple and satisfying menu. It's a great place to study, journal, doodle, or daydream alone. An even better place for one-to-one or group conversations. It has the perfect balance of chill and buzz. Open 24 hours for those late night and early morning stops for students and business professionals alike. I gotta get there more often!
(5)
Susan I.

I feel like the food quality went downn low but at least the service is always on point :)
(3)
Tobie W.

Love coming here to study, mainly because they always have pleasant baristas! Normally I get the grilled cheese sandwich, which comes with a small salad, and it's always simple but delicious! But good service, good food, and a good coffee? It really doesn't get any better. Plus the art on the walls are constantly changing, so you never see the same thing for too long!
(4)
Shiloh R.

Years later, I'm still coming back! LOVE their cashmere latte and frozen lemonade. Try cashmere latte when it's cooler outside and frozen lemonade in the hot summer. Their food is consistently fresh and tasty too! I don't mind having to purchase something to use the WIFI either.
(5)
Aulii H.

This place is a nice hangout spot with a small, but good, selection of food. I noticed an empty wine bottle and some glasses on a table so I think it's BYOB which is great for future visits. I wanted to try everything on the menu, but decided in the veggie wrap. It was delicious, but had more spinach than anything else. It came with a small salad which I couldn't even touch after eating all that spinach. Since it's 24 hours, it's a good choice for those late night choices, and a healthier option compared to Zippy's. I would go there again if I am in the area. We went at 10pm so it wasn't too crowded, but I don't know what the crowd is like during the daylight hours. This place is like a Starbucks, but better, especially for the food options, and they also have an ice cream bar!
(4)
Brian B.

Oh Kissaten, you and I have such a love/hate relationship... There are so many things that I like about you but there also a handful of deal breakers too! Love: -Italian creme sodas -Various drinks(coffee, juice, soda, bottled & can drinks) -Desserts -Decent food selection -Open 24-hours -Electrical outlets at most of the tables along the wall -Convenient location Hate: -Limited parking -Paywall wi-fi -Electrical outlets only at tables along the wall -Did I mention the parking sucks here? Ok, so there are a lot more things that I love about this place then hate but the things I hate make it difficult to frequent this place as much as I'd like. The biggest problem for me that turns me away is the parking. I've posted a picture of the parking chart below which is really helpful to have on hand since you don't want to park in certain stalls & wind up getting towed because you're there at the wrong time. If there were more stalls dedicated to Kissaten at more convenient times, coming here would be a slam dunk decision but because it's not I restrict myself to going later at night on the weekends or Fridays if I choose to go. The other thing I consider a con is that the electrical outlets are only at the tables along the walls. This isn't a problem if you're sitting at one with the outlet and are there early enough but that means you'd have to have come early enough to get a good stall in the garage and before said tables are occupied. If you're not at a table along the wall with an outlet, you'll only be able to use your laptop or electronic device for as long as the battery holds out so that's something else to take into consideration if coming here to study especially. For the things I love about this place, one of the highest on the list is its location. If you're in town or live in town, its near Ala Moana & at the outskirts of the Victoria Ward shopping village in Kaka'ako. This does alleviate the parking situation I mentioned above a little bit but be prepared to hunt & walk for a bit. That definitely might be a turn off for some of the ladies that want to visit here to grab a late night dessert or coffee or study since the path to walk here isn't the friendliest or welcoming at night and especially moreso at late night. The drink selection here to me is one of the best. Kissaten has a variety of drinks that range from coffee & caffeinated beverages to juice to handcrafted Italian creme sodas to fountain-based sodas to bottle products. Even Starbucks has nothing on Kissaten in terms of selection & variety with their latest Fizzio handcrafted sodas! The prices are what you expect from such a shop so no worries there. What most people really come to Kissaten for however is the food & dessert selection. For a coffee shop,they serve a good selection of food too and a good variety. They have grilled cheese & panini sandwiches as well as salads and pho! Yes, they have pho as a selection if you're craving that! They also have mac & cheese and other similar pasta-ish dishes too but it varies on the day so your mileage may vary. For desserts they have pastries, small Belgian waffles & cheesecakes plus candy such as M&Ms and Sour Patch Kids. Towards the back going toward the bathroom there is a counter area where they serve ice cream & sundaes so there's that if you're craving those types of treats too. So yeah, if Kissaten could do something about her parking situation I think that would eliminate the majority of complaint. Fix that and she's definitely a keeper, otherwise I'll have to restrict my visits for special occasions since there are more convenient places to go!
(4)
Jarrett B.

Come here all the time! Best cafe in the Ala Moana area. The coffee is better than Starbucks!
(5)
Katy T.

Terrible and weird experience, but they get an extra star because the food is SUPERB. Went on a Wednesday night around midnight. There was no line at the counter and some open tables, which was great. My friend and I each ordered a drink, and she ordered a tomato bisque and a grilled cheese. The guy behind the counter mumbled $31, and then corrected himself "umm $19" but seemed totally unsure. He gave us a number and we sat down. Two minutes later, my friend got her soup and the girl who brought it out took the number. We thought this was strange because she hadn't got her grilled cheese yet, but didn't say anything. About 10 minutes later, the guy behind the counter brought us our drinks. They were both blended drinks, so I know they take a while to make, but 10 minutes was pretty long since it wasn't even busy. Another 10 minutes after that, still no grilled cheese. I went back to the counter and told the guy, I thought we ordered a grilled cheese but we didn't get it. He just stared at me blankly. I was expecting him to either apologize and say he'd get it right away, or apologize that he hadn't heard that, or at least look back to see if we had indeed been charged for one. (My fault... I should have gotten a receipt. Although, their printer doesn't seem to automatically print them.) He was still staring at me blankly, so I just asked if I could order one now. He rang me up and said it would be $6 something (again, he was mumbling). I gave him $7 which he put in the cash drawer, closed the drawer and handed me another number. What happened to my change?? At that point, I didn't even say anything because my whole experience there was SO absurd! Less than 2 minutes after my new order, a girl came out of the kitchen, looked around at the numbers, brought me the grilled cheese and took my number. 5 minutes after THAT, she came out of the kitchen again with a grilled cheese (this one had chips; the first one didn't) brought it to our table and looked really confused that we had one already. She went to consult with the guy behind the counter who came over to our table and asked if we wanted 2. I was annoyed and told him we didn't. I only ordered the second one when I asked him if we still had one coming and he didn't really answer me. He said sorry, he would refund the money. He brought me a receipt with $6.50 cash. I paid him $7 and didn't get the change and he only gave me $6.50 back! Seriously? The only reason this is not a 1 star review is that the food was 5-stars! I tried both the soup and the grilled cheese and both were AMAZING. I do find it strange, though, that the soup said it comes with toast, but came with an untoasted roll, and the grilled cheese said it came with chips, but only the second one they brought us actually did. I'm so sad, though, because I really wouldn't go back. I just don't wanna deal with the terrible (and weird!) service.
(2)
Josh T.

is it possible that i'm only using their internet to leave a mediocre review on Yelp? maybe. my experience inspired a haiku: top 40 blaring thankful for headphones, but they're not noise canceling. dang. this is the only coffee space in town that I've encountered a strictly enforced "no thermoses rule." when i ordered at the counter and sat my big ole 40oz metal water bottle right in front of the register, the poor worker awkwardly said, "Can you please hide your hydroflask?" I stared back blankly with a puzzled look and a slight head tilt. Really, management? Kindly, J. p.s. matcha latte tastes like green milk
(2)
Wes N.

Tasty and healthy! Had a bunch of art work up that was for sale...cool concept! I'll try some coffee next time!
(4)
Mark O.

I don't know why this place gets such poor reviews. I'm trying to think of a place in Hawaii that would be nicer and more comfortable to hang out, read or get coffee in the middle of the night and I can't come up with anything better. Sure Zippy's or Liliha might have better food, but they certainly aren't as comfortable. I had to pull an all nighter this week and needing a shot of caffeine at 4:30am I came in to try Kissaten and had a very good experience. Even at this late hour the staff was friendly and there were decent food options as well as a full coffee bar. Come to think of it, I don't think there are any full coffee bars open between midnight and dawn besides this place. Overall, I think this is the best, and maybe only, 24 hour cafe where you can come in at any hour and get a quick espresso, latte, coffee, etc. I will definitely say that "I'm a fan".
(4)
Jamie S.

A cute little place for studying. I chose to come here over Starbucks or the Library simply because: 1. It's less crowded then Starbucks. 2. There's air conditioning (yes I know both SB and the library have AC. Really it's just my minimal study standard;-) 3. I can have a conversation without people glaring at me unlike the library 4. There is an abundance of great food options. A purchase is required to get a wifi password that is good for 2 hours. Parking: there are limited stalls in the KHON building. There is metered street parking with a 2 hour parking limit close by.
(3)
Karen D.

Dear Kissaten CafÃ©, I used to like you a lot, but that was a long time ago. What happened to us? I heard your management changed awhile back, so maybe that's why it just ain't the same. Yes, you still offer the standard hot and iced coffee and tea beverages we all expect from a coffee shop. What really set you apart before was your food. Used to be, you had a good amount of delicious, comfort-food-with-a-twist, made-to-order entreÃ©s, soups, and salads. Today, only a few of those remain, and the only thing that keeps me coming back is your tomato bisque. I mean, nowadays you even sell Twinkies. I like diabetes-inducing, artery-clogging snack cakes as much as the next person, but I expect that stuff at 7-Eleven, you know? Today when I visited for a late lunch, I noticed that quite a few of the tables were dirty. I had to wipe off not just my table, but also my chair. Ick. You weren't busy, so that certainly wasn't the problem. And your prices always did seem a bit steep, but I really started to mind when your food offerings slid into mediocrity and your customer service practically evaporated. One other thing I have to mention is that I asked the person behind the counter if he could verify with the chef that an item I wanted to order was gluten free. Without blinking, your employee said, "we have no gluten free food." When I challenged him on this blanket statement, I found out that he didn't even know what gluten was, couldn't be bothered to educate himself, and certainly wasn't about to ask the chef anything. I dunno, maybe you don't even have a chef anymore and your stuff is just prepared in advance then microwaved by minimum-wage workers in "Kiss-a-10" t-shirts. Kissaten, you can do better. Maybe the students who hang out here to study at 3:00a.m. don't mind low standards, but working adults most certainly do. Here's hoping to a better tomorrow.... Karen D.
(3)
Jon H.

If I were to summarize my feelings for Kissaten, it would be somewhere along the lines of, "A good study spot with average food." The fact that they're open 24 hours and provide their customers WiFi access (with a purchase) makes them a highly attractive location for people looking for a nice place to study or meet with group members. Having said that, I really feel they should be a little less stingy with the WiFi since there's a time limit. Oh, and if you're gonna be spending any extended periods of time here, make sure to dress warmly or at least bring a jacket because it can get freezing cold inside. As for the food, they offer a breakfast, regular, and late night menu. As I noted earlier, the food, although not bad at all, won't wow you in any one category. In fact, I wouldn't be able to point out anything that makes their food stand out from any other cafe or deli. in regards to food options, the normal menu items that you'd expect can all be found here. Of everything I've tried, I'd recommend the grilled cheese and tomato bisque combo. Just in general, don't those two scream comfort food? Anyway, the exterior of the grilled cheese is nice and crisp, and the additions of bacon bits to the sandwich gives a nice smokey, salty touch, while the apples provide a nice contrast of sweetness to cut through all of the rich cheese. The bisque has a slight kick to it, which pairs well with the grilled cheese. The beverage selection, as you might expect from a place that calls itself a "coffee bar," is fairly large. Various coffees, teas, and sodas can be ordered to your specifics. Because I find myself feeling cold a lot while at Kissaten, I tend to keep my drink selection on the hot side. And the one drink in particular that I've gotten more than any other is their hot apple cider. You can taste the spices in the cider, and that familiar taste and smell provides a nice festive feel.
(3)
Ma F.

Came in today morning, my friend suggested this place before heading to work as a good place to pick up a drink and some food. The burrito was pretty good and they do provide free internet for two hours. Also if you want an outlet to plug in your laptop or whatever there's heaps of them on the wall by the window. It's kind of ridiculous how many they have... Nice spot, I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)
Ron E.

Kissaten looks like a coffee shop, but has remarkably good food. I'm here pretty regularly because its near my work, and it never disappoints. The chorizo burrito is solid and tasty, and I also like the veggie sandwich. The menu has recently expanded (into two chalk boards) filled with yummy choices. Its so great that they're open all the time as it seems to be a wonderful respite for the studious types. Watch for what might pop up in the dessert case... i have seen JJ's Bakery's chocolate pyramids in there! Mmmm!
(5)
Krystal Y.

More like 3.5 stars, but I round up! I work around the piikoi area, so I've gone here a couple times, and tried their house salad, their pesto sandwich, their tomato bisque, and their truffle Mac and cheese. All these foods were on a scale of "just okay" to "good". Their pesto sandwich and house salad to me were just okay, and honestly not as awesome as I expected it to be considering the price. However their tomato bisque and truffle Mac and cheese were good. I enjoyed that, but again, expected more for the price. Maybe I'm a cheapy? But stage cafe has better food for better price and bigger portions. I'd stick to stage cafe over kissaten. Possibly I'll go back to kissaten for their tomato bisque.
(4)
Isaiah C.

This place is awesome, it's open 24 hours, they have food and drinks and wifi if you buy something, a great place to study and do homework.
(5)
Kainoa S.

Food is great but lines and wait times are long. Don't be surprised if you have to wait 30 minutes for a smoothie.
(3)
Marie W.

Went there today, and it was pretty okay. I'm assuming they only offer free wifi if you purchase anything. They give you a receipt with the username and password after you make a purchase, I think??? It looks like this is a hang out place for college students when I went there today. One of the things I didn't like was the parking. The parking is very tight, but your lucky if you find a parking. I don't think they have too many stalls for parking either. Also, I wasn't too sure or clear if I was supposed to leave my plate on the table. I did see trash cans on each corners and a rack of dirty plates by the counter. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to bring it there or leave it on the table. And last, they didn't have a faster access to the parking lot from what one of the workers there said.
(3)
Kelli S.

Located across the street from Ala Moana, Kissaten is known for its 24/7 operating hours (great hub for college students pulling all-nighters) and coffee menu. I've only been to Kissaten for lunch several times, but since it was for an early lunch, I had no problem getting a table and enjoyed quick service every time. Kissaten is pretty small (at least, from the last time I visited the cafÃ©), but since it's conveniently located right across from Ala Moana, I've just parked at the shopping center and walked over. I haven't tried any of the items on the breakfast or late-night menus, but I've definitely found my favorites from this hip, modern cafÃ©. Kissaten reminds me of a local Panera Bread (except its specialty is coffee). The cafÃ© features a more modern twist on classic sandwiches and salads, and though some of the entrÃ©es (the mac & cheese) might be a bit pricier, the cost is worth the featured flavors and great taste. Here are some of my recommendations for dining at Kissaten: "Turkey Pesto Melt": This warm panini-esque meal features some of my favorite sandwich components! It includes sliced turkey breast, bacon, mozzarella and pesto aioli in between pieces of grilled focaccia bread. I loved the smoky flavors of the turkey breast paired with the savory bacon, and pesto has to be one of my favorite spreads. The crispy crunch of the cheesy focaccia exterior was delightful, and I would order this sandwich again in a heartbeat. All sandwiches come with your choice of a spring green salad with balsamic soy dressing or chips (I chose the chips just because I don't like spring greens mixes, when it comes to salad. Romaine all the way!). "Truffle Mac & Cheese": Kissaten's take on this kiddie classic is absolutely phenomenal! Once I read about it in "Dining Out," I simply had to try it. This more gourmet mac & cheese features aged white Cheddar, roasted chicken breast and truffle oil, and it's topped with crispy bacon and torched breadcrumbs. Yes, the mac & cheese might be pricier than some of the other items on the menu, but if you're a mac & cheese lover and you haven't ordered this dish yet, it's worth trying. I love how Kissaten uses white Cheddar for this dish, and I'm definitely a fan of truffle oil. The chicken and bacon chunks provide additional textures and flavors, and the torched breadcrumb bits deliver the perfect finishing touch. Definitely a toothsome treat for any mac & cheese fanatic. "Grilled Cheese Sandwich": I'm usually the first to try the "Grilled Cheese" option at any restaurant, but I haven't had a chance to try Kissaten's famous version yet. It features a modernized twist on the traditional grilled cheese, as this sandwich encompasses bacon, melted Cheddar and smoked Gouda cheeses and thin, Fuji apple slices. I'm not sure how I feel about apples in my grilled cheese, but I've heard so many great comments about this grilled cheese, so I'm sure the slightly sweet-and-salty combo must be a winner.
(5)
Austin O.

Muy Bueno! :D excellent Food and definitely recommend it for any teens who want a cool place to study!
(5)
Shantel K.

I love the fact that this establishment is clean and safe feeling for a 24 hour restaurant. The food is delicious!!!!!!. Ive been here many times with friends to study and its a nice enviorment. Lots of tables. Nice art that are for sale. And the workers are very nice. Perfect place for night time craving.
(5)
Rachel S.

Their turkey pesto sandwich is just absolutely amazing. And their salads are pretty fantastic soon. The only reason why I enjoy coming to this cafe is because I need somewhere to study when Sinclair isn't open. It's a 24 hour cafe that has food, pretty good. However, you need to purchase something in order to get 2 hours of wifi. What happens when those 2 hours are up? You need to purchase something else. So if you plan on spending a good while there, I suggest you bring your own means of wifi. Another downside about this cafe is, WHERE CAN I FIND AN OUTLET?! There's not too many areas that have an outlet readily available when my laptop is dying. Another thing, YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINKS. If you have an empty can, they will come up to you and ask you to throw it away. Even if it's empty. It's happened to me. You aren't even allowed to have your hydroflask out. Jeez. I bought $10 worth of your food and can't even have an empty can on the table? My god. The only reason why I continue to come to this place is because its 24 hours and I need a place to study. If somewhere else was open with 24 hours and weren't so anal about petty things, I would definitely choose that place over Kissaten ANY DAY.
(2)
Ronald L.

Open 24/7 with free parking in the Hawaiki Tower it's a nice coffee bar that offers good desserts and a few hot food items. The decor is modern and the staff friendly and helpful. It's a nice place to just relax and unwind. Prices are fairly reasonable. I had gotten a pastrami melt with a side of chips for under $10. A nice alternative to the eateries in the area.
(4)
Briana Y.

I love that this place is open 24 hours. It was the only place near me that I could get to quickly at 5 am.
(4)
Bonnie H.

At the wee hours of the am it's nice to get a latte and some nice desserts and/or comfort food. For availability and atmosphere I give this place 4 stars. The cheesecake is a bit heavy. But still yummy. And the prices are reasonable
(4)
Meg M.

As a rule, coffee shops that make you pay for internet are just not my jam. Kissaten gives you a code for internet when you buy something that is good for two hours. I wouldn't mind that if I really liked their food! Last time I went, I got the portabello sandwich with a side of greens. The greens were COVERED in balsamic dressing- next time I know to ask for it on the side! The sando was on crispy foccacia bread that was delicious but the peppers were way overcooked and the sando had no real flavor. Luckily I had all that extra balsamic dressing on the side! Another time I went, I ordered the steel cut oats. Those were much better and came with sides to put on top. The pros are that Kissaten is open 24 hours, but the closest parking is street parking or Ala Moana. With the construction going on and the walkway being covered and dark, I don't really feel comfortable walking there late.
(3)
Anna T.

Love this coffee bar!!! Best tea latte and everything tastes delicious. Great atmosphere to hang out and study/work.
(5)
Kanya G.

The good: - 24-hr cafe -- can't find that anywhere else on Oahu - Great place to study/hang out late at night, although very crowded during finals - Good variety of coffee/drinks/desserts - Pretty good/decent food - Lots of seats/booths - Rewards system-- $10 certificate after spending a certain amount The bad: - PARKING. Only a few garage stalls or find street parking. - A little pricy (which I think is understandable since it is open 24 hrs) - Limited wi-fi access (few hours with purchase) - Customer service Overall, you really can't beat the hours at this place... I've come here to study for long hours or hang out after a late night with friends (what else is open at 1 AM?). I love some of the salads, sandwiches and the tomato bisque here. The occasional bad service and limited wi-fi stick out for me... and parking, most of the time, prevents me from coming here, unless I find a rare parking spot!
(3)
Justin C.

There is no kissaten here! Slight mistake.. The real one is near ala Moana in the hawaiiki tower.. That one is on piikoi street with tons of free parking on the street and in the building. Don't come to the one in Manoa.. It actually leads you to a house. And it would be a waste of a drive.
(1)
Faye T.

Ah Kissaten. Whenever there is studying to be done, I'm usually found at either starbucks or here. If I'm hungry and need to get some studying done, then Kissaten is always my choice. It's a 24 hour cafe (thank gawd) which is a major plus because us hardcore study people (or procrastinators, hehe) need a place that is open beyond 11 or midnight. It's also a major plus since I generally go from school to work and get out of work with usually no where to go. :( Anyway, the atmosphere is awesome. Cool decor, lots of seats (and different types of seats). There aren't as many outlets as there could be, but it still doesnt bring down my opinion about this place. Their food is great! I especially like their sandwiches (Kissaten melt!= melts my heart ^__^) and soups. Their mac and cheese is alright, but their soup (potato leek or tomato bisque) is a good pair with the sandwiches (my favorite: kissaten melt. . My boyfriend has also had their salad before as well, and it was good. Now it's important to note that their menu does change and is time dependent. They have a breakfast menu (i think it's until 11a) that has some omelettes, a breakfast sandwich, yadda yadda. Their lunch menu is even better but I'll let you find that out for yourselves. The late night menu doesn't have much, but at least has yummy stuff like udon and sandwiches. Customer service is awesome. They keep the place clean and are friendly. There was one time when they forgot my boyfriend's food, and gave him a cheesecake as compensation. We were more than happy with that :) Cons: You need to get something in order to get wifi. Make sure to ask for it though; sometimes they forget to ask if you need it. You get two hours if youre sitting on a counter, and an hour if youre sitting on the tables. Parking kind of sucks. You can do street parking (you need to pay the meter, M-Sat between ~8a (?)- 6p (Free street parking on Sundays!) which is right up front but these go pretty quick. Or you can park in the KHON building parking lot, which is right around the corner from kissaten. There are literally only 5 stalls assigned for Kissaten customers during the day time, and theyre marked. During 10p-7a, more stalls are free to be used on the left side when you enter.
(4)
Jill N.

Went with a friend for lunch today for a business meeting. First of all, you have a place called "kissaten" which means "coffee/tea shop" in Japanese, yet, nothing about what you serve is Japanese-y? Nothing that affects the way I review this place, but hmm, just food for thought. Moving on...! Based on my experience today alone: Food Quality - C Price - C Ambiance - A Customer Service - B Location - C (if you can find parking) We ordered the grilled cheese $6.50 - nothing special. one slice of cheese, couple strips of bacon, apple slivers. I got mines without apple cause i'm not a fan of that sweet/savory bizz. Very thin sandwich. and added a cup of tomato bisque +$3.50 - pretty pricey as an "add-on", if you ask me - olive oil drizzle and parmesan cheese garnish. way too sweet for my taste buds. Eek, no thanks. Overall, thought the menu was pretty pricey for what you actually get. Noticed that their other grilled sandwiches were $9.50. Parking sucks. They have only about 5 dedicated stalls in the KHON building - all were taken today at 1:15pm and no street parking available. We thought we'd be missing the potential lunch crowd, but I guess not. Noticed from when we walked in then left about an hour and a half later, only about 2 tables came and left. Everyone else hangs out for quite awhile, so turn-over is slow here. We had to park in Ala Moana (which is really crazy now since all the construction is going on and there's very minimal parking) and make the trek over. :( Supposedly they have WiFi if you purchase something - but we weren't given a code or anything. I guess you ask for it?... Pros to this place was the cleanliness and option to stay as long as you please. They're also open 24 hours, so that's always as plus! The atmosphere was perfs for us because we were on a business meeting, but coming for lunch isn't really ideal. I wasn't too fond of the food but I'll remember to keep this place in mind when I'm looking for a late-night gossip session over a latte!
(3)
Krizia Faith M.

The workers here esp the girls are super sassy..... It would be my part to give some sass back but I held back. The food here is pretty delicious though but I've only ever tried the pesto mushroom pasta and the tomato bisque & grilled cheese, but I'm hoping to try other things next time. I normally come here to do some studying & hw but this is not my ideal place to go to. I'd rather go to Sinclair or some other place that doesn't kick us out after a certain amount of time. It sucks how you have to buy something to use their wifi too, while you don't have to at other places. It's always super busy with lots of other college students so you can never really expect to find a seat right away sometimes. Parking is a bitch at their structure because only 4 or 5 parking stalls are reserved for Kissaten, so street parking is your second option.
(3)
Jamie P.

Food: ---Tomato Bisque: dabomb.com ---Sandwiches: Definitely overpriced for the quality. ---Pesto Mushroom Pasta: Do you like undercooked pasta? Drinks: ---Peach tea: Very good. ---Chocolate Milano Latte w/ soy: Quite good. Pros: Decent place to study. Con: Parking. Lighting.
(4)
Shannon W.

It feels like they spray pepper spray in the air. Can't even open my eyes it hurts so bad
(2)
Grace L.

Everyone has said that kissaten is a great place to study so I decided to check it out for the study environment and I thought it would be a good chance to try the food. First of all, the parking here is horrendous so I don't know how or why people would choose to come here. I parked at alamoana and walked over with all my study stuff. Minus one star. I ordered an iced coffee along with the grilled cheese sandwich. The coffee was standard, nothing special and the grilled cheese was definitely something I could make at home. Minus one star. Let's talk service now. Minus two stars. 1. The girl who delivered our food literally plopped the food down on the table and grumpily walked away. Maybe you had a bad day, which is fine. But you shouldn't be on the verge of throwing a tantrum in front of the customers. 2. We had all of our study materials out on the table before the food was delivered. It was our first time there so we didn't know that you weren't supposed to sit on those low tables to study till after 10 pm. I saw the "reserved" signs but there wasn't one on the table we choose so how we're we supposed to know that? 2 hours after we got there, OVER an hour after we finished eating an employee came over to tell us that we're not supposed to sit here if we're studying, even though we ate earlier. You know we were studying before the food even came out, it didn't occur you to mention this to us earlier while you were giving us the food? Then we could have scoped out a table to move to before it got super busy. Not to mention I thought the comment in itself was a bit snarky and could have been handled better. We thought about moving to another table but decided to leave because I was already annoyed. Maybe this establishment should do better on training for customer service. And on top of all of that, all the people who told me that this is a great place to study LIED. Straight up, all of you folks lied to me. It was super ridiculously noisy and the music playing was alternative punk rock. You may be able to study here if you are doing stuff other than reading. If you need to read and focus on what you're reading, you will literally DROWN in the background noise. I spent 2 hours reading 12 problems. I should be reading 25 problems in 35 minutes. Aka I tried to study and failed miserably. Also the food is mediocre at best. Will not return.
(1)
Hervick R.

Tomato bisque is a must try! Grilled cheese was kinda dry but still tasted good. The Internet is a little slow from what I'm used to at home so I ended up using my cellphone's hotspot. And good luck finding a parking!
(4)
Paul C.

The food and coffee here is not great. Don't order the Pho - it's terrible. There's also limited parking, Chairs a kinda uncomfortable plastic chairs, and I don't particularly like the ambiance. Not super clean or all that classy. Overall, basically kind of a typical local asian style coffee/teahouse. It is definitely not Japanese, like it's name might suggest, but more typical of something you might find in Taiwan or China. However it's open 24 hours and that's the redeeming quality as a late night study spot. I wouldn't really want to hang out here too long though, I find sitting at the tables slightly fatiguing, same as the somewhat crowded area. I also don't really like the order at the counter and take a number service system. But if you need a place in town to sit down, where you can get some food,
(3)
Brianna K.

Four stars is probably a little more on the generous side for Kissaten... but any place that puts 4 shots of espresso in a latte will win me over in the end.. I think my first experience would have been more enjoyable if I could've found the goddamn place without getting lost and without having walk through creep empty hallways at 2am. I circled the block once and after seeing several different parking structures I decided to park in the closest one (I believe it was an apartment on Waimanu St). After getting my coffee and getting all settled with my homework, the building attendant told me that I needed to move my car -____- So I packed up all my stuff, drove my car to the KHON parking structure on Piikoi where there are a few designated Kissaten customer stalls. Then I proceeded to waste about 5 minutes walking through a freaking maze of hallways that led me to nowhere :) ANYWAYS, 20 minutes later, here I am with my now warm Iced Thai Latte, not doing my homework, and writing a yelp review instead! Long story short, park in the KHON parking lot, regardless of the fact that it say "KHON PARKING ONLY." KHON is just trying to deceive us all as usual....hah Like I said, the large espresso beverages have 4 shots which is always nice. Let's be honest, 2 shots of espresso is child's play!!! Prices are very reasonable as well! And the fact that Kissaten is 24 hours is obviously a bonus considering most of Oahu is pretty much a ghost town after 9pm. Love the vibe and decor inside the cafe. We definitely need more places like this on the island. I will most likely return for late night study (aka procrastination) sessions but doubt I would come during the day. I wouldn't fight Honolulu traffic for the best latte on the planet...
(4)
Philip T.

I don't get the popularity of this place the food was just okay the salad wasn't anything special and the tomato soup was not anything special. It's probably good for students for late-night and KHON personnel where you can sit around and relax and connect to the Internet. I came here because of a promotion for about three times and I felt the same all three times.
(2)
Ashley M.

I like this place, but... -parking is horrible!! -you HAVE to pay for something to stay there. (I was sitting by myself tonight and I had been here for about 30mins. and one of the workers came to me and said I had to buy something to stay there...That's new!!) -they have a $5 minimum for cards and all there drinks are less then $5 (even large size) -the outlets are only against the wall -there wi-fi is only good for 2 hour intervals -when it's packed, it is loud!! I had stopped coming for a while and recently decided to come back last week however, I think this place is only good if you have nowhere else to go. I wouldn't come here regularly.
(2)
Alena B.

Awesome food!!! This place was pretty hard to find and the parking was even harder (hence 4 starts instead of five) but it was worth it! I had the Kissan melt and it was delicious. The set up is great and the atmosphere is soft and inviting. They also have an ice cream bar! I would definetly recommend coming in here at least once.
(4)
Crystal L.

It's a hidden cafe near Ala Moana which takes quite an effort to find. Inside is very spacious, cool, and attractive. Their food is pricey unfortunately. I stopped by in the morning and it wasn't busy. I ordered a matcha latte, breakfast burrito, and homemade granola. It came out to $18 when I was supposed to be charged $15.75. The lady at the cashier didn't know that you're suppose to subtract money when you don't want milk with your granola. I told her it said on the menu below. Apparently, her manager didn't let her know about it. The food is okay, but I'll probably come back again to try out their lunch menu. Oh! And if you're in a rush, I'd recommend taking a seat. It took about 30 mins for my food to come out and I had to run to the bus stop to avoid being late.
(3)
Josie C.

I finally got a chance to try this place and with good reason. My exam was coming up and my classmate and I needed somewhere to study. I walk in and there were two sections of this establishment. You have the first area which is the "study" area equipped with high square tables and high stools. To the left is the dining area which had the regular longer tables and more comfortable soft chairs. All the tables in the "dining" area had a "reserved" sign on them. I asked the host if I could sit there since we had a lot of books and he told me it was for people dining in. I informed him that we were dining in and will also be studying. Then he graciously told me, "sorry, no, you can't sit there". I was a little disappointed. So I went on a high stool and started to arrange all of my 6 books on the table. My friend later arrived with her 6 books and we made do with whatever space we had. Before we started our study session, we both ordered their beef pho. It was good but the noodles to me seemed a little soggy. It was more of the thicker rice noodle, not the thin ones that I'm normally used to. Their peach iced tea was delicious and it even had 3 slices of peaches on the bottom of the cup. Nice! Then after 5hrs of studying, we ordered the bread pudding ala mode. It was right on! The bread pudding was warm and moist. And the ice cream just made it more delicious! Unfortunately, I was still bothered at the fact that I couldn't sit at the regular tables. Especially since as the night progressed, gamers and card players ended up occupying those tables the entire evening. And all they ordered was drinks. (Sad face) Nonetheless, it was still a good study session. I just don't know if I'll go back. If I do, it'll be for the peach iced tea ;)
(3)
Sheila K.

Great place for a light lunch or caffeine jolt. Quiet space to work with wifi. Ono specials & my favorite bisque
(5)
Lauren C.

It was 230am and my group of friends and I just survived bottle service at Vice Nightclub..... the only thing on my mind while walking to Ginza was that I had to pee really really bad. Thankfully, the lights inside Kissaten shined brightly and the OPEN signed was flashing! YESSSSSSS. Can you imagine my relief? Needless to say, we didn't make it to Ginza. A couple friends and I just took advantage of Kissaten's 24/7 hours *and* cheap food. The beef bowl cured me of my highly intoxicated and hungry state! It wasn't that bad but it wasn't supa supa good, however I also really don't know at the same time.. I will have to come back sober and write a better review lol
(3)
Reid K.

I still don't know what Kissaten means and I've visited many times now. No matter because they could call it "No Free Wi-Fi" and I would still come back for more ;) It's really interesting that there aren't more 24 hour cafes here, especially since there will always be students studying year-round. It's a niche that I'm glad Kissaten stepped up to fill. In the beginning, I wasn't sure how they made money staying open 24/7, since students probably tend not to spend much. Maybe that's why the WiFi isn't free :( Regardless, I forgot how much I loved Kissaten till I went back recently. The grilled cheese (prosciutto + apples = yum!) tomato bisque combo ($10) is to die for. The ambiance is soothing (sounds like they raided my Spotify playlist!) and conducive to getting stuff done. The cafe drinks are adequate in quality and price, but I like that they have a better variety than Starbucks. Like any popular hangout/study-out, the Kissaten experience suffers during peak times (i.e. midterm and finals week). The parking situation is insufferable--street parking is inadequate, Ala Moana parking is technically not allowed and forget about parking at KHON! Tables can also be hard to come by. There are a lot of tables/bar seats, but the limitless hours means people can stay as long as they want, and they do. It's too hard to look past those shortcomings so I had to deduct a star. Overall, you can't get much better than Kissaten, especially for night owls and procrastinating students like me ;)
(4)
Vivian L.

Twenty-four hours, seven days a week...I might as well live here if I can stow a bed away behind the cashier counter! Kissaten (literally "tearoom" in Japanese) is a great hangout and casual date spot on the corner of the KHON2 building across from Ala Moana Shopping Center. As I mentioned earlier, they're opened 24 hours so The Boyfriend and I go there after midnight and stay until 2 a.m. We've had a few emergency study days, and Kissaten provides free Wi-Fi. It's Wi-Fi by the hour, so that's the only frustrating thing about studying there. Food, drinks, and service-wise, Kissaten provides a small but delectable selection. I enjoy their grilled cheese sandwich. It has cheddar and smoked gouda cheese, bacon, and thinly sliced Fuji apples--an amazing combination of flavors. My boyfriend likes pho, so we've tried theirs also. The noodles are a little different, and the flavors aren't exactly the same as pho from Vietnamese restaurants. They do give a lot of noodles, though! It's a popular dish on their late-night menu. Yes! Kissaten has an early morning and late-night menu. I've yet to try any of their breakfast menu items, but I suggest sticking to the grilled cheese before the late-night menu begins. I like the salad that comes with the grilled cheese, but once that overnight menu is out your grilled cheese is paired with a bag of chips. Of course the prices are lower, but I'd prefer not getting Cheetos with my grilled cheese sandwich. I do love their little ice cream parlor section, too. I've had their ice cream sundaes, their waffle cones, and their brownie sundaes, too. Love that they have almost everything! Be sure to check out their specials menu by the cashier counter! They write their daily specials on the chalkboard. There is parking in the KHON2 building. I believe their are reserved Kissaten parking spots, but after 10 p.m. there are more stalls available.
(4)
Amy B.

I decided to finally give this play a try since it's only an elevator ride away from where I live. I went there for breakfast AND lunch. Why not? I kept it simple with breakfast and had steel cut oatmeal (no raisins!) and it was...oatmeal. I can't complain. Next time I'm going to ask for some fruit. The coffee was good, too. Not too hot. Afterward, I did some shopping across the street, went for a swim in the pool, and then decided I wanted to try the tomato bisque everyone was raving out. I couldn't just get the tomato bisque though... I had to pick up its friend, the grilled cheese sandwich! 10 bucks for soup and a sandwich doesn't seem bad to me. The soup is so freaking good! It has a tiny kick to it- I love it. I pretty much drenched my sandwich in it so I can't really speak to how the sandwich was, but it was delicious with the soup all over it. Yum. I saw some good looking dishes come out of the kitchen while I waited. I'm looking forward to going back and trying out some of the other options!
(4)
Brian K.

It's open 24 hours? Cool. Good daytime food. Although, I didn't really like the grilled cheese sando - perhaps it would have been better without the bacon. Nice space, with ample power outlets and a variety of seating choices. Good amount of natural light if you happen to be there during the day. As everybody else said, it's a good place to sit and get stuff done.
(4)
Nadia K.

My goodness, the parking here is awful. It's either street parking or a couple of marked stalls inside the building's parking lot so your best bet is to walk over from Ala Moana. I tried the grilled cheese sandwich (cheddar & smoked gouda cheeses, bacon, thin sliced fuji apples). It was really good except that my sandwich was more toasty than grilled, but it was still delicious. The cafÃ© is nice and spacious and looks like a perfect place to study or in my case, hang out with friends. My daughter/lunch date was very pleased that there was an ice cream bar as well as an ice cream freezer filled with your favorite ice cream novelties. This place is open 24/7 so you have no excuse. I want to come back and try their pho and the kissaten melt...and the truffle mac and cheese and one (or two or three) of the numerous espresso drinks on their extensive beverage menu! How good does a dark chocolate strawberry latte sound (available only for a limited time)? Thank goodness it's open 24/7! :)
(4)
Liliana U.

Went here for the first time about 2 nights ago because I was having late night munchies for desert. Let's start with parking, it sucks. Literally. Even at 11:30 pm there's no parking. We were told to park where it had signs of the cafes name but there was only 4-6 spots. Seriously? We ended up parking in the wrong area anyways. Walked in and it has a very college student feel, which is pretty great considering they have free wifi. Definitely a place I'd go with friends to study anatomy or psychology. I ordered the raspberry cheesecake & hot chocolate. The reason I chose the cheesecake was because it looked good, nice raspberry sauce oozing off the sides of the cake and puddled on plate. We received our cake and it was frozen. I mean I know cheesecake is suppose to be nice and cold but it was so frozen that the raspberry sauce was hard and came off like shards of ice, hard. And the cake was so hard we could barely eat it. With that being said it was good cheesecake but I just couldn't enjoy it because of how hard it was. The hot chocolate was not bad, not awesome. My boyfriend described it as "Hershey syrup poured in milk and microwaved ". I mean Hershey syrup Is good but it wasn't worth the $5.25 I paid and I hoped it would taste better. Overall not a bad experience, just not awesome.
(3)
Madhu M.

I dont think this place is all that amazing as people describe. If you are looking for a place to study with internet - this is not my recommendation. You have to purchase something every 2 hours to have internet. Its a real distraction. Plus they dont have a lot of outlets.
(2)
Kim S.

We made reservations for a large group, especially since it was a Friday night. When we got there a group of high school kids were at our table. When we asked the girl at the counter she realized that they had moved the "reserved" sign. When she went over to ask them to move they gave us stink eye as if we were kicking them out of our reserved table. Strike one. The menu is ok. It would be fine if the food was marketed as is with appropriate prices. A bit pretentious with prices to match. I had the pesto pasta....nothing special. I also had the popular peach iced tea...more like peach juice with a shot of tea. Wayyyy too sweet, I couldn't finish it. Strike two. Service was meh. They were not rude but a few simple niceties would have gone a long way. I.e. telling us that we would have to retrieve our drink but you would bring our food. Or instead of saying "2 peach iced teas" (two different people ordering one each) they could specify that each one is for two different people as to not be confused that someone else could have actually ordered 2. Strike three. The ambiance leaves something to be desired. It appears bigger than it actually is. Tables are very close together. I personally wouldn't study here unless I just wanted other people to think im studying. I do not like listening to idle fake conversations or watch people take and post pictures of themselves with food on fb. In the end I wouldn't go back. It's ashame as I live within walking distance and it would be convenient.
(2)
G. H.

this place is nice and the food is good. Seats are not comfortable and power supply is hardly available... Run out of battery and you are in trouble studying or working on something.... Most horrible Wi-Fi experience in all of Honolulu. Even the staff knows about it but owner won't do anything about it.
(2)
Jaime C.

The only thing I like about this place is that they are 24 hrs and a very big space. After Capital 360 Cafe closed, this place has become my choice of place to study. Places like starbucks and other cafes I find to be small and distracting. The food. There has never been a time when i ordered their different varieties of food that had me at wow. Its just overpriced and doesnt taste up to par with the price. And their food is inconsistent, especially their tomato bisque. I always order their bisque and once it tasted like the chef just dumped a whole bag of sugar, the other time it tasted sour and bitter, and the garnishes are always inconsistent. Today my bf ordered the bisque and it was garnished with parmesan cheese, olive oil and herbs but the last week i cane by, it was just over drizzled with just oil. Overall ill come here to study and order food/drinks bc i need the wifi but this is not a place to dine in my opinion.
(2)
Tina L.

Loved the Asian girl barista. Showed up at 4:30am in the morning because I was on east coast time and wanted a latte and something to eat. Was going to get the fruit cup and she advised against it because it was no longer fresh. Got the granola yogurt parfait at her recommendation and it was delicious, so was the latte.
(4)
Reiko S.

Had lunch today, the soup of the day was onion soup homemade! It was fabulous. My friend had the grilled cheese with bacon and salad. Very flavorful. The drink menu is extensive. We had the peach tea and it was very good. Good location for hanging out and having a snack.
(4)
Winchester A.

Awesome place for tea's or coffee!! Blueberry cheese cake is also awesome!! Just shitty parking though gotta have the patience to wait for someone to leave..
(5)
Mack A.

This cafe boasts that it offers 2 hour internet access and when my internet access went off in 26 minutes I'd gone to the store manager and store manager (wouldn't tell me her name) I had been in the midst of working on extremely important report work for timely engineering report ....and all work had been lost. I got the cold shoulder when I told management about the issue and was offered no apology , Just "this" happens. The timestamp that they handed me was two hours earlier than the actual time when I load it onto the internet. The company's business says you have a two hour time limit when purchasing items at the cafe. Lost tons of important work. Made it sound like it was my fault because maybe "it's my computer" and so I will forward this message via Yelp about customer service and the reaction from the management so everybody knows about the customer service and reply.
(1)
Taryn L.

A coffee shop that is open 24/7? I wish this existed when I was going through school. The first time I tried this place was this past Monday. I didn't have high expectations of the food since I was getting soup and the gyudon from a coffee shop...boy, was I surprised! The soup of the day was cream of mushroom. I love cream of mushroom, but I expected something from a can; however, this soup was most definitely homemade. It was delicious. I wish I got the bread bowl with it. For $6, it was a pretty large serving. The gyudon was delicious too! I was extremely happy that I came here for dinner. I want to go back for the soup and pasta dishes. Parking is kind of hard to come by - they have street parking, as well as a few stalls in the KHON building. I definitely plan on going back for soup in a bread bowl.
(4)
Michael F.

Kissaten is an interesting cafe. Unlike most cafes that might only serve some sandwiches and salads, Kissaten is almost like a restaurant with a lunch and dinner menu (pasta dishes, other entrees). The space is huge, with lots of seating, an ice cream parlor (which I didn't see being used), and a fully equipped kitchen. Unlike most coffee shops and many establishments on the island (which closely EARLY), Kissaten is open 24/7. Lots of outlets for laptops. Great place to study. The combination of restaurant/cafe/study lounge is really a unique concept for me, and I think Kissaten makes it work. It warms my heart to see a student-friendly establishment. Although I am not a student at UH, I have been a student in various cities. In the Bay Area, we have lots of independent coffee shops, each with their own vibe, and great places to study. In San Diego, where I go to school now, there is only cramped Starbucks and Peets. The whole city is unfriendly to students. The only real place to study is the library, your home, or your office, and if those places worked, students wouldn't be seeking coffee shops. As for the quality of food at Kissaten, for simple coffee shop fare, Kissaten does a pretty decent job. I was afraid to order the coffee, as I read some reviews saying that they serve terrible coffee (and I'm picky about it). I ordered an ice matcha latte instead. They put it a good amount of matcha powder, so the latte was bright green. However, it was too sweet. On the menu description, it says the latte is made with matcha, milk, and vanilla. There is the problem--vanilla. Vanilla has no place in matcha latte, just as it has no place in real soymilk. Vanilla has its proper uses, definitely not for masking flavors that should be brought out. A good matcha latte has a grassy, strong tea flavor, maybe even a little floral if the quality of the matcha is good. The matcha I got was sweet and tasted like a green vanilla milkshake, lukewarm. Obviously, the barista just poured hot matcha latte over ice. Iced matcha latte is properly made by blooming the matcha powder in a small amount of hot water and then pouring the matcha shot over iced milk. The other things I had at Kissaten were a tomato bisque, the smoked salmon salad, a mixed greens salad, and a pesto-mushroom pasta. The soup and salad were flavorful. I am impressed that Kissaten dresses its salads properly, meaning a light coating of vinaigrette as opposed to drenching (which seems to be the common practice). Vinaigrette should not smother the greens. It is there to enhance the greens. Kissaten understands this. Kissaten also understands that raw onion slices aren't really palatable, so they pickle them lightly in vinaigrette first before tossing with the salad. Good job! The pasta was nothing special. They skimped on the pesto. Here the scenario is different. Sure, pasta should not be drowned in sauce, but it should have more than just a light coating of sauce. Skimping on the pesto left the pasta a little flavorless. The mushrooms were watery. They needed some good browning to bring out the flavor. I would leave out the cherry tomatoes. They don't really do much besides make the pasta watery. Parmesan cheese was sprinkled on top of the pasta, soup, and salads, but I could tell that it was from a can and not freshly grated. Canned cheese kind of stinks. Despite a few flaws, Kissaten serves some pretty decent food for a coffee shop. The people in there do know a few things about real cooking. I hope that they will consider beefing up the quality of their coffee, starting with serving coffee brewed properly by the cup and not sitting in a tall thermos.
(3)
Stephanie T.

I struggled with giving Kissaten 3 or 4 stars on this review. I have been here several times since they first opened, but my trips have become less and less. They recently remodeled and rearranged the seating to be more accommodating to the large studying crowds that they get in the evenings. I still enjoy coming out here for a late night study because there arent many places that are open 24 hours. If you do come during their busy times they put these reserved signs on the tables that say you have to have a certain number of people to sit there, which can be quite irritating if there are no tables open except for those. So if you plan to come for study time, either get here early or wait till 11:30/1145. If your looking for something to drink, their green tea latte is super. If its eating, their grilled cheese is a great choice.
(4)
Lloyd M.

We were very pleased to find breakfast and coffee in our price range of 10-12 each. Delicious natural ingredient foods and lots of options at the cafe. They were very friendly too!
(5)
Alyssa L.

Great place for studying! Great food to eat and drinks to drink. Free WiFi with a purchase and the ambiance is great.
(5)
Jamila J.

I'm very impressed with the evolution and sustained progress of this little coffee shop. They have added more seating, an ice cream bar, and food is offered 24 hours now. The grilled cheese and tomato bisque is still my favorite, but their specials are always amazing. I'm impressed with the food. To give a little constructive criticism, make sure your soups, Ramen, and pho are HOT. I felt that this was lacking. I like the atmosphere, there's always good music playing, and its not blaring. Parking, especially later at night isn't a problem, street parking, Ala Moana, and the Hawaiki Tower (KHON Building). Again, I'm impressed. I felt at a point they may have an identity crisis, but I think they're growing and paying attention to the feed back they receive here on Yelp and from their consumers. FYI, I'm putting a picture of parking in the tower, because I'm super helpful like that.
(4)
Kana T.

I ordered their cold green tea latte. I felt I could've picked up a green tea packet from Don Quihote, mixed it w water myself to make it taste the same. In addition to that, they handed my friend the wrong drink order (he didn't realize that wasn't what he ordered until he took a sip...at which point he didn't want to bother sending it back) What was worse was the way one of the servers was dressed. Do the managers/owners not care that their worker's ass is showing underneath their short shorts? No one wants to see that, especially from someone her age.
(1)
Amber-Lynn H.

$6 special: Smoked Salmon Salad (regular $10). Soooooo good!!! Mixed greens, bacon, grapefruit, mandarin oranges, parmesan, and a few slivers of smoked salmon. It's great. The bowl of tomato bisque ($5.95) is pretty delish too! So far, I've mustered enough will power to stay away from the cheesecakes calling out to me in the window display. *sigh* This place is really convenient when you finish working out or getting a massage at Island Club and Spa. The salads and desserts are in a grab and go type display with a good amount of hot items, coffees, & teas to order as well.
(4)
Reimi D.

I've been to Kissaten a few times now, the last time being about a week or so ago. It's always the same, somewhat underwhelming. I mean, the decor is nice with all the art work, and it's a student hang out so there are always students looking intently into their laptops. That's cool. The food is alright too, but it's like there is always something missing. It's never a perfect experience. When we were there last they had a sign on their menu indicating that they were serving yakisoba so my hubby asked a question about how it would be served (just a plate of yakisoba?) and the girl behind the counter didn't know so she asked one of the cooks in the back who said that they weren't serving yakisoba. Apparently they forgot to take the sign down. Fine. So my hubby ordered one of their sandwiches only to be told that they're not serving those yet. So he ordered the egg white frittata. I ordered the breakfast burrito. Now mind you, even though there was just the girl working in the front, they weren't busy. So she brought out my hubby's dish first and then about 5-7 minutes later, mine. One of my biggest pet peeves EVER is when our dishes are not brought out at relatively the same time. After she dropped of my dish, instead of going straight back to get the fruit and yogurt that we also ordered to share she let it sit there while she made a detour to wipe down tables and then fidget with the coffee machine. After all of that she decided to bring us our yogurt. I don't understand, it's like she didn't have an understanding of priorities. Their saving grace was that the food was good. The service wasn't rude or anything like that but basic expectations were not met. And lastly, I think it's odd that a 24-hour place like Kissaten doesn't have a set all day/night menu like most places that are open 24 hours. If you're going to be 24 hours, and especially if it's a coffee shop, you should be able to order sandwiches anytime of the day, and the same goes for breakfast. Just my opinion though.
(3)
Courtney Z.

This place is horrible. The owner is extremely rude. Absolutely despicable. Worst of all, there was a roach in my seafood linguini.
(1)
Amanda F.

Love this place! I come here when I want to meet with friends for a late night coffee - but what's great is they also have amazingly delicious food options! I'm not the type that likes to go to the bars and drink, so this is perfect for me. It's open 24hrs! I see a lot of students using this place to study, which is smart too. I love the environment - they even have an ice cream parlor, which I have yet to take advantage of. I also love that they sell local artwork - usually displayed on the walls with artist information and sales prices. I plan to buy some for my new place eventually. The only thing is lack of parking - there are a few stalls available in the parking garage, but I usually park across the street at Ala Moana and walk over. Not too far of a walk at all!
(5)
Nicole M.

open till ... when? always?! how can you beat that. late night studying, after club snack, the options are endless. I can walk here so idk where other people park, but it's a cute little cafe with good amount of seating. I love their iced chai, Italian soda with creme, and my bf loves the tomato bisque bread bowl. did I mention my bf and I met here ? ^_^ so it's a bit of a sentimental spot, but in all honesty, the workers have always been nice and yes prices are a little higher, but it's what I'm used to with little LA coffee shop/lounges.
(4)
Vivian H.

Oh Kissaten, when you first opened you had a whole lot of promise. The short rib loco moco was SOOOO delicious (where did that go??) and the atmosphere the newest study spot. But something happened...something changed it definitely wasn't for the better. I had to schedule a meeting at Kissaten (work from home woes) and after not visiting for awhile, I was a bit taken aback by the many "Reserved" signs on the majority of the tables. The signs basically had a minimum # of people allowed at that table and for "Dining Only". When I had arrived, there wasn't an available table that DIDN'T have that reserved sign and I was meeting two other people. So the only thing I could do was sit at one of those tables seeing that there isn't anyone else there really waiting to "dine" and ordered my drink. When I received my drink, the barista kindly informed me that in case it gets busy and people show up to dine, I'll have to vacate the table. I can't really blame the barista since it wasn't her rule and she was just giving me a heads up. However, if the sign on the outside says coffee shop, it sort of implies a space for people to park themselves for a bit for whatever reason. The other issue I have is with their WiFi use. If you spend less than $5 then you only get 15 minutes of WiFi. And it is tiered from there. I get it, they don't want a bunch of people freeloading off the WiFi for hours on end, but this makes the place uninviting and not one that I would recommend to anyone for a study or meeting location. Thank goodness my company pays for my internet aircard or otherwise I would have 15 minutes to complete my meeting and bolt out of there before they yank my table away and give it to their long line of dining patrons... All in all, it isn't a welcoming spot for anyone needing a place to work/study/meet. There are other options that don't involve paying their WiFi meter-maid in overpriced and mediocre coffee in addition to the metered parking on the street next to them. Honestly, to develop loyal patrons that will give up their (insert mainstream coffee shop name here) to come to your location, you need to build a friendlier and more welcoming environment. Word of mouth will pass a long and pretty soon you won't have to worry about all of those empty "Reserved for Dining Only" tables because then people would WANT to be there for the service and the food. Cuz seriously, you don't pull off the Angry Coffee Shop/Coffee Shop Nazi thing very well.
(2)
Steven H.

Pretty nice find the other day. Decent selection of coffee and food. Seemed to be a hangout for the local creative community with a lot of people working in sketch books or working on their MacBooks.
(3)
Ela M.

Quick and fast - phone order and ready in 5 mins. = Southwest Chicken Salad and Tomato Bisque soup combo. Perfect portion that kept my BF and I satisfied. And major plus.... It's a 2 minute walk / 1 bldg away from my sister'a place.
(4)
Michelle N.

Nice place, larger than I was expecting. There are a few stalls in the parking lot. The last time I went, it took a while to get my matcha latte. Probably between 5 to 10 minutes? That was kinda weird. Otherwise I found the service friendly. The matcha latte was good! Some of the outlets don't work for charging my phone, but I just moved to another outlet and it worked fine. Next time I'll try the tomato bisque!
(4)
Emi L.

One of my favorite places to study! Great atmosphere & good food (though a bit overpriced). The only major drawback is the wifi situation. You have to get a code & password for the wifi from the cashier. It's only good for up to 2 hours (usually), but most workers are nice enough to give you another if your time is up. TIP: the wifi is very, very, very slow when the place is crowded with people studying.. I couldn't even get to a single webpage the other night when it was crowded. I even asked for another code to see if mine was broken or something.. but nope, just too much traffic making the internet slow. I usually come to study here when my workload doesn't require a lot of internet usage. Also, the parking situation isn't the greatest.. sometimes it's hard to find metered street stalls, so I'll have to park in Ala Moana & walk down the ramp which takes a while. I heard there's stalls inside the Hawaiki Tower structure, but they are limited.
(4)
Moli Y.

T-O-M-A-T-O BISQUE!! Just as I type up the review, I can actually feel my mouth salivate and my taste buds ache for this tasty dish! The sweetness, tanginess and savory flavors all blending in so well in one heavenly bowl. And OMG! The grilled cheese!! THE grilled cheese in the combo is too good that you will want seconds! The melty cheddar and smoked Gouda cheese goodness with a twist of bacon and thin sliced Fuji apples! YUM! A must try! Yes, I am being biased, because I do love tomato soup. But if tomato soup is not your cup of tea, Kissaten offer many other tasty dishes that will satisfy your palates! Do keep in mind that their menu changes from time to time, but some of the customer's favorites do remain on the menu board! Prices are on the bit of the higher side, but still affordable. The ambiance is very very casual and well lit to grab a bite to eat while catching up with your friends or catching up for class!
(3)
Kim S.

Discovered this place earlier this year & have visited a few times since. + : Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Melty cheddar & smoked gouda cheeses, bacon thin sliced fuji apples - Just like how I make it, tho apples are too thinly cut to really taste. Tomato Bisque - Creamy bisque topped with parmesan & basil oil - very rich & thick. Chock full of tomato goodness. Pesto Mushroom Pasta - Penne pasta, sauteed mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, parmesan cheese - the chalkboard. Open 24 hours. Central location. A few tables are reserved for people who purchase food. - : Service is inconsistent from nice to incompetent to surly. Guess it depends on when you go & who you get - roll the dice. Desserts in the cases look like they are a from Costco - not freshly made. Beverages are kinda $$ - probably because that's all most people buy to hang out there for the free wifi & electricity. Seating can be a challenge because 1 person will take an entire table to bury themselves in a laptop - not sure why the other laptoppers don't share with each other. They would be able to add non-virtual friends. Lol. #2/31 Yelp Review Challenge
(3)
D H.

HALLELUJAH! The parking gods were with me today! Found a metered stall directly across from the shop so decided with my daughter, that we felt like salad and sandwiches for lunch. Popped 2 quarters in the meter for 40 mins of parking and headed across the street to grab some lunch! Ordered Chicken and Beet Salad, Turkey Pesto Sandwich combo with Tomato Bisque soup, Iced Matcha Latte and Matcha Freeze. Salad was great and filling! Lots of chicken breast thinly sliced with beets, spring mix lettuce, walnuts and a sprinkle of feta. The dressing was very tasty! Two thumbs up!! Sandwich was good according to my daughter. I didn't taste it but TBH for $9.50 I expect MORE sandwich! We added on the bisque which cost an additional $3.50! Pretty pricey of you ask me! Also I swear there was a note that all sandwiches came with a salad BUT no salad! The soup was in the basket next to the little sandwich. Soup tasted like marinara sauce in a bowl. If you had an option to add pasta....then you're good. Otherwise, don't do it! Matcha drinks were meh, just ok. Won't be running back to order this again. Atmosphere - Nice with Art for sale on the walls giving you something to look at. I like that they support local artists. Lots of the customers looked like they were studying or a study group session. Customer Service - Just ok. The girl at the counter was kind of just there. Nothing special. Bring a jacket! It was definitely a hot day so I liked that the AC was on blast however it turned into the arctic real quick making it uncomfortable if you weren't eating or drinking something hot! PS There is free WIFI with a purchase but today it was 'Out of Order'. Overall a so so experience hence the 3 stars. Might be back...since they are open 24 hours.
(3)
Taylor I.

Love the atmosphere and the food! I'm a big fan of their truffle mac and cheese. When I go there with my friend, we always get the southwest chicken salad as well! I go there for drinks. The drinks are not bad but they aren't "WOOOOOW" drinks. I would still say their drinks are good :) I love their hours. Who can beat 24/7? When I want a drink at not past midnight when not even ward Starbucks is open, I can just drop by at Kissaten where there's still people around. Love it!
(5)
Amara E.

Kissaten is an all-in-one establishment; the Walgreens of food, if you will. It caters to a lot of folks who are each looking for something different. If you're looking for a place to study, if you're looking for a late night bite, if you're looking for a cup of joe and a quick sandwich, Kissaten is the place to be. The location is right by Ala Moana, which is ideal for young professionals and townies. Street parking is a little tough to find and metered, but most park in the Ala Moana lot anyway. The inside is relatively spacious and clean. There are sofas you can rest on, chairs and outlets for people with computers and looking to bum off the wifi (included with any purchase as long as you ask for the passcode), and actual tables for dine-in customers. I find a lot of people come here to hang out or do some late night studying. The place is open 24 hours, so it attracts all kinds of people of all different ages. The food is okay. Whatever you order, you can expect it to taste like that. If you order a grilled cheese, it will just be melted cheese and grilled bread. If you order coffee, it will be regular coffee. Simple as that. There are no special sauces or fancy ingredients. As far as food goes, the place lacks a niche. There is no signature coffee or signature dish on their menu. At the same time, I don't think that's what Kissaten is going for anyway. They seem to be going for ease and convenience. There is no other spot in town that is open 24 hours, serves late night food, provides wifi, and has a large enough facility to hold a lot of people. More places like this are sorely needed in town, especially for the night owls! The customer service is decent. The cashiers are friendly and courteous. If you dine in, they will bring your food to your table. However, they have gotten my coffee orders wrong before, but they are more than willing to correct it. The food sometimes takes a while to come out. On busy nights, expect to wait. Overall, the place is decent, thus the 3 stars. There isn't anything compelling enough on their menu that makes me want to dine here. However, it is a good place to hang with friends and a good fallback when your restaurant of choice is closed or packed.
(3)
Kaileen Y.

Since working at Ala Moana, I've frequented Kissaten quite a few times now. Makes sense, since it's like right there! I have one word for this coffee shop -- GENIUS!!! Like, seriously. So, currently I'm the Duchess of The Curb and I have once made a promise to stay faithful to those lovely barista friends of mine. But....I think I'm in a coffee shop affair with Kissaten, and at this rate, they are incredibly close to tipping the meter for my love (if they haven't already). I mean, c'mon! How could you NOT love Kissaten??? Everything is just PURE GENIUS. I mean, A 24-HOUR COFFEE BAR WITH AN ADDITIONAL ICE CREAM BAR, WHOSE NAME IN JAPANESE LITERALLY MEANS 'COFFEE SHOP'?!?!!!! HELLO. What?? Kissaten Melt. Omg. Smoked Salmon Salad. Yes. Tomato Bisque and Grilled Cheese. To die for. &&& Thaiiiii Tea. Omfg, YES. Yep, it's definitely an affair...
(5)
Jordan S.

An awesome coffee shop that is open 24/7. They have the standard coffee and tea options (hot, iced, blended, etc.) As well as some smoothies, an ice cream bar and a smallish menu of entrÃ©es. The Kissaten Melt is one of the better pastrami sandwiches ive had in a while (although a little light on meat). The staff is also really friendly and quick. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Tracey M.

Located across from Nijiya market and on the corner of the KHON2 building sits Kissaten. Now what is a Kissaten you might wonder? It's labeled as a 24 hour coffee shop, but from my experience it's much more than that. First off, what coffee shop serves you truffle mac and cheese? Pesto mushroom pasta? Potato Leek Soup?! If you find me another coffee shop that does this then please inform me immediately. Also, not only do they serve food but the food is actually DELICIOUS. Plus they don't only offer coffee, they have italian sodas, frozen lemonade, and lots of yummy teas too! Secondly, there's always amazing art hanging up for sale. From what I've seen, it's always from talented local artists which gives this place another big thumbs up. And the last thing I really like is how spacious this place is. There are a ton of tables and I've never had a problem finding a place to sit, happens a lot with other coffee shops. I wouldn't say this is the best place to study though, unless you don't mind people chatting next to you. It'll be a good meeting place to talk about ideas or study in a group, but if you're like me and enjoy quiet places to study alone then this isn't really the place for that. There is parking available in the KHON2 building but there are limited stalls. Make sure you park in the correct stalls marked for Kissaten! There's also street parking available :)
(4)
Ryan Y.

Kissaten is an excellent place to get my work done, drink some pretty coffee, and eat some cheaper, lighter, and delicious food! I gone here only once before (back in 2011), but I only ordered an "Italian" soda. The environment is nice. The staff is awesome. Did I mention that the consumables are really good and worth the $$$. I think the wi-fi limit is great! It keeps the folks who sit on their computers all day and suck up bandwidth from watching Netflix or playing MMOs out of here. This is advantageous for those of us who want to get work done, or just chill and surf for a quick-bit. Best of all, its a 24 Hour establishment! A few gripes: parking is terrible. Now that Ala Moana's ground-level parking is demolished, you either need to park further into the shopping center, compete with KHON and condo residents (with whatever little parking spots they provide), or find parking on the street. The other gripe may just apply to me and my Surface Pro, but the wi-fi can be intermittent at times. Sometimes, I lose connection when accessing sites such as UH Portal sites. Again, I'm not sure if that's the case for all computers, but I sure notice it. Other than that, great place! I need to make a better effort to come back here.
(4)
Diane K.

I had the grilled cheese and tomato bisque combo. VERY filling. I was full after half a sandwich, but just couldn't stop eating. I didn't even bother to dust the toasted bread crumbs off my chest between bites. Gluttony. Everything on the menu was quite enticing and I look forward to trying them ALL.
(4)
Nathan N.

Time to update my review of Kissaten Coffee Bar. As you folks can see I've checked in four times. I've given it more than one chance to redeem itself, but it keeps falling short on the food. But, I will give a compliment to the hard working girls up front. I was going to originally write up more about Kissaten, but I decided to be the "better man" and not talk about a point of contention dealing with privacy and legality issues. I'm sure those of you who read this and are in the loop, will know what I'm referring to. Look if someone writes a bad review, I don't understand why people can't take it as a hint to improve. Is it because of pride? I'm not making a personal attack on Kissaten. Everyone has their own personal taste and take on things.
(1)
Tasha T.

Ambience is perfect for late-night studying and enjoying good company!
(5)
Suzanne T.

I work around the corner and have been here many times because of the convenience factor. Majority of the times the service has been acceptable (not great, but not awful). Once they lost my order (turkey pesto sandwich). I followed-up two or three times and they said it was coming, but after 30 minutes I asked the manager (?) and she apologized and admitted that it had been lost. She suggested that I call in my order the next time and gave me a free dessert. Hrmph. Okay then. You're forgiven. This time... Once I ordered a salad and a french onion soup (on special) and found a long piece of plastic (I think it was from the wrapper of the cheese). The owner offered to replace it, but it had taken so long to arrive that my coworkers were already almost done with their meals. I told him I'd just eat my salad, but he insisted on bringing something else, so he brought another item that was on special (some kind of fish, which was really good and my coworkers devoured it for me in like two minutes!) Here are some of the other memorable dishes: - Tomato bisque soup: This is good, but to me it's so thick it's almost like a marinara sauce. Good to dip your grilled cheese into, but I don't really like it as a soup. - Kissaten House Salad: Good, not remarkable. Contains some bitter greens, which I don't like. Dressing is all right, just a simple balsamic shoyu. - Grilled cheese: I like the addition of the apples and bacon, but sometimes the bread is super hard and sharp (like scratch-up-the-roof-of-your-mouth kine sharp!). - Turkey pesto melt sandwich: My go-to favorite. Always yummy. I wish they had fries though - sometimes I'm tired of their house salad and I don't care for the chips. - Kissaten melt: It's good, but I'm just not a big fan of pastrami. My coworkers get this a lot. - Breakfast burrito: Pretty good, but served with a side salad, which is just very weird at 7am. A friend once ordered a pasta that was on special - mushrooms with a shoyu sauce and he loved it so much he was practically licking the empty bowl! Definitely check out the specials if you're there early (they run out of the good stuff quickly). I want to try their truffle mac and cheese, but they've been out every time I'm feeling up for that decadence. Someday...
(3)
Sheetal R.

After the rain ruined our perfectly good afternoon of pool times and gossipping, we decided to have an afternoon tea time. It's located in the same building as KHON news channel on Piikoi street. The parking for the place seems to be on the street or you could just park at the mall and walk on over. It was fairly busy at 3 in the afternoon on Wednesday. It seemed like many college students decided to make this the new hangout place. There were so many drinks and food choices, but my mouth wouldn't stop watering when it saw the cheese crumb cake. It's the perfect afternoon when there's the noise of the rain on the window, some peach iced tea, and having a snack of some toasted cheese crumb cake. Never will I have crumb cake unless its toasted. With some good conversation and some good snacks, it's hard to make it wrong. The service is impeccable. Our cashier brought our food to us and was extremely helpful and friendly. She seemed like she genuinely enjoyed her job and how can you not when you work at Kissaten. I plan on coming here and exploring the menu a bit more. My perfect afternoon is sealed with a KISSaten.
(5)
John C.

This is the only cafe that I know of that's open 24/7. The most expensive drinks are fruit smoothies and large coffees, which is $5.00. They offer food here too. you can order pho in the early morning if you want. Other than that, there's sandwiches, wraps, and soup. I had the tomato bisque which was a little too salty for me but with the veggie wrap dipped in, it was a good combo for me. The temperature is perfect for me. Not too cold like the Starbucks on Ward Ave. I think most of the seats are stools which aren't as comfortable is chairs but I think it's alright for most people. You have to ask for internet access. I believe the code is good for 2 hours but they might have given me just a code for just 1 hour before. I'll have to order more food from them so that I can give a more accurate rating.
(4)
Mark S.

Bacon turkey sandwich with tomato bisque is an awesome combo!
(4)
Jed A.

This is a great place to do some late studying or work. The food is really good (my favorite is the grilled cheese with grilled apple slices inside and a tomato bisque). Only things I don't enjoy are staff at certain times of the day seem grumpier than others and they only give you an hour of wifi with your purchase so don't use it until you absolutely have to. I started my wifi not realizing that it was only an hour and when I needed to send an important file it was too late :(
(3)
Niccolo G.

I always enjoy coming to this place. Perfect for any time of day, Kissaten is the place to be to study, have a cup of coffee, or just to hang out. Kissaten has ample seating with electrical outlets everuwhere, with 2 hours of wifi with purchase if the need arises. Also, Kissaten features different works of art monthly, so it's worth a look! Speaking of purchases, the drinks are great, ranging from an assortment of coffee, tea, blended and specialty drinks. My favorite is the Caramella. Food is made in house, from sandwiches and salads to things like pasta and ramen. There are daily specials, with a late night menu after 10pm. My choices to eat here would be the grilled cheese with tomato bisque, truffle mac and cheese or the gyudon! There's also an ice cream parlor too! Since it is open 24 hours, sometimes I chill here after work since I get off at midnight, waiting for the bus. The staff is very friendly, and the overall feel of the place is a very chill one. All in all, visit this place if you haven't done so!
(4)
Angela C.

Nice and clean environment with wifi to study or hang out with a friend. Their tomato bisque must have some kind of crack in it because it is SO FREAKING GOOD!!!! The server/cashier when I went (Tues afternoon) was so friendly and sweet. They play good music (top 40's) AND had ESPN playing on what I believe is their only TV. So legit. My new favorite spot! tip--I parked across the street where they have Eggs N' Things.
(5)
Marcia L.

I like it! Very modern cafe. Hawaii needs more of these. Wifi is available with purchase for up to 2 hours and the username and password is printed on your receipt. I ordered a latte macchiato, nothing special just a standard macchiato, but the cashier/barista made sure to give me all my options for syrup and drizzles, which is nice and they don't do that at Starbucks. Parking is a bit bad now that the nearest Ala Moana lot is closed for the construction of Bloomingdales. You can still park on the second floor up the ramp and walk over.
(4)
Teresa L.

So I finally got to try this place after hearing about their awesome food and hours. How it works: go up to the counter to order, pay, ask for wifi, and take a number. Pick a table to sit on and display your number so it will get delivered to you. Wifi lasts 2 hours. This place is open 24/7 so if you ever need a late night study spot on the weekend, this place is perfect. Outlets are located on the walls of the coffee shop. Service was alright. The workers seemed to be a bit snobby and semi forgetful. Not as friendly as I hope. I tried the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. It reminded me of eating pizza sauce. I found it unusual. Parking: You can park nijiya market parking lot, they have 4 spots in the KHON parking structure, metered street parking, or also the new parking structure in ward is not so far away.
(3)
Joanna L.

As I filled out yet another stamp card, I realized Kissaten is quickly becoming one of my favorite places. The best parts about this place is it's 24 hours and the tomato bisque! Oh man, tomato bisque... *distant dreamy eyes* And back to reality... The parking lot was a little tricky. First, I thought it was the ramp on Waimanu, but it's actually the one on Piikoi facing Ala Moana. Then, once inside, they have 6 stalls and it took me til last night to finally realize where their last stall is. All I can say is... Finally!! However, there's also street parking and during the day, my friends prefer to park at Ala Moana and walk over. I love the atmosphere. The decor is pleasant. There is a variety of tables to choose from inside. Whether you choose to sit at a high table, regular table, or at the couch, they're all very comfy! They play music such as Matt Nathanson and Jason Mraz. My recommendations for food... Tomato Bisque - I haven't found one better. Anywhere. Seriously, it's seriously good. (So good I can't make myself try a different soup in fear it's not gonna be as good.) Truffle Mac & Cheese - That's right, I said truffle... :D Vanilla Cream Roll - It's simple, light, and just perfect. Italian Cream Soda - My favorite flavors so far have been watermelon and green apple. Definitely remember to check out their daily specials! I ordered their Shrimp Salad Sandwich that was a special and it was pretty awesome! I would stay away from... Strawberry Frappe - It was basically a strawberry milk smoothie. Turkey Pesto Melt - The mayo distracts from the small amount of pesto and you can easily find better elsewhere. Sadly disappointing.
(4)
Amy G.

Came here for the first time with a friend to eat. been here before but only for drinks which were ok, nothing i'd go out of my way to have. we shared the turkey pesto sandwich and the vegetable risotto. the sandwich was pretty good. a little light on the pesto, but the bacon made up for it. wish there was more pesto, or the flavor was a bit stronger though. I did love the bread they used. the vegetable risotto was disappointing though. when it came out, i was disappointed to start with. it was so SMALL. something i'd feed my 5 year old cousin and make them finish. that was disappointment #1. #2 came when the only other thing then the risotto was mushrooms. when i'm told its vegetables, i expect vegetables. at least add some carrots or just something. the menu had said seasonal vegetables so i was expecting a little more than just mushrooms b/c if that was the case, just name it MUSHROOM RISOTTO. common sense, no? #3, it was kinda bland. rice wasn't soft either. makes that 4, right? anyways, i'll go back to AnyTime Cafe for their risotto from now on. waste of my $9.
(3)
Kelli S.

Located across the street from Ala Moana, Kissaten is known for its 24/7 operating hours (great hub for college students pulling all-nighters) and coffee menu. I've only been to Kissaten for lunch several times, but since it was for an early lunch, I had no problem getting a table and enjoyed quick service every time. Kissaten is pretty small (at least, from the last time I visited the cafÃ©), but since it's conveniently located right across from Ala Moana, I've just parked at the shopping center and walked over. I haven't tried any of the items on the breakfast or late-night menus, but I've definitely found my favorites from this hip, modern cafÃ©. Kissaten reminds me of a local Panera Bread (except its specialty is coffee). The cafÃ© features a more modern twist on classic sandwiches and salads, and though some of the entrÃ©es (the mac & cheese) might be a bit pricier, the cost is worth the featured flavors and great taste. Here are some of my recommendations for dining at Kissaten: "Turkey Pesto Melt": This warm panini-esque meal features some of my favorite sandwich components! It includes sliced turkey breast, bacon, mozzarella and pesto aioli in between pieces of grilled focaccia bread. I loved the smoky flavors of the turkey breast paired with the savory bacon, and pesto has to be one of my favorite spreads. The crispy crunch of the cheesy focaccia exterior was delightful, and I would order this sandwich again in a heartbeat. All sandwiches come with your choice of a spring green salad with balsamic soy dressing or chips (I chose the chips just because I don't like spring greens mixes, when it comes to salad. Romaine all the way!). "Truffle Mac & Cheese": Kissaten's take on this kiddie classic is absolutely phenomenal! Once I read about it in "Dining Out," I simply had to try it. This more gourmet mac & cheese features aged white Cheddar, roasted chicken breast and truffle oil, and it's topped with crispy bacon and torched breadcrumbs. Yes, the mac & cheese might be pricier than some of the other items on the menu, but if you're a mac & cheese lover and you haven't ordered this dish yet, it's worth trying. I love how Kissaten uses white Cheddar for this dish, and I'm definitely a fan of truffle oil. The chicken and bacon chunks provide additional textures and flavors, and the torched breadcrumb bits deliver the perfect finishing touch. Definitely a toothsome treat for any mac & cheese fanatic. "Grilled Cheese Sandwich": I'm usually the first to try the "Grilled Cheese" option at any restaurant, but I haven't had a chance to try Kissaten's famous version yet. It features a modernized twist on the traditional grilled cheese, as this sandwich encompasses bacon, melted Cheddar and smoked Gouda cheeses and thin, Fuji apple slices. I'm not sure how I feel about apples in my grilled cheese, but I've heard so many great comments about this grilled cheese, so I'm sure the slightly sweet-and-salty combo must be a winner.
(5)
Austin O.

Muy Bueno! :D excellent Food and definitely recommend it for any teens who want a cool place to study!
(5)
Shantel K.

I love the fact that this establishment is clean and safe feeling for a 24 hour restaurant. The food is delicious!!!!!!. Ive been here many times with friends to study and its a nice enviorment. Lots of tables. Nice art that are for sale. And the workers are very nice. Perfect place for night time craving.
(5)
Rachel S.

Their turkey pesto sandwich is just absolutely amazing. And their salads are pretty fantastic soon. The only reason why I enjoy coming to this cafe is because I need somewhere to study when Sinclair isn't open. It's a 24 hour cafe that has food, pretty good. However, you need to purchase something in order to get 2 hours of wifi. What happens when those 2 hours are up? You need to purchase something else. So if you plan on spending a good while there, I suggest you bring your own means of wifi. Another downside about this cafe is, WHERE CAN I FIND AN OUTLET?! There's not too many areas that have an outlet readily available when my laptop is dying. Another thing, YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINKS. If you have an empty can, they will come up to you and ask you to throw it away. Even if it's empty. It's happened to me. You aren't even allowed to have your hydroflask out. Jeez. I bought $10 worth of your food and can't even have an empty can on the table? My god. The only reason why I continue to come to this place is because its 24 hours and I need a place to study. If somewhere else was open with 24 hours and weren't so anal about petty things, I would definitely choose that place over Kissaten ANY DAY.
(2)
Anna T.

Love this coffee bar!!! Best tea latte and everything tastes delicious. Great atmosphere to hang out and study/work.
(5)
Kanya G.

The good: - 24-hr cafe -- can't find that anywhere else on Oahu - Great place to study/hang out late at night, although very crowded during finals - Good variety of coffee/drinks/desserts - Pretty good/decent food - Lots of seats/booths - Rewards system-- $10 certificate after spending a certain amount The bad: - PARKING. Only a few garage stalls or find street parking. - A little pricy (which I think is understandable since it is open 24 hrs) - Limited wi-fi access (few hours with purchase) - Customer service Overall, you really can't beat the hours at this place... I've come here to study for long hours or hang out after a late night with friends (what else is open at 1 AM?). I love some of the salads, sandwiches and the tomato bisque here. The occasional bad service and limited wi-fi stick out for me... and parking, most of the time, prevents me from coming here, unless I find a rare parking spot!
(3)
Justin C.

There is no kissaten here! Slight mistake.. The real one is near ala Moana in the hawaiiki tower.. That one is on piikoi street with tons of free parking on the street and in the building. Don't come to the one in Manoa.. It actually leads you to a house. And it would be a waste of a drive.
(1)
Shelly N.

Really, the best thing about this place is that it's open 24 hours! I always found this hard to believe! I studied here with a group of colleagues for an exam. We thought it was a convenient location for all of us, had a good amount of seating, and food available for anyone to order because we studied around dinner time. It helps that there's other activity going on here, so you can talk above a whisper and not feel bad (compared to a library). The hard part is the parking. I can't really say much about the food because I haven't actually ordered food here much, but I got a delicious peach iced tea. Highly recommend it!
(4)
Faye T.

Ah Kissaten. Whenever there is studying to be done, I'm usually found at either starbucks or here. If I'm hungry and need to get some studying done, then Kissaten is always my choice. It's a 24 hour cafe (thank gawd) which is a major plus because us hardcore study people (or procrastinators, hehe) need a place that is open beyond 11 or midnight. It's also a major plus since I generally go from school to work and get out of work with usually no where to go. :( Anyway, the atmosphere is awesome. Cool decor, lots of seats (and different types of seats). There aren't as many outlets as there could be, but it still doesnt bring down my opinion about this place. Their food is great! I especially like their sandwiches (Kissaten melt!= melts my heart ^__^) and soups. Their mac and cheese is alright, but their soup (potato leek or tomato bisque) is a good pair with the sandwiches (my favorite: kissaten melt. . My boyfriend has also had their salad before as well, and it was good. Now it's important to note that their menu does change and is time dependent. They have a breakfast menu (i think it's until 11a) that has some omelettes, a breakfast sandwich, yadda yadda. Their lunch menu is even better but I'll let you find that out for yourselves. The late night menu doesn't have much, but at least has yummy stuff like udon and sandwiches. Customer service is awesome. They keep the place clean and are friendly. There was one time when they forgot my boyfriend's food, and gave him a cheesecake as compensation. We were more than happy with that :) Cons: You need to get something in order to get wifi. Make sure to ask for it though; sometimes they forget to ask if you need it. You get two hours if youre sitting on a counter, and an hour if youre sitting on the tables. Parking kind of sucks. You can do street parking (you need to pay the meter, M-Sat between ~8a (?)- 6p (Free street parking on Sundays!) which is right up front but these go pretty quick. Or you can park in the KHON building parking lot, which is right around the corner from kissaten. There are literally only 5 stalls assigned for Kissaten customers during the day time, and theyre marked. During 10p-7a, more stalls are free to be used on the left side when you enter.
(4)
Aubry A.

This place is alright. I like it, but don't at the same time. Yeah, it's a good place to hangout and do homework. They have good food especially the pesto panini, and a wide variety of drinks. Only thing is the wifi is limited. You have to buy something to get wifi here. Plus it's really slow!!! Everyone here is trying to turn in work online, and my computer lags badly!!! Parking sucks too. I don't really know what to say about this place. It's a good place that has many flaws. I've only been here in the evening, so I'm not sure if it's exactly the same during the day.
(3)
Alena B.

Awesome food!!! This place was pretty hard to find and the parking was even harder (hence 4 starts instead of five) but it was worth it! I had the Kissan melt and it was delicious. The set up is great and the atmosphere is soft and inviting. They also have an ice cream bar! I would definetly recommend coming in here at least once.
(4)
Jill N.

Went with a friend for lunch today for a business meeting. First of all, you have a place called "kissaten" which means "coffee/tea shop" in Japanese, yet, nothing about what you serve is Japanese-y? Nothing that affects the way I review this place, but hmm, just food for thought. Moving on...! Based on my experience today alone: Food Quality - C Price - C Ambiance - A Customer Service - B Location - C (if you can find parking) We ordered the grilled cheese $6.50 - nothing special. one slice of cheese, couple strips of bacon, apple slivers. I got mines without apple cause i'm not a fan of that sweet/savory bizz. Very thin sandwich. and added a cup of tomato bisque +$3.50 - pretty pricey as an "add-on", if you ask me - olive oil drizzle and parmesan cheese garnish. way too sweet for my taste buds. Eek, no thanks. Overall, thought the menu was pretty pricey for what you actually get. Noticed that their other grilled sandwiches were $9.50. Parking sucks. They have only about 5 dedicated stalls in the KHON building - all were taken today at 1:15pm and no street parking available. We thought we'd be missing the potential lunch crowd, but I guess not. Noticed from when we walked in then left about an hour and a half later, only about 2 tables came and left. Everyone else hangs out for quite awhile, so turn-over is slow here. We had to park in Ala Moana (which is really crazy now since all the construction is going on and there's very minimal parking) and make the trek over. :( Supposedly they have WiFi if you purchase something - but we weren't given a code or anything. I guess you ask for it?... Pros to this place was the cleanliness and option to stay as long as you please. They're also open 24 hours, so that's always as plus! The atmosphere was perfs for us because we were on a business meeting, but coming for lunch isn't really ideal. I wasn't too fond of the food but I'll remember to keep this place in mind when I'm looking for a late-night gossip session over a latte!
(3)
Krizia Faith M.

The workers here esp the girls are super sassy..... It would be my part to give some sass back but I held back. The food here is pretty delicious though but I've only ever tried the pesto mushroom pasta and the tomato bisque & grilled cheese, but I'm hoping to try other things next time. I normally come here to do some studying & hw but this is not my ideal place to go to. I'd rather go to Sinclair or some other place that doesn't kick us out after a certain amount of time. It sucks how you have to buy something to use their wifi too, while you don't have to at other places. It's always super busy with lots of other college students so you can never really expect to find a seat right away sometimes. Parking is a bitch at their structure because only 4 or 5 parking stalls are reserved for Kissaten, so street parking is your second option.
(3)
Jamie P.

Food: ---Tomato Bisque: dabomb.com ---Sandwiches: Definitely overpriced for the quality. ---Pesto Mushroom Pasta: Do you like undercooked pasta? Drinks: ---Peach tea: Very good. ---Chocolate Milano Latte w/ soy: Quite good. Pros: Decent place to study. Con: Parking. Lighting.
(4)
Shannon W.

It feels like they spray pepper spray in the air. Can't even open my eyes it hurts so bad
(2)
Grace L.

Everyone has said that kissaten is a great place to study so I decided to check it out for the study environment and I thought it would be a good chance to try the food. First of all, the parking here is horrendous so I don't know how or why people would choose to come here. I parked at alamoana and walked over with all my study stuff. Minus one star. I ordered an iced coffee along with the grilled cheese sandwich. The coffee was standard, nothing special and the grilled cheese was definitely something I could make at home. Minus one star. Let's talk service now. Minus two stars. 1. The girl who delivered our food literally plopped the food down on the table and grumpily walked away. Maybe you had a bad day, which is fine. But you shouldn't be on the verge of throwing a tantrum in front of the customers. 2. We had all of our study materials out on the table before the food was delivered. It was our first time there so we didn't know that you weren't supposed to sit on those low tables to study till after 10 pm. I saw the "reserved" signs but there wasn't one on the table we choose so how we're we supposed to know that? 2 hours after we got there, OVER an hour after we finished eating an employee came over to tell us that we're not supposed to sit here if we're studying, even though we ate earlier. You know we were studying before the food even came out, it didn't occur you to mention this to us earlier while you were giving us the food? Then we could have scoped out a table to move to before it got super busy. Not to mention I thought the comment in itself was a bit snarky and could have been handled better. We thought about moving to another table but decided to leave because I was already annoyed. Maybe this establishment should do better on training for customer service. And on top of all of that, all the people who told me that this is a great place to study LIED. Straight up, all of you folks lied to me. It was super ridiculously noisy and the music playing was alternative punk rock. You may be able to study here if you are doing stuff other than reading. If you need to read and focus on what you're reading, you will literally DROWN in the background noise. I spent 2 hours reading 12 problems. I should be reading 25 problems in 35 minutes. Aka I tried to study and failed miserably. Also the food is mediocre at best. Will not return.
(1)
Hervick R.

Tomato bisque is a must try! Grilled cheese was kinda dry but still tasted good. The Internet is a little slow from what I'm used to at home so I ended up using my cellphone's hotspot. And good luck finding a parking!
(4)
Paul C.

The food and coffee here is not great. Don't order the Pho - it's terrible. There's also limited parking, Chairs a kinda uncomfortable plastic chairs, and I don't particularly like the ambiance. Not super clean or all that classy. Overall, basically kind of a typical local asian style coffee/teahouse. It is definitely not Japanese, like it's name might suggest, but more typical of something you might find in Taiwan or China. However it's open 24 hours and that's the redeeming quality as a late night study spot. I wouldn't really want to hang out here too long though, I find sitting at the tables slightly fatiguing, same as the somewhat crowded area. I also don't really like the order at the counter and take a number service system. But if you need a place in town to sit down, where you can get some food,
(3)
C H.

I've tried lunch here 3 different times but each time it's a fail. Their menu choices look great but the end result isn't much. The wait for food is so irritating. I have been here once when it was relatively busy and twice when it's dead. Each time the wait is long. Really long but unfortunately it's not the worst part. The worst part is the staff. One girl behind the counter seems annoyed by her job and with my relatively simple order. She doesn't know the menu and doesn't ever clarify what side choice you want... It's almost uncomfortable to order from her. I came here with hopes of finding a good lunch place based on proximity to my schedule but this is a major fail. I would give it lower starts but I have hopes it could somehow be improved. I would definitely start with staff. Maybe people who actually want the job?
(3)
Brianna K.

Four stars is probably a little more on the generous side for Kissaten... but any place that puts 4 shots of espresso in a latte will win me over in the end.. I think my first experience would have been more enjoyable if I could've found the goddamn place without getting lost and without having walk through creep empty hallways at 2am. I circled the block once and after seeing several different parking structures I decided to park in the closest one (I believe it was an apartment on Waimanu St). After getting my coffee and getting all settled with my homework, the building attendant told me that I needed to move my car -____- So I packed up all my stuff, drove my car to the KHON parking structure on Piikoi where there are a few designated Kissaten customer stalls. Then I proceeded to waste about 5 minutes walking through a freaking maze of hallways that led me to nowhere :) ANYWAYS, 20 minutes later, here I am with my now warm Iced Thai Latte, not doing my homework, and writing a yelp review instead! Long story short, park in the KHON parking lot, regardless of the fact that it say "KHON PARKING ONLY." KHON is just trying to deceive us all as usual....hah Like I said, the large espresso beverages have 4 shots which is always nice. Let's be honest, 2 shots of espresso is child's play!!! Prices are very reasonable as well! And the fact that Kissaten is 24 hours is obviously a bonus considering most of Oahu is pretty much a ghost town after 9pm. Love the vibe and decor inside the cafe. We definitely need more places like this on the island. I will most likely return for late night study (aka procrastination) sessions but doubt I would come during the day. I wouldn't fight Honolulu traffic for the best latte on the planet...
(4)
Philip T.

I don't get the popularity of this place the food was just okay the salad wasn't anything special and the tomato soup was not anything special. It's probably good for students for late-night and KHON personnel where you can sit around and relax and connect to the Internet. I came here because of a promotion for about three times and I felt the same all three times.
(2)
Greg B.

I would use a metaphor but there would be no point. The waffle was superb. It was quite excellent. I believe this is the first time that I have said no to coffee. It was late at night. But the banana shake was excellent and then the Belgian waffle got my attention in a snap. It was so very lovely. I would go on but it is truly a wonder that this place is 24 hours. It reminds me of a nice oasis in Ala Moana area. Wait a minute - it is. It's great!
(5)
Al D.

Big space. Some parking available in the structure off Piikoi. Seating is not comfortable here. I had the grilled cheese and tomato soup combo. It was just ok. The soup was too salty. And the bread for the sandwich tasted old and dry. The sanwich could've used more bacon and cheese. The free wifi is only good for 2 hrs. I might return but this would not be my first choice
(3)
Claudia M.

Walked into the cafe and there were many people on the lap tops with a drink by their side. Tjhey have free wi-fi. We went for dinner. I had the penne pasta with mushroom. I was disappointed because it was my first time and with all the hype I've read, I expected a delicious dinner. It was just penne pasta with mushroom, very plain and nothing fabulous about this dish. I heard the salads are delicious. If I ever go back, I will definitely try the salad.
(2)
Crystal L.

It's a hidden cafe near Ala Moana which takes quite an effort to find. Inside is very spacious, cool, and attractive. Their food is pricey unfortunately. I stopped by in the morning and it wasn't busy. I ordered a matcha latte, breakfast burrito, and homemade granola. It came out to $18 when I was supposed to be charged $15.75. The lady at the cashier didn't know that you're suppose to subtract money when you don't want milk with your granola. I told her it said on the menu below. Apparently, her manager didn't let her know about it. The food is okay, but I'll probably come back again to try out their lunch menu. Oh! And if you're in a rush, I'd recommend taking a seat. It took about 30 mins for my food to come out and I had to run to the bus stop to avoid being late.
(3)
Ronald L.

Open 24/7 with free parking in the Hawaiki Tower it's a nice coffee bar that offers good desserts and a few hot food items. The decor is modern and the staff friendly and helpful. It's a nice place to just relax and unwind. Prices are fairly reasonable. I had gotten a pastrami melt with a side of chips for under $10. A nice alternative to the eateries in the area.
(4)
Briana Y.

I love that this place is open 24 hours. It was the only place near me that I could get to quickly at 5 am.
(4)
Bonnie H.

At the wee hours of the am it's nice to get a latte and some nice desserts and/or comfort food. For availability and atmosphere I give this place 4 stars. The cheesecake is a bit heavy. But still yummy. And the prices are reasonable
(4)
Josie C.

I finally got a chance to try this place and with good reason. My exam was coming up and my classmate and I needed somewhere to study. I walk in and there were two sections of this establishment. You have the first area which is the "study" area equipped with high square tables and high stools. To the left is the dining area which had the regular longer tables and more comfortable soft chairs. All the tables in the "dining" area had a "reserved" sign on them. I asked the host if I could sit there since we had a lot of books and he told me it was for people dining in. I informed him that we were dining in and will also be studying. Then he graciously told me, "sorry, no, you can't sit there". I was a little disappointed. So I went on a high stool and started to arrange all of my 6 books on the table. My friend later arrived with her 6 books and we made do with whatever space we had. Before we started our study session, we both ordered their beef pho. It was good but the noodles to me seemed a little soggy. It was more of the thicker rice noodle, not the thin ones that I'm normally used to. Their peach iced tea was delicious and it even had 3 slices of peaches on the bottom of the cup. Nice! Then after 5hrs of studying, we ordered the bread pudding ala mode. It was right on! The bread pudding was warm and moist. And the ice cream just made it more delicious! Unfortunately, I was still bothered at the fact that I couldn't sit at the regular tables. Especially since as the night progressed, gamers and card players ended up occupying those tables the entire evening. And all they ordered was drinks. (Sad face) Nonetheless, it was still a good study session. I just don't know if I'll go back. If I do, it'll be for the peach iced tea ;)
(3)
Sheila K.

Great place for a light lunch or caffeine jolt. Quiet space to work with wifi. Ono specials & my favorite bisque
(5)
Reid K.

I still don't know what Kissaten means and I've visited many times now. No matter because they could call it "No Free Wi-Fi" and I would still come back for more ;) It's really interesting that there aren't more 24 hour cafes here, especially since there will always be students studying year-round. It's a niche that I'm glad Kissaten stepped up to fill. In the beginning, I wasn't sure how they made money staying open 24/7, since students probably tend not to spend much. Maybe that's why the WiFi isn't free :( Regardless, I forgot how much I loved Kissaten till I went back recently. The grilled cheese (prosciutto + apples = yum!) tomato bisque combo ($10) is to die for. The ambiance is soothing (sounds like they raided my Spotify playlist!) and conducive to getting stuff done. The cafe drinks are adequate in quality and price, but I like that they have a better variety than Starbucks. Like any popular hangout/study-out, the Kissaten experience suffers during peak times (i.e. midterm and finals week). The parking situation is insufferable--street parking is inadequate, Ala Moana parking is technically not allowed and forget about parking at KHON! Tables can also be hard to come by. There are a lot of tables/bar seats, but the limitless hours means people can stay as long as they want, and they do. It's too hard to look past those shortcomings so I had to deduct a star. Overall, you can't get much better than Kissaten, especially for night owls and procrastinating students like me ;)
(4)
Vivian L.

Twenty-four hours, seven days a week...I might as well live here if I can stow a bed away behind the cashier counter! Kissaten (literally "tearoom" in Japanese) is a great hangout and casual date spot on the corner of the KHON2 building across from Ala Moana Shopping Center. As I mentioned earlier, they're opened 24 hours so The Boyfriend and I go there after midnight and stay until 2 a.m. We've had a few emergency study days, and Kissaten provides free Wi-Fi. It's Wi-Fi by the hour, so that's the only frustrating thing about studying there. Food, drinks, and service-wise, Kissaten provides a small but delectable selection. I enjoy their grilled cheese sandwich. It has cheddar and smoked gouda cheese, bacon, and thinly sliced Fuji apples--an amazing combination of flavors. My boyfriend likes pho, so we've tried theirs also. The noodles are a little different, and the flavors aren't exactly the same as pho from Vietnamese restaurants. They do give a lot of noodles, though! It's a popular dish on their late-night menu. Yes! Kissaten has an early morning and late-night menu. I've yet to try any of their breakfast menu items, but I suggest sticking to the grilled cheese before the late-night menu begins. I like the salad that comes with the grilled cheese, but once that overnight menu is out your grilled cheese is paired with a bag of chips. Of course the prices are lower, but I'd prefer not getting Cheetos with my grilled cheese sandwich. I do love their little ice cream parlor section, too. I've had their ice cream sundaes, their waffle cones, and their brownie sundaes, too. Love that they have almost everything! Be sure to check out their specials menu by the cashier counter! They write their daily specials on the chalkboard. There is parking in the KHON2 building. I believe their are reserved Kissaten parking spots, but after 10 p.m. there are more stalls available.
(4)
Amy B.

I decided to finally give this play a try since it's only an elevator ride away from where I live. I went there for breakfast AND lunch. Why not? I kept it simple with breakfast and had steel cut oatmeal (no raisins!) and it was...oatmeal. I can't complain. Next time I'm going to ask for some fruit. The coffee was good, too. Not too hot. Afterward, I did some shopping across the street, went for a swim in the pool, and then decided I wanted to try the tomato bisque everyone was raving out. I couldn't just get the tomato bisque though... I had to pick up its friend, the grilled cheese sandwich! 10 bucks for soup and a sandwich doesn't seem bad to me. The soup is so freaking good! It has a tiny kick to it- I love it. I pretty much drenched my sandwich in it so I can't really speak to how the sandwich was, but it was delicious with the soup all over it. Yum. I saw some good looking dishes come out of the kitchen while I waited. I'm looking forward to going back and trying out some of the other options!
(4)
Brian K.

It's open 24 hours? Cool. Good daytime food. Although, I didn't really like the grilled cheese sando - perhaps it would have been better without the bacon. Nice space, with ample power outlets and a variety of seating choices. Good amount of natural light if you happen to be there during the day. As everybody else said, it's a good place to sit and get stuff done.
(4)
Nadia K.

My goodness, the parking here is awful. It's either street parking or a couple of marked stalls inside the building's parking lot so your best bet is to walk over from Ala Moana. I tried the grilled cheese sandwich (cheddar & smoked gouda cheeses, bacon, thin sliced fuji apples). It was really good except that my sandwich was more toasty than grilled, but it was still delicious. The cafÃ© is nice and spacious and looks like a perfect place to study or in my case, hang out with friends. My daughter/lunch date was very pleased that there was an ice cream bar as well as an ice cream freezer filled with your favorite ice cream novelties. This place is open 24/7 so you have no excuse. I want to come back and try their pho and the kissaten melt...and the truffle mac and cheese and one (or two or three) of the numerous espresso drinks on their extensive beverage menu! How good does a dark chocolate strawberry latte sound (available only for a limited time)? Thank goodness it's open 24/7! :)
(4)
Liliana U.

Went here for the first time about 2 nights ago because I was having late night munchies for desert. Let's start with parking, it sucks. Literally. Even at 11:30 pm there's no parking. We were told to park where it had signs of the cafes name but there was only 4-6 spots. Seriously? We ended up parking in the wrong area anyways. Walked in and it has a very college student feel, which is pretty great considering they have free wifi. Definitely a place I'd go with friends to study anatomy or psychology. I ordered the raspberry cheesecake & hot chocolate. The reason I chose the cheesecake was because it looked good, nice raspberry sauce oozing off the sides of the cake and puddled on plate. We received our cake and it was frozen. I mean I know cheesecake is suppose to be nice and cold but it was so frozen that the raspberry sauce was hard and came off like shards of ice, hard. And the cake was so hard we could barely eat it. With that being said it was good cheesecake but I just couldn't enjoy it because of how hard it was. The hot chocolate was not bad, not awesome. My boyfriend described it as "Hershey syrup poured in milk and microwaved ". I mean Hershey syrup Is good but it wasn't worth the $5.25 I paid and I hoped it would taste better. Overall not a bad experience, just not awesome.
(3)
Madhu M.

I dont think this place is all that amazing as people describe. If you are looking for a place to study with internet - this is not my recommendation. You have to purchase something every 2 hours to have internet. Its a real distraction. Plus they dont have a lot of outlets.
(2)
Winchester A.

Awesome place for tea's or coffee!! Blueberry cheese cake is also awesome!! Just shitty parking though gotta have the patience to wait for someone to leave..
(5)
Kim S.

We made reservations for a large group, especially since it was a Friday night. When we got there a group of high school kids were at our table. When we asked the girl at the counter she realized that they had moved the "reserved" sign. When she went over to ask them to move they gave us stink eye as if we were kicking them out of our reserved table. Strike one. The menu is ok. It would be fine if the food was marketed as is with appropriate prices. A bit pretentious with prices to match. I had the pesto pasta....nothing special. I also had the popular peach iced tea...more like peach juice with a shot of tea. Wayyyy too sweet, I couldn't finish it. Strike two. Service was meh. They were not rude but a few simple niceties would have gone a long way. I.e. telling us that we would have to retrieve our drink but you would bring our food. Or instead of saying "2 peach iced teas" (two different people ordering one each) they could specify that each one is for two different people as to not be confused that someone else could have actually ordered 2. Strike three. The ambiance leaves something to be desired. It appears bigger than it actually is. Tables are very close together. I personally wouldn't study here unless I just wanted other people to think im studying. I do not like listening to idle fake conversations or watch people take and post pictures of themselves with food on fb. In the end I wouldn't go back. It's ashame as I live within walking distance and it would be convenient.
(2)
G. H.

this place is nice and the food is good. Seats are not comfortable and power supply is hardly available... Run out of battery and you are in trouble studying or working on something.... Most horrible Wi-Fi experience in all of Honolulu. Even the staff knows about it but owner won't do anything about it.
(2)
Jaime C.

The only thing I like about this place is that they are 24 hrs and a very big space. After Capital 360 Cafe closed, this place has become my choice of place to study. Places like starbucks and other cafes I find to be small and distracting. The food. There has never been a time when i ordered their different varieties of food that had me at wow. Its just overpriced and doesnt taste up to par with the price. And their food is inconsistent, especially their tomato bisque. I always order their bisque and once it tasted like the chef just dumped a whole bag of sugar, the other time it tasted sour and bitter, and the garnishes are always inconsistent. Today my bf ordered the bisque and it was garnished with parmesan cheese, olive oil and herbs but the last week i cane by, it was just over drizzled with just oil. Overall ill come here to study and order food/drinks bc i need the wifi but this is not a place to dine in my opinion.
(2)
Tina L.

Loved the Asian girl barista. Showed up at 4:30am in the morning because I was on east coast time and wanted a latte and something to eat. Was going to get the fruit cup and she advised against it because it was no longer fresh. Got the granola yogurt parfait at her recommendation and it was delicious, so was the latte.
(4)
Reiko S.

Had lunch today, the soup of the day was onion soup homemade! It was fabulous. My friend had the grilled cheese with bacon and salad. Very flavorful. The drink menu is extensive. We had the peach tea and it was very good. Good location for hanging out and having a snack.
(4)
Mack A.

This cafe boasts that it offers 2 hour internet access and when my internet access went off in 26 minutes I'd gone to the store manager and store manager (wouldn't tell me her name) I had been in the midst of working on extremely important report work for timely engineering report ....and all work had been lost. I got the cold shoulder when I told management about the issue and was offered no apology , Just "this" happens. The timestamp that they handed me was two hours earlier than the actual time when I load it onto the internet. The company's business says you have a two hour time limit when purchasing items at the cafe. Lost tons of important work. Made it sound like it was my fault because maybe "it's my computer" and so I will forward this message via Yelp about customer service and the reaction from the management so everybody knows about the customer service and reply.
(1)
Taryn L.

A coffee shop that is open 24/7? I wish this existed when I was going through school. The first time I tried this place was this past Monday. I didn't have high expectations of the food since I was getting soup and the gyudon from a coffee shop...boy, was I surprised! The soup of the day was cream of mushroom. I love cream of mushroom, but I expected something from a can; however, this soup was most definitely homemade. It was delicious. I wish I got the bread bowl with it. For $6, it was a pretty large serving. The gyudon was delicious too! I was extremely happy that I came here for dinner. I want to go back for the soup and pasta dishes. Parking is kind of hard to come by - they have street parking, as well as a few stalls in the KHON building. I definitely plan on going back for soup in a bread bowl.
(4)
Lauren C.

It was 230am and my group of friends and I just survived bottle service at Vice Nightclub..... the only thing on my mind while walking to Ginza was that I had to pee really really bad. Thankfully, the lights inside Kissaten shined brightly and the OPEN signed was flashing! YESSSSSSS. Can you imagine my relief? Needless to say, we didn't make it to Ginza. A couple friends and I just took advantage of Kissaten's 24/7 hours *and* cheap food. The beef bowl cured me of my highly intoxicated and hungry state! It wasn't that bad but it wasn't supa supa good, however I also really don't know at the same time.. I will have to come back sober and write a better review lol
(3)
Tobie W.

Love coming here to study, mainly because they always have pleasant baristas! Normally I get the grilled cheese sandwich, which comes with a small salad, and it's always simple but delicious! But good service, good food, and a good coffee? It really doesn't get any better. Plus the art on the walls are constantly changing, so you never see the same thing for too long!
(4)
Shiloh R.

Years later, I'm still coming back! LOVE their cashmere latte and frozen lemonade. Try cashmere latte when it's cooler outside and frozen lemonade in the hot summer. Their food is consistently fresh and tasty too! I don't mind having to purchase something to use the WIFI either.
(5)
Michael F.

Kissaten is an interesting cafe. Unlike most cafes that might only serve some sandwiches and salads, Kissaten is almost like a restaurant with a lunch and dinner menu (pasta dishes, other entrees). The space is huge, with lots of seating, an ice cream parlor (which I didn't see being used), and a fully equipped kitchen. Unlike most coffee shops and many establishments on the island (which closely EARLY), Kissaten is open 24/7. Lots of outlets for laptops. Great place to study. The combination of restaurant/cafe/study lounge is really a unique concept for me, and I think Kissaten makes it work. It warms my heart to see a student-friendly establishment. Although I am not a student at UH, I have been a student in various cities. In the Bay Area, we have lots of independent coffee shops, each with their own vibe, and great places to study. In San Diego, where I go to school now, there is only cramped Starbucks and Peets. The whole city is unfriendly to students. The only real place to study is the library, your home, or your office, and if those places worked, students wouldn't be seeking coffee shops. As for the quality of food at Kissaten, for simple coffee shop fare, Kissaten does a pretty decent job. I was afraid to order the coffee, as I read some reviews saying that they serve terrible coffee (and I'm picky about it). I ordered an ice matcha latte instead. They put it a good amount of matcha powder, so the latte was bright green. However, it was too sweet. On the menu description, it says the latte is made with matcha, milk, and vanilla. There is the problem--vanilla. Vanilla has no place in matcha latte, just as it has no place in real soymilk. Vanilla has its proper uses, definitely not for masking flavors that should be brought out. A good matcha latte has a grassy, strong tea flavor, maybe even a little floral if the quality of the matcha is good. The matcha I got was sweet and tasted like a green vanilla milkshake, lukewarm. Obviously, the barista just poured hot matcha latte over ice. Iced matcha latte is properly made by blooming the matcha powder in a small amount of hot water and then pouring the matcha shot over iced milk. The other things I had at Kissaten were a tomato bisque, the smoked salmon salad, a mixed greens salad, and a pesto-mushroom pasta. The soup and salad were flavorful. I am impressed that Kissaten dresses its salads properly, meaning a light coating of vinaigrette as opposed to drenching (which seems to be the common practice). Vinaigrette should not smother the greens. It is there to enhance the greens. Kissaten understands this. Kissaten also understands that raw onion slices aren't really palatable, so they pickle them lightly in vinaigrette first before tossing with the salad. Good job! The pasta was nothing special. They skimped on the pesto. Here the scenario is different. Sure, pasta should not be drowned in sauce, but it should have more than just a light coating of sauce. Skimping on the pesto left the pasta a little flavorless. The mushrooms were watery. They needed some good browning to bring out the flavor. I would leave out the cherry tomatoes. They don't really do much besides make the pasta watery. Parmesan cheese was sprinkled on top of the pasta, soup, and salads, but I could tell that it was from a can and not freshly grated. Canned cheese kind of stinks. Despite a few flaws, Kissaten serves some pretty decent food for a coffee shop. The people in there do know a few things about real cooking. I hope that they will consider beefing up the quality of their coffee, starting with serving coffee brewed properly by the cup and not sitting in a tall thermos.
(3)
Aulii H.

This place is a nice hangout spot with a small, but good, selection of food. I noticed an empty wine bottle and some glasses on a table so I think it's BYOB which is great for future visits. I wanted to try everything on the menu, but decided in the veggie wrap. It was delicious, but had more spinach than anything else. It came with a small salad which I couldn't even touch after eating all that spinach. Since it's 24 hours, it's a good choice for those late night choices, and a healthier option compared to Zippy's. I would go there again if I am in the area. We went at 10pm so it wasn't too crowded, but I don't know what the crowd is like during the daylight hours. This place is like a Starbucks, but better, especially for the food options, and they also have an ice cream bar!
(4)
Kehaulani B.

This was my first visit there, and while I didn't order any food, because I was in a hurry, the service was very friendly. It was about 2:30pm, and there were only about 20 people in the restaurant , which I am told, there are times it is standing room only. It was a quiet place to meet at (@2:30pm) for a quick iced tea, and chat with my brother for about 30 mins. Overall, I look forward to enjoying one of their scrumptious pastries and delicious sandwiches.
(4)
Stephanie T.

I struggled with giving Kissaten 3 or 4 stars on this review. I have been here several times since they first opened, but my trips have become less and less. They recently remodeled and rearranged the seating to be more accommodating to the large studying crowds that they get in the evenings. I still enjoy coming out here for a late night study because there arent many places that are open 24 hours. If you do come during their busy times they put these reserved signs on the tables that say you have to have a certain number of people to sit there, which can be quite irritating if there are no tables open except for those. So if you plan to come for study time, either get here early or wait till 11:30/1145. If your looking for something to drink, their green tea latte is super. If its eating, their grilled cheese is a great choice.
(4)
Lloyd M.

We were very pleased to find breakfast and coffee in our price range of 10-12 each. Delicious natural ingredient foods and lots of options at the cafe. They were very friendly too!
(5)
Alyssa L.

Great place for studying! Great food to eat and drinks to drink. Free WiFi with a purchase and the ambiance is great.
(5)
Jamila J.

I'm very impressed with the evolution and sustained progress of this little coffee shop. They have added more seating, an ice cream bar, and food is offered 24 hours now. The grilled cheese and tomato bisque is still my favorite, but their specials are always amazing. I'm impressed with the food. To give a little constructive criticism, make sure your soups, Ramen, and pho are HOT. I felt that this was lacking. I like the atmosphere, there's always good music playing, and its not blaring. Parking, especially later at night isn't a problem, street parking, Ala Moana, and the Hawaiki Tower (KHON Building). Again, I'm impressed. I felt at a point they may have an identity crisis, but I think they're growing and paying attention to the feed back they receive here on Yelp and from their consumers. FYI, I'm putting a picture of parking in the tower, because I'm super helpful like that.
(4)
Meg M.

As a rule, coffee shops that make you pay for internet are just not my jam. Kissaten gives you a code for internet when you buy something that is good for two hours. I wouldn't mind that if I really liked their food! Last time I went, I got the portabello sandwich with a side of greens. The greens were COVERED in balsamic dressing- next time I know to ask for it on the side! The sando was on crispy foccacia bread that was delicious but the peppers were way overcooked and the sando had no real flavor. Luckily I had all that extra balsamic dressing on the side! Another time I went, I ordered the steel cut oats. Those were much better and came with sides to put on top. The pros are that Kissaten is open 24 hours, but the closest parking is street parking or Ala Moana. With the construction going on and the walkway being covered and dark, I don't really feel comfortable walking there late.
(3)
Moli Y.

T-O-M-A-T-O BISQUE!! Just as I type up the review, I can actually feel my mouth salivate and my taste buds ache for this tasty dish! The sweetness, tanginess and savory flavors all blending in so well in one heavenly bowl. And OMG! The grilled cheese!! THE grilled cheese in the combo is too good that you will want seconds! The melty cheddar and smoked Gouda cheese goodness with a twist of bacon and thin sliced Fuji apples! YUM! A must try! Yes, I am being biased, because I do love tomato soup. But if tomato soup is not your cup of tea, Kissaten offer many other tasty dishes that will satisfy your palates! Do keep in mind that their menu changes from time to time, but some of the customer's favorites do remain on the menu board! Prices are on the bit of the higher side, but still affordable. The ambiance is very very casual and well lit to grab a bite to eat while catching up with your friends or catching up for class!
(3)
Kim S.

Discovered this place earlier this year & have visited a few times since. + : Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Melty cheddar & smoked gouda cheeses, bacon thin sliced fuji apples - Just like how I make it, tho apples are too thinly cut to really taste. Tomato Bisque - Creamy bisque topped with parmesan & basil oil - very rich & thick. Chock full of tomato goodness. Pesto Mushroom Pasta - Penne pasta, sauteed mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, parmesan cheese - the chalkboard. Open 24 hours. Central location. A few tables are reserved for people who purchase food. - : Service is inconsistent from nice to incompetent to surly. Guess it depends on when you go & who you get - roll the dice. Desserts in the cases look like they are a from Costco - not freshly made. Beverages are kinda $$ - probably because that's all most people buy to hang out there for the free wifi & electricity. Seating can be a challenge because 1 person will take an entire table to bury themselves in a laptop - not sure why the other laptoppers don't share with each other. They would be able to add non-virtual friends. Lol. #2/31 Yelp Review Challenge
(3)
Amber-Lynn H.

$6 special: Smoked Salmon Salad (regular $10). Soooooo good!!! Mixed greens, bacon, grapefruit, mandarin oranges, parmesan, and a few slivers of smoked salmon. It's great. The bowl of tomato bisque ($5.95) is pretty delish too! So far, I've mustered enough will power to stay away from the cheesecakes calling out to me in the window display. *sigh* This place is really convenient when you finish working out or getting a massage at Island Club and Spa. The salads and desserts are in a grab and go type display with a good amount of hot items, coffees, & teas to order as well.
(4)
Avian M.

Truffled Mac n cheese are still #1. The employee gave me 2 forks which is great since that my friend and I were sharing a plate.
(4)
D H.

HALLELUJAH! The parking gods were with me today! Found a metered stall directly across from the shop so decided with my daughter, that we felt like salad and sandwiches for lunch. Popped 2 quarters in the meter for 40 mins of parking and headed across the street to grab some lunch! Ordered Chicken and Beet Salad, Turkey Pesto Sandwich combo with Tomato Bisque soup, Iced Matcha Latte and Matcha Freeze. Salad was great and filling! Lots of chicken breast thinly sliced with beets, spring mix lettuce, walnuts and a sprinkle of feta. The dressing was very tasty! Two thumbs up!! Sandwich was good according to my daughter. I didn't taste it but TBH for $9.50 I expect MORE sandwich! We added on the bisque which cost an additional $3.50! Pretty pricey of you ask me! Also I swear there was a note that all sandwiches came with a salad BUT no salad! The soup was in the basket next to the little sandwich. Soup tasted like marinara sauce in a bowl. If you had an option to add pasta....then you're good. Otherwise, don't do it! Matcha drinks were meh, just ok. Won't be running back to order this again. Atmosphere - Nice with Art for sale on the walls giving you something to look at. I like that they support local artists. Lots of the customers looked like they were studying or a study group session. Customer Service - Just ok. The girl at the counter was kind of just there. Nothing special. Bring a jacket! It was definitely a hot day so I liked that the AC was on blast however it turned into the arctic real quick making it uncomfortable if you weren't eating or drinking something hot! PS There is free WIFI with a purchase but today it was 'Out of Order'. Overall a so so experience hence the 3 stars. Might be back...since they are open 24 hours.
(3)
Taylor I.

Love the atmosphere and the food! I'm a big fan of their truffle mac and cheese. When I go there with my friend, we always get the southwest chicken salad as well! I go there for drinks. The drinks are not bad but they aren't "WOOOOOW" drinks. I would still say their drinks are good :) I love their hours. Who can beat 24/7? When I want a drink at not past midnight when not even ward Starbucks is open, I can just drop by at Kissaten where there's still people around. Love it!
(5)
April A.

Great place close to my office to fulfill my coffee fix (until a Philz opens here). Not sure when their busy time is, but I've been there mid-morning during the week and at lunch and didn't have a problem finding a seat like at other coffee places (aahhemstarbucks). I had a grilled mushroom sandwich yesterday and it was good. Really good. Good atmosphere, good food, good coffee.
(4)
Angela H.

Kissaten is a 24 house coffee shop that offers free wi-fi and boasts cool artwork. If you're a student during midterms and need a place to study at 3am, this place is perfect--but, if you're just jonesing for a fancy coffee drink, skip, and go to Starbucks instead. The drinks are mediocre, at best, but the service is pretty friendly and helpful. Overall, great place to study at all hours (and get a coffee while you're at it), but if you're wanted a wide variety of coffee/tea drinks, skip, and go with Coffee Bean or Starbucks.
(3)
Amara E.

Kissaten is an all-in-one establishment; the Walgreens of food, if you will. It caters to a lot of folks who are each looking for something different. If you're looking for a place to study, if you're looking for a late night bite, if you're looking for a cup of joe and a quick sandwich, Kissaten is the place to be. The location is right by Ala Moana, which is ideal for young professionals and townies. Street parking is a little tough to find and metered, but most park in the Ala Moana lot anyway. The inside is relatively spacious and clean. There are sofas you can rest on, chairs and outlets for people with computers and looking to bum off the wifi (included with any purchase as long as you ask for the passcode), and actual tables for dine-in customers. I find a lot of people come here to hang out or do some late night studying. The place is open 24 hours, so it attracts all kinds of people of all different ages. The food is okay. Whatever you order, you can expect it to taste like that. If you order a grilled cheese, it will just be melted cheese and grilled bread. If you order coffee, it will be regular coffee. Simple as that. There are no special sauces or fancy ingredients. As far as food goes, the place lacks a niche. There is no signature coffee or signature dish on their menu. At the same time, I don't think that's what Kissaten is going for anyway. They seem to be going for ease and convenience. There is no other spot in town that is open 24 hours, serves late night food, provides wifi, and has a large enough facility to hold a lot of people. More places like this are sorely needed in town, especially for the night owls! The customer service is decent. The cashiers are friendly and courteous. If you dine in, they will bring your food to your table. However, they have gotten my coffee orders wrong before, but they are more than willing to correct it. The food sometimes takes a while to come out. On busy nights, expect to wait. Overall, the place is decent, thus the 3 stars. There isn't anything compelling enough on their menu that makes me want to dine here. However, it is a good place to hang with friends and a good fallback when your restaurant of choice is closed or packed.
(3)
Kaileen Y.

Since working at Ala Moana, I've frequented Kissaten quite a few times now. Makes sense, since it's like right there! I have one word for this coffee shop -- GENIUS!!! Like, seriously. So, currently I'm the Duchess of The Curb and I have once made a promise to stay faithful to those lovely barista friends of mine. But....I think I'm in a coffee shop affair with Kissaten, and at this rate, they are incredibly close to tipping the meter for my love (if they haven't already). I mean, c'mon! How could you NOT love Kissaten??? Everything is just PURE GENIUS. I mean, A 24-HOUR COFFEE BAR WITH AN ADDITIONAL ICE CREAM BAR, WHOSE NAME IN JAPANESE LITERALLY MEANS 'COFFEE SHOP'?!?!!!! HELLO. What?? Kissaten Melt. Omg. Smoked Salmon Salad. Yes. Tomato Bisque and Grilled Cheese. To die for. &&& Thaiiiii Tea. Omfg, YES. Yep, it's definitely an affair...
(5)
Jordan S.

An awesome coffee shop that is open 24/7. They have the standard coffee and tea options (hot, iced, blended, etc.) As well as some smoothies, an ice cream bar and a smallish menu of entrÃ©es. The Kissaten Melt is one of the better pastrami sandwiches ive had in a while (although a little light on meat). The staff is also really friendly and quick. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Tracey M.

Located across from Nijiya market and on the corner of the KHON2 building sits Kissaten. Now what is a Kissaten you might wonder? It's labeled as a 24 hour coffee shop, but from my experience it's much more than that. First off, what coffee shop serves you truffle mac and cheese? Pesto mushroom pasta? Potato Leek Soup?! If you find me another coffee shop that does this then please inform me immediately. Also, not only do they serve food but the food is actually DELICIOUS. Plus they don't only offer coffee, they have italian sodas, frozen lemonade, and lots of yummy teas too! Secondly, there's always amazing art hanging up for sale. From what I've seen, it's always from talented local artists which gives this place another big thumbs up. And the last thing I really like is how spacious this place is. There are a ton of tables and I've never had a problem finding a place to sit, happens a lot with other coffee shops. I wouldn't say this is the best place to study though, unless you don't mind people chatting next to you. It'll be a good meeting place to talk about ideas or study in a group, but if you're like me and enjoy quiet places to study alone then this isn't really the place for that. There is parking available in the KHON2 building but there are limited stalls. Make sure you park in the correct stalls marked for Kissaten! There's also street parking available :)
(4)
Ryan Y.

Kissaten is an excellent place to get my work done, drink some pretty coffee, and eat some cheaper, lighter, and delicious food! I gone here only once before (back in 2011), but I only ordered an "Italian" soda. The environment is nice. The staff is awesome. Did I mention that the consumables are really good and worth the $$$. I think the wi-fi limit is great! It keeps the folks who sit on their computers all day and suck up bandwidth from watching Netflix or playing MMOs out of here. This is advantageous for those of us who want to get work done, or just chill and surf for a quick-bit. Best of all, its a 24 Hour establishment! A few gripes: parking is terrible. Now that Ala Moana's ground-level parking is demolished, you either need to park further into the shopping center, compete with KHON and condo residents (with whatever little parking spots they provide), or find parking on the street. The other gripe may just apply to me and my Surface Pro, but the wi-fi can be intermittent at times. Sometimes, I lose connection when accessing sites such as UH Portal sites. Again, I'm not sure if that's the case for all computers, but I sure notice it. Other than that, great place! I need to make a better effort to come back here.
(4)
Diane K.

I had the grilled cheese and tomato bisque combo. VERY filling. I was full after half a sandwich, but just couldn't stop eating. I didn't even bother to dust the toasted bread crumbs off my chest between bites. Gluttony. Everything on the menu was quite enticing and I look forward to trying them ALL.
(4)
Nathan N.

Time to update my review of Kissaten Coffee Bar. As you folks can see I've checked in four times. I've given it more than one chance to redeem itself, but it keeps falling short on the food. But, I will give a compliment to the hard working girls up front. I was going to originally write up more about Kissaten, but I decided to be the "better man" and not talk about a point of contention dealing with privacy and legality issues. I'm sure those of you who read this and are in the loop, will know what I'm referring to. Look if someone writes a bad review, I don't understand why people can't take it as a hint to improve. Is it because of pride? I'm not making a personal attack on Kissaten. Everyone has their own personal taste and take on things.
(1)
Tasha T.

Ambience is perfect for late-night studying and enjoying good company!
(5)
Suzanne T.

I work around the corner and have been here many times because of the convenience factor. Majority of the times the service has been acceptable (not great, but not awful). Once they lost my order (turkey pesto sandwich). I followed-up two or three times and they said it was coming, but after 30 minutes I asked the manager (?) and she apologized and admitted that it had been lost. She suggested that I call in my order the next time and gave me a free dessert. Hrmph. Okay then. You're forgiven. This time... Once I ordered a salad and a french onion soup (on special) and found a long piece of plastic (I think it was from the wrapper of the cheese). The owner offered to replace it, but it had taken so long to arrive that my coworkers were already almost done with their meals. I told him I'd just eat my salad, but he insisted on bringing something else, so he brought another item that was on special (some kind of fish, which was really good and my coworkers devoured it for me in like two minutes!) Here are some of the other memorable dishes: - Tomato bisque soup: This is good, but to me it's so thick it's almost like a marinara sauce. Good to dip your grilled cheese into, but I don't really like it as a soup. - Kissaten House Salad: Good, not remarkable. Contains some bitter greens, which I don't like. Dressing is all right, just a simple balsamic shoyu. - Grilled cheese: I like the addition of the apples and bacon, but sometimes the bread is super hard and sharp (like scratch-up-the-roof-of-your-mouth kine sharp!). - Turkey pesto melt sandwich: My go-to favorite. Always yummy. I wish they had fries though - sometimes I'm tired of their house salad and I don't care for the chips. - Kissaten melt: It's good, but I'm just not a big fan of pastrami. My coworkers get this a lot. - Breakfast burrito: Pretty good, but served with a side salad, which is just very weird at 7am. A friend once ordered a pasta that was on special - mushrooms with a shoyu sauce and he loved it so much he was practically licking the empty bowl! Definitely check out the specials if you're there early (they run out of the good stuff quickly). I want to try their truffle mac and cheese, but they've been out every time I'm feeling up for that decadence. Someday...
(3)
Sheetal R.

After the rain ruined our perfectly good afternoon of pool times and gossipping, we decided to have an afternoon tea time. It's located in the same building as KHON news channel on Piikoi street. The parking for the place seems to be on the street or you could just park at the mall and walk on over. It was fairly busy at 3 in the afternoon on Wednesday. It seemed like many college students decided to make this the new hangout place. There were so many drinks and food choices, but my mouth wouldn't stop watering when it saw the cheese crumb cake. It's the perfect afternoon when there's the noise of the rain on the window, some peach iced tea, and having a snack of some toasted cheese crumb cake. Never will I have crumb cake unless its toasted. With some good conversation and some good snacks, it's hard to make it wrong. The service is impeccable. Our cashier brought our food to us and was extremely helpful and friendly. She seemed like she genuinely enjoyed her job and how can you not when you work at Kissaten. I plan on coming here and exploring the menu a bit more. My perfect afternoon is sealed with a KISSaten.
(5)
Cathy T.

Originally I thought Kissaten would be my new after hours spot to sober up after a late night at V-lounge/Bar 7. It's just a 5-7 minute walk/stumble from Ala Moana and I usually park right in the vicinity. But since I'm a little older and those nights of closing down those bars are fewer and far between I never got my chance to explore this new and shiny 24 hour coffee shop. Instead I took another route and what did I get out of it? 4 solid hours of studying, a delicious soup + sandwich, and an awesome caffeine buzz. #WINNING! On Saturday afternoons Kissaten is my "secret" study spot. It's a lot quieter than Starbucks and their food & coffee is better. They're also used to people camping out at their tables for several hours (but please be respectful of the signs that tell you which ones are reserved for dining customers!) Parking is kinda tough sometimes because they only have 3 stalls in the KHON garage but there's street parking (If you got quarters) and Ala Moana is right across the street. As far as the food goes I'm a big fan of their grilled cheese & tomato soup combo. (Comfort food while studying!) I also like the Kissaten melt, vanilla creme cakes, and Thai ice coffee. I'm guessing their baked goods must be pretty bomb because every time I'm there the only things left are the sad, broken crumbs that were left behind just to taunt me! I've never had really outstanding service, but I've never had horrible service here either. It's usually a positive experience and I've always gotten tons of studying done. (Yay productivity!)
(4)
Ariana M.

I like this coffee joint way better then Starbucks! It's a great place to study, hang with friends or have a casual business meeting. This location is open 24 hours! Which is great for college students because we never know when we will have time to get work done! Haven't tried any of the food yet. Only had a ton of drinks! Mostly because when I come here, it's usually to work on assignments or having meetings for work. I feel like when I eat and try to focus on my work, it never really works out for me ha-ha. I guess I'm just really weird, but what else is new! Never had a bad experience here yet and I hope it stays that way! =)
(3)
Krysten I.

I experienced Kissaten for the first time two nights ago. My friend reluctantly came with me and complained the whole time about this and that--the food portions aren't as big any more, there arent any couches anymore, blahblahblah, hes a little stuck in the past if you ask me. :P (I hope youre not reading this wesley). We went at around 8:30 or 9pm and the Kissaten parking lot stalls were full, so we parked in a stall, hoping it would be okay. Not very conveniently, the map of where to park is located INSIDE kissaten, not in the parking lot. So you need to either 1) memorize the map/times etc. 2) take a pic and store it on your phone and then remember you did that for next time or 3)run in, check the map and then run back to your car if you have to move it. Good luck. I tried the beet salad they had on special and the grilled cheese with tomato soup, both $9. Not bad at all!! I've never had apples and bacon in my grilled cheese before, but I'm pretty sure I'm making it like that from now on. The salad was pretty good too. I had a chai latte and Wesley J. had a thai tea. The drinks are pretty expensive and not amazingly good. The cashier was super nice too! I got like 30 stamps in one go too! I will most definitely be back to do me some late night studying. Its comforting to know that I can stay as long as it takes me to finish. The plethora of asian FOBS also allow me to reminisce about my undergrad years in LA.
(3)
Aimee N.

Typically I find myself looking for places to eat agree 9:30pm...kind of hard on a weeknight especially when I don't want to go to a bar. I often think of Kissaten since it's 24/7 and their apple-smoked bacon grilled cheese w/ tomato bisque is to die for! Really it's so simple but I can't find this combo anywhere else. I'm sure I can make it at home but I'd probably be disappointed. I recently tried the Mac and Cheese with truffle oil and it's really yummy and filling! I wish I was more hungry so I could have finished it. I've had the Thai tea before too and it's better than their coffee for sure!
(4)
Jhoren C.

Friday night: Mission was to grab a bite to eat and go over financials right after dinner. So Kissaten was the go-to place! For 1; it was bookmarked on my yelp list and 2: it was nearby and I remember reading from reviews that people would usually come here to study so I knew there would be seats and FREE WIFI. Parking is located in the KHON building where they have 6 designated stalls otherwise you'd have to park across ala moana (sears) ground floor walk across. But be sure to get your car out of ala moana garage by 10pm or you'll get towed. Food: a little overpriced for sandwiches and soup but it was tasty! I ordered the vegetarian wrap w/ tomato bisque combo (drink not included) Ambience: was pretty chill, music wasn't too loud and for a Friday night it wasn't all that busy but maybe because its summer and school isn't in session yet.
(3)
Mike Y.

I've finally awakened from my Yelp winter hibernation to review Kissaten Coffee Bar. AWESOME space. High, open duct work ceilings with great airflow. This place has a great feel to it. Here are my favorite things about Kissaten: Free wireless internet for 2 hrs, OPEN 24 HRS!!!, lots of seating, coffee is pretty good, food is delicious, right by Ala Moana Mall (and the parking lot.... mwaaa haaa haaaa) Negatives: Haven't had any issues yet! I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Both were devoured in under 2 minutes. The grilled cheese had cheddar/smoked gouda and thin, smokey bacon. Yum. I'm really glad I found a 24 hour coffee shop that serves food. What a great place to unwind or get some work done late at night. Honolulu is definitely lacking businesses like this that are open all night. I'll be back again and again!
(4)
Krystal S.

Tried this place for the first time today. I had a hot white mocha and my bf had an iced coffee with cream. They were both good. I also had a truffle Mac and cheese. It was really good! The staff was friendly and pretty quick. They were quite busy with college students studying. Good atmosphere for young adults. The only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 is because of my friends hot green tea latte. I tried a sip of it and it tasted like just milk and froth. I, personally, couldn't taste the green tea at all. I took the bus, so I didn't have to deal with parking.
(4)
Amanda A.

First off, trying to find parking for this place can be a bit tricky. There's the street parking to the side but there's also parking inside of the KHON building but only in the marked stalls so you have to look. I think they're available only during certain times of the day as well but don't quote me on that. Anyway we came here for a brunch meeting with my sister and her boss. We got there around 10:30am and she bought a parfait, breakfast croissant, hot cocoa for my nephew and a coffee for herself. Her total was a lot more than I expected, let's just say that. There were only like 3 other people in there at the time and they all just seem to be drinking coffee on their devices. Our order took awhile to come out. I think we waited like around 20 minutes just for the croissant and it's just a simple sandwich that shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to make. Also, her coffee has waaaaaay too much syrup in there. It was syrup with a dash of coffee instead of coffee with syrup. We asked for the wi-fi password and you have a limit of 2 hours on it. Each person needs their own password so there's no sharing. Beside the food though, if you need a quiet place to study or get some work done this is a nice place because it's quite and not as busy as Starbucks and the wi-fi is faster since there's not a lot of people. I'd probably come here, if I needed to, for that but the food not so much. It's more on the expensive side for something that shouldn't be. $11 for a sandwich and soup, not for me, thanks though.
(3)
Arthur S.

Oh yup that's right. Im a regular here. Many an hour i have spent consuming copious amounts of coffee and other carb based meals during the late hour of night. I love this place because the atmosphere is quite different from that of starbucks'. For one there is a more spacious seating area, that include hardtop tables and chairs for those dining, as well as comfy sofas and chairs for those that enjoy lounging around, or studying in a more relaxed manner. The music here rocks, none of that strange wilderness flute like music that's being played at starbucks. I always wonder if starbucks has to promote music like that, or if one of the workers just has a very unique sense of music. In contrast who ever picks the tracks that play here has an awesome sense of music, perfect for studying, and not like you've just wandered into another dimension. The Food Menu- So they have different specials everyday. It usually written on the chalkboard to the right as you walk up to the cashier. There's also pho served after a certain hour, but i forget exactly when that is. One thing i always get here is the turkey pesto melt. The bread they use is so soft, but also has a crunchy surface, which compliment the turkey and sweet and sour pesto sauce. Ive tried the potato leek which was good, but i actually like the tomato bisque more. They also have a different number of snacks and pastries at the front counter in case you don't want to buy a full on meal. The Drink Menu- They have various types of coffes, i wouldn't say their selection is as lengthy as starbucks or coffee bean, but they do offer other sweetened coffees and teas, as well as espressos. Service- Nice service, the staff is always making sure the trash is collected and the tables are cleaned for the next customers. They're also quite approachable and easy to carry conversation with. When you order from the cashier, they will hand you a number, and you take that back to your seat where everything will be brought to you. (Keep in mind this is also where you ask for an internet slip, with the number you have to type in to use the internet.) Only downside is internet usage is limited to 2 hours at a time, then after that you have to order another item to receive another two hours. Usually i just get a energy drink or espresso. Other than that, i have had great study sessions here, and am looking forward to visiting again soon!
(4)
Kori T.

Oh sweet baby jesus I dream of their Tomato Bisque and Clam Chowder... *drool* and their Kissaten Melt.. (Oh bob all mighty I just died thinking of it) This place is FABULOUS! Their peach tea has peaches at the bottom to make it just the right amount of sweet that I don't need to add sweetener and I'm from the South we love our teas super sweet. And did I mention its open 24 hours!!! Oh and free wifi!! I found heaven in the place with beautiful art work on the walls for sale (and some really odd art work as well @_@) This is a heaven for those looking for an awesome dinner or lunch, heck even breakfast is great with their bagel and lox and cream cheese mmm Ok I'm driving there now (^_^)/"
(5)
Iris J.

Kind of over priced and visited at end of a work day for comfort food but plenty "sold out" items which is very disappointing! !! Wish they offered more soup options...
(4)
Kiichi R.

Actual Rating: 4 Stars Ambiance: It's definitely a cafe. Random types of seating all around (bar stool/tables, sofas, round table, etc.). Amply lit, with lots of windows for outside lighting to hit in. They have a few TVs and some some artwork hanging on the walls. I haven't come here for the studying aspect (never have gone to any type of cafe to study so..) but it's perfectly fine for casual eating. Service: You order and receive a number to take with you. I'm not sure how it's done with take outs, but you sit down and they bring your order to you. As far as when you're finished, I've always brought it to them. I can't recall if people have left it to be picked up, but I see no sense in being lazy. Food: I was surprised at the quality of food! I am absolutely in love with their pesto turkey panini. Their salad dressing is also really good, and I am not a dressing person. It's a bit tangy and sweet, which was far from what I was expecting. Price: Not bad AT ALL considering the location. I mean, it's not a steal but it's not a ripoff either. If anything, they're bottled water is expensive but that's about the only thing haha. Other: I usually park across the street at Ala Moana and walk across. I'm not sure whether or not the parking in the KHON building is pay-to-park, but it's literally a 2 minute walk from across the street. The place is popular, so it's a hit or miss whether or not you'll find seats. Overall - Pros: Delicious food; relaxed ambiance; decently priced; no real parking issue Cons: Can get a little crowded
(4)
Lauren M.

I could not get through finals without this 24 hour cafe! Be sure to spread out your purchases to get the wifi codes.. I love it here!
(4)
Amber B.

I have 3 full stamp cards for this place since it opened. This means that $150 of my hard earned money has been spent in false hopes of "maybe better service next time!" At first, I would come here to study late at night. Since beginning to work full time & not being in the area as much, I only stop by when I "have to" (i.e. every other place is closed and I need a place to hang out and kill time in town). The staff turnaround rate is so high that probably none of them would recognize me as a regular, which is just as well because I doubt I'll be back after today's visit. To be fair, nothing particularly awful happened today, but it was like when you're in a bad relationship and you finally realize that you deserve better and shouldn't be the only one putting in 99% of the effort to make it work. I had some time to kill and decided to maybe redeem one of my free drink cards. When I got in there, there were only a few people in the shop. I asked the "barista" (I use this term VERY loosely) if she could honor my free drink card. I am aware that they had switched to a new electronic system, but if it were MY shop, I'd absolutely make an exception for a customer who kept returning and spent over $150 in the process EVEN THOUGH they had awful service EVERY TIME they came in. I realize she couldn't have known that as well. But I digress.) Needless to say, she was not taking my seemingly unreasonable request. I didn't put up a fight. I know what it's like on the other side of the counter, so I voluntarily purchased a drink. I really just wanted a place to sit & write in my journal for an hour or two while I wait for my fiance to finish work. Every time I come in here, the "baristas" ROLL THEIR EYES at my drink order. Double iced espresso with a bit of whipped cream. They have it on the menu as a hot drink, but I prefer it iced. Is it REALLY that strange?? One girl even told me they "don't do that." AWESOME customer service! Normally, I drink it black but I wouldn't have to order it with whipped cream if ANYONE in here knew how to pull a shot of espresso. And sadly, the whipped cream doesn't even save it. JUST SAYING. Maybe I have battered wife syndrome for this place...I keep going back in hopes that they will change. It does change, but it's always for the worse. When I first came in, wifi was free. I was happy. Next time, they made me buy something every hour for a new password. Next time it was something about sitting in the less-desireable seats in order to get 2 hours of internet and spend at least blah blah BLAH BLAH. It was too confusing and stupid! My advice to the owner, who seems like a tech-savvy social media guru since he's always sitting at the bar with his macbook, is use the money to provide wifi to your customers instead of buying new furniture. I understand that you don't want people "camping out" & hogging seats...but your venue is HUGE. It's kinda missing the point of an inviting community coffee shop. The only positive thing I can say about this place is that the tomato bisque & grilled cheese combo is pretty good. And that it's open 24 hours. Other than that, I've never had good service here. I consider myself a pretty pleasant person & don't believe I do anything to warrant the snooty service I ALWAYS get. The prices are unfair for the quality of espresso. The employees seem to be hired based on how they look in short shorts & not how much they know about coffee and even less on their customer service skills. The idea of this place is GREAT. I just think it's a shame how poorly executed it is.
(1)
Nicole M.

I love this place! Nice atmosphere, great food, and open ALL THE TIME! Perfect for studying or if you're tired of the usual Zippys hang-out after hours.
(5)
Annie W.

I've only been here a handful of times and remember liking it each time. I've had their delicious macaroni and cheese, tomato bisque, clam chowder, risotto, decaf lattes, their sandwiches, salads and never once tried their pho. The macaroni and cheese is not my favorite, but only because I've discovered my coworkers mama's recipe. You can taste the real cheese they put in this sucker. No replacement or imitation cheese here and sure to create smiles. The tomato bisque is delicious because its so simple, but makes me feel warm and fuzzy on a cool day. For some reason the trade winds were going wild that day. The clam chowder is super thick. It's no chowder from Monterey but it's still filled with the right ingredients and allow for dipping of sandwiches taste even better. The risotto is so so. It just looks like rice, but luckily I added some chicken to this dish and with the mushrooms, it's to die for. The smell of the mushrooms brings out the entire dish and I must say they cooked the white meat chicken perfectly. Thumbs up for a small price for add-ons. The decaf is yucky! I'm not sure what kind of blend they serve, but it was bland. It tasted okay, but half way through the drink, I ended up tossing it away. I'm not too sure what went wrong there. As much as I hate to admit it, that's why I like Starbucks even though I love to support local coffee shops. I'm a walking contradiction. There is really not much on the menu for the health conscious. There is some comfort food, free wi-fi to keep you entertained and a really comfortable environment to relax or even study.
(4)
August A.

Kissaten... Insomniacs, procrastinators, and hipsters unite!!! I've been coming here as my late night option for awhile. Wifi with purchase, late night food, brilliant coffee drinks, and great atmosphere with interesting art installations. The espresso here can be a little strong but it can always be balanced out, not too bitter as well. There's also a full ice cream shop inside, in case the need for a brownie sundae hits. The food menu changes throughout the day, although I do stick to Pho or the Kissaten Melt (Pastrami) and bisque since they are on the menu at all hours. The service here has always been awesome for me. As a professional designated driver, this is my Cheers.
(5)
Jennifer D.

Kissaten, I've been here 3 times and you still are not that great. I only came here when I had to study. If I wanted to get good coffee, go anywhere else. The coffee is not good and I don't dare want to waste time by trying the food. 24 hours. That is the reason I came here. Not that I ever was here at a weird time of night, I just liked the comfort of knowing I wouldn't be kicked out at 9pm right in the middle of a study sesh. Wifi. They give you a code when you buy something. Everybody has a unique code to type into the login page. One time I was here and the internet was down. It was like a natural disaster for Kissaten. Coffee. Nast and not worth your money. I tried the lemonade tea which was ok, but still not good enough for me to order again. Staff. Not the nicest. They can be rude at times I find. They know you will come back because they are the only 24 hour coffee shop. One guy acted like he was doing me a service by taking my order. Pfft! Parking. Pain in the ass. There are 5 or less reserved parking stalls in the parking lot for the building and the rest of the people have to find parking in the streets. Not easy at all. I guess you could park in Ala Moana and walk across, but that is annoying too. I also almost got my car towed from the lot because I parked in an unmarked stall. Only park in the Kissaten spots! Not coming back, unless I need some wifi at 2 in the morning.
(2)
Rico A.

Horrible service, the people working there are clueless, food is mediocre at best, and the coffee sucks. Furthermore to the people that study there, what are you reading? High school algebra or Fifty Shades of Grey? Overrated tripe.
(1)
Dennis M.

You will not find a friendlier staff. The coffee is great. The food I tried is really food. The prices are really reasonable. Did I mention that the staff is great (and good looking)? I'll be back any time I'm in HNL (rather frequently). You'll miss out if you don't try it.
(5)
Shannon H.

One of my favorite late night places--reminds me a lot of LA. Kissaten is a casual internet cafe attached to the KHON building across the street from Ala Moana and open 24-hours. The food is really tasty but also a bit pricey. However, if you're looking to eat, I'd recommend the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. Kind of salty for some people, but I enjoyed it. All the food I've had here has been good but the grilled cheese + tomato bisque combo was my favorite. I think late at night they also have pho? Never had it but I'd imagine it'd be wonderful after a night out. The place has ample seating although good luck finding an outlet if you're hoping to get some studying done and plan to stay a while. The center tables are reserved for dining customers but there's still a fair amount of seats available at the periphery if you're just looking to order a coffee and finish that paper you've put off until the night before it's due. The parking is a little tricky. If you aren't daredevil enough to park at Ala Moana and walk over, there is a designated lot shared with the KHON people although I recall them only having about half a dozen stalls reserved for customers. Also if you're staying late, don't park at Ala Moana as they chain off the exits after a certain time. There aren't a lot of late night options in Hawaii if you're not down for Zippy's so it's nice to have Kissaten here (and in such a convenient location too!)
(4)
Danica F.

This has been such a great study spot throughout and before nursing school. The food is good, the service is alright, and the 24 hour deal is so darn convenient. Not quite sure what's up with some employees, but I need to highly commend the owner/owner's daughter. She probably knows I come here often, but she's always so nice and friendly. Some of the employees need a lesson in Customer Service 101 (especially the genius cashier who explains a strawberry hibiscus drink as "it's like strawberry... And hibiscus..." Yeah that's so helpful, thank you for all you don't do and please don't work night shift again). They always have something new to eat or drink and I really appreciate how patient most of them are even when it gets really crowded. My second gripe would just be the bathroom distance, it gets a little creepy and I'd have to run it in fears of someone stealing my belonging as I utilize the bathroom. Otherwise again, great spot to be to study, hang out, or for a place open 24/7 that has one of the best strawberry shortcakes in town!
(4)
Debbie R.

I don't see what all the hubbub is about with this place. Had several peeps tell me "you must go to Kissaten"!! Ok, so I went. It was decidedly mediocre and lackluster. Nothing special. You have your typical espresso bar drinks, a few hot food items, wifi available and a some standard pastries (sound like another coffee joint that we all frequent?) However, the difference between the large chain coffee house and Kissaten, you get nice and friendly baristas that are engaging and friendly, and sometimes if you are a regular, remember your name. You also get free, unrestricted wifi regardless of amount of purchase, and open seating. Not here. Here you get restricted, metered wifi access (based on purchase amount), limited seating (tables reserved for folks dining in, parties of 3 or more, etc) and unfriendly, borderline attitudinal baristas. Thanks, but I'll stick with my usual coffee spot. Why spend my money somewhere that apparently can do without my business? Its competitive out there Kissaten!!! lose the attitude and unrestrict your seating and wifi, and maybe I'll be back!
(2)
Cindy K.

Finally, a late night place to study. One of the VERY few in Hawaii. A nice place to chat and have lunch. Good drinks and decent food with generous portions :)
(4)
Kana T.

I ordered their cold green tea latte. I felt I could've picked up a green tea packet from Don Quihote, mixed it w water myself to make it taste the same. In addition to that, they handed my friend the wrong drink order (he didn't realize that wasn't what he ordered until he took a sip...at which point he didn't want to bother sending it back) What was worse was the way one of the servers was dressed. Do the managers/owners not care that their worker's ass is showing underneath their short shorts? No one wants to see that, especially from someone her age.
(1)
Thomas O.

I've come here many times and haven't written a review! How awful of me, or rather how awful of you, Kissaten? More often then not, Yelpers are labeled as "complainers on steroids," and I hate to support this stigma; however, I do write reviews based on my noteworthy experience. If it's something extremely sub-par, I think people should know about it. If it's something extremely super awesome, I think people should know about it too. Enter my dilemma. For the most part, I don't have a problem with service. In fact it's normally fast and very friendly, but last night was just appalling. I came in with Nicole K to study and what not. I put my stuff down and went to order a Thai Iced Tea ($4.50) I paid in cash and was not given a receipt. I also didn't get my card stamped (nor was I offered a new one) 'cause I couldn't find it. I sit down, open up my laptop and wait a few minutes. I went up to the bar to wait 5 more minutes. Ah, no drink, so I sit back down and begin working. Five minutes after that one of the bussers accosted me, saying, "I'm sorry to bother you, but my manager said that you can't stay in here. You have't purchased anything." Stunned that someone would even say that to me, I responded, "Oh really? Because I've been waiting 10 minutes for my drink." She said, "Oh. Thanks for telling me." No apology. No "I'm going to check on it." No. Nothing. Here's a suggestion, why don't you look out for my best interest and ASK to check on my drink order or better yet, ask if I would like to order something to eat. Please don't offend customers with the Drink Police. I seriously felt as though I was in Coffee or Tea? You're busy enough (and I actually drop some dough here) so either find a better way of kicking people out, or they will find another place to do business. 1 star for this experience. On the other hand. The food and drinks here are actually really good! I've had iced and hot coffee, italian sodas, chai lattes, iced teas, Americanos, and most recently the Thai Iced Tea (which I recommend). For grindage, I've experienced their bisque/soup, grilled cheese, turkey pesto, truffle mac & cheese (recommended), breakfast special (recommended), pho, and some cookies. When I come here, I like to try different things on their menus, which are constantly changing. I award the kitchen/bar 5 stars for creativity, somewhat consistency, and overall tastiness.
(3)
Kyle N.

Tonight was my first time here. I used to manage a cafe around the corner and kept being told by my customers I should come check this place out. Finally did. The service was decent. But I just posted a picture of a book on the counter...it has roaches crawling all over it. YUK. I haven't even gotten my coffee yet and I want to leave. This is not cute. Even if once I receive my coffee, and I find it to be the best cup of coffee I have ever had (which I highly doubt) I still won't be coming back. Wow my coffee just arrived. I ordered a WET cappuccino and the guy just said its a WHITE cappuccino.... Yup. White chocolate. Thumbs down, sorry friends.
(2)
Chass B.

I've frequent here and do enjoy coming to Kissaten. I had just gone in yesterday to meet a couple of girlfriends and was shocked at how it changed (nothing bad), just a bunch of added tables and added reserved signs (which I've seen before, but not that many). It looks a lot more fuller, good for them! Lots of tables, good food and drinks, good value for the amount you get, there is wi-fi (but for a price. A tiered price...), and staff is generally nice, but may be new to the customer service/ food waiting gig....which brings me to explain why I say this... One incident So yesterday, I ordered my breakfast croissant ($6) and halfway through eating (with a fork and knife) one of my girlfriends says something to me in a halting way. At the same time a piece of my croissant falls down. Thank God!!! Cause she says she saw something linty on my food, then I looked down and I see it. So I touch it (with my fork) and it turns out to be a brown (pretty long) piece of hair!! EW!!!! No its not mine, we all have black hair where we're sitting! I decided not to say anything at the moment. Maybe when she comes back to clear it off, I will let her know. So finally, the girl comes by and I mention it to her. In a quiet manner as to not bring attention or embarrassment. She looks at it and says, "Oh..." Oh??? Okay... she apologizes after a few and looks at me confused... LOL girl!! Another Incident A girlfriend of mine (one of the girls from above) on another day orders a fruit plate and I order a breakfast croissant. My food comes out before hers and I wait before eating my food. But, awhile passes by and still no fruit... So finally we ask. No apology, and she says she's going to check on it. Finally it comes out about 10 minutes later. I seriously think she forgot to put the order in! Same day, I ordered a matcha green tea latte, and for some reason it tastes bland. Again, I approach and say that I think it's missing vanilla. Thankfully we got what we wanted at the end. I do like it here. They're the only ones that pop into my head that I can go to study at since they're open 24 hours. It is just a bummer that the max for internet usage is 2 hours and you have to spend x amount to get that tier. Also, parking is a little tricky. If you can find street parking right next to the restaurant, lucky you! Otherwise park in the garage, which is good...until it's raining =(
(3)
Malia M.

Cute venue , designed very cool. 24 hour spot with wifi as long as you buy something so technically it's not free and it's only a 2 hour usage . Good place for a college student to study like myself . Coffee wasn't spectacular but enough to keep me awake to get stuff done.
(2)
Nat N.

I think they need to remove the word "coffee" from their name because their coffee is definitely not the draw here. For one thing, it's $1.75 for a small. Seriously? Not only is that a hefty price for a cup of coffee, but the coffee tasted horrible. Their selection of pastries is virtually non-existent, and what they do have does not look appealing at all. I would like to revisit them again though, to try their sandwiches, since the Yelpers seem to like them. But I'm definitely not coming back for their coffee.
(2)
Tiffany O.

Open 24 hours, Kissaten has gotten really popular over the past year. I usually come to Kissaten to study, either alone, or with some friends. During the month of exams, I've noticed how busy it can get. I guess some people just don't want to go to the library to study. The food is good here too, btw! I usually order: - Grilled cheese and tomato bisque combo ($9?) - It is delicious!!! But the tomato bisque gets cold fast, and isn't appetizing so you should eat before you start studying! - Kissaten melt w/ clam chowder soup ($14) - I really love the Kissaten melt, which is just pastrami and melted cheese on sourdough. The clam chowder is really good too!! I recommend it, if you are going to get a soup. It is kind of pricey though, just for a sandwich and soup, but once in a while is okay. I'm not sure if this is what it is actually called, but I like to get the Strawberry watermelon italian creme soda? It is my usual. Also, my friend tried the mocha, or latte freeze and it was not good at all!! Warning you now!! I just don't remember if it was the mocha or the latte though. Also, I think if you want to use your card, you need to have a minimum of ($5). They also have stamp cards, but you need to ask for it. You also need to buy something to receive the wifi password. One of the workers told me that the orange counter receives 2 hours of wifi, while anywhere else only receives 1 hour. I obviously complained after I found this out (because the counter was full), so she just gave me 2 hours instead. lol. The interior and ambience of the "coffee shop" is really nice. I think they play a wide variety of music, from old school, to korean pop or japanese pop. I think it all depends. There is free Kissaten parking available in the garage of the KHON2 news building, or I think it's closer to just park across the street at Ala Moana and walk over. Overall, I love coming here, when it's not busy. For food, studying, or some chit chat with friends, this place is a good spot!
(4)
Emily R.

So I have been to Kissaten a few different times and have really liked it mainly because it is open 24/7 and they have Wi-Fi. There are not too many places on island that stay open late at night so its definitely a plus. Now to use the internet you do have to get a password for two hours of time but its not that bad you just have to ask the counter for it. I've tried a few different things food wise. I get the grilled cheese with the tomato bisque soup now almost every time. I have also tried their cheese cakes and for the price they are actually very good. The drinks there are about average but not too bad. I would say some of the food and drink items are a little bit pricey but business wise its a smart decision on their part so I understand it to a point. Because most of the people who are coming in here stay for quite some time and want to use the internet. You just have to find the right things to get. There are always people in there no matter what time of day or night but it is never really super crowded which is nice. The workers are EXTREMELY casually dressed so it seems to be pretty relaxed on the management side of things....but that is not necessarily a good thing. Some of the workers should probably be wearing a little more. Saying that all of the workers I have come in counter with have all been very nice and helpful. If you need to park there is not really any parking so that can be a pain but I normally drive so it doesn't really affect me too much the bus stop is just right across the street at Ala Moana so not too long of a walk. All around this place is for sure worth a stop in when you need a place to study or just hang out. :)
(4)
Shay F.

Aiye. I'm feel the hate coming already. Yes...i'm giving this place 2 stars because I just can't get myself excited to go back. It's conveniently located for me, so location isn't a problem. It's the food. I've never been satisfied with their food. What topped it off was the fruit cup that I got. I thought, how can you screw up a fruit cup. Well, they can. It tasted like rotten fish. Yes, rotten fish. We told them that they should yank the rest of the fruit cups off their line up, but they kept them there to sell rotten fish fruit cups to others. *yuck* They gave me a yogurt cup instead since I told them about the fruit cup rotten-ness, but that was blah. Nothing special. Will I go back? Probably for drinks since it's in my neighborhood, but I won't be eating anything. Yelp 365 Challenge #139/365
(2)
Thomas F.

Came here for the first time today. Good vibe, good food, good drinks. Crowded, but only because its a good place to study. Only thing is, minimal areas for parking
(5)
Masato I.

A Japanese term meaning tea house, Kissaten seems modeled after the small corner shops in Japan where people get coffee, breakfast, and light fare, but not typically dinner. This shop takes it the next step with having some creative original dishes that accompany their staple menu and being open 24 hours. Week nights and Sundays, it can get a bit crowded with people studying and working on their laptops. With that said, it's not a great place to study solo as it does get a bit noisy and the wifi is limited in duration per purchase. Perfect for group projects if you can grab one of the few big tables. Breakfast is served from 6:00 to 11:00 am and that's my favorite time to come. Their scramble burrito and smoked salmon bagel (toasted w/ cream cheese, greens, capers, and cherry tomatoes) are my favs. The pastries and belgian waffles are a bit sweet for my taste, and I wish the drip coffee was a bit more bold and it is a little expensive for what it is. Panninis and the Tomato bisque are also awesome for the lunch offerings. The shop also consigns some local artwork available for purchase and I picked a beautiful painting of Lanikai off the wall for $150... which I thought was a steal for a hand painted original. (cash only for the art) Parking on Piikoi and a few spots in the KHON building marked for Kissaten, or hurdle some homeless if you walk from Ala Moana Center.
(5)
Sara A.

Terrible. Absolutely terrible. I brought my other half here after getting such good reviews from friends of mine. We ordered peach tea and bread pudding and the cashier told another worker to heat up the bread pudding. After 5 minutes my boyfriend got his drink which was pretty delicious and I still have yet to receive my bread pudding. The worker that the cashier told to heat up the bread pudding left the store, the cashier and a few of the other workers were eating, and I still didn't get my order. After about 15 minutes of trying to keep my cool I went up to the cashier and asked for my bread pudding, her response, "Oh yeah!!" Oh yeah? Seriously? 20 minutes for something so simple!! Anyway, as my boyfriend and I were walking back to our car, we took a bite of it and spat it out. It wasn't warmed and there was no flavor. Next time I want bread pudding I'm going to Zippy's.
(1)
Alicia D.

I really like Kissaten. Its a great place to go thats open 24/7. They have good food and drink selection. They are usually very friendly and quick. I am a fan of the pesto melt and their salads. They also have a few reserved parking spots in the building on the KHON side which is nice except you still have to walk around the building. Parking on the street can be difficult otherwise. I really love the decor. Its a great vibe in their to get things done. They could do with more seating options though. The Ice cream bar is a little weird for me but its a cute idea. I didn't give it a 5 because they got stingy with the seating and the wi-fi. Its really annoying to come in to work on my computer to have all the tables blocked off for only people to eat at and it doesn't count if you order food and want to sit there and then work. The bathrooms are a mile away and are not always clean or stocked. The prices for some of their products are too high but some others are very good. I will continue to recommend this place to anyone.
(4)
Lexi H.

Cons: slow service, lacking customer service, parking Pros: many electrical sockets, quality food and coffee drinks, spacious, 24 hours
(3)
Kate T.

My biggest problem about this place is how to find it and parking. It literally took me 15 extra minutes just to find parking and I parked at Ala Moana. Other than that this place is super cute. They have a full menu of food and cute coffee drinks. The drinks were okay but not good enough for how much they were charging. I also had to wait 20 minutes for two drinks. It was kind of rediculous. I wouldn't come here again.
(3)
Kim C.

Good portion sizes, good value, cool atmosphere and nice service. The Big kicker...it's open 24/7! I first had a taste of Kissaten through a Yelp event. I didn't know that everything was served to us was sample size. So the next time that I went I ordered a bunch of stuff. I couldn't finish my first order, tomato bisque and cheese sandwich. The first time I bit on the cheese sandwich, I was surprised to find apple bits inside. It complemented it well and saturating it the tomato bisque made even more delicious. Of course I always have room for dessert. The frosting that they add to the butter mochi is just the right amount. Soft, fluffy, and adds a nice touch. I'm still searching for my favorite drink here. I've tried the mocha freeze and latte served hot. They were alright. But I know I'll keep coming back for the tasty food. Yelp Challenge 365: 19/365
(4)
Fagatron P.

The biggest things going for Kissaten Coffee Shop is that it is open 24 hrs, and is clean. I've been there multiple times, different hours (9am, 3pm, 8pm, 11pm) and they always have been busy. As other yelpers have stated, the staff does, at times, have ATTITUDE (look honey you work with the public, so lose the TUDE). Lastly we come to Price; can see say Expensive, even for Hawaii. But I guess you have to pay a premium for 24hrs availability and a good location.
(3)
Naomi L.

I love Kissaten! I have taken or met up with multiple sets of friend here and have always had a good time. It's so nice that they are open 24 hours! I mean really, there are so few places that you can go to study late night or a fun place to meet up after 9pm. I've heard bad things about the parking in the KHON building (like people getting theirs cars scratched or whatnot), so I usually park on the street or at Ala Moana and then walk across. If you park in the KHON building, there is a passageway between the garage and the back entrance near where the bathrooms are. They have steadily increased their seating to include several different types (high tables, a counter, smaller tables, larger tables, couches), which is nice, and lots of plugs for people with computers. I personally enjoy sitting on the super comfy/soft/squishy/awesome/grey couches the best. The art on the wall also changes from time to time (I think you can actually buy the art), which is nice since it's great to feature local artists. The menu has changed ever so slightly since I started coming here, but is always good and they have tasty vegetarian options. I also like the pastry case, which has everything from donuts to tiramisu (all are yummy). Best of all = the hot chocolate. When I'm in the mood for a good cup of hot chocolate, I go here. Seriously, it's that good. I'm sorry, I like Sbux for a lot of things, but they don't do hot chocolate any justice. I dunno what goes in it, but I certainly love it! In addition, they have a huge array of flavored syrups for Italian sodas. I tend to always get passion, but I'm sure other flavors are good too. They have a stamp card, which is nice for frequent flyers. It's $45 to fill it up, which seems like it takes forever since the prices are reasonable. You can redeem it for 1 drink of any size and it's doesn't expire for more than 1 year (not like Coffee Bean, where the card seems to expire more quickly). At first I thought "what a strange name for a coffee place." Then my friend told me it was like the phase "to kiss a ten" (you know, like a ten on the attractiveness point scale). Then, Wikipedia tells me that kissatens are popular coffee shops in Japan where students and salary men go. Whatever, I like this place either way. In my mind, this place is definitely a 10/10 and I will be back kissing or otherwise! (Sorry that was a bad joke, I couldn't figure out a more clever one right now :p)
(4)
Monica B.

This was one of the places that my mommies group would gather, and the staff was always so friendly and welcoming to us. We would drink coffee, some people would eat meals (the food is surprisingly very good for a cafe), and just chat for an hour or two here, fairly often. We were never rushed out, and everyone was very helpful and service was great. Would highly recommend for a nice spot to catch up with a friend, do some work, or grab a quick bite to eat. Their croissant breakfast sandwich is delicious!
(4)
Amy Y.

A best place for late night talk! I wanted to try the drinks here for a while. I ordered the green tea latte (hot). I didn't really like it. It was mixed in with too much water. I couldn't taste the green tea flavor. So very disappointed. Sigh. I tried my friend's green apple Italian soda, that was good. Maybe I'll try something else next time.
(3)
Lei N.

After dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, I wanted to get some ice cream. As I looked up on Yelp! what places that had ice cream were open that late, this one of the places that showed up. I hadn't been here and I've been wanting to for quite a while. There's stalls in the garage in the same building it's located (by KHON). The stalls are marked off for Kissaten customers and for KHON guests. Inside the shop, there were a bunch of students sitting at tables lining the walls mostly. I guess they didn't want to be in the center where everyone can see and less privacy. I'm just guessing. The menus were up behind the counter. Another one to the right as you wait in line and a special's board propped to the side on the left. We saw they had ice cream listed for $2 but flavors weren't listed. I got coffee ice cream in a cup and Gail got a chocolate ice cream cone. After we ordered we waited around at the front but he said he'd take it to us. We took a seat by the pillar. I liked the interior of the place. Seems cozy and a place I may want to come and study if I wanted to. He soon came with our ice cream. Ice cream is cream, nothing special with theirs. We sat there talking until we were done. I took my cup up to the front where the other dirty dishes were because I didn't know what else to do with it.
(3)
Emi H.

If Kissaten was a girl, then I'd have to slap her upside the head because my boyfriend would be having an affair with her. But thankfully for Kissaten (and my BF) this is a cafe and I won't need to break out my box of Samoan love. We both work out of the house and when he is in need of a place to work for a few hours he heads to Kissaten. I met up with him for lunch at Kissaten and found him set-up with his Macbook, iPad, iPhone on a table while he made phone calls. I'm not saying I'm jealous but...I pondered the question of: "What does Kissaten have that I can't provide at home?" +My BF's Brain: Grilled cheese sandwich and homemade tomato bisque +My Brain: Hey buddy, I can make you a cheese sandwich and this can of Campbell's soup has got your name written all over it. You'd better watch it or the can will be flying at your head pretty soon. +My BF's Brain: Yummy coffee drinks +My Brain: Oh so you're saying that you my Mr. Coffee just isn't cutting it? Are you saying that I'm fat? +My BF's Brain: Peace and quiet +My Brain: You know who gets peace and quiet? People in comas who've been hit in the head with soup cans. That's it. You're watching the baby tonight!!!
(4)
Sheylei B.

Modern spot to hang out with friends and get a bite to eat, free WiFi, and great service
(3)
Zeus R.

I should give 0 star but I gave 2 stars just because of their food. There is no doubt that they got good dishes. The problem is only teenagers could enjoy the atmosphere. If you are 20 years old and above, it might not be a good place to go and try to study. It is noisy and crowded even after 10 pm. Most of the tteenagers don't care about others privacy, basically all the teenagers go there to hang out. If you really want to study, Starbucks is the better option for you. Starbucks is in the different class of coffee shop and you could see more mature people.
(2)
Gary N.

I never thought it would happen: A 24 coffee place in Hawaii!? What a excellent idea! Besides coffee, this place has a lot of other things to offer. My sister and I stopped by here a couple of nights ago and we ordered two bowls of pho, a fruit salad, a guava cake, and a small vanilla steamer. The fruit salad and guava cake were already ready, so we tried these first. The fruit salad was good, but interesting because the fruit was cut really small. The guava cake wasn't that great because it was dry. The phos and the vanilla steamer arrived shortly after. The pho arrived with all fix ins of basil leaves, cilantro, onions, sriracha sauce, hoisin sauce, and thinly sliced rare beef steak. I enjoyed it. It was pretty good for only $7. The vanilla steamer was just ok though. It wasn't as good as I hoped. It had many bubbles in it and wasn't frothy. Overall, a good place for some expresso, sandwiches, soup, pho, or pastries late at night or anytime during the day. I really like this place as it gives more choices late at night. #Yelp 365 - 25/365
(4)
Jeffery A.

Wasted my time on this one. Gonna make it a quick review: Grilled cheese and tomato bisque: grilled cheese panini, Gouda rubbery, overpowers the cheddar, and if it sets, it just one clammy mess. Tomato bisque? Nice, so good that I dipped my cheesy (is there a pun here?) sand in it and it was eatable. Pesto mushroom pasta: wayyyyyy to salty, mushrooms were nice, grilled soft, but retaining a chewy consistency. Pasta, al dente, just fine. Once again, beautiful wife enjoyed it better dipped in the tomato bisque (she has always preferred tomato base vs. basil). Place is nicely situated, plenty of room at 2pm. No one making loud noise, most seemed to be studying etc. There is a nice atmosphere, but the seating is a bit confusing with some tables marked for '1 hour only' but I guess with so many using the wifi, they have to keep the traffic flowing. Back ground music was some kind of acidic new age, I found unpleasant, and mostly noise. Just fluff. Had MNF on the overhead, enjoyed stealing a glimpse of Pats and Eagles, but most attention had to be on beautiful wife (more sophisticated taste buds than mine). Oh well, it was worth a shot, and by the way, the coffee? Ehhhh? Hit up Fresh Cafe, and tell me there is no difference. Restroom shared with KHON, clean but not spotless, but it was 2pm.
(2)
Jon T.

Kissaten is one of those cafes that I imagine in a movie: clean, quiet, and good food. I've come here for dinner a couple of times with friends, and despite each meal being around $10, the food I've had is warm and filling. Tomato bisque in a breadbowl or grilled cheese with bacon is a lovely thing to have on a chilly night with friends. I almost wish that Kissaten had a restaurant section separate from the cafe area, because the limited wait service, shortened menu and sometimes sparse seating keeps it from being a place that I would like to return to. If you're looking for a sit down cafe to study I'd say go for it, but it's definitely not a great place for groups. (which is a shame because I love the food and love eating with friends)
(4)
Eric M.

We went in a group to check this 24 hour coffee shop out mostly because Starbucks has been cutting their hours left and right. While it is bright and clean, there isn't much to draw us back. Admittedly, we didn't try the food, just the coffee drinks. Tastes more like McDonald's than Starbucks. At least the prices are reasonable - closer to McDonald's than Starbucks as well. Wifi is free for an hour with purchase. Others might not like this but I'm pleased. We could actually browse web pages. Compare that to "other" places that place no limits - too many people (some of whom didn't even buy anything). They have restrooms but going involves quite a trek down a lighted but usually deserted hallway. I do want to try the tomato bisque and grilled cheese sandwich. But I might have go by myself since my friends really don't want to bother going back.
(3)
Anna D.

*Update on another delicious thing on their menu... okay, i still wanted to try the salad .. but my unhealthier side of me decided not to. I was told that the breakfast wrap is good so i tried it.. YES IT IS! I cant even begin to explain the size of it! The eggs were fluffy and juicy and the apple glazed sausages were delish. It comes with spinach and mushrooms on a grainy wrap with a side of sour creme and salsa. Totally yummy and totally worth the money. however, I felt a little bad since this time i only spent a little over $10 and studied for almost 5hrs-its just that i was really full and couldn't eat anymore so i kept trying to add little things here and there. it's so hard knowing that i have to spend so much to spend time there. I feel bad and wish there was something that I can do. My goal is to keep them in business but also to not be broke. I'll have to improvise for now-- i'm looking at other options of places that i can study at and will dream of kissaten while i'm there. heads up, they've also started using a limit of wifi usage based on the amount you spend. my first purchase of the breakfast burrito and drink got me 2 hours. my second purchase of a bottled drink gave me another hour.
(5)
Gail S.

Finally got to this place after talking about trying it out for a long time, I tried the portabella mushroom sandwich and it was very yummy, I also tried the strawberry frappe and that was also yummy, kind of reminds me of strawberry nestle quik . I'm not sure if there's any other parking then street but I'd like to go back and try some of their other food and drink items!
(4)
Raych D.

Great little coffee shop that opens 24 hours...perfect for studying, relaxing, getting some alone "me" time and perfect for after the club eating. I've only had their coffee drinks because that's the only way you can access their wifi when you buy an item they give you their code on the reciept...only bad thing is that, the free wifi only last for an hour. It's located right across from Ala Moana and you can usually finding parking on the street of Piikoi or ground level in the Khon 2 building (but very limited). Space is pretty big and usually there are free tables for you to sit on...From what everyone has told me, they have awesome panini's and tomato soup but I have yet to try them!
(3)
Evanthia K.

After waiting for over 25 minutes for two sandwiches, we finally asked for it to go. We ordered the turkey bacon pesto sandwich and the vegi wrap...sounded good enough, but when we were back on the road and opened them up they were far from what we expected. Firstly, there was NO pesto on the turkey pesto sandwich! Just burnt bread and turkey with a few measly strips of bacon that were burnt. It was dry but soggy at the same time...how that is possible-I'm not sure. My vegi wrap was just full of soggy bell peppers. It was dripping with water and just a damp, soggy mess. The only reason I didn't give them one star because their coffee is great. Other than that, they're overpriced and the food is close to unbearable. DONT waste your time.
(2)
Todd T.

10:30pm and need a place to kill time for 2 hours because we had to do bug fogger in apartment. Not many options that late at night. Drove there hoping to find street parking right in front but no stalls. Then decided to go to parking lot and they have reserved stalls for the coffee shop. We each ordered a drink and played games on our phone watching the time go by. The late night crowd looked like college students studying, after movie crowd, and some guys playing their DS. Drinks are reasonable price and good. Would go there again if I need a late night spot to hang out other than a bar.
(4)
Rhi S.

I've heard a lot about Kissaten from my friends and finally got the chance to check it out. The first thing that bothered me was that it's on a one way street. We went at 11pm and had to drive around the block 3 times until we finally found a stall to park in. The employee said there was a parking garage but we couldn't find it, unless she was talking about the one at Ward, but that's a bit far. O__O I orded a Mocha espresso and the Strawberry Lemonade with an eclair. The mocha espresso was soo good! Better than Starbucks and Coffee Bean. The strawberry lemonade was a little too sweet for my taste, and the eclair was really hard which made it difficult to eat without using a knife but it was tasty. I like the who ambience of the place, but for 11pm at night, it was really packed and there was only one 2 seat table open. For the size, I think they could fit a few more tables. Prices aren't bad, and the food is good. It's great that it's a 24 hour place but unless it's less packed, I don't know how often I'd make the drive out here.
(3)
Anita C.

Came here for a study session and I won't be coming back. I ordered the Melt which was tasty and a passion tea lemonade which was okay but Starbucks is better. There was a 2 hour time limit for the wifi which they give you a special password for. There are tables in the middle of the restaurant which are reserved for dining patrons and there's an one hour time limit for that. I understand the time limits but seriously, that's just tacky to me. I mean that's why Starbucks is as big as it is, because they trust that people come in and spend money no matter how long they stay. Business people are great because they come in, grab lunch or a drink, have a meeting and go. Students stay a little longer however because they are staying longer, they usually order more drinks because they get thirsty and then they order food because they get hungry. This place is 24 hours and I'm not sure they give out the wifi password if you are ordering just a drink, so be sure to ask first.
(3)
Emma P.

Clearly I am not the target consumer here: I'm not on a mission to obtain internet connection beyond my own home, my bedtime is before the evening news, and I'm about ten years too old to hang -- but sometimes a girl just needs a grilled cheese sandwich and side of soup. The sandwich was great (and my boyfriend is always happy when sandwiches come with surprise!bacon) but the tomato bisque was too sweet for my taste (although my tastes are admittedly low brow... Safeway Select all the way!). I went for a Thai latte against my better judgment as well and paid for it dearly (i.e. restless sleep). Delicious drink, but caffeine at 7pm is a no go for this lady. I will be back. To drink my coffee at a reasonable hour, mind.
(3)
Amy L.

The quality of the place is great and the service is awesome . It's a pretty good quiet place to study despite the overhead music (heads up if you're one of those people who needs absolute silence to study) except .... The food is expensive . Not sure if to worth it's money though.
(4)
Loren O.

I had an hour to kill the other day so I decided to stop by kissaten and get some work done. Cute little coffee shop-- lots of tables, not too loud, yummy food, resonable prices. The first time I came I had their turkey pesto melt which was pretty good. I think it was their aioli that made it stand out :] I also got to try their truffle mac & cheese which was good. This time, I decided to try one of their "new items", so I got the peach iced tea. Sooo refreshing! They put two slices of peach in there too to add some flavor. I'd go back just for the tea! I had an issue trying to connect to use their wi-fi, but that might have just been me and my non computer skills self :p Parking seems like it could be kind of tight.. theres some meter stalls on Waimanu St that you can park at, or I ended up just parking at Ala Moana and walked across the street :p
(4)
Mark M.

What's this? A 24 hour cafe across the street from the biggest mall in Hawaii? How could I pass this up? After reading some very positive reviews (and looking at the pictures of the food) I wanted to give Kissaten a go. Now keep in mind that my gf and I came in on the day after the tsunami. The place was empty except for about four other patrons and it seemed like they all had placed and received their orders. It took about 15 minutes for the girl at the coffee bar to make our two drinks and about half an hour for our food to come out. We had ordered the smoked salmon bagel and the breakfast omelette. The girl apologized to us for the long wait and stated that they were backed up from last night. What they could possibly be backed up from is a mystery to me. Maybe they had to shut down because of the warning and they were trying to recover from that at ten in the morning? I don't know. She wasn't the most friendly of people, but at least she apologized. The cafe itself is pretty nice. It's got a Halloween type orange and black theme going on and there's lots of space with lots of tables and outlets for power. In the end, it's another cool place to hang and grab a drink while getting some homework done. I just hope the food won't take so long next time, but I think that's par for the course according to the other reviews. And those reviews were made when there was no tsunami in sight.
(3)
Kevin C.

Oh happy day! Open all day errrday! Finally somewhere that can satiate my insomniac study habits. Tucked away in the corner of the KHON2 building on Piikoi, Kissaten is 24 hour cafe that offers both drinks and food. There is a special-limited menu for 'late night' after 9pm. I've gotten the Caramella, which is an espresso drink with caramel, and a Strawberry Italian Soda. I enjoyed the soda a lot! It was not too sweet and the syrup was pretty tastey. They print out Wifi passwords for you with your purchase. It only lasts an hour. Sucks, I know. What can you do in just an hour?!? I want me some free wifi please, Kissaten!! Seating/parking are the biggest problems for this place. It can get pretty damn busy. Came here on a Sunday night at 730PM and every seat in the house was taken. Left to grab dinner and came back around 10PM and luckily scored a big table for me and a friend. Parking spots are available in the KHON2 building lot... if you're lucky. There are about 4 stalls marked with a Kissaten sign. Lucky enough, street parking is freeeee after 6PM. Overall, a good place to study. Why 3 stars? Just need to work on the seating and internet situation. Those are really important for a place I study in. If you like to study in the quiet, this place is anything but, so bring good headphones.
(3)
Sunhee K.

This is one of my favorite places to study. My only complaint is that it gets pretty loud. There are conversations permeating the cafe, music playing on the speakers, and the ubiquitous sounds of the blender gears grinding. However, noise aside, it's a pretty neat place. I enjoy studying here! I feel happy knowing that I can stay as long as I want. I don't have to keep checking the clock as I would at other coffee shops near the usual closing times. I feel motivated seeing other people with books open and laptops out. It's nice that if I'm hungry, I can grab a bowl of their infamous tomato bisque soup. Even when it comes to Wi-Fi, the staff is very generous with printing out new slips of the Wi-Fi username and password. Kissaten is in a really convenient location - right across the street from Ala Moana. If you subscribe to the Sunday paper, you can always find awesome coupons in the "Dining Out" section. Sometimes it's hard finding seats near an outlet, but now that it's summer, it's been a lot easier. Overall, I think the teas are better than the coffee here. Stick to the teas :) Also, just to reemphasize, when it comes to food, get the tomato bisque soup! If you like the one at Nordstrom, you'll love the one here.
(4)
Pam H.

Food is great there. Not to metion the specialty drinks - hot or cold.
(4)
Suellen G.

One of the best late night places to hang out. I simply adore their late night udon soup.. simple awesome. Only complain is that sometime the late night staff blast their music a bit too loud for me to relax. I still love this place !!!
(4)
Richard H.

This is a hidden gem, among so many great restaurants in the Ala Moana area. I love their soups and salads and friendly service. Their location attracts a young, professional crowd (may be some executives from KHON). You order your food at the counter, they give you a number, then personally deliver your meal to your table. This location offers espresso drinks, Italian sodas, but no alcohol :( Get the salmon salad, which features smoked salmon over spring mix, walnuts, and bacon bits.
(4)
Jay C.

A pretty famous place to get something to eat, study, drink coffee, talk story. It must be written about in japanese tour books because there are quite a few tourists as well as exchange students who frequent this place. Lighting is a little dim, but there are plenty of places to sit. Parking is probably one of the downsides to this place. It can be really tough to find a spot inside the garage (only select stalls are for kissaten). Street parking is metered up to a certain hour. Also, bathroom is down a concrete walkway which was safe but might bother some late at night. Music is a plus, not too sleepy. While I was there, they played Zedd/electronic as well as some hip hop (common, etc). Volume is just right-not too loud to bug the crap out of you, but just enough to create ambient noise. Another plus is the hours to this place. you can always burn the midnight oil here!
(4)
Susan W.

Finally tried this place out and depending on what time you go, it gets pretty packed. I came here with some friends at like 11pm and we had to wait maybe 15-30mins for a table. We were complaining about the people who grab a table and literally, they are sitting there ALONE with 3 empty chairs. Seriously. It gets on my nerves too, I mean be more considerate. If you're here by yourself, at least sit on the counter or something, but don't go hogging a table because some other people might actually use all the chairs...... Anyways, we wasted some time by going to the bathroom in the back. The hallway looked like some kinda alleyway and they joked around that it was haunted or something. Pshhh. When we came back out, we were lucky enough to grab a table. We weren't that hungry for food, so we got drinks. My friend and I shared a white mocha and omg, it tastes better than Starbucks to me lol. Or maybe that's because the barista messed up on my drink earlier that day but whatever. If I was in the area, I'd def. come back here just for this drink...and maybe try their other stuff.
(3)
Angel L.

I enjoyed the atmosphere of the cafe immensely. However the food was a bit lacking for the price. We ordered the Truffle Mac and Cheese to split, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. It lacked simple seasoning, if they had added salt and pepper it might have perked up. On retrospect, it might just be how they serve the food? Because my Clam chowder was very dull as well. Perhaps they lack salt and pepper on purpose so customers can season to taste? If that's the case, please don't. There is a difference between salt to taste and nothing there in the first place. The sandwich I ordered was the Turkey pesto, it was pretty good as far as melts go. However I wasn't expecting the fried egg I received on it. Maybe I didn't read as thoroughly the ingredients as I should have? Or maybe it was a surprise addition? All in all, it was alright. I would go back, the service was friendly which made up for the foods lack in seasoning. The prices though; two sandwiches, one with a combo and a side of Mac and cheese should NOT equate $35 dollars. For that cost I could have went some where where they seasoned the food.
(2)
Lance K.

Kissaten is great for lunch, dinner and open late nights. I often come here right before an exam to do some last minute studying (aka cramming lol), but this place is one of my favorites. The baristas are always friendly and usually pretty quick when it comes to drinks and food. Be careful though, when finals weeks and midterms come around the place is swarmed with college students. Their menus differ depending on the time you go, the day time menu is similar to most cafes, with salad, soup and sandwiches. The late night menu is a condensed version of the lunch menu and the late night menu begins at 10pm. My absolute favorite from the daytime menu is the truffle mac and cheese or the turkey pesto sandwich!! From the late night menu my go to dish is the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. My only gripe with Kissaten is the seating arrangement. The tables are kinda small making it difficult to study and maneuver when you are studying as a group or if you just have a lot of books out.
(4)
Lyn L.

Met a friend there for lunch on Monday....Kissaten is clean, airy and pleasant....the owners were working and very friendly...nice that they make it a point to visit with the customers...and made sure I got the code to access wifi. I had the pastrami sandwich...served with a nice tossed salad....it was good! My friend had the portabello mushroom sandwich...he enjoyed it too... Parked at the mall and crossed the street...easy jaunt... They were out of a lot of their specials...the only thing is I wish I'd seen the specials before I'd ordered....the board is up on the wall, so didn't notice it until I'd allready ordered and turned around.... I'd go back....
(4)
Brandon Y.

This is a great place to study at and they're open 24 hours. It's located in at the bottom of the Hawaiki Tower next to Ala Moana. They have a few stalls in the lot that you can enter from Piiko St. or you can park in the metered stalls on Waimanu St. There are lots of seats but it does get crowded since people that study tend to stay there for awhile. I've never had the coffee here but the food is pretty good as long as you're eating during the day, their night menu is not that great. I love their turkey pesto melt (the aioli in it is really good) and the truffle mac and cheese. The tomato bisque is good but is a bit sweet. Prices are very reasonable for the amount and quality of food that you get.
(4)
Priscilla N.

24 hours of studying with food and drinks? Say what?!! Pretty much that is the main reason why I venture out here. I can study without worrying about going somewhere to fill my (ALWAYS) hungry belly with some grindz any hour! My favorite has to be the tomato bisque. Yum yum! Bummer is that the internet is only for 2 hours. When I'm studying and have constant need internet service, I tend to ditch this place for Starbucks for this very reason. Come on coffee shops, we need free unlimited internet service! I know why you do it (so we spend more!!), but coffee shops and unlimited internet go together like lungs and air! PARKING Tid bit - There are reserved spots marked with the Kissaten sign. But....from 10pm to 7 am, there are additional spots that Kissaten customers can use. They have a map in the cafe. Otherwise, you may refer to the picture section and look at the picture of parking map posted. Go ahead, look.
(4)
Nikki G.

It is a nice place for small group meetings, studying, working and more. They have internet access and outlets to plug into. Assortment of food, snacks and drinks. Not many choices of food for a vegan but they will make adjustments if able to accommodate for a vegan or vegetarian. Staff seem friendly and helpful. It gets really packed in the evening to the point that there is no seats open to sit and work! I find that during the morning and early day is the best time to go in to work. It is also quieter during those times as oppose to the later hours when groups of people come in. It can get pretty noisy but still manageable environment to work in as long as you can find a seat! Best part is that this place is open 24 hours a day! It is also open on most holidays! Not sure they ever close!
(4)
Janice H.

K, I get it ... you're da only competition in town dat people can come, order drinks/foods, and study/relax 24-7. Starbucks closes anywea from 10 PM - 12 AM, depending on wat day it is, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is anywea from 9 PM - 10 PM most days, and Fresh Cafe closes at 11 PM mostly everyday. You fill da niche fo' da crackheads like me who like fo' study late. I get it. BUT, it no mean you have permission to treat your customers like we are DOE special ed students! Your passive-aggressive tendencies are beginning fo' infuriate and irk my friends and I who come to your establishment and purchase meals/drinks on a regular basis. Last week, a friend ordered your grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup combo ($9). She asked for an extra spoon, and the lowly peon gave her attitude while demanding to know, "Oh, why are you asking for that?" (To shove it up someone's ass, watchoo tink?). Btw, your tomato bisque tasted like a combo of SpaghettiOs and Ragu sauce that night. My home dial-up internet service back in da mid-90's was way faster den da current wi-fi you have now, sadly. On another occasion last week, I saw wat appeared to be da supervisor/owner consulting w/one of his employees and overheard him keeping tabs on which tables ordered drinks, did this certain person order something, etc. Hey, Drink Nazi Police, pull ovah! Yes, I get you're a business and it's difficult to conduct it in a state dat has laws, regulations, and taxes dat are small business UNfriendly, but treating your customers - regular, loyal kine - with such derisive, passive-aggressive, and UNaloha attitudes is a not jiving well with me + other customers. You're not gaining fans, but grilling customers who request an additional napkin and/or utensil like they're wanted fo' first-degree murder. If you no like give out one extra utensil/napkin, just say so! No make da customer feel bad fo' requesting it! I love your turkey pesto melt ($9, thinly sliced turkey breast, bacon, mozarella, and pesto aioli on foccacia bread) + grilled cheese sandwich ($6, cheddar + Gouda cheese, bacon + thinly sliced Fuji apples), but am willing to give it up in order fo' study at home, at other national chain coffee shops, etc. just to avoid you.
(2)
Alice A.

Perfectly fine. Good soup and sandwich combo and tasty grilled cheese sandwich. I am pretty sure they use Campbell's soup because I saw cans in the kitchen. Service is a little slow but it is open 24 hours, which is good for students.
(3)
Gspot H.

Seems to be a chill WiFI Food lounge spot for humans. comfortable. Nice Humanoids behind counter. They usually have 2 soup offerings which are always good. Healthy Choices. Not sure the best parking scenarios, so don't holla.
(5)
Reimi D.

I've been to Kissaten a few times now, the last time being about a week or so ago. It's always the same, somewhat underwhelming. I mean, the decor is nice with all the art work, and it's a student hang out so there are always students looking intently into their laptops. That's cool. The food is alright too, but it's like there is always something missing. It's never a perfect experience. When we were there last they had a sign on their menu indicating that they were serving yakisoba so my hubby asked a question about how it would be served (just a plate of yakisoba?) and the girl behind the counter didn't know so she asked one of the cooks in the back who said that they weren't serving yakisoba. Apparently they forgot to take the sign down. Fine. So my hubby ordered one of their sandwiches only to be told that they're not serving those yet. So he ordered the egg white frittata. I ordered the breakfast burrito. Now mind you, even though there was just the girl working in the front, they weren't busy. So she brought out my hubby's dish first and then about 5-7 minutes later, mine. One of my biggest pet peeves EVER is when our dishes are not brought out at relatively the same time. After she dropped of my dish, instead of going straight back to get the fruit and yogurt that we also ordered to share she let it sit there while she made a detour to wipe down tables and then fidget with the coffee machine. After all of that she decided to bring us our yogurt. I don't understand, it's like she didn't have an understanding of priorities. Their saving grace was that the food was good. The service wasn't rude or anything like that but basic expectations were not met. And lastly, I think it's odd that a 24-hour place like Kissaten doesn't have a set all day/night menu like most places that are open 24 hours. If you're going to be 24 hours, and especially if it's a coffee shop, you should be able to order sandwiches anytime of the day, and the same goes for breakfast. Just my opinion though.
(3)
Courtney Z.

This place is horrible. The owner is extremely rude. Absolutely despicable. Worst of all, there was a roach in my seafood linguini.
(1)
Amanda F.

Love this place! I come here when I want to meet with friends for a late night coffee - but what's great is they also have amazingly delicious food options! I'm not the type that likes to go to the bars and drink, so this is perfect for me. It's open 24hrs! I see a lot of students using this place to study, which is smart too. I love the environment - they even have an ice cream parlor, which I have yet to take advantage of. I also love that they sell local artwork - usually displayed on the walls with artist information and sales prices. I plan to buy some for my new place eventually. The only thing is lack of parking - there are a few stalls available in the parking garage, but I usually park across the street at Ala Moana and walk over. Not too far of a walk at all!
(5)
Nicole M.

open till ... when? always?! how can you beat that. late night studying, after club snack, the options are endless. I can walk here so idk where other people park, but it's a cute little cafe with good amount of seating. I love their iced chai, Italian soda with creme, and my bf loves the tomato bisque bread bowl. did I mention my bf and I met here ? ^_^ so it's a bit of a sentimental spot, but in all honesty, the workers have always been nice and yes prices are a little higher, but it's what I'm used to with little LA coffee shop/lounges.
(4)
Vivian H.

Oh Kissaten, when you first opened you had a whole lot of promise. The short rib loco moco was SOOOO delicious (where did that go??) and the atmosphere the newest study spot. But something happened...something changed it definitely wasn't for the better. I had to schedule a meeting at Kissaten (work from home woes) and after not visiting for awhile, I was a bit taken aback by the many "Reserved" signs on the majority of the tables. The signs basically had a minimum # of people allowed at that table and for "Dining Only". When I had arrived, there wasn't an available table that DIDN'T have that reserved sign and I was meeting two other people. So the only thing I could do was sit at one of those tables seeing that there isn't anyone else there really waiting to "dine" and ordered my drink. When I received my drink, the barista kindly informed me that in case it gets busy and people show up to dine, I'll have to vacate the table. I can't really blame the barista since it wasn't her rule and she was just giving me a heads up. However, if the sign on the outside says coffee shop, it sort of implies a space for people to park themselves for a bit for whatever reason. The other issue I have is with their WiFi use. If you spend less than $5 then you only get 15 minutes of WiFi. And it is tiered from there. I get it, they don't want a bunch of people freeloading off the WiFi for hours on end, but this makes the place uninviting and not one that I would recommend to anyone for a study or meeting location. Thank goodness my company pays for my internet aircard or otherwise I would have 15 minutes to complete my meeting and bolt out of there before they yank my table away and give it to their long line of dining patrons... All in all, it isn't a welcoming spot for anyone needing a place to work/study/meet. There are other options that don't involve paying their WiFi meter-maid in overpriced and mediocre coffee in addition to the metered parking on the street next to them. Honestly, to develop loyal patrons that will give up their (insert mainstream coffee shop name here) to come to your location, you need to build a friendlier and more welcoming environment. Word of mouth will pass a long and pretty soon you won't have to worry about all of those empty "Reserved for Dining Only" tables because then people would WANT to be there for the service and the food. Cuz seriously, you don't pull off the Angry Coffee Shop/Coffee Shop Nazi thing very well.
(2)
Steven H.

Pretty nice find the other day. Decent selection of coffee and food. Seemed to be a hangout for the local creative community with a lot of people working in sketch books or working on their MacBooks.
(3)
Ela M.

Quick and fast - phone order and ready in 5 mins. = Southwest Chicken Salad and Tomato Bisque soup combo. Perfect portion that kept my BF and I satisfied. And major plus.... It's a 2 minute walk / 1 bldg away from my sister'a place.
(4)
Michelle N.

Nice place, larger than I was expecting. There are a few stalls in the parking lot. The last time I went, it took a while to get my matcha latte. Probably between 5 to 10 minutes? That was kinda weird. Otherwise I found the service friendly. The matcha latte was good! Some of the outlets don't work for charging my phone, but I just moved to another outlet and it worked fine. Next time I'll try the tomato bisque!
(4)
Emi L.

One of my favorite places to study! Great atmosphere & good food (though a bit overpriced). The only major drawback is the wifi situation. You have to get a code & password for the wifi from the cashier. It's only good for up to 2 hours (usually), but most workers are nice enough to give you another if your time is up. TIP: the wifi is very, very, very slow when the place is crowded with people studying.. I couldn't even get to a single webpage the other night when it was crowded. I even asked for another code to see if mine was broken or something.. but nope, just too much traffic making the internet slow. I usually come to study here when my workload doesn't require a lot of internet usage. Also, the parking situation isn't the greatest.. sometimes it's hard to find metered street stalls, so I'll have to park in Ala Moana & walk down the ramp which takes a while. I heard there's stalls inside the Hawaiki Tower structure, but they are limited.
(4)
Mailani S.

We started visiting Kissaten before it got popular and in the beginning, it was a nice place. But quality has really gone down since then. My boyfriend and I went back today after a few months and ordered an Italian Cream Soda and a Vanilla milk steamer (which they've since taken off of the menu) but I was still able to order it. I have the steamer sitting here by me and it taste like warm milk flavored water. It's supposed to be 1. Vanilla and 2. 2%. I taste neither. I just...I can't bare to drink it... And for two drinks it came out to $7 which always irritates me when I feel like I waste money. My boyfriends Italian soda didn't have as much flavor as it could have. I haven't tried their food in months, but when I did try it (The Tomato bisque, Grilled Cheese and Breakfast croissant) -- all were delicious. But I also only ever tried their food once. Service is nothing spectacular. A lot of the girls are young and often don't seem to know what they're doing. Overall, you don't feel welcomed when you walk in. There's no connection. No chit chat. They just want to hurry up and get work over with. My boyfriend and I are photographers and seeing all the "art" -- and I'm using that word kindly -- on their walls, we asked (like we always do in cafes) how we could show our photography. We must have gone in three or four times to talk to the owner but he was never around and our number was always taken down by some girl and probably misplaced or not important enough to pass on. Finally we got someone to give up how they usually acquired their wall art and it was through a private art dealer. When we asked for his information, the girl at the counter called over to another girl (doing nothing) sitting at her computer at the food counter about what to do and that chick said she didn't want to give out his number. Understandable so again, we gave them our card and have not heard back, nor expected to. I've read a few reviews on how this place needs to up their quality of service and they're absolutely right. I've heard some stories from friends about how they were treated and it's slowly making me like this place less and less which is a shame because they had a good thing going there for a while. Especially with it being 24 hours and them having Wifi. You used to be able to buy one thing, ONE THING to have Internet all night. Now, you have to keep buying stuff after your hour of Internet is up, and frankly, I think that's ridiculous. Kinda sad. But hey, there are other, much better cafes on the island that are worth my time and money. And this place with it's mediocre atmosphere and over priced food and drinks, is unfortunately not.
(2)
jeffrey w.

Props cuz they were open on Christmas day and we were hungry. The truffle mac and cheese was not bad. But the pastrami sandwich? OMG. They put a grand total of 1 slice of pastrami on that bad boy. And it was a very thin slice mind you. Are you kidding me? A pastrami sandwich with only ONE slice of pastrami? My idea of pastrami sandwich is a big ass mountain of pastrami with bread as an afterthought. Now i wasn't expecting that but at least a few slices please. This was a joke. So don't order the pastrami unless you really like bread and don't like meat. Coffee was not bad.
(2)
Jessica M.

My best friend used to live in this building and I live right down the street, so we would find ourselves at Kissaten a alot more for convenience than anything. While we were there, we would normally order a drink and catch up for a minute before going off to wherever we were going. For this, Kissaten is awesome. Open 24 hours! If you want to use the internet here, expect to come early to try and scope out a seat. The seating, while very comfortable, is pretty limited, and is normally all taken by students in the evenings. The internet is free with a purchase, however you only get it for an hour. The food, while a bit overpriced, is pretty good, and when I asked for a vegan option on a dish, the chef who was working was more than happy to work with me to make sure I was satisfied! 4 stars on this aspect. The coffee...2-3 stars at best. It was just subpar after going to the coffee bean across the street. They only have one sugar free option, and it just tastes a bit watery. The staff are always friendly, and the atmosphere, complete with bookshelves and an interesting monthly-rotating art display, make up for what this place lacks. Definitely give Kissaten a try, but go early if you expect a seat!
(3)
Brent K.

This was a late night stop.Went with four people. Ordered all different dishes. Food was two stars. Three of my friends dishes were kinda junk. BUT my Pho was ok for a Japanese guy making it. LOL I like 24 hours places. Gives us refuge from the boring fast food joints. Even though the food wasn't good. Maybe I should try something different next time. I'll be back. If I park my motorcycle outside, At least I can see it.
(3)
Andrew G.

This is by far one of my favorite places to get a quick bite to eat. It helps that I've lived above it for the last three years and witnessed their growth. It always has amazing food and an awesome atmosphere! Whether its packed or just a few folks it always has a cozy feel. From coffee to diner and ice cream, they have it. My favorites include the breakfast croissant, turkey pesto melt, truffle Mac and cheese, and the pork fried rice. They get local artists to showcase their work so it gives it a trendy feel and keeps the atmosphere interesting. The manager/owner in very polite and she has done great things with the place over the last couple years. I always recommend it to folks when they're in the area.
(5)
Sharon V.

This is my new addiction! Food is very good and it has an energetic vibe without being too loud. Lots of young people studying and surfing on the internet. Free wifi! I always get the house salad which is a great portion, fresh and delicious. There pesto pasta and sandwiches are very good too. Tried their shaved ice which has a softer smoother consistency...chocolate flavored with mochi balls and a drizzle of choc syrup! Amazing!!!!!!!
(4)
Kevin B.

For people who know me, they know that Kissaten is my equivalent of the MacLaren's Pub (except that there's no booze), where I spend my time there reading/researching/watching movies/eating et al. I've basically tried everything on the menu and my favorites are the Kissaten Melt, the Pesto dishes, and the Truffle Mac and Cheese. If I am to fairly rate the food, I'd give it a 4/5. But it's not only about the food: Need Wifi? Just grab a Matcha freeze and a salad, and you've got two hours of internet. People nag that internet should be free, but then again some people just go there, take other people's seats, and buy nothing. If I were the owner, I'd protect my restaurant from these people by not providing them free internet in a similar fashion. Hungry after long hours of studying? There's a nice list of sandwiches, dishes, and salads you can choose from. Not to mention their daily specials. The setting is quite modern and [some of] the staff is quite friendly (especially Erin and Cat). Pros: Good food: Check. Wifi: Check. Setting: Check. Parking: Check. (Street, Hawaiki Tower, and Ala Moana Shopping Center) Cons: - Power receptacles to charge laptops/phones are limited to tables located next to walls, so plan your seat accordingly.
(5)
David D.

Joe Moore keyed my car!!!! Watch out if you're parking in the structure. The parking for Kissaten is missleading, because joe moore parking spot is on the opposite side of the pillar. if you park in his stall, he will key your car!!! WATCH OUT!!! Other then that, Kissaten is awesome!!! Anyways.... Joe Moore will key your car!!!! Watch out for his stall. The guy is a total prick. P.S: Found out that two other friends got their car keyed before too... So watch out.
(5)
Christa Lei S.

I like Kissaten because of the fact that it's 24 hours, and the fact that it's close to my apartment. As in, within walking distance. Problem about Kissaten is the food is mediocre. The risotto is not really risotto, rather cooked arborio rice with soup and vegetables.Not bad, but not exactly what I was expecting. And the drink prices are cheap, but for the price of a large, I get what would be equivalent to a tall drink at Starbucks. I'd rather pay more for more drinks. I'll give it another chance, but I def. won't have the risotto again.
(3)
Francesca L.

Came in for late breakfast on a cold & cloudy weekday. It's a great relaxing, chill environment, nice people, and good food. My friend and I shared something that I can't remember for breakfast and hot blueberry tea (yum). We chilled until it was 11 so we could eat lunch! Ha! Grilled cheese panino with gouda, cheddar, apples & bacon, with super rich and creamy tomato bisque. It was worth waiting for. If you're nearby and want a place to chill, check it out.
(4)
Dan R.

Big time fail. Went at 9:30pm on a Tuesday evening for coffee and a study session only to enter a coffee shop that had 7 tables reserved for dinning only. To top it off several of the tables required 3 or more people. The icing on the cake, patrons that were dining in non-reserved tables. Wont be visiting again when in need of a place to study or do work. Happily enjoying my free WiFi and Starbucks coffee as I write this. Hugs and kissessssss.
(2)
Brooke N.

ok..so I've been here before...last time I guess it was bad timing or they were trying to get the kinks out cause the food was just eh'. It was apparent this is the place where people like to hang out and "meet" because the place was packed!! This is my 5th time and I kept my fingers crossed when I walked int he front door...and sure enough I got a seat by an outlet...SCORE. The table was also by the window..double SCORE, I get to people watch as I take study breaks. The food definitely improved...the quality and a bigger selection. I love potato leak soup and they have it. So it's not exactly as good and creamy as CPKs (which is no longer on the menu)they got their own twist to it, it's got a poached egg. hmm interesting, different but it works! The highs...it's open 24 hours, cool place to hang out, they have a tv, there's a food menu (more than the average coffee shop scones and muffins) and a variety of drinks. The lows...the WiFi is limited and parking is minimal. I'll be back Kissaten
(4)
Jasmind T.

Loved the ambiance of this place, and their Jasmine tea rocked my socks, so why only 2 stars? Well, its a 24 hour coffee and tea bar where you can also get fancy soups and sandwiches, cookies, scones, muffins, cupcakes, or small entrees. They have a ton of outlets, ample seating space, and TVs throughout. However, I think their food is a little on the pricey side and they charge for their wi-fi services by the hour (you get an initial 2 hours for free if you purchase food though). That sucks seeing as how its attached to the KHON building and directly across the street from the Ala Moana mall (I'm sure you can hop on someone's wi-fi)! Its a neat little spot for the college crowd, or if you don't want to drop $6 for coffee at Starbucks. I'd hang out here to read and drink some tea, but if I want to take my computer along, I'll just go to the 1,000,000+ Starbucks within walking distance.
(2)
Kathleen G.

Update, Update!! Since April 8th (i think it says), they will be charging 4% tax if you pay with card.... so, if you have cash, use it. You can save cents! Also.... I didn't know until yesterday that it does matter where you sit in the cafe, if you want to jump in their wifi. I bought a drink and wanted to access their free wifi while in there. If I sit on the counter, it'll be two hours. If I sit on the couch, it will be one hour... Since I don't stay here longer than two hours, I don't mind. Even after those finds from yesterday's visit, I'd still come.
(4)
Leon D.

Kissaten is almost everything you can want in a coffee bar. Almost. It has excellent options for coffee and tea. Sandwiches, soups and even risotto if you need to get something to eat. Plentiful seating if you study by your lonesome or in a group. Just the right amount of ambient noise to keep you from losing your mind. Open every single hour of every single day. You can even park at Ala Moana mall and walk over. So why four-stars? Because the wifi isn't free. THE WIFI IS NOT FREE. Damn capitalists.
(4)
Mary H.

Coffee only slightly better than Starbucks but not as comfortable seating for meeting a friend. Food marginal. Great to have a coffee shop alternative to Starbucks but sorry it is not better coffee.
(2)
Michael S.

Wanting a nice breakfast and having given up on the trying to go to Koa Pancake house I decided to listen to a friends recommendation and try out Kissaten. I was surprised to find a very cheap breakfast which turned out to be pretty good. Parking: Apparently this place has a pretty good parking lot, but after going twice I still haven't found it. I've always just parked at Ala Moana (by Sears) and walked across the street. If you are parking the entrance is on Piikoi Street. Atmosphere: Kissaten is a pretty cool space. Very much a hip coffee shop with tons of place just to veg out and lounge. Service: Both times I've gone (the latest for breakfast) the service has been excellent. No wait and my food came out pretty quickly. Kissaten does have wifi(you have to ask for the print of the code) and being open 24hrs makes it one of better places to go late night. FYI kitchen food isn't served 24hrs to my knowledge. One thing to note the first order came out about 10 minutes before we got our second item. Price: The reason why I wanted to check Kissaten out for breakfast was because of the really cheap eats. You can get a $5 breakfast which includes 2 eggs, meat and rice. My girlfriend and I also choose the $8 breakfast burrito which was more then enough for one person to eat. Food: The $5 breakfast was pretty straight forward and nothing spectacular. It's the kind of cheap breakfast you would find in the industrial neighborhood which they might sell for $3. The breakfast burrito, which might be the most expensive item for breakfast, was pretty good. It was filled with egg, mushroom, spinach and a "Vienna" sausage type sausage link. I thought the breakfast burrito was pretty good and I'll probably go back for it. Overall: As a breakfast place I think Kissaten is a winner for a cheap and easy breakfast joint. You don't have to worry about long lines or filled tables to enjoy a nice simple no frills breakfast in town. Plus if you want to veg out with a coffee and some wifi after breakfast you probably could stay all day.
(4)
Edmar C.

Lately this place has been getting pretty crowded since college students have begun to acknowledge the existence of a 24 coffee shop. WIFI is free for every hour you pay for your item at Kissaten i.e. if you buy a $3.45 coffee then you will receive 3 hours of free WIFI. Parking is located within the first floor parking garage of KHON building. Parking can also be found on the streets. Plus one can park at Ala Moana and simply walk over in case there are no parking. Kissaten carries a studious and industrious vibe. Rivals Starbucks for their coffee-related products and comfortable atmosphere, but Kissaten carries a mini-restaurant for those hungry students in the wee hours of the morning. The workers today are generally warm and genial as you approached them. The chefs are calm and cool and, if you're lucky to find a seat near their cooking area, you get to talk stories with them. Be aware that service may be slow due to the amount of people ordering (there is a lot). There are tons of outlets throughout the room for people to plug in their computer, phone etc. Tables and chairs are movable to situate a small amount of people or a big group of people. Sofas and chairs to sit on. AC. Two TVs in which to watch a game or whatnot. Very artsy room.
(4)
Andrea J.

We went around 10pm on a Friday night. We wanted to avoid the long wait at other restaurants in town and settled for their "ok" food. The place wasn't crowded and there was no line to order. I chose the grilled cheese and bisque combo that I usually order and my boyfriend got the pho because it was the only other thing on their "Late Night Special's" menu. His arrived first, and it was beyond terrible. First of all, the pathetic stem of about 5 basil leaves were WILTED, and the green onions and bean sprouts were soggy. The broth was unusually dark and SOUR. The rice noodles were cut short as if someone has been already eating it. He had to douse it with Sriracha sauce for it to be even palatable. My bisque was nothing special. The grilled cheese was stale and it's crust was borderline burnt. We even got our drinks after our orders, after I had asked the server the second time for them. The service was abysmal. The girl at the register was also our server. I don't think 10pm is an ungodly hour for a 24-hour establishment so I don't think we deserved such an unwelcoming and unaccommodating treatment. She seemed as if she was on death row-- she was very tight-lipped and we didn't get a slight hint of a smile from her. If looks could kill, we would've already been dead. Whenever our orders were ready, we get an annoyed and dry "here." Needless to say, she got zero tips from us. I had to fight my urge to ask for the manager because we didn't want to end our night on an even more sour note. Overall, if we can give this place negative stars, we would. The food was unappetizing, and by far had the worst place we have ever gotten service from. I highly DON'T recommend this place. That was the last time we'll ever step foot in this place and we will be sure to tell our friends about our experience here.
(1)
Shelby A.

I was really looking forward to trying this 24-hour place. I finally did. Their service was okay, but it could use some improvement. It was almost like the young employees had no idea what they were really doing. We had a party of six and wanted to sit by the window in the corner. They told us we couldn't because we would be blocking the way (no, we wouldn't have because it's pretty spacious there). They didn't even allow us to move the tables and yet here comes a group of three that totally took over one section and moved the tables. Wth? One of the sandwiches we ordered was the Portebella (as they spelled it) sandwich. Half of it was only bell peppers, and the other half had maybe 4 THIN SLIVERS of portebello mushroom and more bell peppers. Not only did we send it back for more mushrooms, but it took them 5-10 minutes to bring the same sandwich back out with a few extra slivers of mushroom on the side without it. Okay, when you hear about a portebello mushroom item, you think of the whole huge mushroom right? Well, their excuse was that they were running low on the mushroom. Really? Then take it off the menu! We also had the grilled cheese with apple and bacon. It had 1 SHAVING OF A SLICED APPLE in it! Don't get me wrong, the food had flavor and was pretty good, but you can't fool people who love food and work at restaurants, except maybe if they're drunk and stumbling in at 3 in the morning. But seriously, if you plan to be open for 24 hours a day, please improve your service and ingredients. It was our first experience there and we don't want it to be our last. You have a good thing going with the hours, so hopefully the minor kinks get worked out. Your prices are pretty good, but don't skimp on the food.
(2)
Hiro I.

Good place to hang out and have a meeting. And it's 24 hours. Food and drinks are decent. Free wifi if you make a purchase.
(3)
Mika H.

I haven't written a review in a long time, but my experience here needs to be shared. Poor customer service at the end of my visit. The end is what matters, because that's what you leave with, so if not for this encounter, I would have given this place at least 3 stars. I like to try new places, especially coffee. I like coffee. The pictures from Yelp made me want to try the food, too, so we went in for a late lunch. I got the Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Bisque ($9). The bisque was a little sweeter than I would prefer, but it was still good. The sandwich was very interesting... two different cheeses with thin slices of apples and bacon (I took out the bacon, because sorry... just don't like bacon). The sandwich was grilled on a panini grill, and it was a pretty good sandwich. Overall I think the price is a little on the high end, but I tend to expect that sort of thing in the town area. I ordered an iced espresso. This is how I judge the espresso at coffee places. I'm not one for hot drinks, so I'll always get it iced. Their espresso is pretty good, not bitter if served right away, it has a slight sweetness in the crema. Pretty good. Here's the part that really put me off from this place. After lunch, I decided to buy an Italian Creme Soda. I went up and ordered, and the person who took my order, either the manager or owner, asked if I had a stamp card. I said no. So, he started one for me. Then, I asked, "What about my previous purchase?" "Oh, there's no back-punching." "But I just ordered today. He took my order." "We can't just punch cards for previous purchases, how can we be sure when you came or if you already had punches." "I have my receipt." "This is just a promotional thing. We're not required to give you a stamp card." That was the gist of the conversation. I was already pretty pissed, and he seemed upset himself (as he turns to the other worker and says, "We should just stop the stamp card thing"), but kept my composure. I work at a cafÃ©, and I have worked in retail for a long time. Is this really the customer service you provide to your patrons? Was I just not of the demographic you intend to have in your cafÃ©? Does that justify the way you treated me? Do you expect to expand your clientele if you treat ANY customers like this? EDIT: To be fair, they did give me the stamps for my purchase. My biggest gripe is the way in which the situation was handled. I've been working in retail/customer service for 10+ years, and I guess I'm used to places having a standard of operations. One person offers a stamp card, everyone should be taught to do so. That's something that could have avoided this, because the person who rang me up for the lunch would have offered me the stamp card as well. I thought this would be a great place to hang out with friends, since it's 24-hours. Not sure if I want to go back, ever.
(1)
Vanessa B.

I love this place. Starbucks used to be my favorite spot until I discovered Kissaten. I no longer have to struggle to find a table, there's outlets everywhere, great coffee, free wifi, food, and an ice cream parlor!!! The place is open 24 hours so i'm sure i'll be hibernating here come finals week.
(5)
Jonathan P.

For the past month my group of gym friends have been teasing my friend who practically lives at Kissaten. But one by one we went out of curiosity. Yesterday was my first time and today I'm back again! So Kissaten is located at the corner of the KHON2 news building and across of Nijiya near Ala Moana. I really like this place! What really separates this place from other coffee/cafe places is the ART! There's always a lot of interesting oil paintings, you can even buy it if you want (but it's super exepensive). Prior to my visit I read up on the beverages...luckily I don't really care for coffee! Besides the coffee they have a pretty large selection of food to choose from. The other day I tried their pesto mushroom pasta ($10) yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ and the grilled cheese and tomato bisque ($9) yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ . And today I had a chocolate Ã©clair yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ dishes were a little pricey but it was delicious. I especially liked the grilled cheese and tomato bisque! The grilled cheese had provolone and cheddar cheese with bacon and thinly cut up pieces of apple. Apples in a sandwitch?! Who knew that mix could be so tasty! They also have a stamp card where you get a stamp for every $1 you spend. Once you fill it up ($40) you get a free drink of your choice! So when you're buying something ask for a stamp card (if you don't have one) because they won't always offer you one. Another thing to keep in mind is to ask for a wifi slip whenever you buy something. Otherwise you can't use the internet and will have to buy something even though you may have just bought something! The best part about Kissaten is that it's open 24/7!! So it's a perfect place to come to study for a bit, hangout with friends, or recover from a hangover (they have a Pho that will surely sober you up)! Maybe this will be my equivalent to the coffee shop in Friends.. Just keep in mind that the parking in the structure is limited but there is street parking. Sorry guys I think I have to be the grinch who stole the parking stalls. I can't share where the structure is here! But feel free to message me if you want to know =) Oh and if you're going to stay past 2am DON"T park in Ala Moana, because they will chain up and close the lot! But there's a lot of street parking especially late at night. Yelp 365 Challenge: Review 3/365
(4)
Tiana I.

I come here for meet ups and to wind down after a night on the town. Last week, I had the Turkey Pesto Melt with Tomato Bisque and a Thai latte. Delicious! The Turkey Pesto Melt was spot-on. Great flavors that melded together and the Tomato Bisque was sweet and reminded me of cold summer nights in SF. I used to come here for the milk steamers with flavor shots, but I don't see this on the menu anymore and it makes me sad. The internet connection is pretty slow here. It's seriously faster for me to tether off the 3G from my Android. And the bathrooms are down this long, quiet, creepy corridor. Be a girl and go with a friend.
(4)
Kevin M.

Was here for lunch service was alright but the meal was even better. Simple 24hour joint more like a Starbucks that serves Zippy's food that's been gourmet-ed if that's even a word. Not sure if they have an on-line menu you can check out but had the Clam Chowder Bowl and Kissaten Sandwich which I ended up taking both home and still have enough for dinner and possibly tomorrow lunch get my drift on the size of the portions haha was awesome. They also serve coffee and tea like a normal cafe. Parking can be trying as they are located in Hawaii Iki Tower so parking on Waimanu St. (meters) not sure if building has any Customer... Should be back after checking out the menu more...
(4)
T Y.

Greatest pho I have ever ate in my life. And I grew up in vietnam! Maybe they should rename to Killapho! Anybody who likes, loves pho or even any type of noodle soup go down and try it ASAP! BTW they run out alot, so make sure you go early!
(1)
Robyn S.

Good idea, I love the feel of convenience this place brings. I'm pretty sleepless so I guess I feel suckered into being promised a home twenty four hours on the daily... which is awesome if you're a sleep deprived college student, a tweaked out drug addict... or me. Anywaaays, on my first visit I ordered: Matcha Latte and the Potato/Leek Soup. The latte didn't particularly pique my interest, semi-bland with very little matcha flavor, nothing splenda couldn't fix. The soup on the other hand... was on point like decimals, creamy, a nice hot temperature, and a soothing contrast to the cool blast of the ac that runs through the establishment. I really love the vibe of this place. I was also pretty bummed about the late night selection in comparison to the daily selection. Although it's understandable why you wouldn't offer fifty million choices at two AM in the morning... people love their choices! I feel determined to try this place out during the day to get a better feel of their culinary prowess. Don't break my heart Kissaten.
(3)
Natasha T.

I only went to this place once, but the ambience was really cool! Free wifi, laid back setting, art, etc. The menu seemed kind of limited, or rather you could only order certain things at certain times, so I wish I could go back and try more things. I ordered the mac and cheese (truffle i think?). It was honestly just okay, a little too rich for me. My husband ordered a sandwich and really liked it. (I think they are more known for their sandwiches.) Didn't feel in the mood for coffee or ice cream, but I loved that they had those options! Overall a really chill place to hang out, study, whatever and grab a bite.
(4)
Matthew R.

This is a good change from typical coffee shops. They also have a good local brewed coffee option (Kona-Waialua blend) that I like. I mostly only drink coffee or tea as this is where I go to town Sun mornings for a Japanese speaking group meet-up, but I did try the breakfast burrito once and it was tasty! Nice ambiance, artwork on the wall, seems to have a decent menu selection.
(4)
Maka I.

I really like Kissaten! :) ... Kissaten is a great coffee/tea place. It is very convenient in the way of computer/cell phone outlets and I really love it for this! :) ... It is really awesome cause it is open 24/7 so especially good for studying or working on projects ... have even been there for long hours studying and they haven't kicked me out even when I was out of it and didn't order anything for awhile, although some of the girls have attitudes. I love the couches cause I feel at home eating on a comfortable couch :) ... I don't drink coffee but the food, although not the healthiest is really good and the pastries are really cute. I love the tomato bisque soup! :) ... the prices are decent compared to most places and I really appreciate this. It's not a restaurant so don't expect anything fancy. When the guys bring out the food it comes out really fast. When the girls serve, it is not so fast and have even had a few of them forget my water entirely even after requesting it a 2nd time ... felt like they were kind of snubbing me for ordering a water for awhile and then months after I had been frequenting the place, one of the girls finally told me that I was supposed to get my own water. Glad I finally learned what they were huffy about cause I'd rather get my own water than deal with drama & attitudes. The owner of the place is super nice and gives the best service of any of them. I wish I could clone about 10 of him because he works really hard to make sure everyone has a great experience. He's really polite but not super social but then I think he must be exhausted from working all the time and overnight too. Make sure to take a jacket if you get cold easily cause the air is on high sometimes and I don't mind as long as I have a jacket. The music is sometimes a little louder at night too but probably to help everyone stay awake. The parking is a little limited as there is metered street parking and then paid parking in the back. But there's always the mall garage. Thanks Kissaten for providing a relaxing atmosphere to study in! :)
(4)
Jon R.

Interesting that they would be open 24 hrs. But that's the only plus I can see. Food was so so, prices a little high even for the breakfast special. Nothing to write home about.
(3)
Jared T.

breakfasts are awesome. I can't speak to the coffee or drinks but I definitely enjoyed the food ive had here. The Egg White Frittata (pronounced - free TAH -TAAAAAAAAA, emphasis on the TAAAAA for best effect) are consistently my favorite food here. A nice olive oil coat on egg whites with a touch of spinach and goat cheese. greatttt stuff. can't go wrong with it. It'd be nice if it came with a side of salad like the other dishes but oh well. the breakfast burritos - tortilla, egg, italian sausage, cheese and bacon - are not bad as well. they have a healthy flavor to them, which can be drowned away with the side of sour cream and salsa they provide. but i wouldn't say those are even necessary - i like the rustic flavor.
(4)
S E.

I had a totally decent hot chocolate and was surprised by how much I liked the art on the walls after being a bit underwhelmed by the space (it reminded me of too-large coffee shops in the suburbs in the late 1990s-early 2000s). I can understand why it seemed like a popular place for local teenagers.
(3)
Kristen C.

#61/365 Overall, 3.5. Came here because i was craving for some risotto and i had a $20 coupon to use. Plus, ive been meaning to come here anyway so might as well ;) i came around 11 and it wasnt crowded so that was nice, i was even able to snag some parking in their garage...sweet! You order at the counter and if u want to eat in they give u a number and you just choose your seat. I got the vegetable risotto for $9, kissaten salad for $5, pb choco chip bread pudding for $3 something and the small mocha freeze for $4.25. Food came out pretty fast since there was no one in front of me besides a guy that ordered a drink. As for the entrees, the risotto was good but it didnt even have vegetables, ONLY freakin mushrooms...i mean, it was good but if they say its a vegetable risotto then put veggies of call it a mushroom risotto. Another gripe was that for $9 it came in a small stinkin bowl! O_O. The salad we pretty good though, it had a balsamic vinaigrette
(4)
Tiffany H.

Basically, my first experience (other than the americano I ordered, which tasted kind of bad) at Kissaten was a good one. It was a cute hole-in-the-wall coffee shop and wasn't crowded like Starbucks. However, I'm writing because my second experience there was a bad one. I was very turned off by the fact that you can only get wifi with a purchase, and it's only good for 1 hour (I've read other yelp postings that it's 2 hours with purchase of food; 1 for drink). To add to that, you have a time limit as to when to use the 1 hour voucher by. To me, this is really inconvenient. Coffee bean has a 1 hour voucher as well, but you can save it and use it on any other day. Another reason I was turned off was the barista. When I asked her about the username/login for the wifi, she looked at me like I was stupid, and talked to me with a kind of rude/impatient attitude. Unfortunately, due to the wifi limitations, I probably won't be going back.
(2)
papaya s.

Had the turkey pesto melt on focaccia, potato leek soup, tomato bisque soup and house salad. $20 for a light lunch for two. The turkey pesto melt was good -- focaccia not too heavy, subtle pesto flavor, two slices of turkey, and some great bacon. Potato leek soup was served luke warm and with a strange hard boiled egg in it -- not a huge fan of that. Tomato bisque was topped with olive oil (?) and rather on the sweet side. Pretty good, though. House salad was OK, but nothing special. A roll came with either the tomato bisque or the salad. Nice decor, not too crowded at lunch time. Not a bad place, but not somewhere I feel compelled to return. Everything was just OK.
(3)
Zack N.

Good eats after a long night of drinking. Took it easy with a grilled cheese layered with apple slices and an iced coffee. I'd give it four stars if they cold brewed the iced coffee, rather than hot brew and cool.
(3)
Ethan T.

Here's something new... I'm reviewing Kissaten, FROM KISSATEN! This is like a new parallel universe I'm in! And it's only possible because (1) it's open at all hours of the day and night and (2) they have FREE WIFI! I've always dreamt of a world in which 24 hour businesses were the norm. Unfortunately beyond the world of Wal-Mart, this is but a dream. Kissaten however, helps bring that dream to the forefront of reality by making themselves available throughout the long 24 hours of a day. I've always wondered where I could go if I wanted to take a date out somewhere that wasn't creepy or closed at 11pm+. Kissaten will be one of those hidden gems I can now impress a date with instead of taking her home for a "cup of coffee." But I digress... Beyond the hours of operation, this place serves some surprisingly good food, their Kissaten Melt is delicious (though a bit pricey, minus a dollar or two and this thing is GOLD!). Their soups, impressive! Simple and yet well done, the two soups I've tried have been nothing but liquid soup porn oozing at the cusps of my love for soup. Their potato leek soup is divine, the poached egg is the cherry on top. The Tomato Bisque isn't even close to "marinara in a bowl," which of course I feel like most tomato soups live up to. This Tomato Bisque is creamy and yet tart, the two flavors blend well while the oil dressed blots dress the soup up nicely. Their drinks... leave much to the imagination. They're either watery or bland at times OR they're delicious one-off drinks that you can't get at your local corporate Starbucks. Depending on your waitress, the drinks are a mystery as to whether or not they'll turn out to be as good (or as bad) as the last drink you ordered. Their Italian and Cream Sodas are a good safe bet in my experience if you're just looking for something to compliment that order of food you're destined to try here. Parking, come after 6pm and it's free street parking. Come anytime before that and you're dumping quarters by the boatload (20 minutes per). Park at Ala Moana and you will save a few dollars but risk the minute chance that your car gets towed. Overall, I'm a fan. With all the deals going on (from those social coupon websites, Groupon maybe?) and the upcoming TweetUP for V-day, this place can be worth the try at a discounted price. INTERESTING TIDBIT: "Kissaten" literally means "cafe," but when used in dialogue in Japan, usually refers to a place you would take a date for casual reasons (i.e. getting to know each other). It is a common understanding that a male and female going to a "kissaten" is the same as going on a first date, as cafes are an acceptable place to interact with the opposite sex in a relaxed setting. Anyone want to take me to "Kissaten?"
(4)
Claire P.

good place to get fun coffee and drinks but for wifi and studying pretty loud and have to buy somthing every hour for new wifi password
(4)
Grace Y.

A 24 hour coffee shop in Honolulu! It's like a cross between Zippy's and a coffee shop. The location is very random (in the KHON building), but if you go late at night there's street parking and apparently Kissaten has parking in the building (but I couldn't find it). For a place where you can stay as long as you want, the coffee drinks are actually quite cheap. Maybe I'm just used to Starbucks prices. They also serve a variety of food, depending on what time you go. They were advertising "late night pho" when I went at midnight. Atmosphere was very casual. Couches, tables, TVs. A good place to hang out with friends and talk or to study.
(5)
Nicole K.

Agreeing with Riana S about the Internet. That made me really sad. One hour of wi-fi depending on what you buy. The last time we went, we only got drinks at first, and we received 15 minutes of wi-fi. What are you supposed to do with 15 minutes? Seriously? I do like their food, however. It is a tad bit expensive, but when I'm studying I do tend to feel the need to splurge. I like their tomato bisque a lot, and the wedge salad is to die for. The pho isn't bad. And I have yet to go there for a breakfast menu. But I'll do that one day soon and update this review. It also made me sad that whenever we go to study, I can never find seats. So, we usually meander our way to the bar area and awkwardly sit in front of the cooks who are preparing food. I love watching them, but I think they think I'm weird or something. I tend to zone out at them when they're making food (my bad guys). There is an abundance of outlets, but I wish there were some in the middle of the floor. The few tables that are in the middle don't have floor outlets. The last time, our friend Elsi totally just brought a huge, long extension cord and plugged it into the wall. It was a riot.
(3)
Amanda T.

Today. Monday at 12:30 pm I came to get lunch and work. There were 10 people in the cafe. It took 30 minutes to get my sandwich and happened after I went up to the counter to complain. The guy at the counter was unapologetic and could care less. I thought maybe he was waiting for my food to bring me my tea but no he forgot that too. I'm so disappointed.
(2)
Niki N.

I've heard nothing but good things about this place so I decided to finally give it a try. First of all, kind of difficult to find if you are not paying attention especially if you are driving you will guarantee miss it. Props to the person who posted the picture of the parking. PARKING: inside the KHON9 news and residential building. If you are going toward Ala Moana Blvd on Piikoi you will turn right into the residential building right after you pass Piikoi and Kona street. It will say parkers ONLY for KHON9 visitors and residents. However, there will be a few marked stalls once you enter the parking garage. There are only a few stalls reserved for Kissaten customers so hopefully you are lucky at the time you go. My friend recommended me to get the tomato bisque soup & grilled cheese. I was not disappointed! The soup was rich and creamy, sprinkled with parmesan cheese. It could have been heated up a little bit more than what I expected for soup. The grilled cheese was like no other, with gouda cheese & apples, oh, and can't forget the bacon! For the price that it was, they could have been more generous with their serving of cheese. I will definitely be back to try something different on their menu. If you are looking for a place to study, I would recommend here if you need to squeeze in some study hours. They also have a wide variety of coffee & teas to get you through the night since after all they are 24/7.
(4)
Renee D.

What I like about this place is that it's open 24hrs. It is spacious with a good amount of large tables. Though they need more outlets. I'd always go in the mid-afternoon and it was never busy. There's free wifi with a purchase. The Thai tea is good... but then again, Thai tea is always good :) Coffee was ok. It's a decent place to study. So come here if you've found yourself studying the back of your eyelids instead of that exam you should've been preparing for weeks ago ;)
(3)
Krystal C.

I used to go here to study, have coffee and usually ended up grabbing a bite to eat every now and then. They reserve a lot of their tables for customers who buy meals, if you buy a pastry only or just coffee you might get stuck with a bar stool. There's usually no electrical outlets other than one spot if you're trying to use your computer. The staff are usually pretty rude. And don't even think about bringing your hydroflask/kleenkanteen in even if it's just water inside. Their pastries are usually pretty good but the food on the other hand could be better. Their only upside is that they're open 24 hours. Parking is limited.
(2)
Jean B.

What makes a good study cafe? 1. Free parking 2. Free, reliable, fast wifi 3. Ample, clean tables 4. Ample plugs 5. Comfortable chairs; bar stools (optional - in case you need to stand/work; stretch your back) 6. Clean bathroom 7. Open 24/7 8. Good drinks (coffee & tea) 9. Good selection of sweet and savory foods at reasonable prices 10. Other people working hard (and talking about interesting things) 11. Good people-watching 12. Lots of lights (natural light preferred) 13. High ceilings 14. Not musty; fresh air 15. Perfect temperature (not to hot or cold!) 16. Nice patrons who will watch your stuff if you need to pee (or otherwise...) Best study cafe in Honolulu: Kissaten!
(5)
Erica A.

I can see why people like Kissaten, but at the same time, I always wonder why I come. Parking is impossible, I always end up having to park across the street at Ala Moana and navigate my way across busy Piikoi to get there. It does have a nice laid-back atmosphere, very cool with art on the walls and appeals to students. There's plenty of tables, and wifi, which makes it a popular studying destination. But the service never stood out to me, and my opinion took a nose dive the other day when I walked in, almost overheating from walking over from Alaz on a hot day. First of all, the clerk didn't say anything to me. It looked like a customer was wrapping up a transaction, but he was standing off to the side, so I lingered back a bit. She just stared at me. No "Hi, welcome!" or "I can help you right here!" Not even a smile. It was super awkward. I finally walked up, and she still didn't say anything. I glanced at the menu, with some idea of what I wanted and asked if they have soy milk. She said unfortunately, they were all out- no problem, I used to work at Starbucks and know that happens. So I got a bottle of water instead. There was no problem with that until she said they have a $5 card minimum. I asked her if she could make an exception since they didn't have what I wanted. She said, "You don't have cash?!" Seriously? Wow, sorry for not having cash on me. I would have left, if I wasn't supposed to meet someone. When my friends finally came, my friend offered to buy. I wasn't going to get anything, but the same girl said "So are you gonna get your water now?" That was when one of my friends pointed out there was free ice water out on the counter- that would have been nice to know. When my friends were finally brought their drinks, the waiter forgot straws too. Sure, the food is okay, and it is BYOB, but the service, morale or something needs improvement.
(2)
Joanne A.

A few years ago when I was in grad school, I often went to Kissaten to do some late night studying and to work on my research paper. It was nice to have a place to go to with food, coffee, air conditioning, and free wifi (with purchase). I am a fan of their pesto mushroom pasta, truffle mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, and tomato bisque. I remember staying at Kissaten for hours and going home smelling like the food and drinks here. Kissaten was walking distance from my old house in town, so I never had to worry about parking. Since then, I have been to Kissaten several times. Parking is tough, especially since there's no longer any street parking in front of it, and only a limited amount of stalls in the KHON building. Service is also a hit or miss; I guess I never really noticed the wait time before since I used to camp out there overnight. Lastly, the wifi is limited and slow. While Kissaten brings back memories of late night cramming, it just isn't as appealing to me as it used to be.
(3)
Cheryl F.

Service on Sunday mornings is extremely slow. The girl at the cash register has the personality of a doorknob. She is extremely unfriendly and should think about not working with the public. 2nd week in a row she stares and hands you receipts Internet... Without even one word. I knew to take the number but she did not say a word. Others in the past have been nicer. Also bring cash because they will charge you more if you use a debit or credit card and expect a tip before you sit.
(3)
Christopher T.

I love Kissaten, you don't come across to many cafes that serve out of the norm drinks and food. The vibe of this restaurant is very chill and it's great place to study or read a book. It's attracts everyone from college students to families. I recommend the pastrami sandwich, but don't get chips as a side. I love their ghost chili mango-ade. The only downside is: 1. Scarce Parking (Park in the marked stalls in the building, you can park there 24/7) 2. No outside food or drinks (yes, water bottles like hydroflask are prohibited) bring nothing but books and laptop 3. They have internet but you'll being paying for it, and it only last 1 or 2 hour. So prepare to pay even if you're not hungry or thirsty. Want to know if WPA-2 enabled? Wpa-2 is not enabled, so I recommend no shopping online. Coming from a computer geek. 4. If you order a drink that has syrup, ask for little more water, because it might be too much, at least the drinks I order do. 5. Minimum for using any credit or debit card is $3. Carry cash if you won't be spending much, and want the wifi. Besides that, they are pretty awesome to just chill with friends or study.
(4)
Kristyn K.

The first time I came here, I was with my current bf on our first meeting. Cute right? Not really, I vomited within five minutes of being here, but him not running away proved he was a keeper, lol! Thankfully, that didn't happen last night, as we relived our date. Of course this time, he came armed with a bogo coupon! Upon arriving, we were asked if we were dining in. That option was never available, so we confusedly said yes. Bad move. Dine in usually implies full wait service but usually tip is necessary. Considering we had to refill our own waters and we weren't checked up on during our meal, and we had to get our own utensils, uh...the dine in option is just a big ol ball of confusion. Regarding our food, the two of us each ordered the bacon cheeseburger special for $11 (server didn't ask salad or chips, but luckily we wanted salad anyway). I was excited upon reading garlic aioli and kimchi ketchup. What a combo! Unfortunately, we got the last two burgers and instead of the ketchup and aioli, there was bbq sauce. It's not that it tasted bad - in fact, it was quite good - but it was not what I ordered. Now I'm no food nazi by any means, but I definitely wasn't in the mindset of buying an $11 bbq bacon cheeseburger, so I went to the counter simply to ask about the situation. Another worker, Casey, went in to check on why the error occurred. ...And this is where Kissaten saved themselves from a 2-star review. Casey handled the situation spot on by apologizing for the error and offering up other menu options. Since nothing seemed particularly pleasing for me at the time (Yeah, was totally craving that burger the moment my eyes hit the specials menu), I asked if we could get some sort of discount. He apologized again and said it wasn't possible, but another option he offered was that we could have a dessert on him. We agreed to this - their strawberry cheesecake is delicious btw - and thanked him for how he handled the situation. At the end of the night, despite being confused about the whole dine in and lack of service thing, we opted to personally hand Casey our tip, even though it is likely tip is distributed amongst workers. A few tips ~ - Don't do dine in - Come early for specials as they tend to run out of ingredients - The day before college starts up is indeed a very busy night!!
(3)
Brigitte S.

I have recently been having one of those weeks; nope, a month of where everything seemed to be going slightly wrong. Needless to say, we had a big event to attend to and were missing a few key items. After rushing to an early morning work meeting, I ran over to Ala Moana and was having a mild anxiety attach when I happened to look up and see the glorious Kissaten sign. Thank the lords, coffee solves all! I see amazing photos and have read excellent reviews of this place but always seem to just drive by. This was finally my chance. I absolutely adore the atmosphere. Bright warm colors of orange and red help bring a local sunset vibe with artwork along the walls and shirts for sale. There's a cool rounded ice cream bar looking area by the counters. I loved all the seating of various levels along with the seats along the window which is perfect for sitting down solo. While I was sad to not be able to try lunch foods, the breakfast menu had a nice selection. Simple and comfort is what this menu reminded me of. Bonus, a lot of the breakfasts come with coffee or tea! I love waffles & that almost won me over but I went with the croissant breakfast sandwich which had bacon, scrambled eggs & cheddar cheese on a warm, toasty buttery croissant. The coffee menu had all the usual suspects including cold brewed coffee which I appreciated. I wound up going with an iced large nonfat vanilla latte. I include the milk only because I find nor a all coffee places have options. I was given a number and my food came out very fast. My sandwich was delicious - the bacon was crisp but chewy with just enough grease & the warm croissant was so flaky. My coffee was good, maybe a little too much milk. The staff were all quite pleasant and I was actually disappointed to miss out on the dine in experience. I will definitely need to come here again [hopefully for soup & grilled cheese] with a good book, my laptop or a group of friends to enjoy the comforts of Kissaten.
(4)
Coreen L.

One of my new favorite hideaway spots, when you want to get work done, be surrounded by good creative juju and of course have access to yummy goodies! The crew here are always friendly and efficient, which always scores bonus points in my book. The menu at Kissaten offers an array of delicious drinks and food (salads, sandwiches, wraps, and daily specials) -- everything I've tried has been great. My favorite for caffeine has been the dirty Chai latte, yum! There is a list of things that I still hope to taste including truffle mac & cheese, a waffle with ice cream I saw a couple enjoying and the late night menu which offers different items than the day shift, including ramen. Follow them on Instagram and you'll see a whole bunch of goodies! My only wish, is that there was more parking. Some days it can be challenging but otherwise, an awesome spot.
(4)
Ray L.

Good place to come and relax. They have light sandwiches and salads. Place is open and quiet not like the hustle and bustle of othe coffee bars. The salads are decent size and tasty.
(4)
Melina P.

I tried Kissaten out at the insistence of my coworker for our lunch break a few days ago. It's about a block away from our job so we walked over. It can be a little tricky to find if you aren't familiar with it. It's tucked in on the corner of the KHON2 building (Piikoi & Waimanu). I was immediately impressed with the cleanliness of the outside sidewalk & stairs & the cute designs of their windows. I was SUPER excited to see there is an ice cream parlor joined with them as well! I'm not sure if it was open when we went; there was no one behind the counter & no customers on that side. The employees were very friendly & helpful. They could tell we weren't familiar with their menu & offered explanations to their cream sodas & things. I ended up with the pesto turkey sandwich, soup of the day (cream of mushroom) & a melon cream soda. Everything tasted AWESOME but was pretty pricey. $9 for the sammy (it was crammed full of turkey meat & bacon though & was very filling), $4 for the add-on soup & I think ~$3 for the cream soda. I hope they make chicken noodle soup since that's my fave.
(4)
Lily H.

This is by far one of my favorite stops for any time of day. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late night fare - a simple and satisfying menu. It's a great place to study, journal, doodle, or daydream alone. An even better place for one-to-one or group conversations. It has the perfect balance of chill and buzz. Open 24 hours for those late night and early morning stops for students and business professionals alike. I gotta get there more often!
(5)
Susan I.

I feel like the food quality went downn low but at least the service is always on point :)
(3)
Gray G.

The only 24/7 coffee place I know! They're right next to Ala Moana. I used to go there all the time to study during the semester. It's pretty chill inside, the staff is friendly too. The crowd mainly consists of college students so that's a plus. I normally park at Ala Moana but you can find roadside parking too, might be hard though. The food is unique and appetizing, decent sized portions. If you want wi-fi it's technically free but you gotta buy something every 2 hours to get the code. Definitely worth it though!
(5)
Mary T.

My friends and I came here to do some studying, and it was very quiet and peaceful. They also have many meals and drinks (salads, pasta, pastry, coffee, drinks, etc) anything a coffee place would have! I really enjoy their environment including the customer service here. They're all really nice and have great recommendations. It's convenient how they're open 24/7 so if you're in the mood to eat and study, they're open! I ordered a smoked salmon salad was really good and a green tea ice tea, great combination and got me in the mood to study! I recommend this place if you ever need to do work and eat!
(5)
Samantha T.

Really cool place to hang out. Free wifi! Coffee are really good and creamy! But don't go super really for food because if the cook isn't there you can't get any food...
(3)
Brian B.

Oh Kissaten, you and I have such a love/hate relationship... There are so many things that I like about you but there also a handful of deal breakers too! Love: -Italian creme sodas -Various drinks(coffee, juice, soda, bottled & can drinks) -Desserts -Decent food selection -Open 24-hours -Electrical outlets at most of the tables along the wall -Convenient location Hate: -Limited parking -Paywall wi-fi -Electrical outlets only at tables along the wall -Did I mention the parking sucks here? Ok, so there are a lot more things that I love about this place then hate but the things I hate make it difficult to frequent this place as much as I'd like. The biggest problem for me that turns me away is the parking. I've posted a picture of the parking chart below which is really helpful to have on hand since you don't want to park in certain stalls & wind up getting towed because you're there at the wrong time. If there were more stalls dedicated to Kissaten at more convenient times, coming here would be a slam dunk decision but because it's not I restrict myself to going later at night on the weekends or Fridays if I choose to go. The other thing I consider a con is that the electrical outlets are only at the tables along the walls. This isn't a problem if you're sitting at one with the outlet and are there early enough but that means you'd have to have come early enough to get a good stall in the garage and before said tables are occupied. If you're not at a table along the wall with an outlet, you'll only be able to use your laptop or electronic device for as long as the battery holds out so that's something else to take into consideration if coming here to study especially. For the things I love about this place, one of the highest on the list is its location. If you're in town or live in town, its near Ala Moana & at the outskirts of the Victoria Ward shopping village in Kaka'ako. This does alleviate the parking situation I mentioned above a little bit but be prepared to hunt & walk for a bit. That definitely might be a turn off for some of the ladies that want to visit here to grab a late night dessert or coffee or study since the path to walk here isn't the friendliest or welcoming at night and especially moreso at late night. The drink selection here to me is one of the best. Kissaten has a variety of drinks that range from coffee & caffeinated beverages to juice to handcrafted Italian creme sodas to fountain-based sodas to bottle products. Even Starbucks has nothing on Kissaten in terms of selection & variety with their latest Fizzio handcrafted sodas! The prices are what you expect from such a shop so no worries there. What most people really come to Kissaten for however is the food & dessert selection. For a coffee shop,they serve a good selection of food too and a good variety. They have grilled cheese & panini sandwiches as well as salads and pho! Yes, they have pho as a selection if you're craving that! They also have mac & cheese and other similar pasta-ish dishes too but it varies on the day so your mileage may vary. For desserts they have pastries, small Belgian waffles & cheesecakes plus candy such as M&Ms and Sour Patch Kids. Towards the back going toward the bathroom there is a counter area where they serve ice cream & sundaes so there's that if you're craving those types of treats too. So yeah, if Kissaten could do something about her parking situation I think that would eliminate the majority of complaint. Fix that and she's definitely a keeper, otherwise I'll have to restrict my visits for special occasions since there are more convenient places to go!
(4)
Jarrett B.

Come here all the time! Best cafe in the Ala Moana area. The coffee is better than Starbucks!
(5)
Katy T.

Terrible and weird experience, but they get an extra star because the food is SUPERB. Went on a Wednesday night around midnight. There was no line at the counter and some open tables, which was great. My friend and I each ordered a drink, and she ordered a tomato bisque and a grilled cheese. The guy behind the counter mumbled $31, and then corrected himself "umm $19" but seemed totally unsure. He gave us a number and we sat down. Two minutes later, my friend got her soup and the girl who brought it out took the number. We thought this was strange because she hadn't got her grilled cheese yet, but didn't say anything. About 10 minutes later, the guy behind the counter brought us our drinks. They were both blended drinks, so I know they take a while to make, but 10 minutes was pretty long since it wasn't even busy. Another 10 minutes after that, still no grilled cheese. I went back to the counter and told the guy, I thought we ordered a grilled cheese but we didn't get it. He just stared at me blankly. I was expecting him to either apologize and say he'd get it right away, or apologize that he hadn't heard that, or at least look back to see if we had indeed been charged for one. (My fault... I should have gotten a receipt. Although, their printer doesn't seem to automatically print them.) He was still staring at me blankly, so I just asked if I could order one now. He rang me up and said it would be $6 something (again, he was mumbling). I gave him $7 which he put in the cash drawer, closed the drawer and handed me another number. What happened to my change?? At that point, I didn't even say anything because my whole experience there was SO absurd! Less than 2 minutes after my new order, a girl came out of the kitchen, looked around at the numbers, brought me the grilled cheese and took my number. 5 minutes after THAT, she came out of the kitchen again with a grilled cheese (this one had chips; the first one didn't) brought it to our table and looked really confused that we had one already. She went to consult with the guy behind the counter who came over to our table and asked if we wanted 2. I was annoyed and told him we didn't. I only ordered the second one when I asked him if we still had one coming and he didn't really answer me. He said sorry, he would refund the money. He brought me a receipt with $6.50 cash. I paid him $7 and didn't get the change and he only gave me $6.50 back! Seriously? The only reason this is not a 1 star review is that the food was 5-stars! I tried both the soup and the grilled cheese and both were AMAZING. I do find it strange, though, that the soup said it comes with toast, but came with an untoasted roll, and the grilled cheese said it came with chips, but only the second one they brought us actually did. I'm so sad, though, because I really wouldn't go back. I just don't wanna deal with the terrible (and weird!) service.
(2)
Josh T.

is it possible that i'm only using their internet to leave a mediocre review on Yelp? maybe. my experience inspired a haiku: top 40 blaring thankful for headphones, but they're not noise canceling. dang. this is the only coffee space in town that I've encountered a strictly enforced "no thermoses rule." when i ordered at the counter and sat my big ole 40oz metal water bottle right in front of the register, the poor worker awkwardly said, "Can you please hide your hydroflask?" I stared back blankly with a puzzled look and a slight head tilt. Really, management? Kindly, J. p.s. matcha latte tastes like green milk
(2)
Wes N.

Tasty and healthy! Had a bunch of art work up that was for sale...cool concept! I'll try some coffee next time!
(4)
Mark O.

I don't know why this place gets such poor reviews. I'm trying to think of a place in Hawaii that would be nicer and more comfortable to hang out, read or get coffee in the middle of the night and I can't come up with anything better. Sure Zippy's or Liliha might have better food, but they certainly aren't as comfortable. I had to pull an all nighter this week and needing a shot of caffeine at 4:30am I came in to try Kissaten and had a very good experience. Even at this late hour the staff was friendly and there were decent food options as well as a full coffee bar. Come to think of it, I don't think there are any full coffee bars open between midnight and dawn besides this place. Overall, I think this is the best, and maybe only, 24 hour cafe where you can come in at any hour and get a quick espresso, latte, coffee, etc. I will definitely say that "I'm a fan".
(4)
Jamie S.

A cute little place for studying. I chose to come here over Starbucks or the Library simply because: 1. It's less crowded then Starbucks. 2. There's air conditioning (yes I know both SB and the library have AC. Really it's just my minimal study standard;-) 3. I can have a conversation without people glaring at me unlike the library 4. There is an abundance of great food options. A purchase is required to get a wifi password that is good for 2 hours. Parking: there are limited stalls in the KHON building. There is metered street parking with a 2 hour parking limit close by.
(3)
Karen D.

Dear Kissaten CafÃ©, I used to like you a lot, but that was a long time ago. What happened to us? I heard your management changed awhile back, so maybe that's why it just ain't the same. Yes, you still offer the standard hot and iced coffee and tea beverages we all expect from a coffee shop. What really set you apart before was your food. Used to be, you had a good amount of delicious, comfort-food-with-a-twist, made-to-order entreÃ©s, soups, and salads. Today, only a few of those remain, and the only thing that keeps me coming back is your tomato bisque. I mean, nowadays you even sell Twinkies. I like diabetes-inducing, artery-clogging snack cakes as much as the next person, but I expect that stuff at 7-Eleven, you know? Today when I visited for a late lunch, I noticed that quite a few of the tables were dirty. I had to wipe off not just my table, but also my chair. Ick. You weren't busy, so that certainly wasn't the problem. And your prices always did seem a bit steep, but I really started to mind when your food offerings slid into mediocrity and your customer service practically evaporated. One other thing I have to mention is that I asked the person behind the counter if he could verify with the chef that an item I wanted to order was gluten free. Without blinking, your employee said, "we have no gluten free food." When I challenged him on this blanket statement, I found out that he didn't even know what gluten was, couldn't be bothered to educate himself, and certainly wasn't about to ask the chef anything. I dunno, maybe you don't even have a chef anymore and your stuff is just prepared in advance then microwaved by minimum-wage workers in "Kiss-a-10" t-shirts. Kissaten, you can do better. Maybe the students who hang out here to study at 3:00a.m. don't mind low standards, but working adults most certainly do. Here's hoping to a better tomorrow.... Karen D.
(3)
Yena C.

The food here is amazing. It surpasses the categorization of cafe food. I've tried almost all the dishes and they are never short of flavor. I recommend the grilled cheese with tomato bisque or the turkey pesto melt. But order anything because you won't be disappointed. The drinks are really good too! My favorites are the peach tea and raspberry tea lemonade. They're very refreshing and thirst quenching. Parking can get a little difficult but at late night you can park in the KHON stalls I believe. One of my go to restaurants to eat!
(5)
Jon H.

If I were to summarize my feelings for Kissaten, it would be somewhere along the lines of, "A good study spot with average food." The fact that they're open 24 hours and provide their customers WiFi access (with a purchase) makes them a highly attractive location for people looking for a nice place to study or meet with group members. Having said that, I really feel they should be a little less stingy with the WiFi since there's a time limit. Oh, and if you're gonna be spending any extended periods of time here, make sure to dress warmly or at least bring a jacket because it can get freezing cold inside. As for the food, they offer a breakfast, regular, and late night menu. As I noted earlier, the food, although not bad at all, won't wow you in any one category. In fact, I wouldn't be able to point out anything that makes their food stand out from any other cafe or deli. in regards to food options, the normal menu items that you'd expect can all be found here. Of everything I've tried, I'd recommend the grilled cheese and tomato bisque combo. Just in general, don't those two scream comfort food? Anyway, the exterior of the grilled cheese is nice and crisp, and the additions of bacon bits to the sandwich gives a nice smokey, salty touch, while the apples provide a nice contrast of sweetness to cut through all of the rich cheese. The bisque has a slight kick to it, which pairs well with the grilled cheese. The beverage selection, as you might expect from a place that calls itself a "coffee bar," is fairly large. Various coffees, teas, and sodas can be ordered to your specifics. Because I find myself feeling cold a lot while at Kissaten, I tend to keep my drink selection on the hot side. And the one drink in particular that I've gotten more than any other is their hot apple cider. You can taste the spices in the cider, and that familiar taste and smell provides a nice festive feel.
(3)
Ma F.

Came in today morning, my friend suggested this place before heading to work as a good place to pick up a drink and some food. The burrito was pretty good and they do provide free internet for two hours. Also if you want an outlet to plug in your laptop or whatever there's heaps of them on the wall by the window. It's kind of ridiculous how many they have... Nice spot, I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)
Ron E.

Kissaten looks like a coffee shop, but has remarkably good food. I'm here pretty regularly because its near my work, and it never disappoints. The chorizo burrito is solid and tasty, and I also like the veggie sandwich. The menu has recently expanded (into two chalk boards) filled with yummy choices. Its so great that they're open all the time as it seems to be a wonderful respite for the studious types. Watch for what might pop up in the dessert case... i have seen JJ's Bakery's chocolate pyramids in there! Mmmm!
(5)
Krystal Y.

More like 3.5 stars, but I round up! I work around the piikoi area, so I've gone here a couple times, and tried their house salad, their pesto sandwich, their tomato bisque, and their truffle Mac and cheese. All these foods were on a scale of "just okay" to "good". Their pesto sandwich and house salad to me were just okay, and honestly not as awesome as I expected it to be considering the price. However their tomato bisque and truffle Mac and cheese were good. I enjoyed that, but again, expected more for the price. Maybe I'm a cheapy? But stage cafe has better food for better price and bigger portions. I'd stick to stage cafe over kissaten. Possibly I'll go back to kissaten for their tomato bisque.
(4)
Isaiah C.

This place is awesome, it's open 24 hours, they have food and drinks and wifi if you buy something, a great place to study and do homework.
(5)
Kainoa S.

Food is great but lines and wait times are long. Don't be surprised if you have to wait 30 minutes for a smoothie.
(3)
Marie W.

Went there today, and it was pretty okay. I'm assuming they only offer free wifi if you purchase anything. They give you a receipt with the username and password after you make a purchase, I think??? It looks like this is a hang out place for college students when I went there today. One of the things I didn't like was the parking. The parking is very tight, but your lucky if you find a parking. I don't think they have too many stalls for parking either. Also, I wasn't too sure or clear if I was supposed to leave my plate on the table. I did see trash cans on each corners and a rack of dirty plates by the counter. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to bring it there or leave it on the table. And last, they didn't have a faster access to the parking lot from what one of the workers there said.
(3)
Tony D.

Fits time here and all I can say is not bad... Foods a bit pricey but overall taste is good. I had the truffle Mac and cheese it was 10.75... I really enjoyed it but too cheesy for my wife... She had the chicken bbq wrapped and she loved it... Great place to study you get two hour wifi password with purchase... Seems like ppl stay here all day everyday
(4)
Tyna A.

Worse place ever!!!! Service was horrendous. Never acknowledged us. My husband's breakfast came within the first 10 minutes and mine never came. I walked up to the counter with my husbands plate untouched and asked for my money back, never got an apology, and she tossed my money in my hand with an attitude.
(1)
Ashley M.

I like this place, but... -parking is horrible!! -you HAVE to pay for something to stay there. (I was sitting by myself tonight and I had been here for about 30mins. and one of the workers came to me and said I had to buy something to stay there...That's new!!) -they have a $5 minimum for cards and all there drinks are less then $5 (even large size) -the outlets are only against the wall -there wi-fi is only good for 2 hour intervals -when it's packed, it is loud!! I had stopped coming for a while and recently decided to come back last week however, I think this place is only good if you have nowhere else to go. I wouldn't come here regularly.
(2)
Chris L.

My new favorite place to hang out! Nice selection of food & drinks, clean & comfortable with a coolness factor, and 24-hours! I had the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque combo...delicious! The Grilled Cheese had several types of cheese, bacon, and fuji apples inside that gave it a unique flavor which went perfect with the cream Tomato Bisque soup. For drinks, because there were so many I had a couple! First, Strawberry Italian Creme Soda, then the Strawberry Frappe, and finally the Passion Orange Guava (POG) Italian Soda! It was too late at night for me to try the coffee, but my friend said it was strong and tasty. I'm going to try that next!
(4)
Mike H.

I think imbeciles work at this location.. How hard is it to make a grilled cheese with apples on the side... Instead I received my order and was told " we put the apples inside.. If you don't want it, you can take them out." why don't you actually OPEN you're ears and follow directions? I don't think anyone would like to stick their finger in melted cheese to remove apple slices.
(1)
Jed A.

This is a great place to do some late studying or work. The food is really good (my favorite is the grilled cheese with grilled apple slices inside and a tomato bisque). Only things I don't enjoy are staff at certain times of the day seem grumpier than others and they only give you an hour of wifi with your purchase so don't use it until you absolutely have to. I started my wifi not realizing that it was only an hour and when I needed to send an important file it was too late :(
(3)
Michele M.

Turkey pesto melt minus the cheese is my favorite!!! Also comes with a side of greens drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. Total comfort food. Chill vibe here especially since there's wifi service. So chances are you will see people busting out their laptops and scoping out the wall outlets. Menu is simple. Food is fresh. Flavors are robust! Prices are reasonable. Parking on the street off Piikoi in the KHON building. Great place to catch up with a girlfriend. Not a place where you will feel rushed at all.
(5)
Niccolo G.

I always enjoy coming to this place. Perfect for any time of day, Kissaten is the place to be to study, have a cup of coffee, or just to hang out. Kissaten has ample seating with electrical outlets everuwhere, with 2 hours of wifi with purchase if the need arises. Also, Kissaten features different works of art monthly, so it's worth a look! Speaking of purchases, the drinks are great, ranging from an assortment of coffee, tea, blended and specialty drinks. My favorite is the Caramella. Food is made in house, from sandwiches and salads to things like pasta and ramen. There are daily specials, with a late night menu after 10pm. My choices to eat here would be the grilled cheese with tomato bisque, truffle mac and cheese or the gyudon! There's also an ice cream parlor too! Since it is open 24 hours, sometimes I chill here after work since I get off at midnight, waiting for the bus. The staff is very friendly, and the overall feel of the place is a very chill one. All in all, visit this place if you haven't done so!
(4)
Angela C.

Nice and clean environment with wifi to study or hang out with a friend. Their tomato bisque must have some kind of crack in it because it is SO FREAKING GOOD!!!! The server/cashier when I went (Tues afternoon) was so friendly and sweet. They play good music (top 40's) AND had ESPN playing on what I believe is their only TV. So legit. My new favorite spot! tip--I parked across the street where they have Eggs N' Things.
(5)
Joanna L.

As I filled out yet another stamp card, I realized Kissaten is quickly becoming one of my favorite places. The best parts about this place is it's 24 hours and the tomato bisque! Oh man, tomato bisque... *distant dreamy eyes* And back to reality... The parking lot was a little tricky. First, I thought it was the ramp on Waimanu, but it's actually the one on Piikoi facing Ala Moana. Then, once inside, they have 6 stalls and it took me til last night to finally realize where their last stall is. All I can say is... Finally!! However, there's also street parking and during the day, my friends prefer to park at Ala Moana and walk over. I love the atmosphere. The decor is pleasant. There is a variety of tables to choose from inside. Whether you choose to sit at a high table, regular table, or at the couch, they're all very comfy! They play music such as Matt Nathanson and Jason Mraz. My recommendations for food... Tomato Bisque - I haven't found one better. Anywhere. Seriously, it's seriously good. (So good I can't make myself try a different soup in fear it's not gonna be as good.) Truffle Mac & Cheese - That's right, I said truffle... :D Vanilla Cream Roll - It's simple, light, and just perfect. Italian Cream Soda - My favorite flavors so far have been watermelon and green apple. Definitely remember to check out their daily specials! I ordered their Shrimp Salad Sandwich that was a special and it was pretty awesome! I would stay away from... Strawberry Frappe - It was basically a strawberry milk smoothie. Turkey Pesto Melt - The mayo distracts from the small amount of pesto and you can easily find better elsewhere. Sadly disappointing.
(4)
Mark S.

Bacon turkey sandwich with tomato bisque is an awesome combo!
(4)
Amy G.

Came here for the first time with a friend to eat. been here before but only for drinks which were ok, nothing i'd go out of my way to have. we shared the turkey pesto sandwich and the vegetable risotto. the sandwich was pretty good. a little light on the pesto, but the bacon made up for it. wish there was more pesto, or the flavor was a bit stronger though. I did love the bread they used. the vegetable risotto was disappointing though. when it came out, i was disappointed to start with. it was so SMALL. something i'd feed my 5 year old cousin and make them finish. that was disappointment #1. #2 came when the only other thing then the risotto was mushrooms. when i'm told its vegetables, i expect vegetables. at least add some carrots or just something. the menu had said seasonal vegetables so i was expecting a little more than just mushrooms b/c if that was the case, just name it MUSHROOM RISOTTO. common sense, no? #3, it was kinda bland. rice wasn't soft either. makes that 4, right? anyways, i'll go back to AnyTime Cafe for their risotto from now on. waste of my $9.
(3)
Jennie P.

Why does it take 20 mins for toast? Thanks my toast was cold by the second time asking for it. "Do you still want it?" YES I DO! I ORDERED IT 20 mins ago!!!! I don't know why you have 2 people cleaning up and then sitting down. As if they have nothing else to do?
(1)
melissa b.

I just had their greek salad and was not impressed. It should not be called a greek salad there was more pita bread then anything. It had black olives not kalamata olives, too many red onion, capers and cucumber. No tomatoes, feta cheese or even dressing. The hummus is ok but i will never order it again. The portabello panini is good though.
(3)
Marcia L.

I like it! Very modern cafe. Hawaii needs more of these. Wifi is available with purchase for up to 2 hours and the username and password is printed on your receipt. I ordered a latte macchiato, nothing special just a standard macchiato, but the cashier/barista made sure to give me all my options for syrup and drizzles, which is nice and they don't do that at Starbucks. Parking is a bit bad now that the nearest Ala Moana lot is closed for the construction of Bloomingdales. You can still park on the second floor up the ramp and walk over.
(4)
Teresa L.

So I finally got to try this place after hearing about their awesome food and hours. How it works: go up to the counter to order, pay, ask for wifi, and take a number. Pick a table to sit on and display your number so it will get delivered to you. Wifi lasts 2 hours. This place is open 24/7 so if you ever need a late night study spot on the weekend, this place is perfect. Outlets are located on the walls of the coffee shop. Service was alright. The workers seemed to be a bit snobby and semi forgetful. Not as friendly as I hope. I tried the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. It reminded me of eating pizza sauce. I found it unusual. Parking: You can park nijiya market parking lot, they have 4 spots in the KHON parking structure, metered street parking, or also the new parking structure in ward is not so far away.
(3)
Andie H.

I love the ambiance of this cute little coffee shop. Its just so cheery and makes you want to study/do your work...right??!!! Actually I like this place to chill out with some friends and sip my iced mochas and eat their pretty decent foods. Most of the crowds here are college kids, business people, and just the younger generation hanging out. Hardly any babies running amok!! Can we keep it that way?? Open 24hrs, they sell some specifics during certain hours, such as breakfast in the morning, soups/sandwiches for lunch and pho after hours. I must say their soups and sandwiches are delish! I will definitely have to try the pho one day. They have specialty drinks, but I tend to stick with my usual mochas. I did try my friend's iced honey latte recently and it reminded me of autumn. Haha! Decent coffee for the price (remember I'm a starbucks lover). They have wifi, but to my understanding there is a time limit and if you buy something you get like an hour free (?) Or you can just buy the passcode for the amount of time that you need (?) please correct me if I'm wrong. To me, I live for wifi/ipads/iphones and am constantly on it. I may be spoiled by starbucks by this...so this does not work for me, and wouldn't study here for hours and hours on end like I do at starbucks. Parking...sucks. Street, inside the marked stalls in the KHON building, or park at Ala Moana (although Sears isn't there anymore...so does that make it more obvious??). Late nights are pretty good, and empty inside the building. For the most part, I've never seen it overwhelmingly busy where people are fighting to get tables. There are a lot of high tops which makes it uncomfortable after a while for a shorty like me to sit in high chairs. Oh and the bathroom is a one person stall for you ladies, which was so deceiving the first time I went in there. Try it at least once! I shall probably have an update as soon as I try more of the menu.
(4)
Jennee G.

Very cute and mellow 24 hour coffee cafe. A small but delightful menu at very good prices. They have a 10 item breakfast menu that's served all day and a 6 item lunch and dinner menu served from 11AM-10PM. Inclusive of daily specials for both breakfast and the afternoon menu. They also have snacks for all the late nighters. In addition the the food and drink menu they have an Ice Cream Parlor! I haven't tried it yet but I will one of these days. I've tried just about everything on the menu and it's all pretty good given it's a cafe and it's inexpensive! They have lots of space and free Wifi! Great place to gather with a group or to study. I've been finding myself here just about every morning because there is no crowd and minimal wait time!
(4)
Linda D.

After a movie, we wanted something hot to warm us up on a raining night. So instead of Like Like Drive Inn or Zippy's we stopped by Kissaten. Since the Clam Chowder was not available we ordered the Ramen and the Grilled cheese/tomato bisque soup. We sat down and waited. The Grilled cheese sandwich came out, but no soup. After, eating most of the Grilled cheese sandwich, the Ramen came out. I mentioned the soup, no answer. I was half way done with the Ramen, when my friend went up to inquire about the soup. They told him that they were warming it up. They didn't expect customers to order it tonight. (lol, with the rain and windy weather?...really?...). The soup still wasn't ready, so he cancelled the soup. When he returned to the table, I was done with the Ramen. From reading some of you reviews, the grilled cheese sandwich/tomato bisque combo is a popular item....so why don't you have it warmed up? Just doesn't make sense. We won't be back for a while.
(1)
Dan M.

Kissaten is the kind of place where you can spend hours there and never feel pressured by the staff to leave. for me, this is crucial when I need a place to study. (and yes, I continue to buy things so I'm not just mooching off their free wifi) during the busy times, I could imagine it being a little noisy due to its openness but if you have a pair of earphones then it shouldn't matter. I ordered the focaccia turkey pesto sandwich. the focaccia bread was the overall winner in this sandwich, which almost made the actual contents a little light in taste. I also found their chai tea latte lacking the spiciness I would find elsewhere. their other menu items look appetizing however, and I'll always need a place to study so im sure I'll be trying this place again in the future.
(3)
Trevor T.

Main upside for this place is that it's 24/7. I studied here late nights and it's a decent place to study. As far as the food offerings, there are better places to go. Same with the beverages. I do like the staff, they've always been pretty thumbs up in my experience. Parking is available in the building and ala moana is right across the street. Bottom line: check it out if you're looking for a late-night coffee shop, but don't expect to be wowed.
(2)
Andy N.

One hour limit on Internet? 10 minutes for a tea latte? Only tables? No sofas or comfy chairs? 24 hours is great but everything else sucks, only the good looking girl with the tattoo on her shoulder knew what she was doing too. Two stars for being open late that's it.
(2)
Sarah V.

9.50 for a sandwich panini thing might sound a bit much for the broke population, but you just have to keep in mind that the turkey pesto melt is pretty much A GRADE edible AND legal cocaine. THEN it's a sweet deal. (plus it comes with a salad and you can get water and an hour of internet so whoop) but I'm serious. put... put that sandwich in your mouth and forget everything bad that has ever happened to you in your life. there's also a vending machine by the bathrooms with little snacks as an add on get excited brah they stop selling the turkey pesto meth after 10 p.m. because life's not fair so keep that in mind. But i mean, only rebels are up past 10 p.m. anyway amirite so it shouldn't be a problem. Now do the do man
(5)
Paola R.

This is a nice, spacious coffee shop with plenty of tables and pretty good coffee. It seems to be the spot for students to hang out and/or study. The huge downer, however, is that they only give you one hour of free WiFi. The baristas are usually nice enough to give you another password without having to purchase something new, but it can be pretty tedious--especially if you need to study for a few hours.
(3)
Kailee M.

I came here with my family at 10 pm on a Sunday. We ordered 3 grilled cheese sandwiches and 2 tomato bisques. Half an hour later we still did not get our food. We asked the waitress if our food would be coming soon and she shook us off and told us, "I know. Everyone keeps coming up to me and b**tching." 45 minutes later our food came. The cheese was barely melted on the grilled cheese. The waitress did not even apologize for the wait.
(2)
Jenn T.

I've uncovered another studying place, with coffee, food, tables, outlets...man it's a student's dream! I actually came here on a whim to grab dinner with some friends. It's a nice little coffee bar with lots of seating and lots of people studying. The menu was pretty extensive for a coffee bar. They had salads, soups, sandwiches and some entrees that all looked delicious. I got the turkey pesto, which was super awesome. Grilled, warm and the cheese was melted. It came with a nice salad as well! They seem to also have a wide variety of coffee, tea and assorted beverages.
(4)
Angela A.

Delicious food, refreshing drinks and great staff... what more can you ask for in a coffee shop? Lots of space to talk with friends, eat a snack or conduct a meeting with your clients. Whatever the reason, come try something to eat and drink at Kissaten. Lots of parking on the street, if there is none, look in the KHON building for their stalls. The only downfall for parking in the structure is you have to walk around, outside of the building. Gets really congested during midterm and finals week... after all, it is one of the only 24 hour coffee shops here on island.
(5)
Rebecca C.

finally came to redeem a hot deals hawaii voucher that expired back in 2011. per hdh and kissaten the paid value will still be redeemable. so just to make sure I called before heading down and employee told me it should be no problem. bf and i shared the kissaten melt and a iced mocha. it is actually smaller that some pics depict and i thought. in all it's a cool place to chill, chow, and study. why weren't these type of places around when i was in school. beats studying at the library or at home.
(3)
Amy S.

I came here to kill some time before a meeting. It was relatively calm for a Wednesday evening, but school is out of session. The cashier/ barista was friendly and answered my questions. I got the honey latte-- which I loved, but seemed a bit pricy. Perhaps they should just have a wi-fi usage card, and not charge so much for coffee. The service was super slow. I ended up losing a lot more time than I had meant to.
(4)
Levie G.

Summary: pretty standard coffee shop Review: Kissaten is a convenient coffee shop to go to. Its located right across Nijiya market near Ala Moana. This makes parking easy. As for the coffee, it tasted pretty normal and nothing special. The atmosphere is casual. I tried the clam chowder bread bowl and found that there isn't a lot of chowder included. The worst part is the wifi is limited. I understand making a purchase justifies wifi but if i buy a big meal and get as much wifi as someone who buys a single small coffee i think somethings wrong. Therefore, i don't recommend Kissaten for students, unless they are burning the midnight oil and don't have wifi at home.
(2)
Nohea T.

I'm definitely a fan of this place. Being stuck on the grave at work, on my days off Kissaten is a great little study stop for me when I'm wide awake at 2-3 a.m. The surprising thing about this place is, no matter what time in the middle of the night I come in, it's packed! I never knew so many people like study at 3 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. First off, the staff is great. They've always been super friendly, and bring/clear dishes like waiters (rather than just barista/cooks). Atmosphere, decor, and layout of the place is great as well. They have a lot of local art displayed around the restaurant, and there are some that I would seriously consider buying. I've slowly been making my way down the menu at this 24-hour coffee shop. Grilled Cheese / Tomato Bisque combo. I gotta say, the tomator bisue is BOMB. It's a pretty cozy feeling to dip a grilled cheese into it, but if you're not feeling that hungry, you can still get the bisque on it's own and it comes with a little blob of bread for some dipping action. Kissaten Melt was pretty good. Came with a little baggy of lays chips. Pho was good, too. Could use being a little bit hotter. I like getting my pho with a bit of steam coming off of it. Also, the side herbs and veggies that come with it could look a bit fresher. The morning special was a little dissapointing. I was expecting more food for the price, but it came with (looked like) 2 scrambled eggs, 2 bacons, and scoop of rice. I believe it ran about 8 bucks. I guess not too bad considering it came with a cup of coffee too, but it wouldn't hurt to add another egg or more rice to make it look more ample. Reasons for only 3 stars: I haven't really enjoyed any of the drinks at this place. I've tried a few different ones (Thai latte, honey latte, a few others), but each time I've felt like they are a bit too sugary (granted, I guess that's what you'd expect for the honey latte). The wi-fi at this place is kind of junk, and I'm still not really sure on their timing policy. There's been times I've ordered the same dish and gotten a 2-hour ticket one time, and 1-hour ticket another time. I know for sure that drinks are 1-hour ticket. I understand the reasoning behind time limits on wi-fi at places like this, but if you're not going to do free wi-fi, maybe be a bit more generous with the timing (especially for the late nights). It's kind of junk to plan on a late night, 4-5 hour study session, and have to spend 15-20 bucks just to sustain the wi-fi throughout your stay. Also, wi-fi can be kind of bumpy and slow at times, and I've had it just stop working for 10 minutes at a time before.
(3)
Jan A.

Kissaten has always been a top study spot whenever I'm in town. The environment, tables, food, coffee and refreshments are excellent. They're menu changes from breakfast, lunch and dinner. Best thing is that I could come during anytime of day/night because they are 24hrs. Besides parking, this place is legit.
(5)
Jane L.

TOMATO BISQUE, Enough SAID. LOL I love that soup. Creamy and delicious. I also had their green tea latte non fat, it was quite delicious. I also had the turkey pesto, the only thing that sucked was they ran out of foccacia bread but it was really good. The ambiance is quite cute and comforting. Parking is very limited if you can't find any in the marked stalls you will have to park in the street.
(5)
lily d.

I really wanted to like this place, but after getting sick from eating here, I don't think I'll make it back here anytime soon. I booked a reservation with open table, but that wasn't needed cause they were slow at the time. They only had one other patron I the store. I originally bought a living social deal worth 50.00 for a one time use, so we picked up a few things: a Caesar salad, tomato bisque, hummus, a sandwich, gyu don, and a caramel coffee called the Carmella. My husband wasn't as bad as I was, but I don't know what it was that could have caused it. Since then, I couldn't eat anything but soup items for two whole weeks.
(1)
Monique N.

Came here to study, but I had a hard time looking for parking. The building parking was full, luckily I found street parking. Food was great but a soup and sandwinch is about 11$? I think it's overpriced. The ambiance was alright, in the morning there is less people. WI-FI is limited only for 2 hours which is a bummer. But I would rather go starbucks by Kakaako it's really nice to study there. And I would just spend less than 5$
(3)
Samantha L.

Pros: They have a great menu. Half way through my studies, I bought a turkey pesto melt and it was amazing. I also liked their high tables and floor to ceiling windows. Cons: You have to pay for wifi- I think it lasts about 2 hours
(4)
Justin U.

Pro: Coffee spot with the most available outlets to plug into, period. Con: If you're not directly sitting next to the outlet, but instead at a neighboring table you might get scolded if your battery cord is stretched across the floor as it poses a safety issue. Pro: Wifi Con: Wifi is only available with a purchase and it's only for 2 hours Pro: Wifi login passwords tickets don't expire so save them up if you're just there studying and never intend on using them! Pro: Seating. Lots of seating. Con: None Pro: Opened 24 hours Con: None Pro: Free parking after 6. Choke parking across the street at Ala Moana Con: If you miss a parking spot on the street, you must circle all the way around (which isn't too bad) All in all, this is a good spot to get your study/video making/work stuff on. The food is decent, the coffee is stiff, and there's always good talent walking by. If you really wanna be cheap, Chodang is only right across the street for some 6 dolla meat jun!
(4)
Eve C.

Checked out the place because it was open late and I needed to study. Upon arrival a friend and I found a table and started to set up. The table was sticky, it stuck to everything, my sleeve for my lap top and my papers. I ordered a chai tea latte, it didn't taste very good. Assuming the barista making my drink was new I let it slide. Went there a second time and and still the same thing. Tables were sticky and the coffee sucked. Does anyone there make time to wipe the tables down? Or is it the customers responsibility. I'm big on cleanliness so that was a big one for me.
(1)
Kimo S.

Very snobbish and no Decaf. Caters to foreign taste but you can be romanced by the menu. I for one bring my own decaf espresso shots in a mug if I have to go there and ask for hot water and cream. They will not be happy but ask them why no decaf like every other coffee house in Hawaii. Say arigato they say it back. Expensive fare as in Tokyo.
(1)
Derek N.

When I left the house yesterday, I never imagined I'd end up in a place I've never been, with strangers I'd never met until that night, until 3 AM. I had always heard that Kissaten was a good place to hang out and study, I'd never gone or invited to go with my friends; my friends suck, apparently. Well fortunately for me, last night I made some new friends! We were hanging out at a McDonalds with some mutual friends, and someone recommended we move to a classier setting. I was in favor of this as I had never been there before, so away we all went to the magical land of Kissaten. I wasn't hungry, but I saw several people with the tomato bisque and it looked and smelled quite tasty, as did the sandwiches! Maybe next time; I just wanted to get a drink so I wouldn't feel bad about hanging out. I ordered some tea and the guy offered me the wi-fi password. That was nice of him, since I'm just buying tea. Anyway, we stayed until 3 AM playing board games. This is a pretty cool place to hang out! It's nice, there's wi-fi and it's open 24 hours. Usually when I want to hang out with my friends we go out to this place in Aiea that's not 24 hours, but usually stays open late. But there's a place we can do that here in town! Perfect! The parking situation isn't perfect, but there are some signs in the parking structure indicating where to park. I figured it out and it was my first time going there, so it doesn't seem that big a deal to me. However, I can see how it might be more crowded and therefore confusing during the daytime. But in case you haven't figured it out, I'm a night owl and so are [some of] my friends. In any case, this seems like the perfect place to pass the nights for me and my friends after other places close. I will definitely be back and probably try some of the food! Oh, $5 minimum for credit card!
(4)
Lisa L.

Good place to have coffee, tea, or a small bite to eat & catch up with friends. But if you plan on using their wifi to do homework DO NOT COME. Its ridiculously slow and you're continuously getting timed out. Stayed here for an hour and got nothing done. And to even get wifi, you need to make a purchase. Keep in mind the food is not the cheapest for the portions, but its pretty tasty :)
(2)
Paul Axel C.

because hunger has no time frame. kissaten is a good place to hit up. ****open 24 hours*****great place for a late night snack, to study, to chill, and to eat! my personal favorites: -grilled cheese & tomato bisque melty cheddar & smoked gouda cheeses, bacon thin sliced fuji apples -kissaten melt shaved pastrami, mozzarella, caramelized onions & whole grain mustard aioli on sourdough. -truffle mac & cheese aged white cheddar, roasted chicken breast, finished with truffle oil. topped with bacon & torched crumbs tips *there is limited parking in the khon building, more parking on the street *it's open 24 hours but they stop serving certain foods at a certain time. check out their menu on their website. yelp 31 day challenge 1/31: hungry 24/7
(4)
Justine R.

I did not come here with the intention of studying so my experience was pretty good. We got there around 11 and there wasn't much people hanging around. Mostly people just having a drink and chatting. I was really looking forward to trying one of their ice cream cakes but sadly they discontinued it. So we ordered other things instead. Thai Tea - If you are a Thai tea fan, this is a must. I have been to Thailand before and this taste almost exactly like the real deal. It's not too sweet with just the right amount of tea and condensed milk. This will be the really main reason why I would come back. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque - The grilled cheese had two different types of melted cheese with bacon in between. It was pretty good for a grilled cheese but too cheesy for my liking. The tomato bisque on the other hand was absolutely yummy. This tomato thickness is great for dipping the sandwiches and resembles the taste of pizza sauce. Very yummy! Kissaten Melt - This was ok. A bit disappointing because I was looking forward to trying this out the most. It was pretty good but nothing relatively amazing. It had two pieces of black forest ham and cheese with aiola mustard? Definitely not worth the price of $9. Decaf Mocha - Seriously? This thing was so bad bad it was ridiculous. It was a mixture of weird sweetness. Do not order the coffee drinks here. Everything else is ironically good. You would think the coffee would be the best product. Overall it's a pretty good place for hanging out if you have no where to go. Although the interior design doesn't produce that homey ambiance. Maybe a good place to study but I think I'll stick with Starbucks. =)
(4)
Shauna S.

Kissaten Coffee Bar is definitely the hippest little study shop on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu. Every time I walk through that big glass door, I am instantly transported back to my college days when many of my evenings were spent camped out at coffee shops studying my brains out. What that means is that every time I walk into Kissaten I get a nice dose of reminiscent butterflies and an equal dose of "sorry dude, that sucks". And then I'm just happy to devour a delicious wrap, sandwich, or salad, and sip on some yummy coffee while reading a magazine, surfing the internet, or doing other non-studious tasks. This coffee shop has a really nice environment, quite unlike any place I've seen here in Honolulu. They provide lots of seating options, GREAT food choices, and oh-so-yummy drinks. Check it out!
(4)
titus n.

What do you know about Pho at 2 in the morning? Ask Kissaten! Although this is not all this 24 hour coffee bar / Bistro is about. It all depends what time of the day (or night) you walk in the doors of comfortable shop on what type of experience you'll get. The menu varies on the time of day and the coffee is always amazing. My personal favorites are the omato bisque or the smoked salmon salad. Rotating local artists provide eye candy for the occasionally needed distraction. parking is tough but theres limitless stalls right across the street at Ala Moana.
(5)
Chloe M.

Mmm Kissaten I'm very upset with you. I'm obligated to give you four stars because even though your drinks aren't the best and your food portions suck, YOU'RE SO DARN CONVENIENT! I came here twice on christmas eve because it was the only coffee shop that I knew was definitely open at 10pm (besides Starbucks). Food: I've tried the clams, tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwich, cheesecake, and pho. I suggest you not order the clams because for the price you pay the clams are pretty tiny and they don't give very much. After I was done eating I was left with a big pool of clam/butter juice that I wish had pasta noodles swimming in it. The pho was pretty tasty (better than I expected from a coffee shop), but you can only get this item past 10pm. Grilled cheese comes with bacon and apples. The portion for the bacon was perfect but I didn't taste any apples. If anyone who works here is reading this, please put more apples in the sandwich! Tomato soup ($2 w/sandwich) and the cheesecake ($3.50?) are the winners for me. I have no complaints about these items. Perfect portions and both are rich and delicious! Drinks: On christmas eve I bought the cheesecake latte (seasonal, $3.50) and a frozen strawberry lemonade. Both were okay but I wouldn't get them again. I also tried their green tea lemonade on a different day which was blech. Definitely wouldn't get that again. Ambiance: Comfy couches, lots of seating, cute art, big TV. A+ Overall: It's open 24/7, has a better food menu than any other coffee shop in the area, and the location is very convenient. I just wish their drinks were good and they put more apples in the sandwich.
(4)
Chuco T.

Kissaten Coffee Bar, is quickly becoming one of my favorite late night hang outs in downtown Honolulu. Besides being open 24hours a day (A dream for a coffee addict like myself), they have a pretty extensive menu, and excellent coffee. We usually go late, perfect for coffee, and their delicious soups. The Pho was much better this time around than previously, and the Tomato Bisque is always really good. We also got the grilled cheese (with apples???), and the kissaten melt. All very satisfying.
(4)
Pumehana A.

I love the atmosphere here. It's extremely "chill," for lack of a better word. Kissaten is located right by the esthetics academy I attend, making it more than convenient to pop in and enjoy their Breakfast Special (scrambled eggs, scoop of rice, two strips of bacon, a piece of fruit and a small coffee, hot tea or juice) for only $6.00, or their delicious parfait. The other day, I stopped in to pick up a can of Red Bull. When I went to pay, I mentioned that I am a part of their frequent buyer program-- they went paperless, so instead of a stamp-card, you just tell them your name. After giving my name, one of the barista's jumped a little, and proceeded to tell me that earlier in the week, I was overcharged for an item I had purchased. Someone had put the $3.75 aside with my name on it, in hopes that they would give it to me the next time I came in. I thanked them profusely and decided to leave $3.00 in the tip jar for them. I really appreciate the girls going out of their way to make sure that the overpay was reconciled. These kids work hard. Sometimes I don't know how they do it with only one barista working the graveyard shift; and again, only one barista working in the morning. Hats off to you, kids. Way to make that dollah bill. ^_^ Oh, and I absolutely LOVE the artwork they display. Imma buy one... one day.
(4)
Haein P.

During my entire college career at UH after transferring over from UW was spent avoiding Sinclair library at all costs. Why?! It's ill-equipped for the "serious" and "diligent" student (eh hem, moi) and on the other hand, it's far from the ideal hot spot for the chill and procrastinating student (again, like moi). SO, you can imagine after years and years of "studying" within the confinements of my not-so-perfect-for-studying home, it was a pleasant change to be at a cafe that has a decent selection of food, drinks, and free wi-fi. Plus, all the people that work there are friendly and relaxed, only contributing to the chill atmosphere that Kissaten exudes. The drinks/coffee may not be stellar, but if you're the type of person that can handle eating and then studying, make sure you try their truffle mac & cheese (DELICIOUS). Although I must admit, I wanted to go to bed from food coma afterward. Regardless, you can bet I'll still be coming here to "study" or...well, at least to acquiesce to my fat girl cravings!
(4)
Drea L.

It is such an awesome coffee shop that I stumbled upon as I was staying nearby. Very convenient 24 hour spot located off Piikoi across from Ala Moana Mall - on the Sears side. Friendly service, wifi, decent coffee and actual hot food is served for breakfast versus the normal muffin, loaf bread or bagels you get at other coffee shops. I got the croissant breakfast sandwich which was nice, warm and flaky. The set up is casual with assorted types of seating. You can bring your laptop to study or else you can sit with a few friends as they also have a couch set up. I would definitely recommend this place to my local friends or those who are on vacation. I wish I had something like a Kissaten in my neck of the woods. lol.
(5)
Mari S.

Kissaten is the new hip study and/or hang out spot in Honolulu. Why it's awesome: + open 24 hours + lots of tables/seating, incl. 4 comfy sofas + wide range of Coffee & Italian sodas + kitchen always open w/ cooked, hot food available to order **my favorites: tomato bisque w/ grilled cheese and the truffle mac & cheese** + desserts + Internet WiFi (w/ purchase) + safe environment + not TOO noisy! I hope Kissaten sticks around for the long haul because this coffee shop is really what Honolulu needed!
(4)
Erika M.

Favorite 24 hour place in Honolulu! Their tomato bisque and grilled cheese is to die for!!!!
(5)
Ka'imi L.

With a funny name like that, you can bet I was interested in finding out what this place was all about. A lot of my friends (all college students) told me they liked coming here to study on their downtime. Tonight I spent my first night at Kissaten. This place has a great atmosphere for a coffee shop. The ambiance really adds to the whole package. Prices aren't too steep either. I paid $1.50 for a small coffee, which I think is cheaper than Starbucks. The downside? The WiFi isn't free!! You have to buy a product at the cafe, and when you do, you only get one-hour's worth of WiFi. Seems to me like free WiFi and coffee shops go hand-in-hand don't ya think? In any case, this place is definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a nice place to study, relax, and/or cram for finals because you haven't been to the past 305980928 lectures.
(3)
Lynvi S.

I'm kind of on the fence about Kissaten because the food is so inconsistent. It's a nice cafe to chill and study, lunch is great, but the late night food is bad. I've come here a couple of times for lunch and I really enjoyed everything I tried: Turkey Pesto Melt - Yum! It's a winner for $7! Kissaten Melt - I loved the mustard aioli and melted fresh mozzarella with the pastrami. This is my favorite thing so far. Tomato Bisque - On the sweet side, but I really enjoyed it and I would order it again. Potato and Leek Soup - At first it was kind of bland and starchy, but it all makes sense after mixing in the poached egg yolk and the bacon. Truffle Mac and Cheese - Good, and for $10 the portion was huge! I still think the 12th Ave Grill mac and cheese is better, for this one is right for the price. As for the late night food...sigh. My friend and I ordered the Turkey Pesto Melt, but it had no pesto and it wasn't toasted. It was some kind of weird mystery turkey sandwich with mayo and definitely not worth $7. The tomato bisque was really watery, ridiculously sweet, and just plain gross. The clam chowder was really bland and watery as well, as if the cook added water to stretch it out. We came another night to try the pho and that was a mistake. THE PHO SUCKS. It wasn't pho; it was some kind of dark brown, almost black mystery broth with rice noodles. I'm Vietnamese so I know my pho, and that stuff at Kissaten didn't look like pho nor did it taste like anything like pho. I really hope they figure out how to make decent pho because Honolulu really needs a late night pho place. I think it's best to avoid the food and just stick with the cafe drinks after 9:00 PM. One of the Kissaten employees said we can park next door in the KHON2 parking lot as long as we don't park in Joe Moore's stall, hehe.
(3)
Kris O.

I wanted to visit Kissaten Coffee Bar for a really long time, but I couldn't figure out where to park when the street parking was full. Luckily, Riana of RUDIFIEDmedia, was a frequent visitor during finals week last semester & quickly solved the parking dilemma with all of her Kissaten insider knowledge. Kissaten Coffee Bar has this warm & inviting interior, that makes me wanna purchase a snuggie & return with my laptop + DVDs. But the most appealing thing about Kissaten Coffee Bar is they're open 24 hours; a dream come true for insomniacs. Sometimes it get lonely being alone with my thoughts early morning & I love that there's people sprinkled throughout Kissaten Coffee Bar; its also nice knowing that I could socialize with other people. Riana & I went to Kissaten around 1 AM, there were other insomniacs refueling from a long night of dancing. Kissaten offers a limited & rotating menu during different times of the day; which is perfect for me, since I'm indecisive when I'm really hungry. Since it was my first time at Kissaten, I copied Riana & ordered their grilled cheese sandwich with tomato bisque. If you're not a fan of fruit (apples) in your grilled cheese, be sure to tell the cashier that you prefer your sandwich without fruit. Kissaten Coffee Bar was the perfect ending to a long night of dancing & taking pictures; my favorite part of our trip was the chefs being really nice & reheating my tomato bisque since Riana & I were busy with girl talk. So if you're a fellow insomniac & want to be around other people, stop by Kissaten Coffee Bar for background company & a quick bite to eat.
(4)
Jerrene T.

After the Yelp Elite Event, I really wanted to try this place out. So luckily right after, Hot Deals Hawaii came through with a good deal that sealed it for me. So one night after shopping, I was just too pooped to think about going home and cooking dinner. Lary and I came here for a quick bite to eat. It was quite empty so we were able to place our order quickly and eat fast too! I ordered the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. Lary ordered the grilled vegetable panini which came with a small salad. We both ordered drinks too, I had the apple cider and he had the iced coffee. The apple cider was misleading since it was in the cold drink section but it came out hot! I was expecting sort of like the Martinelli's chilled apple cider or something. I wasn't in the mood for it being hot although if it was a nice cold night, I wouldn't have minded so much. Food wise? They were good but I was still sort of hungry after. I wish that their portions were a tad bigger. Price was a bit expensive for the amount of food we received. I really enjoyed the tomato bisque. I sort of wanted to steal Lary's vegetable panini... it was sooooo good and my sandwich just didn't fill my belly. People were really nice even when I pestered the server for more water a few times. The ambiance was perfect... not too quiet that I felt bad when Kent wanted to go "ahhhhhhhhhh ababa baba" the whole time we were there... but it also wasn't too loud that he wanted to cry and cling to us the whole time. I'm sure he would have enjoyed sitting on the couch with us but I didn't want him to fall off... I think it was much better than Starbucks... 24 hours, bigger menu, and MORE OUTLETS!!!
(4)
Kevin W.

Open 24 hours. open Christmas day A TV playing ESPN/sports games Bad Pastrami sandwich. Please don't call if a pastrami sandwich if you're putting a razor thin 1 slice of pastrami in the sandwich. Come on now! Comical. (see pic 170 in pics for a good laugh. $10 for that, huh?). Is there a worldwide pastrami shortage that i'm unaware of? Good mac and cheese. With cubes of chicken and some bacon bits.
(3)
Cat T.

Pros: Good place to study. You get internet password if you buy a drink. The internet will last 2 hours from start of printing the receipt for you. Ample amount of outlets. They have designated parking, or parking on the side street. Drinks are decent. Love the interior. Cons: The service unfortunately sucks. I'm sorry, but people need to be trained to give customer service. The food is not that great, but they are not known for that. What to expect: During college finals or certain times of the year, its busy with students so you may not be able to find a seat.
(3)
Jarrett W.

I'll admit this is a nice place with a cute atmosphere. One thing that I wish they didn't have are the set rules... Seating limited to 1hr and certain tables you must have 3 or more parties to sit. Limitation to Internet usage to 2hrs. I understand you don't want people to freeload and just sit around using your Internet but c'mon that's really how you bring in customers in this age and time? We ordered the kissaten pastrami, potatoe leek and tiramisu. The pastrami was ok but plain. The potatoe leek was watery and not much taste. The tiramisu was dry. I was also looking at other people's food, looked pretty good.
(1)
Kellen I.

So I'm no coffee drinker. In fact, I don't like coffee. So why would I be giving this "kissaten" (literal translation means "coffee shop") a "kiss" a 10 out of 10 (bwahahaa! Aren't I funny/ingenious/hilarious!!!)?! It is simple yelpers. It is not just about coffee and this review is about everything EXCEPT the coffee! First off, the location is great. It is in the KHON2 news building @ Hawaiki tower. It resides next to the bustling madhouse of a shopping center known as Ala Moana. Yes its parking is limited and I can attest to that as my car as I write this review (in Kissaten!) is parked at Ala Moana Shopping Center across the street. The environment that this place resides could best be described as an "oasis of relaxation" next to the fast-paced and hectic world that is the mall, the traffic, and the swarms of people with wads of cash aching to spend it at the biggest mall in Hawai'i (that would be you, yes you, tourists. We love you all muchly! Promise!). Next the atmosphere inside inspires higher-level thinking and increased consciousness (trust me, I'm a teacher!). You can have your drink (mine is a diet soda), a seat (if...you can find one, I'm on that comfy couch in the front right now!), and engage yourself in conversation with a buddy, do your homework, or go on yelp and write your opinion on things (like I am!). Of course, you could multitask and do all of the above while enjoying other awesome things like their food! While the food is a little pricey, part of that cost has to be for the atmosphere. I've been here about four times and so far I've tried the following: Tomato Bisque: Freaking awesome! I don't know what about this tomato soup makes it superb but it just is. It is served with a sprinkling of parm, drizzle of olive oil, and a roll. Rich and flavorful, tart and yet sweet at the same time, it goes really well with my next food listing! Face rating of :D Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Again, I'm not sure what it is about this sandwich. I think it's the bacon. Yeah probably. Bacon make everything taste better doesn't it? No, yelp, no opinion for you. Bacon makes everything taste better period. End of story. Well, I guess the different kinds of cheeses and the thinly sliced apples give it an additional "yum" factor of 10+. Face rating of :) Truffle Mac and Cheese: Not sure where the "truffle" part comes into play since I don't know what truffles tastes like but this is pretty good. Not tomato bisque good but still pretty good for those of you who are cheese heads (my gf is one!). I think there is an added richness and an earthy note to the mac n cheese. That might be "truffle" part. Not sure. Face rating of :| Potato Leek Soup: This soup is totally different than the Tomato Bisque that I like so much. It is very starchy in that it has potato in it and a poached egg is dropped in it to add some body and balance out that heavy starchiness. A very hearty soup. Possibly good for sobering up. Face rating of :| I have yet to come here late night, but the offerings look delicious. They have Pho. I'm a sucker for pho. I wish they would serve it when I'm here! :( Oh wells, I'll just have to come here after 9pm and before 6 am. Kissaten is only open 24/7. So yelp, as I sit on this comfortable couch within the confines of this cool, chic, and modern art decorated coffee shop and work out the thoughts I want to display to you online, I hope that you'll join me in partaking in this experience at a great coffee shop sometime in the near future. Hopefully you'll see what I mean about the great atmosphere that makes up for such "downsides" as parking, price, and the inability to get that "perfect" spot (like mine!!). As a place to relax, enjoy, and think its the best you'll get in the Ala Moana area. I mean, the place is jam packed right now. They gotta be doing something right. Right!? As I work out the thoughts I want to display to you online, I hope that you'll join me in partaking in this experience at a great coffee shop sometime in the near future. Hopefully you'll see what I mean about the great atmosphere that makes up for such "downsides" as parking, price, and the inability to get that "perfect" spot (like mine!!).
(5)
Michelle L.

So I've had Kissaten as an unfinished review for about two months now. I listed it as a four star review but boy, did things changed over the months! Back then, I really thought Kissaten would take over the Ward Starbucks scene but now I see their shortcomings. Back then: Decor was very nice, lots of seats, free unlimited wifi, and inexpensive drinks. Service was inconsistent. The girls behind the counter told me they will call out when my drinks were up. First drink ready was the mocha freeze. There was no chocolate syrup on the one I ordered but they added that to my friend's one. Consistency issues? After I went back to my table to drop off the drink to my friend, my tea latte was called which was like 10 seconds later. I rather them not call it as it comes if both drinks will be made a few seconds apart from each other to save a trip back up to the counter. Now: They now limit you to only ONE hour of wifi! What the hey is up with that?!?! Luckily, a friend who came by had a hot spot thing on his phone to save the day or else I would've been super salty after that hour! I understand it's to prevent people from camping but an hour is just too short of a time for those who genuinely want to study or do work. My friend ordered a regular hot coffee and they gave it to him lukewarm. I thought I was being smart for waiting by the counter until my drink was called but that wasn't happening. I stood there for almost 10 minutes. (No, I don't exaggerate). My friend's coffee was finally remade so we just decided to take a seat. Once I put my bag down to the chair they called out my drink. Yup...I have nothing more to say on that. While Kissaten is a nice place to study and do work, I wouldn't recommend staying for a long while because you will need to buy a drink for each hour of internet you use. Some of the drinks are cheaper than Starbucks but you get what you pay for. Not a bad place to just chill and get some work done but service needs some tweaking.
(3)
Donna Lyn B.

My first visit here was around midnight to catch up on some work. My husband ordered Texas Chili (no beans) and he loved it a lot. So much he even told the guys behind the counter how much he loved it. I had a sample, too, and I thought it was pretty good. I ordered a Thai Iced Tea and it was really good; not too sweet. The employees were friendly even at that late hour. I would definitely return, especially when I need a late night place to catch up on work again. One negative is the limited Wifi access that you can only get when you order something and you have to enter a code to link up.
(4)
M K.

Excellent coffee place with WiFi. Usually filled with students cramming at the usual times but otherwise finding a table is easy. Food is slightly overpriced for what it is, apple cider was lovely.
(4)
Jason H.

Great place to get a bite to eat while studying. It's normally busy on the weekends because the UH libraries are closed, especially during finals. Parking is free in the KHON 2 building on the stalls marked with the Kissaten sign. The Turkey Pesto and the Tomato Bisque is really good! If you're torn on what to get, I'd definitely say give those a shot. Happy Studying!
(4)
Val Y.

I was on the back end of this diet that I was on and was really feeling food horny. I had this constant, hungry obsession for food that made it difficult to concentrate on anything. Hors d'oeuvres, hot pockets, kumquat, breakfast in bed, had whole different meanings to me. Seeing Rachael Ray holding a 12" Polish hot dog would fill my mind with wild imagination. I daydreamed of sinking my teeth into a nice, slender chicken neck; and sucking the thing, leaving a hickey. And as gross as this may sound, licking the cumin off the front side of a pork butt or a hot tamale just seemed something natural to me. For a man that's food horny, these kinds of thoughts aren't that weird. I read about this place called Kissaten CafÃ© and the "Kiss-" part of the name got my attention. I was horny for food and the "Kiss-" arouse my desire to try their food. I got in my car and while driving, I felt like one of those guys that own trucks, that pick up girls (or boys that look like girls) in the back of the Pali Longs at 4:30 in the morning. I know those guys are definitely horny. I drove down Piikoi and turned into the 88 Piikoi/KHON2 parking garage. I found that you can't get to Kissaten directly from the parking garage. And when I walked on Piikoi and into the 88 Piikoi entrance; I discovered that you can't get to Kissaten that way either. Kissaten Cafe sits right on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu Streets and I wondered how, I never noticed this place before? yelp.com/biz_photos/4M4Nâ€¦ Kissaten is a sweet little 24 hour coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner place. It is a step above Starbucks because they serve real breakfast, lunch and dinner meals in addition to coffee and pastries. It is a step above YogurStory because they have more breakfast, lunch and dinner options on their menu. But on the other hand, it is a step or two behind; and not as big or sexy or beautiful as YogurStory in decor and ambiance. It is an airy, comfortable and adequate place, I think, for coffee and (or) a satisfying bite to eat. I was extremely horny for some food and saw a few things I wanted to try on the menu. I started with the potato leek soup which had a poached egg in it; which I thought was pretty s-a-t-i-s-f-y-i-n-g! Next I had the Turkey Pesto Melt which is a turkey, bacon, mozzarella cheese, spring greens, pesto aioli, focaccia bread sandwich. For $6.00 it was a really good trick. Ahhhh! I don't know if they use saltpeter as a seasoning here, but noticed I wasn't that hungry or horny after eating these two dishes. Nah! I think this is just another one of my wild imaginations. For dessert, I ordered the Lilikoi Creme Brulee which sounded sexy; but for me, it made me limp. It's prepared in a small disposable aluminum dish and though the taste of the lilikoi is there; the creme brulee was watery and the taste not up to my standards. And what I really didn't like was the very noticeable metallic aftertaste of the aluminum. I was a guy that was really horny for food when I walked into Kissaten CafÃ©. I wasn't looking for a place to hang or to study or to meet friends. I was a guy that was looking for something that was good, quick and dirty; and that satisfied my horniness. In a way, kind of like the guys in their trucks driving in the back of the Pali Longs. I found the items on the menu at Kissaten very reasonably priced. This place are clean and polished but not sexy. The wait staff don't ask too many embarrassing question and they let you do your thing. This is a nice, obscure place to eat with acceptable service and good food. Kissaten CafÃ© is definitely worth trying and for me, even if I'm not food horny, I'm coming back. P.S. On parking. My recommendation is to feed the meter and park on Waimanu Street or in the Ala Moana Shopping Center parking lot. It is hit or miss finding parking in the 88 Piikoi garage.
(3)
Masumi K.

This place is nice and in a good location. I got tired of going to Starbucks to get work done and Starbucks is sooo over-rated anyway. I got tired of going to Starbucks and seeing people there only to leach Wi-Fi to play their SC2 or WoW. JEEBUS!!! The nerve! So I wanted to find another comfy place where I could get Wi-Fi. A friend had mentioned to me about his cousin working at Kissaten. So I made my Metal Gear Solid infiltration and checked it out to see what the hype was about. ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT: NO SEATS! Or just not enough seats! The food here is not too bad. Though the potato soup was really starchy and didn't really like that. The taste was exquisite though! Great place to eat a small lunch or dinner with friends. ***NOTE: Do not bring huge parties. You will be out of luck finding seats! Now that Kissaten is starting to get well known, a lot of people come here and in my eyes, it has turned into another Starbucks almost. Nooo! :( But I will continue to come here because I do like some of their food items and drinks. Compared to Starbucks: I love how Kissaten is 24 hours!
(3)
Annie L.

Kissaten is my new favorite study place!!! I adore the atmosphere and the fact that it's open 24 hours. WHAT!??!!?! You heard me, I didn't stutter....24 HOURS! Aaannnndddd they serve late night pho. I know right? Get outta here!!! Came here one afternoon because starbucks was too crowded. There is street meter parking and also limited stalls in the KHON2 building, but I just parked across the street at the mall and walked over (shhhh, the security guards from Ala Moana already tagged my car twice from when I worked there!) What's nice about this place is that there are literally electrical outlets every 2 feet in the shop. You know how in Waikiki there's an ABC store everywhere you turn? Yes, sockets popping up everywhere like that....AAAAMMMMAAAAZZZIIINNNG! The food's good, but a little on the expensive side. Boyfriend and I both got a sandwich and a bisque at 9 bucks a pop. Delicious but a little rough on my budget. Fun Fact: did you know that Kissaten literally means Coffeeshop in Japanese? Neat huh?
(4)
Juliann C.

Their coffee is SO bad. SO bad. Other than that, the atmosphere is definitely an A+, and their food selections are pretty good. I ate their grilled ham cheese panini, oh man.. it was so yummy. And ofcourse 24 hours. Yes :)
(3)
Jason W.

Pros: Open 24 hours, Free wi-fi (time limit during certain hours of the day), Coffee is cool, the different menus (which I'd still like to try) are appealing Cons: Service was just a'ight, crowded, which is good for them but I've gone here choke different times and was unable to find a seat, or where I've driven by and given up trying to find parking, or parked at Ala Moana to walk over (and not get a seat). Wild Card: I bet they could expand because they are so popular And Finally, Did you know: the reviews about Joe Moore keying cars aren't all that awesome either. What's up with that?
(3)
Ellison U.

Kissaten Coffee Bar Place is great for studying or just to have a cup of tea. I wish this place existed or wish I had known about this place when I was in school because this place is awesomely open 24hrs!! Amazingly its not that busy, its kinda hidden on a one way street in the Khon Building. Fun fact (random) Kissaten means Coffee Shop in Japanese :). And ofcourse you're welcome to Kiss a 10, Me! DÃ©cor was very trendy asian essence. It had asian anime art on the walls. My artist friend Remi was featured and held an art show here has paintings of her Koi's and self portraits on the back wall. Kissaten also serves cafÃ© food, sammiches, pastas, acai bowls, variety of asian snacks. Coffee sucks though! Sorry I just had to admit that. I make better INSTANT coffee at home than this place. It's like an asian influenced Starbucks but open 24hrs! I can't emphasize enough that they're open 24 hoursss!! Amazing. One thing that bothered me or is kind of bad about this place is you would have to purchase something to use their internet. Which is okay but its only good for 2hours than you would have to buy something else. I guess it's good for the business, because they are open 24hrs and it's also a good way to regulate the length time people stay in there. Meh... I just like this place cause I can have meaningful conversation at night with girls here.
(4)
Billy W.

This place is all kinds of trendy; trendy interior decor, trendy people, trendy food?! I came in not knowing what to expect as I'm not really a cafe kind of person but on this day, was looking to eat something light. I ordered a Southwest Chicken salad which comes with BBQ or Ranch sauce. I asked for sauce on the side and they gave me both sauces! The salad is a big portion for $9. It's mainly greens, onions, corn, cherry tomatoes, and some kind of crunchy stuff that looked like corn flakes. I liked it! It was light and refreshing which was exactly what I came for. My friend got the Turkey Pesto Melt and it was awesome. It came in 2 large pieces of triangle-shaped paninis, along with a small salad. The panini was awesome! The bread was fluffy and a lil crispy, comes with bacon, turkey, cheese, and a pesto/mayo blend. The salad came with a fruity vinagrette. Despite the panini, it was still very light! I'm getting this next time! I thought the menu placement was a bit odd. The main menu on the wall is only for drinks. Look for the chalkboard near the floor for food. It's a bit small as I couldn't read the small descriptions but I didn't want to go up to it as that would block everyone else's view. Also, I totally missed the specials menu which was on another chalkboard to the right and above of the line. Didn't notice it until I sat down after ordering. For the drinks, I was a bit disappointed they didn't have much iced teas. They have limited parking (only 6 stalls available) in the building if you come during daytime. I'd definitely come again to try their other paninis and desserts!
(4)
Robert C.

Rating: 4.25/5 Date(s) Visited: 3/23/11, several times previously Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Kissaten is a poor college student's dream - surprisingly affordable and delectable food and drinks served in an environment that is equally suited to both socializing and studying. Plus it's open 24/7! It's perfect for all-nighters, study groups, and just plain relaxing after finals. Food: Let me begin with their coffee. It's amazing. Their selection might not be as large as Starbucks, but the prices are much more reasonable. I can get a large iced coffee here for only $2.00, whereas the same thing at the mall would cost me much more. The coffee isn't nearly as acidic as it is at Starbucks and I always feel like I'm actually getting more coffee than ice, which is a godsend for sleep-deprived me. Their food is equally amazing. I've had their "Hamakua Tomato Bisque" several times and it's always very good. It comes with a sprinkling of cheese and a squirt of oil which serves to balance out the acidity of the soup. When combined with their grilled cheese, it makes a perfect, light lunch. The grilled cheese is made with mild Gouda and has a hint of sweetness in every bite thanks to the slices of apple. Definitely not your mother's grilled cheese. I'm also a fan of the "Kissaten Melt", which was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. I struggled to finish the whole thing. The thinly shaved pastrami made the sandwich hearty, and the mustard aioli combined with the caramelized onions gave it a sweet, but tangy bite. There was also quite a bit of delicious, melted mozzarella in the sandwich which oozed out with every bite. Service: Reading the reviews, a lot of people seem to be turned off by the rudeness of the staff. Though I admit that they don't always serve with a smile of their faces, I have yet to observe or experience any unprofessional behavior on their part. They seem more than willing to answer questions or explain things on their menu, if not with a smile, then at least without a grimace. My food and drinks have always arrived within a reasonable amount of time and I'm always asked if I enjoyed my meal. If there's one thing I wish they did, it would be to ask with every purchase if I needed the Wi-Fi code. I mean, I am almost always tethering my phone and using that for Internet, but there have been occasions where I've forgotten my cable and couldn't be as productive as I'd like to have been because I didn't have the code and didn't want to buy something else in order to get it. Atmosphere: Though it can get pretty busy here, I don't have a hard time getting into my school work as long as the music or TV isn't unusually loud. Even if I'm just there to relax, I can enjoy watching people or reading the TV's captions. They also have a large selection of magazines, but I haven't bothered to peruse their offerings. If there's one thing that can get annoying if you come here to get work done, it's that people who don't need the outlets always take the tables that have the outlets or one person might take a table that's meant for four without having a clear need to do so. So it can be a wait for people who come here with a large group or to try and get work done. Price: As I mentioned earlier, the price for coffee here is very reasonable. Their food is also fairly reasonable, particularly for their "Grilled Cheese and Hamakua Tomato Bisque" combo. As good as their "Kissaten Melt" was I'm not sure it was worth $9.00... maybe if it were like $7.50 or so, then I'd feel like it was a better deal. Other than that, I really don't feel like you could go wrong price-wise with anything on their menu.
(4)
Sodakine Y.

Came in for a late night dinner, around 9:10 pm and went straight in line to order my usual truffle mac n cheese and a smoothie. The lady that took my order told me my total, but when I busted out my card she added a dollar or so more. Is that normal? Ah, whatever, I'm hungry. Anyways, I go sit near the front where the food comes out and wait. Finally my drink comes out. I expect my food to come out not too long after but again, I wait...and wait....and WAIT. I'm pretty observant so I'm looking around and realize I didn't get my number when I ordered, but, I don't think it's a biggie since I made eye contact with the lady who took my order like twice and you would think I'm obviously waiting for something especially if I'm jiggling my keys and leaning on my hand. I see a truffle mac n cheese come out with some salad thereafter. I then watch the lady who took my order take the salad ONLY to its' customer and leaves the mac n cheese. What tha?! Finally one of the guy workers takes the mac n cheese, but totally walks past me as I watch him bring it to a table where it just sits there. I knew that was mine. A few minutes later I ask him if I can check my order and he's like, "yeah, what'd you get?..." He checks the orders and is like, "Oh, I think it's with...uh..." and sure enough goes to the table that he just left sitting with some kid. He comes back and tells me because my number was left at the counter it was given to someone else. OKAY first of all, DO NOT insinuate that I left the damn number there when that lady never even gave it to me! And second, where's my damn apology!?
(2)
Alejandro M.

What good can I say about Kissaten other than being open for 24 hrs? Nothing. The coffee is not anything to rave about and the prices are steep for the quality of food and coffee served. This place is NOT student/study friendly. It's loud, the seating is terrible, lack of outlets and they seem to not want you to stay for more than hour. Hey, Kissaten! Why do you think coffee shops like Starbucks are so successful? Because they make their customers feel welcomed and they want them to stay to BUY MORE COFFEE! Plus their parking sucks. Such a shame for a 24hrs coffee shop in Honolulu. Honolulu students and coffee drinkers deserve better.
(2)
Frances B.

I love the atmosphere of the cafe. The lively orange walls make it less coffee-house and more chillin-at-a-cafe. Additionally, you have the option of sitting on a sofa or at a table. Their grilled cheese and tomato basil soup is muy delicioso! Coffee - strong and flavorful, just how I like it. They forgot my order once, and I was surprised with a nice treat. It is one of my favorite spots to keep my friends company during their late night study sessions.
(4)
Todd T.

I have heard a great deal of positive commentary about this place, and I passed it on the way to somewhere. So I just had to com eon eday, and now this is my new hangout joint! Drinks are great. I don't like a sweetend Macha Latte, and they took out the Vanilla for me. And the cafe ole is oishi~! I had the Turkey Pesto Sandwich and Potato Leek today. LORD that was to die for! This hidden secret is open 24 hours and is really a clean. The workers here are incredibly friendly. I can tell you, I'm definitely coming back!
(5)
Chad Y.

Kissaten is probably the lesser known little sister of YogurStory. You might have heard about it, you might not have. It is a cute coffee shop where you can go, sit back, relax, enjoy a cup coffee, and maybe even do a little studying? The fact that it is open 24 hours is a big plus. Considering it has just opened, I must say it is off to a good start. They definitely need to work a few kinks out of their system, but I do believe that they have enormous potential to become something very good. They offer a decent menu offering and I truly hope that it expands so that its kitchen is open 24 hours, otherwise the food offerings are rather limited in the evening. That being said, its pastries are decent and nothing to sneer at, nor are they anything to rave over. The coffees and teas are what you would expect at a shop and certainly does not disappoint. The service is good, not great, but good. They are still learning the menu and the operation itself so they seem nervous. However, they show great promise and I think if they had a few big trainings, they could truly make that place work and shine. The ambiance looks as if Rachel Ray went to Ikea. Th chairs are comfortable and the tables well sized for a laptop. There are quite a few outlets nearby so I am truly glad they have taken that into their design asthetic. Should you not find street parking, they have quite a few stalls in the Hawaiiki Tower garage, just drive down Piikoi towards Ala Moana and just past the KHON studios, you'll see a driveway leading into the garage. Park in any of the stalls marked "Kissaten." They don't have a great deal, so I could see it becoming a problem when they get popular. Definitely a cool and unique spot to check out. With its comfortable ambiance, great hours, good prices, and location, it definitely has enormous potential to be great.
(3)
Riana S.

I agree with Scott A. I would've given it 4 stars but they recently started limiting their internet to just 1 hour and you HAVE to buy something. I knew this place was too good to be true! Here are a few things I like about Kissaten: 24 hours. This is so essential for procrastinators. Sadly we don't have any coffeeshops on the Leeward side that are open 24 hours with wi-fi :( The food. The other day I shared a grilled cheese panini with tomato soup with Nicole K. The panini had bacon in it and some...unexplainable crunchy vegetable in it that kept throwing me off. Something about the taste didn't match...the soup was delicious, creamy and pulled on the sweet side. The first time I came here I ordered the pita bread with hummus and it was really good. It came with olives and I usually never eat them but it all matched :) I had their iced caramel coffee and it was strong. It kept me awake for awhile. My concentration was pretty good over there, it's typically very quiet, like a library. But damn it they have those damn TV's everywhere. I ended up getting distracted by Nacho Libre :(
(3)
Lei P.

Conveniently located across the street from Ala Moana Center - this coffee bar features elegant delicious food 24-hours. Prices are affordable and the ingredients fresh. Service is ok. The food is made to order so its not fast food. Love the breakfast croissant, the breakfast burrito is also great. The sandwiches are delicious and crispy - made panini style. I also love the tomato bisque. I am not a coffee drinker, but hear the coffee isnt that good.
(4)
Min K.

Kissaten was introduced to me by the fabulous Sheryl S, whom I had lunch with today. We both had mixed feelings walking into the cafÃ© because she had read reviews that the coffee was bad, tasted tinny, and was not all that good. As we walked in, it's a definite industrial lofty but yet trendy space, with cool orange chairs, HUGE love seats, and exposed ceilings. My sort of place. Dead, probably due to it being a new cafÃ©, so I'm presuming the guy with pierced ears and the ankle tattoo is the owner; he greets us hello. We say hello back and go to the counter to order. They use the old fashion cash machine, which took us by surprise because the whole place is very modern. Sheryl got the nonfat latte, I got the skinny cafÃ© au lait, potato leek soup, and the mushroom risotto. Quite a bit, but bear in mind I rewoke up at 12:30 and had no breakfast or lunch. Plus sharing is caring!!! Nonfat latte, it isn't that hard to make, but Sheryl did mention it was watery. My cafÃ© au lait was okay but the milk froth was very weak. Starbuck's froth is thick, white, and opaque while Kissatens was clear and bubbly. It didn't have it's own atmosphere between coffee and froth. Somewhat disappointed, but it was pretty tasty. Not tinny, or bad as what was heard. I guess you really do have to experience it yourself instead of listening to hearsay. The potato leek soup was on the cool side. I'm assuming it was left out. It came with a hen's egg that was poached and topped with bacon bits. A little salty, but nonetheless it was good. Next time I'll try their chili that was on special. The risotto, I'm sorry, I'l stick to Tango for the risotto. It was creamy, but so much Parmesan was dumped in it I couldn't really taste anything but. All in all they are striving to be a 24 hour cafÃ© and would be a great place to go to instead of the usual Zippys. They have free wifi, ask for the password. Btw there is parking for Kissaten; as you're coming down on Piikoi, make the right into the parking garage and parking is on the left and labeled "Kissaten".
(4)
Alice C.

I can't stress enough how happy I am that this place exists! Service- is great especially late at night. They'll bring the food to where ever you are seated. Sometimes they give you more than just an hour for internet especially on slow nights which is always a plus. Its actually smart to be providing the hours so the net isn't lagging. The staff are friendly. Its easy to make small talk with them! Food & drinks- My favorite is the italian creme soda. You can choose any flavor syrup they have. I've tried raspberry, strawberry, apple, pink grape fruit. Oh man its like fruit syrup heaven. I've also tried their grilled cheese sandwich (which they have thin slices of apples in them) Interesting combo but I must say its pretty good! their signature Kissaten melt, melts in my mouth :) potato leek is definitely divine as another yelper tipped us off. Tonight I'm having the Tomato Bisque. Again, I'm more than satisfied. They also have dessert! I haven't tried that out yet but I will definitely need to one of these nights soon. Their main menu is open till 9. After 9 will just be selected items (the ones I've mentioned above basically) Price- is cheap! Especially when you pay cash, they don't charge tax! But they do accept card as well. Music- is therapeutic. With variation of all sorts. Ever since I discovered this place (which is only a week ago) I swear I've been here almost every night.. I probably only missed *one night. I practically live here late at night. && that's how much I love this place.
(5)
Tom Y.

Me and my two co-workers went for lunch and we were very pleasantly surprise by the location, high quality of food and the atmosphere. All get high marks. When I go to a new place, I'll take a glance at the prices. For me, I take a look at how many $10+ items there are and to my surprise, there were just a few. Generally, soups are $5-7 with sandwiches and salads are in the $8-9 range. For some people, this may sound expensive but if you work in downtown (as I do), paying $10+ is a regular occurrence. I had the pesto mushroom pasta. Penne pasta with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes with a little parmesan cheese. Pasta was cooked perfectly with tons of flavor. My co-workers order a smoked salmon salad and veggie wrap. Both were extremely tasty with bright colors and a balsamic side salad to go with the wrap. The atmosphere was very comfortable made for the plugged-in on-the-go lifestyle of powering up your laptop/cell phone, etc. For those not into that, they also sell art work and have a flat screen tv on with soft music in the background. You just feel very comfortable there. They also have coffee (which the name implies) as well as shave ice. Didn't try them but worth trying again on future visits. Will definitely come back again. Made a good first impression. Note: Very limited parking during the daytime as I parked along the street. Park in the building during overnight hours.
(4)
Joe W.

I studied here this past Saturday from about 9am. I like the vibe of this place and the fact that when I get hungry, thirsty, sleepy, or bored all my needs are conveniently available for purchase. It really takes away all my excuses to stop studying, so I ended up getting a lot done. I give Kissaten 3 stars for overall prices, quality of food, feel of the venue, and friendliness of staff. I ordered the grilled cheese (complete with bacon!) for $6 and was thrilled to find out that it came with a tomato bisque. The bisque was too salty, but had a nice flavor to it otherwise. My grilled cheese was made panini style--the bread was cooked perfectly, but unfortunately the cheese was barely melted. As far as it being a good place to study (and Kissaten has no control over these things), I found it to be kind of noisy and a little difficult to concentrate. I guess school's out, because every middle schooler and their cliques were there with their OMG gossip and iPhones supplementing the music of the cafe. At one point, I think I heard 4 songs playing simultaneously, adding to the cacophony that made my head throb in my already stressed out state. I'm not sure if it's quieter at night (past their bed times), but be warned that you should bring your headphones if you want to study!
(3)
J P.

Kissaten according to Google is known in Japan for coffee shop, similar to Starbucks. I walked in at 10:20AM and they where already closed, they said this is there soft opening from 5 to 10AM, but soon they want to be open 24/7. Inside the place is huge and nicely decorated; it looks as if there is a coffee bar and smoothie bar and perhaps a sandwich Bar. They are located in the Hawaiki Tower aka KHON building, metered parking on the street fronting Kissaten is plentiful and I assume the building offers parking also. Kissaten sounds cool! We are looking so forward to the 24/7 opening and the short walk to grab a bit to eat.
(5)
Marisa O.

Kissaten is a very interesting little place. 3 stars for the coffee. Don't get me wrong, the coffee is delicious. However, I asked for a Caramella with skim milk, and the girls says okay. Not "we don't have skim, is 2% ok?". Or even a rude "No! Get out! No SkIm!" Anyway, I get it, and it's a little TOO delicious... and creamy. Then I go again, and the girl says they don't carry skim milk and never have. So FYI to the first girl, 2% and skim are NOT the same. 4 stars for the food. Great sandwiches, and decent breakfast. I especially enjoy their grilled cheese with bacon and apples and their kissaten melt. I also really liked their potato leek soup with a poached egg in it, but (don't hate me) I wasn't so crazy about their "famous" tomato bisque. It's ok. But the tomato soup at Nordstrom Cafe is FAR superior. Even the Safeway Tomato Bisque is better. 5 stars for the atmosphere. It's very nice, soothing and modern in there. I LOVE the paintings with the funny fish, and I enjoy the mish mash of tables, chairs, and stools. 5 stars for the pricing. They give a good amount for what you pay. I understand I may get brained for this, but in Hawaii, the food is plentiful and fresh for what you get. Gotta say. 2 stars for the parking. Metered street parking, kind of pricey, but free on Sundays. And I've never gone (maybe I've been lucky) when there was no parking. So based on weighted categories, 4 stars is what Kissaten gets in my book. Minus the mix up with the 2% vs. skim, the service is usually decent, the wait is usually not to long, and it's never crazy, loud, or annoying.
(4)
Megan R.

I'll admit Kissaten has a pretty shabby interior. A large variety of seating to choose from. Nice furniture - modernish - but still homey. Good lighting, nice warm color scheme - an ideal cafe. The staff behind the counter seemed friendly :) My friend and went here to do HW - we were pretty disappointed when we found out you had to pay for internet by the hour! I understand - they want to avoid squatters... and they can't afford it like Starbucks. But at least hook it up if people do buy something! I know some restaurants provide you with a temporary internet code on your receipt which lasts for like 2 hours. ANYWAY.... I won't be coming here to do hw. The coffee was okay - nothing memorable. The iced black tea is good & if you're feeling like something sweet you can get a flavor to go with it. They have a cute chalkboard with all the specials handwritten in such it way - it makes you feel the food is going to be SUPER good. haha, if that makes sense? I made a mental note to come back and try the potato soup with the bread bowl. A FEW WEEKS LATER.... I brought the BF back & we both got soup and bread bowls. He got clam chowder, which I can't review cause I can't do seafood :/ but he said it was good! :) I got the potato soup. Well the term soup wasn't used, I forget exactly what it was called.. but the consistency wasn't soupy. More like really creamy mashed potatoes. I was sad because it wasn't HOT. It was warm, but I like to see some steam! There were yummy bacon bits and sour cream! Which added the perfect amount of flavor to the dish - and weirdly an over easy egg? Overall - it was good, but I had EXTREMELY HIGH HOPES :/ & it left me craving a really good potato soup with a bread bowl! I'll just make a bread bowl and get Safeway's potato soup! hahahah.
(3)
John C.

This is the only cafe that I know of that's open 24/7. The most expensive drinks are fruit smoothies and large coffees, which is $5.00. They offer food here too. you can order pho in the early morning if you want. Other than that, there's sandwiches, wraps, and soup. I had the tomato bisque which was a little too salty for me but with the veggie wrap dipped in, it was a good combo for me. The temperature is perfect for me. Not too cold like the Starbucks on Ward Ave. I think most of the seats are stools which aren't as comfortable is chairs but I think it's alright for most people. You have to ask for internet access. I believe the code is good for 2 hours but they might have given me just a code for just 1 hour before. I'll have to order more food from them so that I can give a more accurate rating.
(4)
R M.

I am working and staying at places without wifi and Kassaten is close by. I drop in during the mornings when just a few customers are at the tables. I buy a drink and use their wifi for my iPad. The iced coffee is a little weak and the black iced tea a little strong--as I prefer.
(3)
Daren D.

A pleasant morning spot to help get things going. I had a usual latte or dirty chai with a plain toasted bagel and butter. The artwork and background music create a unique atmosphere to relax and kill time. The girl working was friendly and brought out my bagel on a plate and napkin and butter side. Nice(!)
(4)
Sara S.

Sometimes you just can't study at home. Or at a library.... especially when you're not a UH student. Anyways, studying for the MCAT sucks and I'm just way too tempted to lie on my bed at home so I go to Barnes and Noble. However, B&N closes at 10, oh drat. In comes Kissaten, a 24 hour cafe that I greatly appreciate!!! I ordered a medium iced matcha tea latte for $3 (getting an iced tea drink takes a long time bc they have to wait for it to cool first) which was... average. I'll try a cream soda next time. They will print you a Wifi password and user name, but mine was only good for one hour whereas my friend's was good for 2 hours! Why!!??! Sad panda. Anyways, we got there around 8pm on a Sunday so we were able to snag free street parking and secure a table by the outlets. However, it started filling up quickly! I agree, they need more tables, or people who are by themselves should NOT take a 4-person table. The couches looked comfy, but not conducive to studying at least for me. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be more of a social or study environment, but either way, I had my noise canceling headphones so it was all good. Definitely bring those btw if you're planning to get some major work done. As far as a study place goes, I will give this 4 stars, at least way above Starbucks and maybe even B&N. However, I will leave it at a solid 3.5 stars rounded DOWN until I try the food!! They have late night pho for $7, among other soups and grilled cheese for a late night study snack.
(3)
Marjorie C.

Came here at 2:30am and found the service and the food lacking. If you're an eatery/coffee shop that is open 24hrs in an area that is in the midst of clubs and bars shouldn't you be equipped to handle a small rush of late night customers? Got the Kissaten melt, blueberry cheesecake and belgian waffle. My friends got the pho, tomato bisque and grilled cheese sandwich. The pho came out within 10-15 minutes of ordering...the presentation was...meh. The pho was flat and the accompanying veggies and lemon were pressed and not at all fresh looking (and it was pretty small). My bf and I ordered a melt each and it came out in 20-25 min. Our belgian waffle and waters didn't come out till we asked for it again...30-35 min later. One of our friends waited 35 minutes for their bisque and grilled cheese to come out...we were pretty much all done eating. The food was alright, the price was a little high, there was no customer service. We should have gone to Taiyo. I would suggest that this place is more of a 24 hour coffee shop and not somewhere to eat after an event or when other places are closed. If you're hungry and want a meal go elsewhere (like Zippy's or Sorabol).
(2)
A A.

5 Stars all the way - you know why..... because it's a coffee shop and it's open 24 hours! Not a 24 hour diner kinda place where you gotta bring extra money to tip the waitress - just a coffee shop (that has food too). I came to this place at 1AM on a Wednesday night and was pleased to see that the place was pretty full of people (seeing all the people helps me feel like I am not such a weirdo for being up so late on a weeknight). The ambiance was cool - house music was playing (at a not to quiet or loud level) in the background - all the people inside seemed to be quietly reading, studying / doing whatever on their laptops. I just had a small hot coffee - nothing fancy - the coffee was good. The place has a nice bathroom too. If you come late at night - it's pretty easy to find street parking on Waimanu street. I recommend this place. I have not yet tried the food - but I don't care what the food is like - as long as I can get a cup of decent coffee in a cool environment where I can hang out late at night - I'm happy.
(5)
Sara Y.

Open 24 hours!! I have came here for events, dinner, and to just sit and chat with friends. Relaxing atmosphere with a couple of couches near the front. People mainly come here to study, but I always come here for the food or drinks. I really like their mushroom pesto pasta, paninis, and soups. I forget the exact name of the drink, but the strawberry shake was also good. This place can get quite crowded in the night, so plan accordingly if you are planning on stopping by at this place.
(4)
Adrienne P.

Food: Delicious! I ordered a tomato bisque with grilled cheese sandwich and it was awesome. I also had the belgian waffle dessert which was super yummy. Ambiance: Seems like a good place to study. Service: Friendly Parking: The owner said there were a few reserved stalls in the building, but we just parked on the street in front of the cafe.
(4)
Dayna T.

i came here specifically to try the Tomato Bisque and grilled cheese sandwich because I was told that it gave Nordstom Cafe's tomato bisque a run for it's money. My thoughts? Nordstrom Cafe suits my tastebuds better. The bisque here was on the sweeter side but I did like the texture, it was thick and rich. Definitely not bad but I do prefer salty over sweet. I would say that it is worth trying (your tastebuds may be different). The grilled cheese sandwich was tasty! It had bacon in it as well. Not super greasy like other places, went with the bisque nicely. My friend had the strawberry lemonade. It tasted a little watered down to us. It was in "icee" form not just liquid. Not too sweet/sour (i.e. not much flavor). I do like the atmosphere. It's larger than it seems from outside so there are lots of seats. Most have instructions (i.e. only sit for up to 1 hour...or 4 people or more only etc.). It is a cute coffee shop and I do plan on coming back to try more of their foods. Update to come after my next visit.
(3)
Cameron B.

I use this place as my office from time to time. There are plenty of seats with electrical outlets all around. I just plug in, turn on my wifi and i'm good to go. I haven't eaten anything (yet), but the drinks are pretty good.
(4)
Rosiey P.

I came here with the expectation that I will be able to study after the school library has closed down. Being a college student with very little financial stability I was underneath the impression that if I buy coffee I will be able to use their wifi! Great but only for an hour before you have to make another purchase (laughs not even Starbucks will do that to you) I can understand that limiting users to a time frame will conserve bandwidth but having to constantly purchase something to use their wifi service is ridiculous. Bad service, bad attentiveness, this place is a joke.
(1)
Ericka B.

Cute little cafe! I loved the atmosphere and vibe. There weren't alot of people there when we went so, lots and lots of seats + couches! Went here after a night of karaoke, drinking, and sanoya ramen. I guess it was the final place to sober up. We sat on the couch without ordering anything. The girl that was working came up to us and told us we had to order something in order to stay. I didn't mind though, cause she was really polite about it! I ordered a steamer with caramel (steamed milk). It was my first time tasting it, and it was delicious! I want to try their tomato bisque and grilled cheese one day, great comfort food. They also serve Pho after 10pm! For those late night Pho cravers :)
(4)
Joy Y.

Have you ever been to Starbucks Ward and find it distracting because you bump into an old friend (when you want to study), the creepy guy playing Xbox is loud or its simply crowded. Well, that's NOT the case here... I like to hide here to study and have my alone day. I hope this place NEVER becomes too popular and loud. It's perfect. PROS: 1. The food is fresh and flavorful. They even have a late night menu too :) Recommendations: They have a great variety of salads! Yummy! 2. Cute, contemporary, and casual setting. 3. Usually quiet and very clean CONS: 1. Parking is limited at times.
(5)
Kasey B.

Grilled cheese and tomato bisque, perfect combo!
(5)
Allison S.

The ambiance and cafe setting was as expected. I entered the cafe during a weekday morning anticipating the morning rush of coffee lovers on their way to work, but was presented with quite the opposite. Kissaten Coffee and Tea Bar is a small cafe near Ala Moana that is influenced by modern designed to attract the college student and business professional. I walked in to get breakfast which ended up being coffee and a sandwich. Upon entering I noticed that there was a lot of spaces to sit, the room was fairly empty. From the look of it ninety percent of those at the Cafe were students studying. As I approached the counter I was greeted by the Barista. Being a former Barista myself, your knowledge of the menu is very key to identifying and then satisfying the customers' needs. I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted because I've never been there. So the Barista decided to ask simple and direct questions. I ended up getting a large iced white mocha. This drink was perfection it had just enough sweetness and just enough coffee flavor. Sometimes getting the right balance is hard, but the white mocha was on point. I peaked over the counter and after my drink was made the station was very clean. I was impressed at how clean it was. In addition the Barista thoroughly cleaned when he wasn't serving customers. The lady who delivered my breakfast sandwich was nice as well. Although we had barely any interaction she did her best to leave with a good impression. I enjoyed my breakfast at Kissaten the environment was ideal for studying, and it wasn't crowded like Starbucks usually is. I looked around, tables and chair were set up spaced evenly away from each other, creating a spacious feel. Overall the cafe was larger than expected which is great, and the service was reputable. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone needing to study or just catch up with friends.
(3)
Sasuke N.

Finally! A decent place open 24 hours! Thank you!
(5)
Jesse C.

My favorite spot to catch up on some reading. It's open 24 hours. Lots of parking in the KHON building. And the tomato bisque is rawesome! They removed the 2 hour restriction so it's free wifi too! The food is good. Music is nice. Spaceous. And best of all no "Starbuck creepers." You know the ones at Starbucks that gives you the creepers. Ya, none of those.
(4)
Timothy L.

I would have given zero stars if possible. Completely rude staff. Forcing a $5 credit card minimum is against any vendor credit card agreements. Check out Kona Mountain instead, or the Coffee Beanery in Ala Moana mall. They lost my business and I would suggest you bring yours elsewhere.
(1)
Carolyn S.

Well... it's okay, but honestly, I have had better, especially for the price. I have been a few times before, and always come out thinking, "meh." The decor is cute, and I really want to like them, but somehow I am just always disappointed.
(2)
Joanne M.

One big thing that I love about this place is that is it open 24/7. I first started stopping by for caffeine before working late or after, because it would be the only place open. Their prices aren't that bad either. The workers were nice and attentive, and they even offered me a stamp card. That was last fall. I returned recently and noticed some changes. The comfy couch is no longer there, however, they have added additional seating. I suppose that as the months went by, more people were learning about this awesome 24 hours source of caffeine and food that they needed more chairs and tables. The workers were also different. I noticed they weren't as friendly as the ones before. Usually I would expect them to ask me about my stamp card (that I couldn't find) but nothing. It felt like the cashier wanted to take my order quickly as possible. When I thanked the waitress for bringing over my food, there was no response. It kind of bothered me, but it's not like they gave me attitude so that's fine. It was just a different experience from last year. They still do a good service. Other than service, I myself tried something different. Instead of caffeine on this visit, I ordered Italian soda for the first time. And they said I could add any syrup that I could see on the shelf...which was a lot!! I tried the Mango, which was awesome. But they also had Peanut Butter and Macadamia Nut, which very tempting to try...maybe next time. I loved that there were so many options of flavors. I also ordered a grilled cheese sandwich that had bacon (!!) in it. That was a great surprise. Parking isn't too bad; it is in the KHON building. Kissaten only has about 4 stalls or so, but I go there when KHON is closed. They said you can park in the KHON stalls after hours.
(4)
Sean W.

I love this coffee bar! The coffee is great and the food is delicious! I had the Turkey Pesto Melt and Potato Leek soup... both were fantastic. The Turkey melt had unbelievable ammounts of mozzarella cheese! I also liked the egg and bacon bits that were in the potato leek soup... this is my new favorite coffee spot! The design of the place is very modern looking with the unique orange walls and furniture.
(5)
Chantelle T.

Hawaii definitely needs more cafes with wifi, good drinks, and food options. It's one of the things I miss most about LA when I'm back home. Kissaten isn't the perfect cafe to satiate my need for this type of cafe, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. It's very spacious and there's ample plugs for all the electronic devices you'd need for your study/work sessions. Oh, and did I mention that it's 24 hours? Definite plus!!! I got their matcha latte with soy milk and was happy with it. Not too sweet and definitely super matcha-ey. My friend recommended their veggie wrap, matcha freeze, and grilled cheese. I think I'll definitely make an effort to try these the next time I come!
(4)
Sam R.

This place is a great place to get yo shit done lol. Not that many places that are open 24 / 7, and Kissaten is a great option for those who need to study or work late. I highly recommend the grilled cheese and tomato bisque combo. Both the grilled cheese and the bisque are pretty good, but when you dip the grilled cheese sandwich into the bisque... glorious flavor explosion of delight.
(4)
Christy K.

I love me some Kissaten! First of all, their Thai Tea ROCKS!!! I crave it like I used to crave Caramel Frappucinos. I hope that they make the Thai Tea part of their regular menu, forever! It's like super sweet black tea with condensed milk. Second, I love that this place is open 24 hours. Third, I love their music. Fourth, I love that they have outlets everywhere. I wish they didn't limit their WiFi access to 2 hours... though I can see why. And okay, I know late-night pho is like every young Oahuan's dream (to satisfy that post-drinking appetite), but their pho is... less than average! If they revamped their recipe and didn't overcook the noodles, they'd really have something, but until then... eh. To their defense, though, the rest of their food is pretty good. Bottom line is, Kissaten is my #1 destination for studying- they have the right ambience, good beverages (I also like the apple cider), and free Wifi (ask the cashier for the code upon purchasing). Five stars for that!
(5)
Jen H.

2 stars for food, +1 star for atmosphere/interior = 3 stars. I've been here only twice, the first time I went I thought the place was nicely decorated and trendy looking. Reminds me of a Yogurtland without the yogurt. I really liked that they had couches in addition to tables with chairs and counters with high chairs. It seems like it would be an ideal place to study (by yourself or with friends), or just have a chat with someone over coffee. I like that this place is surrounded by large glass, so the sunlight comes in naturally and makes the place look really inviting. First time my bf and I ordered the Loco Moco and Truffle Mac & Cheese. The loco moco meat was super soft, it tasted good but was kind of expensive for what it was. Also, they took forever to make it so we waited about 15-20 min. before they brought it out. The truffle mac & cheese was good, but kind of rich and oily and the chicken wasn't good (I ended up leaving all the chicken untouched). Also, it disturbed me that the ladies at the counter were talking so loud that it kind of ruined the mood and I ended up listening to them instead of concentrating on my food. For drinks we ordered the lemonade and Strawberry Italian soda. The lemonade was super tangy and good, but I was disappointed with the soda, all the syrup was at the bottom and yet it still tasted like it was just plain soda water. Idk, I've heard from other yelpers that the place is hit and miss depending on who makes your drink, so maybe I just got a bad one that day? The second time I got a mocha and that was really really good so I guess it made up for it. I still have yet to try the tomato bisque and grilled cheese that everyone keeps talking about. Haven't used the wi-fi yet but I hear its good. I was actually expecting the place to be more packed, but I guess its pretty empty around 5pm. Also, there's no parking so you'd have to park at Ala Moana or find street parking.
(3)
Scott N.

This is the best place ever! You can just study here or hang out with friends! Workers are just so nice and they have good food but a little pricy. The workers seem happy to be here. What's cool about this they show other peoples art. I come here like ALL THE TIME. I only go here to study. If you're thinking of what's there, try their tomato bisque! Sweet kick to it. Try that with the grilled cheese. Like heaven.
(5)
Vincent Q.

One friend once mocked the fact Kissaten in Japan is exactly what it is, a coffee bar. Now, she frequents here almost daily as a mainstay. I, on the other hand, have only come here a handful of times since my first visit, enjoying their version of gourmet comfort foods. I saw one item on their menu I had to try, so I made time to stop in. Even on an off-day, the place was nearly packed. Note: Lunch and Dinner 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Late Night Menu is 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. Potato Leek Soup- 4-stars- I can honestly say, I am not familiar with the flavors of leeks. Of course, we are all familiar with potatoes. This soup comes with a light, earthy scent. Stirring thick like gravy, and gritty with generous portions of liquified potatoes. The flavor is definitely light, yet satisfying, making the additions more essential. There is an egg dropped at the height of the dishes heat, becoming at least half-cooked by the time you receive it. This little white island is covered with bacon and green onions. Mixing these additions in, you get the smooth texture of egg in some bites, then fresh, firm bacon in other bites. This also comes with a potato bun to add to the enjoyment. Of course, the bun is floured which makes a little mess, considering these tables are also utilized for studying. Still, the strength of the buns' flavor gives another layer to this, either by dipping or just dropping it into the soup. Delightful for the price of $5. A good, small meal, yet still heavy for those with a light appetite. Truffle Mac and Cheese- 5-stars- As truffle is one flavor which weakens my knees, I had to try this dish out. You get large penne pasta covered with a rich creamy sauce, reminiscent of alfredo--heavy, creamy, and buttery. What looks like bread dust seems to be finely grated parmesian, lightly browned. Add on top their fresh, cooked bacon, and you once again get layers of flavor. The truffle oil is added in, mixed, appearing and disappearing with each and every bite. I honestly couldn't deduce when I'd bite into a particularly strong mouthful, but mixing the dish helps a bit. To top it off, you get large cubes of white chicken. This almost becomes a carnivore's dream, yet a connoisseur's wonderland. The price ain't bad either. Definitely a must-try for truffle explorers and meat-lovers. Ambiance- There are televisions here, but not really placed for usage. Purchasable art lines one wall, and huge windows look out--rarely facing the full-brightness of sunshine. The tables are assorted very tightly, which makes eating somewhat uncomfortable, when people in nearby tables are studying and you're eating a delectable delight--they stare! Still, there are bar and counter-seats. One places you in sight of the cook preparing your food, if you're into this sort of thing. There is a bathroom on premises. There is even special parking in the building for Kissaten users, but they fill quickly. Service- Basically, you only deal with people at the counter and when they give you the food. After your order, you get a table number, and that's your marker for your meal. I am honestly unsure when or where you can leave a tip, or when it would be appropriate. Of course, there are times I want to tip the chef, especially since this one was easy on the eyes, too. Conclusion- I've heard many tales of this place, from the chef bringing recipes from all over the island, as he's worked everywhere to the mixed crowd of workers coming from other businesses from the same owner, some more risque than others. Still, it's a packed location right across from Ala Moana Center. If ever lost for a meal, I can be assured to end up here to find something small, yet heavy to fill me up.
(4)
Kayfo T.

Would've been a 4-star review, except for the fact that they now limit use of their internet to 1-hour. Seriously, who does that?!? When Kissaten first opened earlier this year, I was pretty stoked. In fact, I was pretty big fan, stopping in at least 10 times in the last month. Oahu definitely needed a 24-hour coffee shop. Could've definitely used one during the college days. Plus, I'd much rather support a locally-owned, independent coffee shop than a corporate chain, even if Kissaten's drinks are more expensive. The decor is modern-chic- I think they furnish from INspiration across the street. Their coffee is pretty good, but not nearly as good as Glazer's (who by the way makes designs in your mocha froth). The workers don't seem too excited to be there...or even be alive for that matter. Granted it is just a coffee shop, but at least the Starbucks baristas have a personality. I guess "corporate" does have its benefits... All in all, if you don't need wifi, then yay- you'll be a fan! However, if wifi use is a factor, then meh-I've experienced better at Starbucks right down the road (with cheaper drinks).
(2)
Chris O.

Kissaten is located on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu on the first floor of the KHON building. For parking, there's metered parking along Waimanu, so make sure you have quarters. Another option is to park at Ala Moana and walk over. Edit: apparently there's a few reserved stalls in the KHON building as well. After walking in, you're greeted with a surprisingly spacious room with a few tables scattered in the middle and a couple of couches along the walls. Despite the orange accents through out the room, I really get a mellow feeling here. As a coffee joint, this place great. There's your free wi-fi, nice couches, and most importantly, it's open 24 hours. However, it was the food that slightly disappointed. I am a french onion soup lover and I'll automatically order it if I see it on a menu. Kissaten's french onion soup was probably the worst I've eaten. No cheese, no bread, and biting into a bunch of whole peppercorn wasn't appealing. Although I personally didn't eat it, my friends Ethan T. and Ed K. seemed pleased with their paninis, but noted that if it weren't for their $6 coupon they may have passed on it.
(3)
Catherine K.

24hour Coffee Shop, I did not think these existed in Hawaii ! But yes, it's true, it does exist and it's called Kissaten ^-^ My friend showed me this place, and I am grateful that I was The only thing about this place I'm not completely crazy about it is the parking, there isn't much in the KHON building (only can park where it says kissaten on the posts) but I usually just park at the lot in front of Ninjiya Market across the street and get a bit of cardio just walking there, every step counts ! First of all, it's a bit quiet, but the atmosphere is really cozy with lots of orange accents, suede couches and chic furniture. You can bring your laptop here and study too, which is a big plus for me (starbucks gets much too crowded sometimes) The food here is really good, I still haven't tried much yet but as I try more and more things here I will update this review ! Oh and yes the teas and coffee's here are very scrumptious. I usually just order an iced black tea latte but their italian sodas, espresso and smoothies are tasty as well Anyways, check it out ! OH ! did I mention they serve late night pho ? :) ----------------------------- update ! the lilikoi creme brulee, yogurt parfait, and the assorted panini's (changes on different days) are so delicious try em all
(5)
Amanda Z.

I really wanted to like Kissaten Cafe, but the slow/lack of service and average food made the experience fall short of my expectations. First of all, it was really confusing where to order our food - the menu is over the cooking/counter area and the register is all the way to the right. The only highlight of the meal was the short rib loco moco = bomb. Super tender, falling off the bone, tasty gravy, plethora of veggies. And now for the negatives...about 30-40 minutes to receive all of our meals, repeatedly had to ask for water/utensils, lack of uniformity in meals (friend's short rib loco moco had about 5 veggies, but ours had 15) and to top it off: the seafood risotto was super fishy/tasted old. I was intrigued by the late night pho for $7 - maybe we will return to try that...in a few months after they work the service kinks out.
(2)
Gemma R.

After reading about all the desserts and such, I stopped by. I wasn't impressed by the lack of desserts but maybe it ws beacuse it was lunch time? I dunno? I thought that they'd have more available. The place is really neat but packed for 12ish during the weekday. I'll try again and hopefully they'll have desserts. I do like the fact that it's 24hr :)
(3)
Mark G.

I like this place, they have a nice selection of soups and sandwiches. They seem to care about presentation, adding garnishes and such to the soups. The coffee was above average. Their pastries are small, but that's ok. I don't really need a 1 pound cinnamon roll anyway. It does bug me that almost every table in the joint has someone with a laptop computer doing who knows what. So it was hard to get table with all the squatters, but that's not entirely (though partially) the fault fo the coffee shop. Do they still have libraries at the colleges? It's been a while since I was in school. Parking wasn't too bad on Sunday when I went.
(4)
Wayde F.

A 24 Hour cafÃ© in downtown? Can this be true? How long has this place been here? Wasn't Tropical Smoothies here before? What's going on people??? Yes, finally a 24 hour CafÃ© that serves much more then just Coffee...O SO MUCH MORE! The Coffee is good here, the food is good here and the service??? Well, lets just say it's acceptable. I even told the girls behind the counter I was going to write a review about them and they just seemed really chilled out and helped me anyway they could. Not too much on personality but whatever...I give them a pass for their smiles. The prices are reasonable on the entire menu as well so high five on that one. The atmosphere is just GREAT. I love it here! When meeting with clients it's a real great place to make everyone feel comfortable and everyone else is either working on their laptops surfing the web or just studying for that big exam. When here late at night the students can sometimes PI$$ me off when I'm trying to do some work but over all not a problem if I have a head set if it gets noisy. KISSATEN's seating setup is a little less desirable. Some serious thought should be put into this. It's a big draw back with this cafe. This place does bring me back to my collage days when I was so craving for a coffee at 3am to keep me awake for another hour to finish that paper I had been procrastinating on that was due that morning...wow that was a long sentence...lol Now there is one draw back here, but let me be clear...Rules are put in place at KISS to deal with the friggin leeches, and there are plenty of them! It is COMPELETLY understandable that one must PURCHASE ITEMS on the MENU to sit and VEG like a couch potato when using the WIFI INTERNET...But lets be honest here...only for an hour????? That's F#$%ING BULLS#!T! It's a GOD DAMN CAFÃ‰...are these owners on crack? If I purchase a Bagel, Coffee and maybe a Breakfast wrap for example...I EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE WIFI for a few hours...maybe even 3 if I get another Coffee... If KISSATEN plans on curbing the leeches they better come up with a better plan for those who actually buy items and use the internet there...In the end this is just going to PUSH PEOPLE away. Put it this way...If Starbucks was 24hrs as well...trust me, KISS wouldn't be putting limits on WIFI ACCESS...if they did...they would be screwed but because they have the upper hand in a 24hr location they can get away with this arrogance. I don't like it when owners treat good customers like this...NOT COOL! The good return paying customers shouldn't suffer because of the few leeches that show up at all hours of the night! Don't push it KISS...you will lose your most trusted customers. This is KISSATEN's double edge sword...Students are the business who also can leech off them as well but if the staff knows the repeat customers that spend money here they can start to give those people leeway and get rid of the leeches that sit there and get a coffee and veg for 4-5 hours...Seriously you morons...get a LIFE and go HOME! I would recommend KISS come up with a card system, sorta like a CLUB CARD...Offer it to return customers...have them put money on the card and use it when they come in...If you have a card the more you use it the more unlimited access to WIFI you get until you reach UNLIMITED STATUS...You reward students and customers that return and spend money at your cafÃ©...EVEN AN IDIOT can come up with this good idea...So I can't see why KISS wouldn't implement it in the future...this will weed out the leech bags fo sure and create a sorta club/member atmosphere! So what do I give this cafÃ©...Four stars...Five once they fix the Seating and WiFi issues that any good owner or manager can fix in a few weeks...Make it happen people. And for those who just buy a Coffee and a Donut...2 Hours WiFi is reasonable...come on KISS...It's time to get your head out of your Puka and be realistic.
(4)
Aimee C.

If you've read my first review, I probably won't eat, but considering this is as a study spot -- YES! They have good coffee/drink choices and I have not been disappointed. Nothing to go crazy over, but good to have while you hang out and study. Wi-fi is free (as long as you buy something) for an hour at a time. You can ask at the register for access and they will give you a paper with a code - and literally, when that hour hits, boom! you are logged off. They have tables and stools that aren't the most comfortable. I haven't had a problem with the accessibility to outlets (yay!) which is very helpful. There is street parking nearby, but I usually find a spot across by Sears (not completely sure that's ok, but so far it's been ok). They have a bathroom that I believe is shared with other businesses in the Hawaiki Tower, so it's a short walk but a clean bathroom. It's a very spacious, well-lit (listen, you'd be surprised how many places you feel like you might need to bring a lamp from home at!) and cool atmosphere to hang out and/or study in. Highly recommended if you don't mind uncomfy chairs and logging onto the Internet on the hour....oh yeah, and they are open 24 hours! Sweeeetttt.
(4)
Crissy K.

As much as I would like to say that Kissaten is just, as Christopher H. says, "working the kinks out," they need to do a lot more than that. They pretty much need to start all over again if they're going to survive. About the only things this place has going for it are its hours and its cuteness. It's a 24-hour spot with a lot of outlets for your laptops/iPhones and apparently free Wi-Fi, and they have a ton of space. But if people come for food and coffee, they will be gravely disappointed. FOOD: My friends and I ordered a number of dishes to try. The mussel lunch special was actually fairly good, though you couldn't really taste the truffle oil they listed on the menu. The tomato bisque was thick, but not creamy, and while the menu said it was made with Hamakua tomatoes, it tasted almost like it came from a can. The potato leek soup was a little better, especially once we got the egg yolk flowing into it. We were expecting a lot out of the Kissaten Melt, since it bore the name of the cafe itself, but it came with just a sliver of pastrami and wasn't very flavorful. The biggest disappointment, though, was the "vegetable risotto." It is not an exaggeration to say that it had no flavor at all. It was basically arborio rice with chicken broth and bell peppers -- nothing to give it any sort of kick. Even a little bit of butter or some sort of seasoning would have helped, but it's almost as if they didn't know any better. SUPER disappointing. COFFEE: I ordered a nonfat cappuccino. I know skim milk is a little runny, but my cappuccino seemed to be watered down. The espresso flavor and caffeine-ness just didn't come through at all. SERVICE: While the employees were all quite nice, they didn't seem to have their act together. We were one of only three or four parties in the place at lunch, but they couldn't keep track of which parties placed which orders. I felt bad for them, but this is why you hire people who either have service experience or a good memory. I know I always say it, but it's always true: I really wanted to like Kissaten, but the magic just wasn't happening for me. Hopefully they can take criticism constructively and turn things around.
(2)
Jessie D.

Hawaii is a city of late night spots. We want to have them; there's not enough of them. So, you can imagine my surprise that there's word of a new 24-HOUR COFFEE SPOT at Ala Moana. This HAS to be tried, easily. First things first, the decor is quite nice. With this spot and Yogurstory opening up within the past month, the interior design game of Hawaii restauranteurs is definitely stepping up. It's clean, modern, TONS of outlets (always a good thing at a "coffee shop") and a TV with ESPN playing College basketball. Always a good look, IMHO. I would like to note the quotation marks around "coffee shop." The bar LOOKS like it should be good: the right equipment (portafilter Espresso machine, freshly ground beans) and a nice assortment of drinks. BUT! As was noted in another review, the shots "died" in front of me and it led to an overly sweet, kinda weak Soy Thai Latte. VERY little coffee flavor and not something that would keep me awake at 2am, if I needed it. I was a little disappointed in the food, as I was looking to try the Grilled Cheese and Soup combo. I appreciate the effort of putting bacon in the grilled cheese, but to run out of it? UNACCEPTABLE. So, I switched gears and got the Hamakua Tomato Bisque. It was quite delicious, but $5 for the serving you get is stretching it a bit. A side note, the baristas apparently don't have a dress code, as I don't know how safe it is to be handling steaming hot milk while wearing hot pants and knee high boots. From the taste of the coffee, Seems like the baristas are there for eye candy first, then making drinks second. Hopefully, they can figure this out, as the potential for great is there (24 hour coffee shop in town? EXCELLENT idea), but execution needs some help. I would probably go back one more time to try the lunch menu and figure out whether or not the food is worth it calling this place a cafe. But definitely "coffee shop" this is not. Not yet, at least.
(3)
Chris M.

Kissaten is a great place to go for some caffeine and hot, made-to-order food. Prices for coffee drinks are reasonable. I like that they'll take the time to make sure my soy latte is at the perfect temperature (at Starbucks, most times they just pour in the cold soy milk). BF likes their iced mochas. Truffle mac & cheese and the Turkey Pesto Melt are our favorites (because both come with BACON!), but we've also tried and enjoyed the Mushroom Pesto pasta and the Kissaten Melt. Food is more impressive when you realize that they cook off of a hot plate and panini grill. Wow, imagine what they could do with a real kitchen! Portion size is good; I have a very healthy appetite and it is enough to fill me up. As far as wi-fi goes, yes, you'll have to make a purchase to get their passcode. What is disappointing is that only one person can use that code - so when BF and I go together and spend over $20, only one of us can use the wi-fi. I guess you could just do two separate transactions to get one more passcode though. We've come at various times of day - mid-morning, lunch, late afternoon....each time we were lucky enough to find street parking in front, service was good, and food came out hot.
(4)
Dons A.

food awesome wifi free chai tea always good coffee yup good parking also free 24/7 raaar! find a good reason to get out of the house...kiss a ten
(5)
Benji P.

Before I say anything good about Kissaten, I just came home from there today and they took away the totally FREE wi-fi! Now it's a 2 hour maximum with purchase of food, 1 hour with purchase of a drink. One log in per computer. Now I have to work EXTRA fast just to get my 2 hours worth. Besides the new internet policy. The food was AWESOME. They really take time into preparing a "gourmet" menu at such a good price! PLEASE dont change the prices, you'll just totally drive me away! The espresso drinks are awesome but their regular drip coffee was pretty nasty. I guess I had the last of the batch but I'm not sure. I'll give it another try. Get there quick and reserve a two top, or bring a group of 3 to save a 3 top because it get's pretty busy later in the evening. I love Kissaten, it's my new favorite coffee shop but if they make any more changes to the internet policy I will surely bounce.
(3)
Royden A.

Awesome place to go late at night to study or sober up after the club, this place is great because its open 24 hours. I love coming here! Food is awesome, during the day and earlier in the night the menu has alot more things to choose from but most of the time i come only the late night menu is up. i always order the tomato bisque and grilled cheese or turkey pesto when i can. The workers are great, very friendly and easy to talk to.
(4)
Kaipo G.

Extra kudos for being a 24 hour coffee shop. This is an excellent venue for reading, studying, homework, etc etc. There is an open space floor plan with a large amount of seating. I've only visited during the hours between 6pm and 5am. From 8pm-12am it can be a bit challenging to find a seat in the house. It's always extra crowded during that time. After midnight, people start to trickle out. Its normally empty by 2:30am. The food is just okay. Can't complain too much since they serve food 'round the clock. I've seen the dishes their kitchen pops out, and its nothing to write home about. I've had sandwiches on two occasions there, both times, there was one slice of meat between 2 thick slices of bread. Bad meat:bread ratio :( Parking can be a bit of an issue. If you go after horus, Ala Moana parking is closed. I've seen people park near Payless Shoe and Nijiya Market. There is roughly 16-20 metered stalls along Waimanu Street. Wifi is free with purchase, usually 1 or 2 hour increments.
(4)
Kimi L.

Parking in KHON building - look for stalls labeled "Kissaten Cafe". Also, metered street parking. They've got Wi-Fi, which is great for those of you who need to study. Perfect lounge, study atmosphere. Clean - huge in my books. They have a huge drink menu (coffees, teas, etc.) Their food menu is fantastic - visit their website (morning, lunch, evening and late night menu). Their smoked salmon salad is sooo good. I also love their green tea w/ lemon drink - very refreshing.
(5)
Kristen K.

This place would get a 5 star review if they had unlimited wifi with any purchase. I'm a grad student and two hours is not enough time to get anything done. Overall, friendly staff and cute environment; love the art on the wall and the way it is decorated!
(3)
Judy L.

I came here on a Thursday night to do some work. When we first got there, the place wasn't packed, but there were no chairs next by a power outlet except for the bar. While I was pondering on what beverage to get, the bf snagged a table while a party was walking out. Score! Window seats and ooh, the chair is comfortable. I ordered a green apple iced tea, large for $3.00. He ordered a thai latte. The drinks left much to be desired from my opinion. My green apple iced tea was still a bit warm. It tasted like iced tea and apple juice mixed together. Nothing special. Am I expecting too much?? Maybe. I suppose I was just expecting to be quenched by some cold brisk tea. The thai latte, on the other hand, did not taste anything thai-like. It tasted more like a mocha latte. Definitely needed more condensed milk. Overall, drinks were kinda meh for the price. The thing that appeals most to me is that it is open 24 hours, so you can always find a place to hang out or work and the location is very "hip". Beware that buying a drink will only entail you to 2 hours worth of internet time. The atmosphere is very outgoing in this place, with large groups of friends around tables. I also noticed girls kissing each other on the cheek goodbye. Might not be odd to you, but it is to me. Hehe, people watching is amusing. O_O
(3)
Guava G.

I like to come into Kissa10 when I'm hungry and don't want to deal with the mall and its traffic or other weird hole in the wall food places in the area. Basically, it's a good place to order some non-boring food, take in some caffeine, and sit down to take care of online business in a clean, air-conditioned, and calming environment. Also, service has always been great.
(5)
Aaron K.

I love how there is a 24 hour coffee shop to go now! Been there twice already, once for lunch and once for dinner. For lunch I had the grilled cheese and potato leak soup. The grilled cheese was unique cuz there were fresh apples inside, as well as bacon. I wasn't a huge fan of the apple, but it wasn't bad. The soup was bomb though. Usually potato leak soups can be a little dry and grainy, but this one was smooth and tasty. For dinner I tried their meatloaf and their caprese salad. The meatloaf was not the best. It was not firm enough to be meat loaf, a little grainy, and fatty. The flavor wasn't too bad, but tasted like bbq sauce. The caprese salad on the other hand was pretty good and fresh. I never had strawberries in mine, but it actually worked! This place has a lot of potential and apparently hasn't 'officially grand opened' yet. Hopefully it will stay and become a place where people don't just go to use wifi or because they have no where to go at 3am, but because there is ono food!
(4)
J K.

All the study spots close early nowadays so Kissaten is my go to place. - drink prices aren't bad. I usually get a med tea latte ($2.75) - service is average - atmosphere is pretty chill... sometimes there are loud crowds but that is to be expected at a 24 hour place - food is tasty but I would rather eat somewhere else and have drinks at the cafe. I have only tried their tomato bisque (sweet) and grilled cheese sandwich and James had the mac and cheese (it was too rich) - lots of plugs and places to sit! yay! - internet usage is limited depending on the amount of money you spend
(4)
Crystal A.

Came here on one of my vists back home because I wanted to know what all the hype of a 24 hr coffee bar was all about & what was so much better than Starbucks. I went with my mom, brother, and bf (all of whom have graduated college within the past 3 years). It had a very trendy ambience filled with college students. The music volume was very acceptable in a studying environment unlike starbucks where it can be just so loud that you can't hear yourself think. They also have a cafe with a kitchen so you can order real food if you got hungry while studying, very convenient since you dont need to leave the area for some good eats. However, we just ordered their different coffees & lattes. The latte I got seemed alright, I like Starbucks better (then again, I am biased). For a brief 10 seconds, while sitting on their trendy orange furniture, it made me feel like I wanted to be in college again and come to a place like this to study (since I was an avid Starbucks go-er) but then i snapped back to reality & felt so happy that I finally finished college and there is no reason for me to study anymore. The only downside for this place is that wi-fi is not free (I'm not too sure how you pay for it) but for some people, wi-fi is a must.
(3)
Tze M.

I've read a lot of this place so made a plan with my friends to go have lunch there. We got there and there were NO SEATS. Looking around, a whole bunch of people on their laptops mostly surfing Facebook. And seeing how no one was moving towards finished. We bailed. I wouldn't mind going back to check it out, but the hassle of parking, and seeing that there's free wifi, I won't be trying to visit there anytime soon.
(2)
Brian K.

First of all, I've wanted to start a 24-hour coffee shop for years. I guess someone beat me to it. Great idea and nice atmosphere. Here's a tip: because people are working and studying here all day, they should strongly consider selling supplies (pens, pencils, etc.). Wi-fi should be good for a longer period and they should have a sign explaining their policy. Service was average. With a few tweaks, this place could be THE BEST coffee shop on the island. I see a lot of POTENTIAL for this place..
(3)
Michael V.

Perfect place to study or just hang with friends. I like the design. Food is average but customer service is really nice! Theres always a positive vibe about this place and it's workers.
(5)
Stewart S.

I'm here more than most of the staff, but that's because I have too much free time, no friends and not enough ambition to do more with myself. Which is why a 24-hour coffee shop is a perfect place for me. The risotto is fantastic, and the salads are healthy and fresh. Renee makes my drinks perfect every time and always greets me with a smile! It opened just a couple of weeks ago, so it's still working out some kinks, but they've already won me over.
(5)
Jermy D.

Went back again for another go round at Kissaten. Food: The food is good this time. I had the tomato bisque and grilled cheese with apples and bacon combo, which cost me about $9. It pretty tasty, and they get points for the unique bacon, cheese, and apples combo. Drinks: The drinks seem to have gotten better. The last two times I've been happy with my drinks. The iced tea is better, and no longer tastes like colored water. They seem to be training their baristas a little better. Their espresso tasted like espresso this time around. Give them another try. They seem to be working out all the kinks.
(3)
Edward K.

This place is awesome! I wish I was still in school because I always needed a place to go and study during all the those late nights. Not to say the library wasn't good but this place is air conditioned, they offer free WI-FI, and the food and drinks are good and reasonably priced. I had the opportunity to chill here with a few friends for around 6 hours and I had no problems with anything. The place is still new so there isn't too many people taking up all the chairs but they have both sit down tables and couches to either eat or study at. Parking is a bit tricky with a few pay stall outside but it's close enough to Ala moan where you could park there and just walk over. I actually had the Kissaten melt and although it was a bit pricey, it was delicious. The coffee itself is cheap with 2 bucks for a small cup and no more than 5 for the largest size. I would definitely go here instead of starbucks for pretty much all reasons.
(5)
Jo H.

After the movies at Dole Cannery we looked for a place open after 10:30pm. We found Kissaten to be one of the few restaurants in town open 24hrs a day. We parked in the bldg. and found the place buzzing with customers. The restaurant was modern with ample seating. We ordered the late night special Tomato Bisque and Grilled Cheese sandwich combo with an ice tea and the Potato Leek soup combo with the cheese sandwich with an Italian soda. The soups were hot, thick and delicious. The grilled cheese was ample with bacon. The service was quick. We have to come back to try the other dishes shown on the pictures on Yelp. The menu appears reasonably healthy which is an alternative to the starch and meat places around town. We hope they will have other sandwich specials for the returning customers and that the prices stay moderate.
(5)
Chi-Hye M.

I went back twice and like everyone said the coffee/drinks are a hit or miss. First time it was creamy and delicious! Second time it was watery and kind of burnt. I finally had a chance to try their food! Ordered the Loco Moco (It was really good! meat was tender and sweet, but it was a little salty) Tomato bisque was served with a fresh baked roll. The roll was still warm when we got it and went perfectly with the soup. I would like to come and try their late night Pho next :)
(4)
Lisa B.

oh my !!! poor service.. not even acknowledging me when i was at the counter.. i walked out.. lucky i live in the building.. BTW, this is not the first visit.. i have noticed that they have poor customer service.. :(
(1)
Deanthony N.

After hearing about this place from a friend, I had to check this place out. Since Satura Cakes at Ward closed down, and I don't really like to go to Borders (wifi problems, lol), and Barnes and Nobles can get crowded depending on the time, having Kissaten as a place to study and maybe grab a cup of coffee (or even food) is great. Like how some people have stated, the place is a bit "new" and I think their staff is a bit nervous or inexperienced, but I'm not super anal about that kind of stuff (hey we were all new once), as long as they improve. Here's my little story. A friend and I decided to hang out there and grab a bite to eat since we were kind of hungry. I got a mocha (I think, lol) and my friend got an Italian soda. Unless their Italian soda is a little different, my friend's drink did not have any cream in it. For our food, they practically forgot about it. There was a group of three that ordered food after us and their food came before ours. I just assumed that "oh maybe their food is easier to prepare" but after waiting about ten minutes after the group, we noticed that the chefs weren't cooking. My friend being the more assertive one, went to ask them about our food. Unfortunately they "forgot", but luckily I had the receipt and they didn't question us about the food since one of the other workers remembered that we ordered stuff. Another ten minutes later, our food arrives. The barista apologizes profusely and no worries I didn't give her attitude or anything. I got the macaroni and cheese and my friend got the salmon tartare. My friend enjoyed hers and I liked the macaroni and cheese. It seemed a bit "lighter" compared to others that I've tasted, but I thought it was pretty good. The chicken in the macaroni though I wish they used chicken breast though, or if they're going to use the meat from the bone, clean it out a little better (but then again, I'm like a dog when it comes to Kalbi and stuff, so go figure haha). Oh and the barista gave my friend and I free tarts also, I thought that was nice of her :) Overall I really like the ambiance and location of Kissaten. I just hope that maybe they work on their efficiency and order and I'm sure they'll be a success.
(3)
Rick B.

I usually come here around 3am just to have grilled cheese sandwich, tomato bisque, chocolate caramel cheesecake and ice americano; also they have free wifi and parking. All that for less than $20. :)
(5)
Radiant C.

I came here throughout the Spring semester with my UH Manoa classmates. I would usually roll through about one or two in the morning once I got sick and tired of being at Sinclair Library for countless hours. I have to be honest that my review will be biased to only the late-hour service and food. It is open 24 hours, and even allowed for a bottomless amount of time spent on the internet. I remember the stamp cards that we are allowed for the purchases that are made as well. Great system! The best, and most likely the only thing you would want to eat at that late would be soup, and a hot beverage. I love the potato leek soup, and the turkey pesto melt. Perfecto! Then again, their menu is minimal due to the late hours. I have heard from some of my friends whom I recommended Kissaten to that the internet services have changed. But, why? They now have a closing time, and have a limit on internet-usage. Really? When did this happen. Surely, I hope my friends were just too chicken, and weren't completely aware of the 'haps. But, if it is the case, I do hope that Kissaten will return back to its free WiFi for an unlimited amount of time per person, especially since Sinclair has halted their 24-hour service throughout the week.
(4)
Tyler H.

Excellent in store ambiance for a coffee shop. this place is pretty big so there is a lot of inside seating. unfortunately, there is no outside seating. really, it doesn't matter because this place is open 24 hours which is awesome. the espresso here is alright, i would say it is a little lacking in sustenance. a few steps behind starbucks and coffee bean in regard to their espresso, but the food selection her is pretty great. I tried the pastrami melt and it was excellent. A friend mentioned some late night pho so i'll have to be back to check that out. i was a little disappointed with the limitation on the wifi and the way they aerate their milk. if the barista could deliver nice silky foam, i could often look past the taste of the espresso. upon hearing the barista aerate her milk, i decided to go with an iced latte. friendly staff, and great service is what led me to give them the 4th star (they offered to help me carry my items out to my car).
(4)
Ayaka H.

Sadly, there are only a few cafes in town that one can study. Kissaten is one of them. The service here is usually mediocre (as for the food, it depends on what you get). Today, the service was less than that. Two workers were bickering about a different worker at the counter, as they took order from customers. When my food was brought out, the worker was on the phone, talking loudly in my ear. It took them a while to get my food out, but I didn't even get a "thanks for waiting." Definitely experienced better here, but today makes me not to come back.
(2)
Dale H.

Gyudon was ok, nothing special. Tomato bisque was salty. Grilled cheese chewy. Red bull slush drink advertised too sweet. Went with friends. Nice place to relax. Great atmosphere.
(2)
Tracey N.

Study fanatics and procrastinators alike will enjoy the plethora of simple yet artsy tables and chairs ready to support you through the long hours of practicing kanji strokes or cramming the parts of the nervous system into your own cranium. Simple but sweet, Kissaten is your go to 24 hour study session place, coffee and tea, and delicious gourmet goodness in the form of grilled cheese and tomato bisque at the price of reasonable fashion that is both satisfying and visually tantalizing.
(4)
Kevin F.

Ah, Kissaten has really grown on me... Chill spot right by Ala Moana in a location that's perfect for me as I can walk there. Open 24 hours. Hip Artwork that sometimes has me killing 10 minutes just admiring the intricancies and the playfulness. Great comfort food such as the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. Always a satisfying combination. I also will get the truffle mac and cheese. Finally, interesting drinks! Especially them cheesecake lattes. The cheesecake lattes are very delicious.
(4)
Phoebe R.

One of my favorite coffee shops in Hawaii! Love the atmosphere. Great food! Open 24/7 can't go wrong with that. Can get a little noisy due to it being crowded or music a little loud. So if you are doing "hard core studying" or really need to concentrate, i may not want to suggest coming here.... but great place to meet friends, catch up, and food is great!
(4)
Jillian V.

Came here to "study" with my friends. It's cute place with a relaxing vibe to it. We came around dinner time so it was a bit crowded but luckily we found seats. I ordered the tomato bisque and grilled cheese sandwich. I LOVED IT. One of the best that I have tasted. I do love Nordstrom's tomato bisque but Kissaten's was REALLY good. For my drink I ordered some kind of strawberry smoothie. It was a little too sweet for me. The staff was nice and I do like the free wifi and how it is open for 24 hours.
(4)
June K.

My friend showed me this place and I love it! It's fantastic to know that there other 24 hour places open beside Zippys when I'm in need of coffee or just a place to sit around and chat. I love that there are outlets throughout the cafe so that you can continuously charge your laptop or other electronic devices. The place is very spacious and the orange colored seats just pop at you. I did order the matcha green tea latte, the price was alright, but the end result was kinda bummers. The flavor was okay, however, the mix or whatever was used wasn't thoroughly dissolved and became clumpy at the end. I love green tea lattes so I'll definitely give it another shot! Next time, I'll order some great looking food from the menu or maybe even get the late night pho for $7.00!
(4)
Daniel B.

I've never been here for the coffee... yet. But italian sodas, cream sodas, and tea, yes! The ambiance is very relaxing, comfy chairs... sofas, televisions... stuff like that, in fact it was too relaxing the dude on the couch was awaken by presumably a manager for dozing off... a no no i'm guessing. Since I haven't been here for the coffee, yet... the three stars given is simply based on service & price. It takes a considerable amount of time between drinks and i found myself waiting about 5-7 minutes for an italian cream soda. Not to mention, even for the hot tea... hot water + tea bag = shouldn't have to wait too long. I'm impatient I guess. For a 24 hour spot though... I have to say, I'm glad I have another place to go to for caffeine in the middle of the night -- that is, aside from Jack in the Box and McD's.
(3)
David C.

Had lunch today and ordered the Kissaten Melt. I loved the flavors of the caramalized onions , homemade mozzarella and aioli sauce on the panini style rosemary loaf bread......but I could barely taste the pastrami because there was such a small portion of pastrami and caramalized onions... for a $9 sandwich I had greater expectations. They have a takeout menu that shows a picture of the sandwich which shows a slab of pastrami on the sandwich but I guess for your eyes only. I did also enjoy the small portion of leafy greens with a balsamic dijon mustard dressing that came with the sandwich. i would give them another chance.....
(3)
Moody F.

Absolutely a great find! 24-HOUR CAFE!!! The staff here is very friendly. The food is also really good, but the only downer is that it's sort of pricy for the vibe the place gives and for the actual amount and quality of the food. Don't get me wrong, it's good food, just a little pricy. I like the free wifi with purchase. It's a bummer that it's limited though to only an hour or so based on my last experience. I know a lot of people wish they could get more than an hour for free. Also, the tables and chairs aren't exactly the best, but they get the job done. Really, this place gets 4 stars because it's 24-hours and the staff is really welcoming and cool.
(4)
Joshua P.

Kissaten is in my opinion one of the best coffee shops on the island. It's a place where I can study or just hang out in peace. Staff is friendly and I love the atmosphere. When it comes to food they got some of the best sandwich melts I have ever eaten. Get the kissasten melt if you have not had it. Coffee is good but I usually get the teas and Italian sodas. And they have really good chai if you like that kinda thing. Now the desserts omg get the waffles... Seriously get them. Also they got a mean bread pudding. So in all I love this place it's great and I hope they are around for a long time. Also don't forget to get your Internet code if you gonna study or go on your laptop or tablet.
(5)
Liana M.

OK place for a low-key first date...however the server looked put out when I didn't get my drink and asked where it was when she brought our food. Turns out they put it at about 6' high level on the glass case next to the cashier, where I, at 5'2", couldn't see it, and made such a production of going to get it 10' away and bringing it out to me. Picture Frankenstein's monster, walking with his arms outstretched - this is how she held my drink and the straw, from the glass case, to our table - THEN reached across my date's face to hand it directly to me. REALLY??!! Did I mention she sighed too as she did it? The food was good cafe/bistro type food. I had a salmon salad dish. I did notice that they were out of some items that sounded delicious. Take it off the handwritten menu if you're all out, for crying out loud and stop rubbing it in my face that you don't have it! This place is full of hip, well-dressed preppy Asian students on their laptops, as well as some older business looking people, even on a Sunday. My date? Not too bad, but didn't score a second date :P
(2)
Crysti W.

Ok, I love this place, but I'm writing a review in the heat of the moment. (All of my reviews have been negative so far- I swear I'm not that negative. It's just the negative customer service that gets me spun up because I EXPECT places I go to treat their customers well.) Hours- brilliant! Twenty four hours- yes! Food- so far SO GOOD! Grilled cheese is nommers. Brownies- delish! Coffee is... meh, it's caffeinated. So I go there frequently to study. As some other reviewers have pointed out- it's perfect for this- get sleepy, get some coffee; get hungry, get some food. Repeat. Today, I went there first thing. I hadn't eaten yet and thought, "This is great. I'll get some coffee, work on my paper a bit, order lunch, work some more, then leave." Twenty minutes in, one of the girls walks over, slaps a post-it note on my table, and says my table is reserved for 12:30 and whips away. No discussion. No "hey, I'm really sorry, but if you want to move to one of the FIVE open tables over there..." Yeah, I know I was taking up valuable space and just drinking coffee, but c'mon! I've been there 3 of the past 4 days and almost always buy food or snacks... or food and coffee and one of those stupid brownies for later. And.... and... AND! I tell everyone I know what a great place it is, especially if they have less than traditional schedules like mine. So, I know it was one very customer-service-awkward employee, so I'm sure I'll be back, but I think I'll stick to the late night crowds. Twenty four hours is too good for a student to pass up... though Denny's is 24 hours and has free internet and the mediocre coffee comes straight to your table.
(3)
Scott K.

Located on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu Street. Its on the bottom of the Hawaiki luxury condominium across from Ala Moana Shopping Center. 24 hours.....thats huge now days when the economy has cut hours at local coffee houses like Starbucks. Centrally located provides for late night studying or late night coffee fix. Its modern and reminds me of those little coffee shops scattered around DC or SF. Free Wifi and plenty of plugs to tap into for iphone/mac users. On my recent visit, I had the Kissaten Melt. A generous portion of Pastrami with a special Mayo/Mustard spread and cheese. Add some Pomegranate juice and a salad and you got lunch for less than $10. The staff is helpful and polite. You order your food, then find a spot to sit. The staff will come and find you to deliver your order. Although i havent really hanged out at coffee shops, I think this would be a great place to have some business meetings.
(4)
Kittie W.

LOVE + The music being played! Its exactly like my playlist!! Its not too loud either, so you can study without being too swoon by it and you can have a nice conversation with your friends. + Good lighting!! Well, it depends actually. One area I don't particularly care for is the corner counter. The main counter has very good lighting, so I usually sit there.. but the corner counter with the four seats don't. And for me, who is a student, lighting is a big thing, especially if I need to read! + Sandwich and Soup combo! Can't go wrong there!! Read other yelpers to read which sounds yummy~~ + 24/7 OPEN!?!! Which is awesome for a student like me to pull a long night. Which brings up a good thing about this place... + Coffee!! Not many places is open 24/7 and coffee is a must for me! Coffee literally is my blood and for a person like me who doesn't like to study at home (which is probably cheaper to make coffee at home, and I do) this is awesome!! + Other drinks. LOL. Yes, I am a coffeeholic but the other drinks are good too!! Especially the tea lattes (and I'm Chinese and love milk tea ^^v) + Wifi with purchase CON - The internet. While you get free wifi with purchase (usually in increments in 1-2 hrs depending on the amount of purchase) its not the greatest. Yes I've mentioned its a good thing earlier, its not so great when you're trying to research something or go on Laulima (which I use). It is horrible and won't load! Although... this could be a good thing if you're there to study... so... PRO + If you don't need internet to study, its a great to not have, LOL! Because honestly, how many of you guys will get horrendously distracted if the internet was so awesome that all you do is go on Facebook and Youtube?? Yea, thought so. BUT...!!! Facebook miraculously still works great with this poor internet. LOL~~
(5)
p s.

I wish they had actual creamer in a pitcher rather than in those packets. But it's a fair go-to place for a late-night coffee date in town. The service is inconsistent, I think it depends on the work shifts- day time seems to be better than the late night. Sometimes you get really great and quick service and sometimes you don't.
(3)
Stephanie K.

I come here whenever I have a ton of homework and studying to do. I swear, that is the best time for me. Their potato leek soup is awesome, their drinks are alright to me, and their service is okay. Overall, Pretty good place to be for a nice vibe.
(4)
J L.

This is a cute little coffee place right by Ala moana Shopping center that is a nice place to grab a bite to eat and for some quick coffee drinks. It's also a nice place to bring your laptop to work on stuff and to have a good conversation. I went here with one of my friends and we didn't order any food from the food bar, but we ordered 2 drinks. I had one of the italian cream sodas and my friend had one of those cream teas (I recommend) It's not like a starbucks, so don't expect a huge list of fancy drink combinations. But they still have good stuff. We sat down by a counter with seats around it and started talking for a while. It's a pretty big coffee lounge. It has couches, a TV, tables, the food bars. It's not very noisy (not like starbucks) and you can actually focus on whatever it is you're doing. There are colorful walls and cute little drawings on the walls. The color theme goes well throughout the room. The only thing I didn't like is the bathrooms. If you need to use the bathroom, you have to go through this back door and down this long creepy hallway that I guess is part of the building that the cafe is apart of. The hallways is kinda scary (dim lighting, very quiet) and you feel like someone is going to pop out of somewhere. I feel that they should have their own small bathroom somewhere in the cafe so you don't have to walk down the eerie hallway. Overall, I would definitely come back here again and try some of the food this time!
(4)
Jason H.

Hard to beat 24 hr convenience and a comfortable atmosphere!
(4)
Miss D.

Reminds me of LA. (sigh)
(4)
Stephanie K.

I've only been here once, but this place had a really great vibe. It has a cool atmosphere and is really mellow. Looks like the kind of place you could just relax for hours and some people apparently were, since about half the folks in there at 11pm on a Tuesday night were working on there laptops. I'm actually surprised they had that big a crowd at that hour. The food selection was a litlle limited, but everyone in our party enjoyed what they ordered. I had the roasted beet and chicken salad. It was very tasty, but had too much chicken for me and I ended up finishing the greens and having chicken leftover. I would definitely go here again.
(4)
Jin Hee K.

I would drive by this place all the time but never went in. One night, a friend happened to suggest we try this place at 3am. I had no idea this cafe was 24 hours.....LOVE!!! They have good desserts & decent coffee.
(5)
Janette F.

Being from Japan, finally having a kissaten on Honolulu was a long time of waiting. The American coffee places just don't cut it. So, needless to say, I was looking forward to my visit. I could not figure out where to park, but since it was Sunday, there was street parking so it was fine. There is a door from the parking into the kissaten and I forgot to ask how to get there but it is there. You should not expect any restaurant ambiance because the objective of a kissaten is to serve coffee and tea, and sweets and other foods. The decor is very simple, contemporary and geared toward the younger generation. You can sit at a table (for dining for one hour) or at the counter. The seats are orange so it works your psyche to not linger around too long. You go up to the counter to order and they give you a number. They had great looking specials but they all had sticky notes saying OUT, so that was not an option. From the regular menu we ordered clam chowder, potato leek soup, wedge salad, portobello mushroom and sweet peppers focaccia sandwich and caprese. Yes, a lot of food and our eyes were way bigger than our tummies. They brought the food to the table, and not all at once so that was nice. We started with the clam chowder for my mother and she said it was excellent. I had potato leek soup and it was just okay but when I broke the poached egg that was inside, it improved the taste. Next was the wedge salad which I had to save because my sister tried to chop it up and toss it as soon as it came, so had I not intervened, it would have been a disaster! Next was portobello and sweet peppers sandwich on focaccia. I am not fond of focaccia so my sister and mother sampled the sandwich, and they both said it was good. The last dish was caprese and we all enjoyed it. It had the right amount of dressing blend. All in all, we enjoyed the food with enough for my sister to pack her lunch for the next day. My mother wanted a cheesecake so we took that home. The following day she ate it and said it was superb. Of course, our idea of kissaten food includes some usuals: doria, spaghetti napolitan, dry curry, and simple finger sandwiches for starters. Those were missing and I would love to see such selections. Maybe they are trying to be "healthy" but you can do that without venturing too far from what they serve in Japan. A couple came in with a bottle of wine and asked if there was a corkage fee. I couldn't hear what the response was so went to ask the couple and they said that there apparently used to be one, but they did away with it. If you pay cash, they don't charge you any tax. Not sure how that works but they may just take the tax into consideration in the price, and if you use plastic they charge it to recover the merchant fee. A little odd but who cares, I paid cash. They also give you a card and stamp it for every dollar spent. I cannot remember what the reward was but I shall enjoy it whatever it is. It is clean, simple and welcoming, and the service is a 10! I will definitely go back and see if I can try some of those specials. After I do that and see some improvement in their menu, I shall adjust my rating. But for now, I am limiting it to 3 stars. So, BYOB and enjoy a very simple night out with your friends at a friendly, bright and welcoming place!
(3)
Resty T.

bad drinks and bad baristas. food is just ok free wifi 24/7 would be the upside i suppose.
(2)
Emiko T.

YES for the 24 hours, great (safe) location, awesome lighting and relatively good drinks at Kissaten cafe. Full of students and trendy people of all sorts, there are several regular tables, high counter tops and couches on which to lounge and study. Yes, the one downside is they're kind of shady (and sometimes generous) with their internet allowance, and so unlike Starbucks it's not an unlimited supply unless you buy more food and drinks. So I guess that's how they make their money and can afford to stay open 24 hours. Small price to pay I suppose! They've got a cool bookshelf on the side of the cafe which has some magazines and other things to read, just in case you really are there to totally relax and not do "real" work. Their pomegranate iced tea lemonade is really delicious and refreshing. I highly recommend it, though it's a little on the sweet side (but who's complaining about that?) I've also had their ice matcha green tea latte which is good as well. I've yet to try their food and pastries but first on my list is going to be one of their sandwich melts and a tomato bisque. Nothing gives me comfort like a good, creamy bisque. The staff has always been friendly when I've ordered. Though sometimes getting your drink takes a little bit of time but just be patient, they'll call out your order eventually. Yelp challenge: #22/365
(4)
Michael C.

Kissaten is a new cafe located on the ground floor of the Hawaiki Tower (KHON building). They offer a good selection of coffee and tea drinks as well as free wifi. Kissaten is open 24-hours a day, however full food selections are only available until 7:00pm. Every visit to Kissaten has been an enjoyable one as the employees are very friendly and accommodating. The potato leek soup is one of their signature items and is very good. If you're looking for the full experience; order before the kitchen closes as dishes come with fewer accouterments otherwise. There is ample seating and electrical sockets strewn about the shop. Parking may be an issue for this small establishment as street parking is limited. There is however, super secret parking in Hawaiki Towers in the stalls marked for the cafe; currently there are four.
(4)
S D.

I like the idea that it's 24 hours... Also FREE wi-fi w/ purchase, but it's only for two hours time limit. Tried the FAMOUS / highly recommended "Tomato bisque and cheese sandwich" it's just hype. If that's the best dish that they serve... I better go there FULL. Drinks are good... Service is great! Nice, polite and friendly staff.
(4)
Justin Y.

Finally...a 24 hour coffee joint again! 24 hours or not, there are certain things a coffee shop needs to be at least decent in my book. Good coffee, decent food, and a nice ambiance. Thankfully Kissaten does a pretty good job on all 3 marks. Coffee - I'm a simple coffee purist when it comes down to it. I love coffee. I love it with no sugar and no cream. So if the stuff tastes like tar (starbucks) it really comes through. Kissaten's didn't stand out as ridiculously good or anything, but it was good enough to where I was happy with it. They don't serve the burnt coffee on the bottom of the decanter thankfully...they'll just ask you nicely to wait while they brew a new batch, which I personally prefer. Food - While i've never ate a full meal here, i've had the small stuff like the risotto & tomato bisque. Both were pretty good, and i'll probably order them again. The risotto was a little on the smaller side, but it was enough. The tomato bisque & grilled cheese option really hits the spot on the days a little comfort food is needed. (Rainy day + coffee + bisque & grilled cheese = awesomeness) Ambiance - The decor is pretty cohesive and contemporary, which is great. The best thing I like about this place is that everyone tends to keep the volume down. Every time i've been there its been at most a 2 on a scale of 1-10...probably because the crowd is mostly students studying, but given that the volume level of any other coffee shop tends to be more of an 8, the quiet is something that i'm definitely thankful for. The service has always been decent, if a little on the slower side. The employees are pleasant however, and the wait has never been beyond reason, so no complaints there. Not a fan of the Kiss-a-ten thing...but eh that's just their weird little marketing push. Nothing to do with the actual place! :) Overall, i'm sure to be back...i just hope theres a seat left during the peak night hours!
(4)
Mari F.

Kissaten is a cute place to hang out and chat with friends or have a nice study date with yourself. They have a wide variety of Italian Soda flavors to choose from if you're into that sort of thing. They have improved the amount of seating tremendously from when they first opened which is a plus. The only gripe I have with this place is its location. I have not tried to park in the Hawaiki Tower Building, but I heard it is confusing. There is also never any parking on the street (and even if there were, I hate to parallel park!) I usually park at Ala Moana and walk across the street as other people do, but beware that when you do that you are actually trespassing because Kissaten is not affiliated with Ala Moana...I know this from personal experience. It is probably ok to park there during the daytime, but at night at a certain time, they block all the entrances and exits so don't get trapped, you'll get an angry lecture from the security guard ha, ha! Also, some workers are nicer and friendlier than others as stated in other people's reviews.
(4)
Celena F.

A friend and I ventured here during restaurant week to sample their event special: iced coffee, tomato bisque, ceasar salad, and mac n cheese. No complaints about the food. Everything tasted good and was presented nicely just not anything special. Bisque was a little sweeter than I usually like, salad was not overly soaked with dressing, mac n cheese with bacon on top...nothing wrong with that! Portions are good. My friend and I left full. Very reasonably priced. Service was decent, they seemed short handed by at least a couple people. The restaurant was not overly crowded but the line to order was a little long, service was slow and we kept missing something. We were given food without utensils, given drinks without straws, the only server on the floor couldn't find the cream for the coffee...and each time we were served, we had to get up to retrieve the missing items. The girl at the register didn't give me the special pricing and I didn't notice but she caught it about 5 minutes later and came to our table to ask for my card to refund me the difference (extra star for that). All in all, not a bad experience. I may return to try the "ice cream parlor". Parking could be better but it's not horrible.
(3)
Johanna U.

Perfect place to study. Short of one star because the wifi is limited per dollar spent and cannot be transferred to different devices. I used the wifi on my ipad but had to transfer my notes to my lap top but was unable to do so. That's my only gripe. Besides that, it's a pretty awesome place!!!
(4)
Eric L.

What can I say, 24 hours and there is a lot of seating. Its just like any other study place, except a lot less busier then Starbucks. The one gripe I have about this place, was their new found changed policy of.... Free Wifi** **Limited to 1 hr, and only if you purchase more then $5 dollars worth of items. If not they'll give you the 15 minute pass. HUH?! MOST of the drinks on the menu are below $5 dollars? Well, good thing I have my wifi on my phone, for those that dont have it, sucks to be you lol. I guess theres Starbucks for you guys? Nah, but in all honestly, why do you have to be so chang about the wifi? It's pretty common for mostly all places to have unlimited wifi, and if not they'll gladly give you another code to use it, unlike this place :( But I have to say, I tried their late night pho and it's pretty good! For all the noodles you get too, their broth is a little above avg, (better then what you get at ala moana).
(3)
Kristen M.

I love this place. The atmosphere, food, drink selection was superb! Can't wait to go again!! Btw tomato bisque and Mac and cheese are to die for!! :)
(5)
Mariko A.

Love that they are open 24 hours. First couple of times we went the girl was very friendly, which helped make up for the 10 minute wait for the drinks. But the last time I went in, there were at least 6 workers behind the counter all pretending to be busy. No one helped me for about five minutes before one girl asked me, "Do you need something?". Yeah, I'd like to order a drink if it's not too much trouble...For a new place, it doesn't seem like they are trying very hard to develop a good customer base. I'm still willing to give it another chance, they are one of the only 24 hour coffee places after all, but if the service doesn't improve....
(3)
Mark V.

Tucked away on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu next to the KHON building is this quaint coffee shop that opened not long ago. Kissaten offers a respectable selection of coffees and teas and the prices are on par with the other large coffee chains. However, the difference between the two is the ambiance. With a seating area about 2-3 times larger than most other coffee chains, seating usually isn't a problem. They also pipe in music at a reasonable volume rather than the obnoxiously loud music that the other coffee chains blare at you. Definitely a plus if you plan on coming here to study. Speaking of studying, they have a bounty of outlets available for you so that you don't need to fight for a table near an outlet. They are also open around the clock for those of you bummed that (insert location here) is closed for the evening. For parking, they have a few parking stalls allotted in the KHON building, but if those are filled then park at Ala Moana across the street. The baristas are friendly and can easily give you a recommendation for you first timers. They have a kitchen staff throughout the day as well, so you can satiate your cravings for a good soup or panini if you've grown tired of pastries and confectionaries raising your blood sugar. For those late night owls, they also have a refrigerator of energy drinks and bottled beverages if your palate needs a change of pace from coffee or tea. The only downfall of this shop is the Internet access. Internet access if awarded after a purchase and only for a certain amount of time is given out, based upon what is purchased as I understand it. If you plan on coming here to study or browse the Internet, bring some form of mobile Internet so you can browse at your leisure. I could easily give this place a 5 star rating if it weren't for this issue. I understand that they opened not long ago and there is room for improvement, but I do believe that this is an impressive start for a business given the current economy. Here's to the growth and increased popularity of the coffee shop. Overall, I am pleased with my visit and do believe I've found my new favorite place to study. Make sure to visit on Sunday mornings and ask for Brianna. Tell her that Mark sent you.
(4)
Aldora K.

I like the food and beverage menu. My favorite is mac & cheese with strawberry italian soda. ^^
(4)
Dino K.

i love this place! been here so many times already! the only thing that i would like to see is the kitchen staying open longer, which i think they're working on. Other than that, it's a pretty good place to just chill with friends. Its a 24 hour operation so that makes even better! As soon as this place opens the kitchen longer, i'm going to give this place 4 stars! i recommend the tea latte with Earl Grey tea! its what i always get! Also the cream sodas are win!
(4)
Brandon B.

Nice looking place. Could use a few more seats or standup tables though despite how spacious the place is. Food options are small, but good. Not really a food place to go for a large meal. It's really a chill place to camp in for cafe freaks. The thing I like about it is that it's 24 hours so you can pop in here after your night of partying for a quick cup of coffee because you need to work in an hour! YEAAAAAA
(4)
Joy W.

I like the idea that this place is 24 hours because parking is probably a lot better at night on the street when the meters are free. I thought I was lucky enough to score a spot in the parking garage but upon leaving, I found a scratch on my car due to the tight spaces. Still, I don't know if I'd be coming back, even at night. It's not kid friendly at all, there are no high chairs or even a ramp for a stroller, I had to carry my stroller up the stairs. Also, the space appears large but you'll notice just about every seat taken by folks not really eating or drinking but glued to their computers. We were there for almost two hours and pretty much everyone who was there when we arrived was still there when we left, and in the same seating positions too. Despite the lack of actual eating customers, service was pretty bad, they weren't very helpful at the front counter when we asked questions about the food and they weren't very apologetic when they brought out a wrong order. In fact, they took it back and then instead of bringing out the right one, they just placed it on the counter for my friend to come and get. Every other order they brought to us, but with nary a smile or even an "Enjoy your food!" Not the friendliest vibe. The food was actually pretty good, despite all the other negatives about the place. Sandwiches are huge and come with a salad, all for $6. The desserts in the case are really pretty although some aren't labeled or even have prices on them, so you have to ask (again, beware the surly attitudes). If they deliver, then I'd like to try more, but otherwise, I doubt I'll be going back.
(2)
Sarah G.

5 stars for the round-the-clock hours, ice cold AC, ample seating, and free Wi-Fi with purchase. 3 stars for the food, which is decent, although nothing to write home- or a glowing review- about. 1 star for the chai tea latte, which was terrible. So terrible, in fact, that I threw it in the trash after just a few sips (and I hate wasting).
(3)
Brad Y.

Didn't actually get to try any food or coffee here.. But I did stop by a few times to meet friends that were finishing up their studies. For a study place, this is amazing. Open 24 hours, tons of outlets, and very spacious. Check it out if you need a late-night place to study and Sinclair Library is packed!
(4)
Ashley C.

This is such a great little place to study. The food and drinks are good, and they're open 24-hours, so it's perfect for bringing along your laptop and pulling an all-nighter to finish that paper that's due tomorrow morning at 8am.
(4)
Nan E.

I am the manager of Fantastic Sams right across the street from KISSATEN. My staff & I venture over for lunch & snacks all the time. The grilled cheese is AMAZING along with my fav the caprese salad!
(4)
Nikki L.

So I came here yesterday with my boyfriend to grab some lunch and coffee before work. We had a little under an hour to eat and the girl who took our order (the one with the lip ring and super straight hair) was completely and thoroughly incompetent. We ordered two different soup & sandwich combos and a blue raspberry Italian creme soda. Not too difficult, right? Apparently not. So first off I told her while ordering that I was in the system for the points thing they do and she said okay. So I paid, but she didn't ask my name or anything so I asked if she gave me my points and she said with a very bitchy tone that I have to tell her before ending the transaction. Umm hello....I did! So she said she would put the points on in a little bit (I'd be surprised if she remembered to). Then my drink came out and she made it a blue raspberry AND green apple soda....not sure where the apple came from, but it was still good so I didn't mind that much. So then we're sitting there and my sandwich combo comes and I start eating....and we're still waiting on his. I'm about half way done with my meal and he's starving so keeps picking at my food so finally we ask where his is and she says they read the ticket wrong. Seriously? At that point we had to leave already so he just got his food to go. So overall I'd say I do like this place...the food is good, the coffee is decent and I like the atmosphere, but the workers are sometimes really crappy. They just kind of look like they hate their job and don't care about anything and they're just plain rude (except for Kevin, he's awesome).
(3)
Kyle C.

Nice atmosphere and a great place to study.
(4)
jonah A.

The pastrami sandwich was tasty the day that we visited Kissaten for the first time. It was chock full of tasty, chewable pastrami with cheese. The cheese sandwich with cheese and apples was delish. The highlight of the meal was the tomato soup--yum, yum. We're all returning for the soup. The soup smelled delicious, it was a great presentation in the creamy white bowl, and it was a great portion size. The orange walls are a great color except that the painting of the walls was probably done by the employees--the roller marks were not even at all. They should maybe cover up the walls with paintings or something because it makes the classy cafe look unprofessional. The staff seems new and still getting to know the menu. It's okay to smile at the customers.
(4)
sandie g.

went at lunch time on friday, it was busy as we expected. person who took out order was very friendly. we ordered the kissaten melt & the truffle mac & cheese. like the menu says, it takes a bit longer than other items. being our first time there, while waiting for our food, we entertained ourselves w/ the extensive art on the walls. to our delight, the food arrived & was pleasantly surprised at the integrity of the ingredients. everything was very fresh & you knew whomever the chef was, he/she enjoyed their craft. look forward to the next visit.
(5)
Marc B.

choose this place over starbucks when it comes to sitting to get some work done. usually not as loud which I prefer. pretty good selection of coffee. i did notice the new ice cream bar, have to try that next visit
(4)
Elysia G.

I can't stress how much I love this place. I was introduced to Kissaten by a friend who I was with one night, while everyone else wanted to go for Vlounge pizza after a night in Chinatown. As much as I love Vlounge primas...I wasn't feeling like having a pizza..again...and tempted to drink more! I just wanted to chill. We came here and I had no idea what it was all about. The whole atmosphere; from how their furniture was placed to the calming silence of people just having a coffee and finishing up work, welcomed me in quickly. First thoughts were "I found a new study spot" haha. I was so curious to see what the rest of it was about and fell in love with the apple grilled cheese, with a side of the tomato bisque. To die for!!! I come here by myself all the time,for that and find myself getting more work done in here, than a lot of other coffee joints. I think it's a little pricy for their after hour specials, but the food is quite filling and worth it. So chill, so good! Plus, open 24 hours daily...are you serious?!
(5)
Jo M.

Can't believe I never noticed this place since its so close to home! Its a cute moderate sized coffee shop and its main perk!?..its open 24/7! :D And no I did not come here for coffee because I don't even like coffee. I came here with a friend after we went out, so it was about 4:30am and wanted a quick bite to eat. I ordered the Pho and she ordered the tomato bisque with a smoked apple ham and cheese panini. I was not impressed with my pho, 1 because the broth was warm instead of hot when it was brought out and 2 because it lacked flavor...It just was not good. On the other hand my friends order was delicious! She gave me half of her sandwich and some of her soup..both were amazing! I would def. recommend that! Also the sandwich had real slices of a actual apple inside..who would have ever thought! Anyways not to mention the place was very clean. I will be returning soon :) All and all not bad!
(4)
Jamie O.

i really enjoy this place - the food, drinks and atmosphere are great. everything is reasonably priced and affordable. my favorite thing to eat is the grilled cheese and tomato bisque, it's $9. i also get a large strawberry italian cream soda for $2.75. finding this place can be a confusing for people that aren't familiar with the roads or area. it's in the KHON news building, and there isn't a real big sign where customers can see the shop. parking can also be some trouble, with all the one-way streets around the area. parallel street parking is available on Waimanu St., or they have a few stalls available in the parking structure on Piikoi St. if you miss these stalls or the structure, you'll have to make a huge circle around the big block. i've found it most easy to park at Ala Moana and walk across the street - there's always stalls open. the food is tasty, but sometimes inconsistent - but it's not bad enough where i won't recommend this place to others. one time, my grilled cheese was served to me completely cold, like it had been sitting on the counter for a while. my boyfriend ordered the salmon salad, and i think the salmon was spoiled - he ended up throwing salmon up several hours later. what i do like about this place, is their stamp card. for every dollar you spend, you get a stamp - once you fill up the card, you can redeem it for one free beverage of any size on your next visit! another great thing about this place: they do not charge tax for your food when you pay cash! they do charge tax when you pay with a card, but one of the workers told me that when they switch over their cashier system, sometime soon, they're thinking of not charging tax for both cash and card... i hope that's true!
(4)
Minda G.

Went there for lunch today. My husband goes there quite a bit so he told me that I should check it out when I got the chance. He goes on and on about their thai coffee with soy. I tasted what little he had left when he brought it home the other day...uum...totally not for me. I went in with a friend and thought it was a cool little place to just hang. Every other table had their laptop out with full on concentration. I ordered the turkey pesto and a bowl of the potato leek soup. My friend also had the turkey but with the salad. OMG! That was alot of food! First of all the sandwich was awesome. Usually turkey pesto sandwiches can be either salty or a bit on the oily side. This was neither. I had to open my sandwich up to see exactly what was in it. I was surprised to find bacon, quite a bit of turkey, cheese, and the pesto aioli, which was perfect. The bread was a little crumbly, but still made for a great combination. My friend really liked it as well. The soup was thick and not as flavorful as I hoped, but there was also a whole poached egg in it. That was a first for me. I thought it was a potato at first...oh well. It was alot of food, so I decided I'd rather finish the sandwich than the soup. I had the creme soda strawberry flavor, which is an italian soda with cream....wish I had more cream. As stuffed as we were, was curious about the pastries, so ordered the vanilla cream roll. Was a little on the expensive side, since it was $2.50 for two small pieces. It was good, but I don't thing I 'd pay for that again. The total for the two of us was about $28. A little more than I expected, but I did say it was a lot of food. Just a tip, if and when you go, pay with cash. They charge you whatever amount they post. If you pay credit they say they have to charge tax. Conveniently, there just happens to be an at, right by the counter, but I can't imagine the fees for that one! All in all, my friend and I like this place and would definitely come back to try other stuff.
(3)
Heather D.

Love love love! I come here once a week while i wait for my hubby to finish work, parking isn't the easiest thing to find, but the tomato bisque is worth a trip around the block. Has a laid back atmosphere & large comfy couches to curl up, read a book & enjoy a cup of tea, or a latte, or a soy cafe aulait :)
(5)
Katherine L.

My new favorite coffee/study/girltalk spot! I live a good drive away from town and commute to town almost everyday, so I'm always on the look out for places to chill and study. Kissaten has all the qualities of a great coffee shop: decent price drinks compared to other coffee places, FOOD, nice staff and opened 24 hours. Plus it's right in the heart of town and is pretty much walking distance from Ala Moana. They offer free wifi for an hour with any purchase. They have a pretty eclectic menu, you can get sandwiches to soups and even pho on their late night menu. Their food is a little on the rich side, but good nonetheless. The only complaint I have is the really strong smell of food the permeates throughout the place and sometimes it's not a very pleasant smell. Other than that, this is definitely a place to check out :)
(5)
Chelsea S.

cute place. nice lighting. chill atmosphere. would love to study here one day. tomato bisque and grilled cheese was aaaahmazing. but... customer service wasn't too friendly.
(3)
John B.

14 April 2011 Update: Went back for lunch today. Pretty good crowd inside, perhaps 25 people...but no line for ordering food and drinks. Of course, ordered my old standby Kissaten Melt, and tried the Potato & Leek soup for the first time. Order took 15 minutes to prepare but it was well-worth the wait! The soup came to the table just the way I like all my soups...almost boiling hot! The fresh-cooked bacon pieces were fried perfectly crisp, adding the salt flavor that's missing from the soup itself. The $5 bowl came with a hot bread "muffin"...it's 100% bread, but about the size of a muffin. Delicious. The Kissaten Melt was excellent, as always. One thing I totally hated about this visit is their recently-adopted policy to charge customers an extra 4% for using credit cards to pay for their purchases. I don't know about the rest of you, but I pay enough taxes already without businesses starting to gouge me for even more. So, if you go, bring cash...Kissaten management seems to be strongly discouraging credit card transactions. Not very consumer-friendly. They lose two stars because of it.
(3)
Ken M.

Very convenient and cheap. Love the decor and people. Portobello mushroom sandwich is delicious along with the Chai Freeze. The stamp cards are great idea! Love the wifi and the modern feel of the place. All around awesome!
(4)
Natalie V.

I wish everywhere was open 24 hours. I'm a student and I work in a restaurant so my schedule is ever changing and I have a lot of late nights when I either need to be studying or I'm just getting off of work and I'm hungry and would love a place to grab a bite and relax. This place is perfection. The first time I went in there was with my boyfriend, and I'd been noticing this place on my walk to work. I actually got nothing but he got a hot apple cider - it was freaking delicious. We plopped onto one of their ridiculously comfortable couches, and took in our surroundings and decided pretty immediately that we loved the place. While he sipped his cider, I checked out the menu and the food in the display window. Beautifully made cupcakes with fantastic flavors like cream cheese lime and really amazing sounding soups and salads. I went in on Valentine's Day to buy some goodies for my coworkers, and everybody was super impressed with the light, very fresh, super buttery deliciousness of the pastries I'd brought and I was sure to tell them all where they came from. Getting the pastries together seemed to be a somewhat painstakingly slow process, but overall I have been really pleased with this place. It's still only a couple months old, so I'm sure that with a little time, it will only improve and get better. And hey, you really can't beat a 24 hour coffee shop with free wi-fi and great couches!
(4)
Michael C.

sometimes this place can get super crowded. alot of people tend to come here to study since its a 24hr coffee shop. parking is kinda limited either in the KHON building or on the side streets. i usually park across the street by Chodangs and walk it. as for food, i haven't tried it but i heard its pretty good. nothing fancy like starbucks but it gets the job done.
(5)
Julia P.

i will be back i tried the mac and cheese it was a little salty but still good.. wanna try the potato leek soup.. next time! i also really like the decor and cool coffee shop scene i would of gave 5 stars but my first exp.. they would not accept my hot deal Hawaii coupon cuz it was on my phone....and the second time i order and paid for the mac and cheese and then they walk over to our table and say they thought they had but were out of the mac and cheese.. but they said i could get the special and got a free cheesecake.. but then someone forgot their order and offer it to me .. then they realize they did have some mac and cheese left.. and gave me that one.. .my eyebrow was raise many time with expression "really?"
(3)
LesliAnn K.

Pluses are that its 24 hours, and groups can hang out for hours without feeling like they are being rushed out of there. I'm not a coffee drinker, but the coffee that my friends had looked good. Maybe because there's no close time and they expect people to stay for long, the service takes equally as long. I am sure the workers are trying, but they could not cover the basic things, like give us a number for our order, give a receipt, bring us utensils, bring us water, offer extra water. Or maybe because its not really a restaurant I shouldn't be so harsh. We went for dinner and the short ribs were pretty good. We ordered three dishes of the same thing at our table, and the dishes were spread at least 15 minutes apart. And there was inconsistent presentation...my friends short ribs dish had lots of veggies, ours barely had any (it was the same dish). I would not recommend the seafood risotto...rarely do I have complaints about food but it tasted awfully fishy. I don't think my stomach or my friend reacted well after eating it. Stick with the non-seafood dishes and the simpler fare and you should be fine.
(2)
JJMM R.

Great atmosphere, great food.
(5)
Dijon Y.

My ice tea latte tasted like watered down milk. Either I don't like ice tea lattes (quite possible) or they don't make a very good one. You have to ask for a WiFi password as it changes everyday. Kind of a hassle. Not as busy as Starbucks. Good to sit down relax and or study. There's outlets for the 4 tables along the wall. There's a few parking stalls in the KHON building but its cramped in there. You can also park at Ala Moana and walk across the street. Its roomy but not huge. The couches in the middle give it a relaxed feel but reduces the amount of folks that can study in there.
(3)
Mahina C.

Located in the same building as KHON news, it's literally on the corner of piikoi & waimanu street. There's only a few parking stalls in the lot so you either need to park there or find street parking on waimanu. It's great to find a place to go to late at night that's open 24 hours and a coffee shop. Usually in Hawaii you'll find places to go late at night are bars or restaurant but this place reminds me of the mainland. Just a hang out spot with coffee or tea in a relaxed modern space. They use to have free wifi but they changed it to where you need to buy something, which is understandable because I wouldn't want people just coming to use the wifi and not purchase anything, after all, they are an establishment trying to make money like everyone else. The food here is good too. They came out with a late night pho, i havent tried yet, but im sure i will soon. The pastries here are delicious and nothing heavy like other places. it just curbs that sweet tooth that's not so sweet. I would recommend this place to any coffee, lounge, tea person. If you like coffee places thats 24 hours and more modern and different then your average starbucks then this is the place to be!
(5)
Robert D.

Went tonight to go study, whoever was in charge of the music for the night has an awesome taste in music, made it easier for me to relax and focus on my work. But their Internet policy needs to change, got pretty upset when the stuff I was working on got lost when the internet time expired so i had to re-do everything later when I got home... Coffee was okay tonight, just got kinda bummed that I hit the bottom of the barrel when I ordered my coffee and had to wait for them to brew another batch.
(5)
Cameron M.

In terms of quality most of the coffee, tea, and food is average or 3 stars in my book. Nothing to write home about. But what made me gave kissaten 4 stars is the fact that it's open 24/7 and I just adore the decor/atmosphere. A real chill place to hang out at.
(4)
Esteban W.

Kissaten has been a mixed bag for me, and it's really only been "seriously" open for about a month, maybe. Mostly, I have had beef with their customer service, and for some reason, I feel like I am being lied a lot from workers... but now that they are "officially" open for 24 hours, the kinks may have been worked out. The GOOD: One thing is for sure, they have promised to be open twenty-four hours now, since January 7th, 2011. As far as I know, it's one of a kind here in Honolulu. As for a coffee shop or "cafÃ©" it's mega-huge. The floor space has endless possibilities and its size is impressive. There are a good number of tables and chairs, free internet (with purchase), TV's to distract you from your work, couches to share with people who think you love them. In addition, they are working on a menu to tantalize your taste buds. Currently, they have the basics for a simple cafÃ©, a solid soup selection with a sandwich co-pilot. When talking to workers, they promise to (at some point) have a late night menu. This late night menu is also said to have late night Asian comfort foods like saimin, ramen and curries - that though will not be until a later date. The BAD: Besides looking like Rachael Ray's wet dream because of all the orange, the coffee is pretty pathetic. They may want to pull off that, "Oh our coffee is special because _______, and that's why it's better and you may not be used to it" SullBhit, but I have tasted better brown water coming from spigots in Tijuana. Their drip coffee is bland, and its freshness is questionable, while their Americanos taste...ironically... watered down. The peach tea is syrupy sweet and not very 'peachy' at all, not to mention you really only get about seven ounces when they fill the cup up with ice. The massive floor plan is beautiful; unfortunately, I think (in my humble opinion) that with such a spacious location, even the owners/managers are lost as to what they can be doing with it and it loses some of the welcome-factor and home town feel. It does get brownie points for feeling hip and trendy, but loses some soul. Prior to my first visit, I was excited about coming over and trying out the new coffee joint (especially since one of my favorites from the past: Satura closed its doors). It was challenging however because when I would call, I often encountered a very bitter male worker. Asking for times I was told different answers and at one point I was told they were only open from 6am to 1pm, only to find out by someone else that they were there until 11pm one time. During my first visit, I asked for clarification of times, I was told they were open from 6 to 10am, and then later was told until 10pm. Whatever it was, I was turned off right from the very beginning by the lack of customer care. I mean, the door says twenty-four hours and they were only open for 7 - who do they think they are? 24HourFitness? Overall: I haven't tasted their food, and as of yet, I am hoping that that will be the savior because their coffee down-right sucks. At $2 per 18oz cup (tax included) they are similarly price to the double-finned mermaid empire. If you are compelled to try the peach tea, ask for no ice - at $2.50 for a medium, I want all freakin' 16 ounces. Potentially, this place can be 'the' place to be especially with it being twenty-four hours. I can already imagine the swarms of the half-drunk and the obliterated, 'tweens' marching across Piikoi from BAR7, reminiscent of a "Thriller" video. Note to self: Don't be here when BAR7 closes at 4am... especially after Saturday night. Will I come back? I hope the food is phenomenal, because with a place that is 24 hours, I want this place to be amazing so I can enjoy coming here. I will be back to try the food, and I am sure staying away from a twenty-four hour coffee shop will be impossible for me, but until I find a reason to enjoy being here, I'll just feel like I am cheating on my other favorites: Fresh CafÃ©, Glazer's and the late Satura Cakes.
(3)
Lance N.

Kissaten is every college students dream...a 24 hour coffee shop! The coffee is nothing special, but the food is decent. The workers are very friendly. The only downfalls are that it gets crowded and Internet is no longer free for all, but I guess it pays for a life of luxury. 4 stars!
(4)
Hnl -.

I read about this place in the Dining Out section and wanted to give it a try. Had to try the Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. Parking is kinda junk unless you want to park at Sears/Ala Moana and walk over. It is at the old Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Walked in at around 8pm on sunday. It reminded me alot of the old Volcano Joes. Lots of college type students with laptops. The menu is kind of limited. I thought there'd be more choices. Got 3 items: 1) Clam Chowder - it was ok, not great, not bad. 2) Truffle Mac and Cheese. Wasn't impressed. It was really rich. I couldn't finish. 3) Salmon Salad - highlight of the meal. Yum. Wish there was a little more salmon and capers. Also wished they had more desserts. For a 24 hour cafe, they should have ice cream and other cakes. I like that it's open 24 hours a day so it gives better choices than Zippys and Likelike. But if it's regular lunch or dinner, I think there are better options in the area.
(3)
Sara H.

been to kissaten twice now so i feel like i can fairly write a review. my fave parts about this place are the decor (feels kinda trendy yet still comfortable coffee shop type vibe), hours (love that it's 24 hours even though i prob will never take that fact to its full advantage) and the groupon deal. :) but honestly, if not for the groupon deal, i probably would not come here regularly. the crowd changes rapidly and this is def more of a hangout place than a study place. people talk so loudly! also, the staff is pretty hit or miss. the first time i went the baristas seemed kind of judgey and rude but this time they were all really nice and helpful. as for the food, i've had the yogurt parfait (highly recommend! the granola is the chewy kind - which i've never had before - but it was sweet and delicious! i loved it!!), the grilled cheese (small for the price but very cheesy with thin apple slices and bacon in it), the tomato soup (pretty yummy but i'm not a huge fan of tomato soup. after a few bites it just tastes boring to me) and the caesar salad (pass. too much dressing!). the only drink i've tried is the green tea which is fine (pretty standard / hard to mess up). tips: - go early to ensure you get a table. the place fills up in waves (never tried going at night) but if you're planning to camp out all day like i do, you should probably go before 10 to make sure you have your pick of seating :) - don't go here if you want to use the internet for extended periods of time. you only get 1 hour / purchase you make or 2 hours if you sit at the bar area. whaaat? i think from 12 PM to 10 AM you get 5 hours with purchase so that might be good for you night owls. - parking is in the khon building area. look for the kissaten signs. there're quite a few spots!
(3)
Zenny Z.

The modern urban industrial decor and the quietude of Kissaten contribute to an inviting atmosphere for its patrons. The seating area is really spacious with lots of seating, and I am always able to find a place to sit unlike some other coffee shops around town. The employees are really nice. The coffee is great; I especially love the Kona blend. Don't forget to ask for a stamp card; once stamped 40 times ($1 per stamp), you can order ANY drink for free. I did get one free drink so far and splurged on the frozen coffee drink with 4 shots of espresso in the largest cup size of course. It was very good and comparable to a frappacino from Sbux. I especially love love that Kissaten is open 24 hours a day! For real, not even San Francisco has a local 24 hour coffee shop (over-priced greasy spoons don't count).
(5)
Lance M.

Awesome Place for Friends to meet up and study/hang out. Cream sodas and sandwiches are great and waffles will help you through them drunken nights!
(5)
Ellise U.

Oh my gosh, I found a coffee shop open 24 hours, hurray! Coming from Seattle, late night studying with espresso shots is a must. So when I came back to Hawaii I was bummed to find that hardly any coffee shops are open past 11p. However, my friend introduced me to Kissaten last night and I must say, it's amazing! The food there is really good, I had the tomato bisque and an apple cider. Next time I want to try the dessert because they look amazing. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is that the atmosphere is a little stuffy... Maybe because I went late at night and wasn't there to study, the people gave us weird looks because we were talking. It's not a library people! It's a coffee shop! But other than that the place is great! Will definitely be back to try more things.
(4)

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Address : 88 Piikoi St
Honolulu, HI, 96814
Phone (808) 593-1200
Website https://www.kissatencafe.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :Open 24 hours

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Good for Working : Yes

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Kissaten Coffee Bar

88 Piikoi St, Honolulu, HI, 96814

Kissaten Coffee Bar Menu

Salads

Soups

Rice

Sandwiches

Other Dishes

Morning

Overnight

Beverages - Juice Sodas Freezes

Beverages - Espresso

Beverages - Coffee

Beverages - Tea & Milk

Healthy Meal suggestions for Kissaten Coffee Bar

Salads

Soups

Rice

Sandwiches

Other Dishes

Morning

Overnight

Beverages - Juice Sodas Freezes

Beverages - Espresso

Beverages - Coffee

Beverages - Tea & Milk

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