Café Kaila
Market City Shopping Ctr,2919 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, HI, 96826
Café Kaila Menu
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Address :
Market City Shopping Ctr,2919 Kapiolani Blvd
Honolulu, HI, 96826 - Phone (808) 732-3330
- Website https://www.cafe-kaila-hawaii.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
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 : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Good for Working : No
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Julia T.
As a diehard brunch lover, I can honestly say Cafe Kaila is one of my favorite spots to get breakfast and brunch! Despite the usual wait to get your food (which isn't always a bad thing- you know they have great food from the length of their waiting line) it is always worth it! I went to Cafe Kaila on National Waffle Day (according to Instagram) and they were having a special of a Cinnamon Roll Waffle and I knew I had to try it, along with a side of bacon, of course. But a couple minutes later, our waiter informed us that they had run out of the Cinnamon Roll Waffle and were instead serving a Cookies and Cream Waffle (equally intriguing and not disappointing). I myself have a big sweet tooth and loved this waffle with this creamy spread with crushed Oreos and syrup all over. And my extra crispy bacon I ordered was indeed extra crispy and gave the perfect salty pairing with the waffle. So tough out the wait to dine at Cafe Kaila, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Becca T.
I love Kaila because the service is awesome and the food is consistently tasty and glorious. I haven't Been for dinner yet but can attest that they are nailing breakfast and lunch. I don't come here as often as I used to because I moved and the long lines have always deterred me but every time I do dine here (or take out), I'm always stoked that I did. Faves: Kaila Salad, add shrimp or salmon. Egg white smoked salmon scramble. Soup + panini combo (their split pea is the jam). BENEDICTS. Pasta salad. And the waffle looks stunning.
(5)Rae W.
One of my oldest, dearest friends and I eat breakfast on some Saturdays. We had always avoided this place because the line is usually out the door. However, on this Labor Day Weekend Saturday at 7:40 a.m., we had beat the crowd. We didn't wait even 5 minutes to be seated. The place is really pleasant inside and the atmosphere is the right kind of cheerful for breakfast. It's a happy place but not irritatingly happy! ;) Our server Steven was superb. He took our drink orders right away, and when we told him our food order (two different kinds of eggs benedict), he declared, "Oh, so easy!" and didn't write anything down. (Had he just had a difficult table?) Our drinks and food were served promptly, and they were delicious. But we both got full quickly and couldn't finish. Steven brought us boxes with the check and told us, "You know we serve half orders for next time." We thanked him, paid the very reasonable bill, left him a generous tip, and left. The four instead of five stars is because this restaurant is SO small that we usually hang out and talk story, but we didn't feel right hogging a table.
(4)Ailen C.
I recommend going to Cafe Kaila for breakfast. (I haven't tried the dinner or lunch service yet.) But it gets crowded so you should go during non-busy hours. I love their Belgian Waffle so usually I share half of that with a friend and order Two Eggs Any Style platter with scrambled egg, Portuguese sausage and toast and with their bottomless coffee. Their food is so yummy. Their service is great. They are friendly and prompt. They make sure my water and coffee are filled every time.
(4)Cecily C.
To walk away with a truly satisfying experience, my tip would be to time your visit. My party of four was seated after an over one hour wait. Smaller parties will be seated sooner. At some point, no place is worth a wait that long, not even Cafe Kaila. Otherwise parking at Market City SC is plentiful, and the staff is very friendly and during the hour we waited, the hostess teased us with a sampling of their well-known Belgian Malt Waffle. Over hungry, overheated and overcome by the hostile humidity, our party was finally called and seated. We ordered the Italian omelette, which was underwhelming, unfortunately. The cinnamon roll waffle was bested by that tiny sample I got of the Belgian Malt Waffle, but my dad ordered a create-your-own waffle with eggplant, mushrooms and provolone cheese that he still talks about today. My brother liked the frittata but he is a gourmet cook and I didn't see that he ate a lot of it. However, he was impressed with the side of chef's fried rice, and detected that the "secret ingredient" was saimin mix to give it that salty, flavorful twist. I think we would all like to return to Cafe Kaila, come on a non-holiday weekday or when they first open, and order different items. One thing for sure, your stomach will be full and your body will crave a nap.
(3)Kelli S.
I've been wanting to go to Café Kaila for a while because of their much-raved-about breakfast menu, but ironically, my first visit there was for dinner. Café Kaila only serves dinner on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and I think their dinner menu is a recent development. However, there are some pretty good items on the menu so I wanted to give it a try. Specifically, the chicken and waffles. The photos of that dish on Yelp looked pretty good. My friend and I met for dinner around 7 p.m. and I was pleased to see that the eatery was pretty empty. Probably a completely different story from how it is during prime brunch time on the weekends! But Café Kaila definitely has a quaint, homey feeling to it, based on its set-up, decor and the pleasant hospitality from its staff. It didn't take us long to be seated and served. While the dinner menu isn't the largest, there were still numerous options that I wanted to try. I definitely would love to return to Café Kaila for dinner one day, as well as experience breakfast there! Here's what we got: "Fried Chicken and Waffle": This entrée comprised a light, malted waffle and fried chicken with cayenne maple syrup. The waffle was different here from the ones I've experienced at other eateries because it was light and not dense at all. The chicken itself was phenomenal - the interior was moist and tender, while the breading on the outside provided the perfect amount of crunch and seasoning. I normally don't put syrup on my waffles, but when it comes to chicken and waffles, that's another story. I like the sweet-and-savory combo so I liberally drizzled the syrup all over both chicken and waffle. Everything was delicious and the combo worked well; I would highly recommend it to anyone who's a fan of this dish. "Chicken Pot Pie Entrée": There are small plate portions of some of the items on the dinner menu, as well as regular entrees. At my prompting, my friend ordered the entrée version of the Chicken Pot Pie. Not too many restaurants have this dish, so I always make a note when I do find a good one (chicken pot pie is one of my comfort food staples). This version is served with home-style potatoes and steamed broccoli. The chicken pot pie met my standards because it was completely enveloped in a buttery, flaky puffed pastry, and the mixture itself looked creamy and savory. I was looking at my friend's dish and there were sufficient chicken chunks, along with the creamy base and peas and carrots. I normally don't like peas and carrots ... but I'll make an exception for chicken pot pie. "Gourmet Mac and Cheese": I love all things mac and cheese, so I was eyeing this dish. I have to try it next time for sure! It comes with a side salad. I didn't see any customers ordering this dish during my visit, but I'm sure it's delicious. I haven't tasted too many gourmet mac and cheese fails, so I'm curious to try this version one day. "Cinnamon French Toast": If I ever come to Café Kaila for breakfast, this is what I'm getting. This French toast is famous at the café. The meal consists of three slices of sweet bread dipped in egg batter, cinnamon and vanilla, and it's dusted with powdered sugar. You have the option of getting toppings for a slight fee, but I would be fine with the French toast, plain and simple. I'm just excited by the fact that it comes liberally covered with cinnamon sugar.
(5)Kristine C.
After eating here the second time and with great company, I can honestly say I am fully convinced that this is one of the cute little places I do enjoy for brunch. At first, I've always feared their long lines and the wait whenever I drive by the restaurant. I should have known better because I've been here one time and the wait wasn't all that bad. The second time around the wait was probably 15 minutes and we were in the door. What I loved about waiting is the two benches on the outside and the ice cold water pitcher available under the sign-in sheet on the podium. The water helped, since it was an extremely hot day in Hawaii. Although, they are always busy for the entire day, they do have a fast turn around with cleaning out tables. There are plenty of bar seats available especially for those dining solo and ample tables that can be arranged to any large size parties. On my first trip, I've had the pleasure of trying their Salmon Benedict. They were made just right to my liking and the eggs were poached perfectly with the entire dish. On my second trip, I decided I wanted something sweet. I only imagined Belgian waffles with just a hint of fruit. I was very skeptical in getting the waffles because I've been disappointed numerous times with many places. I don't demand much when it gets to waffles. All I ask is for it to be fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Cafe Kaila won my heart at this point with their Belgian Malted Waffles. My waffles were served not only crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside but also with the company of strawberries (you can add more fruits for just a couple of extra bucks) and extra whipped cream with many dashes of confectioner. I can't wait to have this again with extra fruits. A dining companion and I also shared a side of fried rice which was delightfully tasty and perfect for two. The flavors just danced as I savored every bite. I have yet to come back here on a Tuesday and Wednesday to try their dinner menu. Service is very friendly both on the phones and in the restaurant. I was a happy camper when I was offered extra whipped cream and my dining companion with his refills of ice tea. Cafe Kaila is located on the Market City Shopping Center next to Walgreens. Parking can be a bit congested sometimes but you will always find one.
(5)Jon E.
I've never tried cafe kaila due to the crush of people outside for breakfast on the weekend. Seeing a dozen people milling about in the hot sun was enough to make me pick another venue. However this all changed now that they offer dinner service wednesday to Friday. They offer breakfast dishes with amazing dinner entrees. Pizza are deep dish but not soggy. The chicken waffles would be amazing just as chicken or just as waffles. But both together take it to another level. The crazy thing is the price. It's breakfast pricing for dinner. I think we will probably be here in a very regular basis.
(5)Sasha L.
Cafe Kaila is very popular with locals and tourists, so expect to put your name down and wait in line for a while. I like to call in for take out and eat my breakfast at home. Their breakfast food is all really good, but my absolute favorite thing is their breakfast burrito with spinach tortilla. I don't know how they make it so good, but I've certainly seen other places make it not as good. Their French toast and waffles are also good here too. I haven't been here for dinner yet, but I've only heard good things!
(5)Andy F.
It took me four years to finally come back here! Yeah, yeah, tell me about it! I'm a big fan of breakfast. I could eat breakfast for lunch and dinner! I love eggs and meats and waffles and pancakes and the rest. Oh, how could I forget, coffee!! Breakfast, to me, is very simple and straightforward in terms of ingredients and cooking methods. Yet, it's the simple things that are always the most difficult to get right. Gratefully, Café Kalia gets it right. I came here for a late lunch to catch up with a friend I haven't seen in months. I had the Italian Omelette with potatoes and rye bread. It's a three XL egg Omelette with sautéed eggplant, zucchini, and mushrooms with garlic, basil, and mozzarella cheese, topped with marinara sauce. The omelette was cooked very nicely with the eggs light and fluffy and moist. The filling was well-prepared and well-cooked, and it was delicious! The ingredients were fresh and nicely portioned, and I liked the fact that the eggplant and zucchini were chopped and still had a little bite to them. The potatoes were really good and cooked very well. The skin was crispy and it was not oily at all. So simple, yet amazingly delicious. Even the rye bread was good! It was toasted to perfection with the crispy outside and soft inside. The staff was very attentive and friendly, and the food came out pretty quick. The prices are reasonable. The only downer is the parking. It can be difficult to find a spot, especially during the peak lunch hours since there aren't many spots to park in the Market City Shopping Center to accommodate the multiple restaurants plus Foodland, and even more so with the new Walgreens that just opened. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the food. Everything was fresh and very well-prepared, and that's all you need. Service was good. Atmosphere was nice. Breakfast done right.
(5)Moani K.
Always worth the wait!!! Our favorite healthy breakfast !!!! Good portions delicious food and the waffles are to die for !!! Customer service is always great. If you haven't came here for breakfast yet you're missing out !!
(5)Francesca C.
Lots of parking, great service and amazing food! First time there was for my birthday and we decided to go last minute. They don't take reservations but it was a rainy day and they said there was not a long wait. We got the only open table in the place and it took 10 minutes for someone to bring us water and take order, but then t only took 5 minutes for my Daughters kid meal To come out and another 5 minutes for the adult meals. I love sweet bread French toast and have had it countless times. This was hands down THE BEST SWEET BREAD FRENCH TOAST EVER. 100%
(5)Tobie W.
Within the past week I've been here twice mainly because of their great service and to die for waffles (I have a sweet tooth). My coworker was moving to the mainland so I thought we'd go out for brunch. We arrived at around 10am and there was no line! (Amazing right?!) We were seated and quickly told the specials, to my surprise my friend and I ordered the same thing, the cookie dough waffle. And to say it was amazing is an understatement, the waffle was light, and the topping was succulent. We were both highly satisfied, and not to mention it was a great way to start our day! The day after I came with my friend to eat (we wanted an eggs Benedict), but they still had the cookie dough waffle... So what did I get? The waffle! And again it was amazing! Consistent taste, and with the same great service! Truly cannot go wrong with anything at this wonderful place. Just be aware that since it's good, you might have to wait for seating sometimes!
(5)Amber F.
Let me start by saying this was the BEST breakfast I've had the whole time I stayed in Oahu. We went on a Monday morning around 10, so it wasn't busy. We were seated immediately. By the time we finished, however, the place was packed and there was a long line out the door. We had the steak and egg and french toast with berries. He ordered his ribeye medium, and it came out closer to medium well. We understood that it could be a bit difficult since the ribeye was so thin. However, it was a very juicy piece of meat. My bf said that he's never had a thin ribeye cooked as well as Cafe Kaila did. The potatoes were very well seasoned. As for my french toast, it came with 4 pieces of very thick bread sprinkled with powdered sugar and topped with blueberries. Oh my were they delicious! I didn't even need the syrup or cream (came on the side). It's not too sweet, but sweet enough to make me feel like I was in dessert heaven. The service was also super friendly and on point, even though they were pretty busy. YUMMMMMMM. Please don't miss out on this place. Come early and check it out!!!
(5)Rocky S.
AWESOME STAFF AWESOME FOOD so many good of things in the menu we couldn't even decide. Perfect for a small get together, especially a brunch with the girls. Very casual setting. Food is delicious! I wish they do a yelp deal. I will be here more!
(5)Denise M.
Dinner at Cafe Kaila is just as good as the breakfast. The chicken and waffles are yummy and it was boneless chicken so even better! The chicken pot pie is tasty and a favorite. The bocconcini salad with mozzarella tomato and basil was so fresh, Mac n cheese was total comfort food!
(5)Eileen T.
Their waffle special which is a cookies and cream on the weekdays are amazing! There is a wait but they are fairly quick at seating people! I always get their double hot mocha with whip cream! Its simply delicious!
(5)Derek G.
The food was good. FYI: Don't ask about the ingredients!!! Inquiring minds will get poor service and bad attitude!!!
(1)Karly N.
Service and food were absolutely amazing! Would highly recommend! Everyone is so friendly and inviting. One waiter is super cute (white guy), too bad he's moving back to New York...
(5)Brian M.
Cafe Kaila has not only extended their Weekend hours to 3:30pm, but are now open for dinner on Wed - Fri 5:00 - 8:00pm. Before I even start this update, dinner is BYOB with a corkage and you can come casual, like shorts and t-shirt. Now... Like any soft opening there is going to be a wait time for food to come out and some glitches, but you have to appreciate just having another place to get good food before everyone finds out. I've always been a fan of their Brekkies as you know and when I found out about dinner service, well I just had to check it out. First of all I really liked the comfort food theme and yes there is some breakfast offerings on the menu for those who just eat breakfast all day long. I really wanted to try all the food, but decided on the small bites. You foodies know what I mean, try as many dishes as you can before you explode, tell me you wouldn't do the same thing. Ordered: Ravioli 6 pieces, with a marinara dipping sauce, fried cheese and spinach ravioli, who doesn't love it. yelp.com/biz_photos/café… Chicken skewers, 3 pieces served with a little a slaw, sweet with some spice to it. yelp.com/biz_photos/café… Mac n cheese, its so good! I'm not a mac person.. Repeat not a mac n cheese person, but it I found this to be really good. yelp.com/biz_photos/café… Chicken Pot Pie, I love love a good Chicken Pot Pie. All the fresh vegetables made this dish delicious along with the thin flaky crust. yelp.com/biz_photos/café… My suggestion would to share the dishes because the regular order of the Pot Pie and Mac n Cheese because they are a good size portions. FYI Fujioka's Wine is on the lower level and Foodland nearby so no worries about getting your favorite drinks to go with that BYOB dinner. Also there are a few desserts offered for those with a sweet tooth. I'll be back to eat the rest of the menu...next week
(5)Paula M.
Customer service has been excellent since my last review. I've returned about five more times after my first time and loved it!!! Food is still just as amazing!
(5)Kelly C.
The food is good and the staff is friendly, but there's always a long line. So not the place to go if you're starving. This morning, we waited over 20 minutes (not an exaggeration) after being seated and ordering to get our French toast. That in itself isn't terrible, but then when we got it, it was cold (like not even warm enough to melt the butter). It was our second time eating here and we expected more from Cafe Kaila's.
(3)John F.
I've been to Cafe Kaila a few times now. At first I thought it was just a recommended restaurant from a Japanese tourist magazine but everytime I go I am pleasantly surprised. My first visit, I ordered the steak and eggs which was very good. But my last couple of visits, I've ordered the lox and scrambled eggs. It is served with your choice of toast and potatoes or rice. I always choose a sourdough toast. Today my friends ordered apples & fajita. They never disappoint. It's just a little pricey, slightly more than I really want to pay but it's good stuff. My only very tiny complaint is the service. They are always so busy that service can be sketchy at times. However it's definitely a recommended breakfast location for tourists and locals alike. When in Tokyo, be sure to check out their location near Tokyo Disney!
(4)Gabriel T.
This place was pretty on point especially when it comes down to breakfast. I finally got up early along with the bae to try this place out after seeing tons of reviews, check-ins, and instagram photos from here. Location The little cafe hub is located at the mauka (mountain side) of the Market City Shopping Center in Kaimuki. It is right next to shops like Gina's, T-Mobile, and the new Walgreens. There is parking in front of the cafe as well as in the back (of Market City Shopping Center). It could be busy and fill up real fast depending on the day and time that you go. For my initial visit, I came around 9am and there was some people waiting in line. Although the wait was not too long. Pre-Kaila So if you happen to be waiting in front of the cafe before you eat, sometimes the waiter will come out and have you sample out some waffles to get your taste buds rollin' I thought this was super cool and a lot of cafes, restaurants, etc. Should start doing this to satisfy and provide top customer service. So the whole Cafe Kaila experience is pretty cool. A bunch of locals and tourists alike will come down here. There is a good amount of table and seating areas. The staff and customer service is good. They are pretty friendly throughout the whole seating. By looking around, I feel that they somewhat mushed the table and seating areas right in which makes the cafe big and small at the same time but it works. Kaila Killahs In regards to the grindz, so again this is in regards to the breakfast. After checking out the review and pics, it seems that they are known for their waffles, pancakes, and benedicts. We had the new lilikoi waffle which was their special at the time, french toast, and side of scrambled eggs. It was unique and the taste was pretty rich considering you have the whipped cream, syrup, and powdered sugar all mixed into there but it was pretty winnahs nonetheless. The prices for both items were just about 10 bucks even so it is pretty decently priced. I should try some other stuff the next time like the Benedicts. Shout outs to fellow Elite Brain M. da braddah is like Mr. Cafe Kaila on IG. lol.
(4)Joseph E.
Awesome experience here. The Mrs. and I came here the day before Mother's Day for breakfast. Not a ridiculous wait - about 30 minutes. We ordered the frittata and we ordered the corned beef eggs Benedict. Also ordered a side of sliced tomatoes and sliced avocados. 4 stars for the corned beef Benedict - fresh, not canned, beef that was not overly salty along with a couple leaves of spinach. Just wish there was more hollandaise sauce. Frittata was the star of the show. Basically an open face mushroom, spinach, tomato omelet that was fluffy and had the perfect proportions of eggs and veggies. Service was polite and efficient and the coffee kept coming. I'm glad we tried Kaila's!
(4)Alex P.
Worth the wait really was. Pastrami eggs Benedict had mustard on muffin it's good but I am not a fan
(5)Joann Y.
Best. Breakfast. Place. Ever. When you see a line of people, you know it's good. Its not just a place for tourists. Trust me. MUST HAVES Salmon eggs Benedict ($14): two pieces of smoked salmon with spinach with a poached egg on top with hollandaise sauce, comes with rosemary oven roasted potatoes Haupia macadamia nut waffles ($10): belgium waffle with haupia syrup and macadamia nuts on top, syrup and whipped cream on the side French toast with an array of fruits ($8-12): fluffy slices of bread drizzled with syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon and spices, syrup and whipped cream on the side Yum, yum, yum. I have actually tried other things on the menu such as the lox & eggs, traditional eggs Benedict, and the omelette, but the above items are the yummiest. Their traditional eggs benedict with Canadian bacon is bit bland compared to the flavors of the smoked salmon eggs benedict. The omelette, for me, is not particularly special. The portions can definitely be for sharing! They give a heaping about of pancakes. It's three pancakes with fruits on top, but there is just so much! The eggs benedict can be shared with two people because there are two pieces, which makes it easy to share. Their ambience is also quite nice. It has decor that feels as though you are in a beach house. There is a nice sunny feel with lots of space on the table. Depending on whether there are a lot of people, the service can become so-so. They are all very nice people but when it gets busy, it gets real busy. So be on the look out for that. I have found I like it much better when I come at non-rush hours because there are less people and it feels more laid-back.
(5)Jennifer H.
If I had to go with rating only the French toast it would be five stars. I ordered the local scramble with Portuguese sausage for my meat. It was good but not anything I couldn't recreate or even surpass at home. The juice was not fresh squeezed it was literally poured from a simply juice container and my cranberry juice was ocean spray. For 2.75 a small glass I'd expect it to be fresh considering I can buy a container for less. The wait was not long even with a crowd because we chose to sit at the bar. The gentleman serving us was kind and attentive but we didn't need much service. I wish I had tried the coffee since I'm a coffee lover but opted for the juice instead...bummer. The French toast was a whole separate level of deliciousness. It was French toast but elevated to something more special. My husband has always ordered French toast when we eat out for breakfast and he said this was the best French toast he had ever had and I agreed. If your looking for a good breakfast and are willing to shell out about 40.00 for breakfast for two then this is a good place to do it and be away from the tourist trap that is beachfront Waikiki restaurants.
(4)Kyla N.
Wow this place had not only amazing food, but great service as well! I was a little skeptical about going here since the reviews said the wait was long, but my friends and I was seated in less than 5 minutes! We came on a Tuesday, so perhaps it is only because it was a weekday, but regardless the food was worth any wait. I was originally going to order something on the menu, but when our waitress told us the specials, I couldn't resist! I ordered the Chocolate Mood Waffles and it was amazing. The chocolate mousse it came with was fluffy and creamy and generally sent from the gods. One of my friends ordered the Pancakes, where my other friend ordered the Veggie Scramble and they were both very satisfied. I also tried a little of theirs, and they were both great! I will definitely be returning here again!
(5)Sean C.
Parking: lot The cost: $15 per person The food: French toast (amazing), smoked salmon eggs Benedict Restrooms: not in restroom. Located in the same strip mall This place is located in the same lot as the foodland. Look for the crowd of people waiting. The wait can be long on the weekends for brunch. The interior is somewhat generic diner style with mostly white linoleum. The food is on point. This is a nice place to come for your standard brunch food. The French toast is well made with Hawaiian bread. It's not too sweet and very satisfying. The smoked salmon eggs Benedict was also good. Overall, a nice place to come for brunch. Watch out for the lines on weekends. Get the French toast!
(4)Davin-Jay C.
Today, after waiting for 45 minutes to be seated we were created and brought some drinks. It was two of my friends first time here and I was very excited for them to try it for I've eaten here many times. Today just wasn't our luck and it really makes me think about the other times I may have ate here or took food to go. We ordered 3 meals to go, steak and eggs, veggie omelette and French toast. When brought the bag, all to go boxes were in one bag so we asked for 2 more to separate them to go. When we pulled out the French toast a pretty big roach popped out and just stayed by the lip of the box and didn't move. This makes me think that it was either there already or they have them crawling around in the back and just push them off the plates. It was way to calm and wasn't scared one bit. To everyone who takes food to go, please check your boxes for roaches or even your plates when you eat there. I will no longer be eating here in the future for my fear of getting sick from eating with roaches crawling around.
(1)Joy Celeste P.
Cafe Kaila is located right at the road of Kapiolani in the market city center (next to other restaurant vendors and a T-Mobile). There is always parking however they're pretty tight (there's also parking at the back). The line is always long here but they are very good at keeping their customers informed on how long the wait is. Customer service here is excellent and sometimes someone comes out and let you sample a waffle pieces or some French toast pieces. We waited about 20 minutes and as soon as we were seated our waitress was ready with our water. My husband ordered the breakfast combo and he had the French toast & those were "ginormous" for me, but for a hungry bear like my husband it's satisfactory! I ordered the Hawaiian plate which is mostly fruit. Prices are average for Hawaii ($11+) and you get your food pretty quickly. I ordered a side of bacon which came out a little overcooked (too crispy). I gave the place four stars: 1- reasonable parking 2-reasonable wait time 3- excellent customer service 4- the ginormous French toast :-) food is filling & if you're visiting this would be a nice place to check out.
(4)Izumi K.
No waiting time today! I've been to this place a few times and there are always tourists. They have the menus in Japanese too. Tourists know places more than local peeps. I had a bagel sandwich today. It was pretty good but had pancakes last time and didn't care for it much because whip cream was on the side...not enough:( I wouldn't wanna eat there if it's a long waiting time. Rather go some place else.
(3)Vanessa K.
1. Food quality - fair pricing for brunch-like food. A couple of friends and I shared the waffles with fresh blueberries/strawberries, which was amazingly delicious! Also had the bacon quesadilla with spinach tortilla, the salsa was very flavorful, yum. Then the corn beef Benedict and potatoes, the corn beef was slightly tough and the potatoes were dry, probably won't order this again. 2. Service - our server was very patient with us since it was our first time here so we had a bunch of questions. The other staff were helpful and friendly as well. 3. Setting/Atmosphere - the restaurant itself is slightly small. Clean appearance. If you wanted to you could listen to your neighbors whole conversation. The bathroom is not within the restaurant, you'll have to take a stroll around the corner. The wait time can vary especially during busy hours, you'll have to sign in yourself on the board outside and most of your party has to be there or you can't be seated.
(4)I R.
This place is the sh*zznat for breakfast. Can vouch for their amazing French toast, great omelets, great eggs benny, and a solid vegetarian breakfast wrap. Everything I've seen come out of that kitchen looks proper. Only thing is it gets busy. Be prepared to wait a least 10-15 mins. It's also pretty small so seating is a tad cramped, but it's a nice space and the food is way worth it.
(5)Anthony N.
***Cafe Kaila seems like it must be Oahu's top breakfast spot with the big crowds it draws the first thing in the morning (even on a weekday morning); the kitchen utilizes great ingredients and their French toast made with sweet Hawaiian bread is a standout*** Cafe Kaila is a popular Honolulu-Waikiki breakfast restaurant. It (like Matt's Big Breakfast in Phoenix) feels like "the" breakfast spot in the area. Even on a weekday, there are many people waiting outside for the restaurant to open. The restaurant quickly fills up, guests begin snapping photos both inside the restaurant and outside of it, secret menu items are ordered, and the next group of guests sit down or stand around waiting for a table to open up. Breakfast menus are fairly universal. While there are some regional differences (sausage gravy with biscuits in the Midwest, pepper jelly in the Southeast, a greater selection of Mexican-themed items in the Southwest and California), most breakfast menus (regardless of state) feature waffles, pancakes, French toast, omelets, traditional breakfast meats, and so on. That is the case with Cafe Kaila. They have mostly American breakfast items though several selections are altered with a few Hawaiian touches--the ability to have Portuguese sausage in a omelet, an eggs benedict loco moco style as opposed to Canadian bacon with hollandaise, a side of fried rice (if you would rather have it over breakfast potatoes), and the option to have pineapple-orange juice in addition to orange juice. I started with Cafe Kaila's build-your-own omelet. It came with the option of one meat, two vegetables and one cheese. I opted for the Portuguese sausage, onions, red bell peppers, and Monterey Jack (I also added mushrooms). Instead of their standard breakfast potatoes or rice as a side, I upgraded to their fried rice. The omelet also came with toast and I had their wheat toast. The omelet featured exceptionally well-prepared eggs. They had a great flavor and were very fluffy. Unfortunately, the eggs were overshadowed by an incredibly generous amount of Portuguese sausage, mushrooms, onions, and red bell peppers. The Monterey Jack cheese was good, but there could have been more of it to provide a stronger cheese flavor to the omelet. In addition, while I liked the fillings, the end result felt less like a omelet and more like a meat and vegetable stir fry topped with a thin omelet. The fried rice was good and was also generous in filling--some vegetables as well as scrambled eggs, Portuguese sausage and bacon. The wheat toast was satisfying. I also ordered their French toast, which conveniently came in three sizes--one piece, two pieces or three pieces. I opted for the one piece, which was a thick piece of sweet Hawaiian bread dipped in a cinnamon egg batter. The French toast was very good. It had a lightly crispy crust while the inside was moist but not soggy or dense. The cinnamon flavor was really good and the bread was lightly sweet on its own and once the sticky and sweet maple syrup was added, this French toast became a truly satisfying sweet end to the meal. The pineapple orange juice was also good though very sweet. Service was good. Food came out at a quick pace. Prices are okay here. While most items inch towards $10 and a few of their selections are more than $10, the portions at Cafe Kaila are very generous. Cafe Kaila has a simple but clean and pleasant dining room. With the counter, the food coming out quickly and the open kitchen, Cafe Kaila looks and feels like a good breakfast spot. Cafe Kaila serves a nice breakfast. While I did not love my omelet because of the uneven balance of fillings to egg, I think many would enjoy it and at the very least, all of the ingredients in my omelet were very good. The French toast would definitely be something I would recommend and their waffles and pancakes (often topped with a generous amount of fruit if requested) all seem to be a popular choices here. If you enjoy breakfast, I think Cafe Kaila would have to be one of the handful of places to go to if you are vacationing in Oahu. Cafe Kaila is part of a retail plaza that has its own free parking lot. Despite the big crowds here, it seems like it is easy finding a parking space because not everyone gets to this restaurant by car.
(4)Lori F.
Small restaurant, long wait...especially on weekends. Breakfast food very good, especially enjoyed the french toast. Prices a bit steep, but portion size generous. Save yourself time circling for parking & go straight to the back lot near ben franklin. More chance for finding a stall there.
(4)Nicholas M.
I have been to cafe kaila a few times the food is pretty good and usually a long line. I am writing a review because I had a really bad customer service experience with them recently. Again food is good but customer service was horrendous . Simply put junk customer service, I'm trying really hard not to use curse words. I rarely write yelp reviews but when i do they r usually good ones but today I was compelled to write this one and give them one star. It was poor business practice, the server was rude, and they acted like they didn't care about us at all.
(1)Angela C.
Amazing little cafe in a small shopping center in Honolulu. We ate here twice while on our trip. Breakfast was amazing, large menu to choose from, very fresh. Staff was friendly and accommodating. There tends to be a long wait but we had gotten here just before the rush. By far one of the best meals we had on this island.
(5)Melissa S.
Came here for breakfast (it's served all day!) and had the meat & cheddar cheese omelette. It was VERY meaty (which is nice since most places are stingy with it). What caught me by surprise was how AMAZING a the twisted potatoes were! Loved them! Apparently we came on a slow day but it was super busy! Can only imagine what it's like when it's packed! It's a super small joint with very friendly servers. They have specials of the day which change all the time. I like the mixed variety. They are very good if u want any substitutions too! Must try for breakfast food lovers!
(4)Crystal B.
Parking is a little bit tight in the Market City shopping center, but I do love that it's a cute hidden, secluded hole-in-the-wall with a nice "brunch" feel and cute painting decor. With this place being so far away from sight, it's a wonder there's SO many Japanese tourists inside... LOVE the big portions of this place and a very friendly server too -- she was great at checking in with me a periodically throughout the meal to make sure that everything was going well and okay. It's impressive since the place is SLAMMED and even going at an off-peak time (2pm right before their 3pm closing) the restaurant was pretty full. Food took about 10 minutes to come out, my giant eggs benedict was about $12.95, which isn't terrible. The food got cold a little fast which made me feel like it perhaps wasn't the most fresh. And the Chai latte, although yummy, was a heft $4.95 for a mug. Kind of a splurge. Not a place I'd attend on the daily, although a once-in-awhile sit and eat with a book, this is the perfect spot. Just be aware there's a ton of tourists and big lines during peak. But quite honestly, breakfast at 2pm is a pretty scrumptious treat as well.
(4)Ronnie T.
I love going here with my wife for brunch. The line can be long but that's common with good brunch placed. Their daily specials are always worth asking about!
(5)LaToya F.
IM IN LOVE!!!!! The French toast with apples is amazing!!! Don't get me started on the coffee float (coffee ice cream w/ coffee)!!!
(5)Rachel W.
You HAVE TO order the Grilled Steak Panini ($14.25). Go after 11am when they start serving lunch, and just order it. They slice up some rib eye steak and serve it hot on sourdough or white bread with mushrooms, onions, and ooey gooey provolone... It is DELICIOUS and I swear I'll be back for it. You even get a side of chips and a few carrots. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. It was my first time having any kind of lunch dish at Cafe Kaila, but that didn't stop me from ordering their Belgian Malted Waffle ($7.95). (Before you judge me, know a friend and I went halfsies on the waffle and panini.) Their waffles are perfect light, crunchy pieces of heaven. The best I've ever had. The atmosphere at Cafe Kaila has never wowed me, and maybe it must be the idea of the wait that turns me off (or the hunt for parking in Market City), but their food is really, really good! I can't wait to go back. GROUPS: Service is friendly. They'll accommodate larger groups by pushing a few tables together. We went with a party of 7 for a work lunch and we had a great time. THE WAIT: It can get pretty long, especially during breakfast time. Make sure to write your name and the number in your party on the list at the hostess stand outside. This place is frequented by droves of tourists and locals alike. The good part is the tourists seem to come in large groups, so once you see a mass exodus you'll most likely be in the next group to be seated. FREE SAMPLES: While the wait may phase some (guilty), I've only recently learned that they'll bring out food for you to try while you wait! A man brought out the Belgian Malted Waffle cut up into bite-size pieces, ready to grab, and we instantly wanted more. The food is what will make you stick around. PARKING: The Market City Parking lot is small and cramped, but free. You'll probably end up circling the lot a few times, especially if it's peak meal hours. The lower lot by Formaggio is a good place to check out for more parking, as it's most likely less busy than the upper lot.
(4)Shruti J.
I visited Cafe Kalia for brunch on sunday afternoon based on previous reviews on Yelp. We had to wait for approximately 20 mins for a table. I ordered the Veggie Omelet with a side of Turkey Bacon and my husband ordered the Pastrami Benedict. The service was quick and we received our dishes within 10 mins. The Veggie Omelet was no special, I did not expect too much as it simply was a Veggie omelet. The turkey bacon could have been better. My husbands Benedict on the other hand was delicious. The pastrami was tender and there was more than enough meat along with the Benedict. I ended up eating my husband meal more than my veggie omelet and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This place has a limited menu but has many varieties of Benedict's and Omelets (depends on the specials for the day). Great place for Egg lovers!!
(4)Hisoo H.
This is a homey place. It was the weekend so I expected a wait but it went quickly - 20 minutes. Good Hot Coffee! Fruit Platter - served right away, so glad! The Lox Salmon Eggs Benedict was spot on, but the potatoes were a bit salty for my taste. The pancakes were fluffy and so were the scrambled eggs. Altogether an "A-OK" experience
(3)Lori L.
Cafe Kaila is a neighborhood breakfast (and lunch) restaurant that is popular with tourists and locals. Expect to wait for a table if you come during peak hours or the weekends. Their Breakfast Menu has the standard omelets, pancakes/waffles/french toast, scrambles, breakfast sandwiches, and eggs benedicts, plus sides and coffee. They also have Daily Specials posted on the door so check them out on your way in. I'm a big eggs bene fan, the usual breakfast question is whether there is anything else that looks better than the eggs benedict. Cafe Kaila the eggs benedict is good. I've also tried their Frittata with Italian Sausage, which is generous in portion and well seasoned; their Kaila Salad, which was full of dried cranberries, walnuts, and feta; and their Blueberry-Bacon Waffle, which was light and crunchy. (But even though adding bacon to everything is a thing, I didn't really like the added bacon's dark meatiness and would get a regular blueberry waffle next time.) Service is quick and somewhat aloof, just take your order, get you your food, and turn over the table. They are friendly if you flag them down when you need something. If you don't mind the wait, Cafe Kaila is a nice casual spot for breakfast.
(3)Evan M.
The food is great! I ordered the French toast and it was light and fluffy, not too sweet either! The daily specials are creative and delicious too like a crab cake Benedict!
(5)Ina T.
First time here and wow the line was nuts! Nonetheless we waited about 30minutes. It helped that they brought samples to the line for everyone to try. When we finally got in I forgot all about the line because our food was delivered super fast after ordering it. The food was delicious everything we ordered was broke da mouth awesome!!! We had the crab cake Benedict, waffles w/fruit, eggs and bacon, French toast with fruits. Our waiter was great and helped me make my selection that I totally pounded. This place is the BOMB I just wish there was more room... my family ain't small lol but then again maybe that's our problem hahahaha We'll be back if we are in town again :) Thank you!!
(5)Elli C.
Another cool breakfast place we've discovered! At first I didn't know where my boyfriend was taking me but I didn't mind because I knew if people are waiting outside, it must be good. We went on a Saturday around 10 (probably one of the busier times to go) and we waited maybe 20 minutes. It wasn't too bad because we got some fresh, syrup covered, waffle samples while we waited. Yum! Originally we were going to order something off the menu but once the waitress told us the specials we both changed our order (we couldn't resist!). I got the Cookie Dough Waffles and my boyfriend got the Salmon Eggs Benedict. The waffle was amazing. It wasn't too sweet, nice and crunchy, and didn't need butter or even syrup. My boyfriends Benedict was decent, it was a little too lemony for my taste buds and my boyfriend was hesitate when I asked him if he would order it again. The side of potatoes however, were perfectly cooked and seasoned. The service was awesome and the staff was very friendly, we had no problems what so ever. I would have to go back again and try something off the regular menu to determine if it's worth the drive to eat over there. But! If you are in the area and don't mind waiting I would definitely check it out!
(4)Desmond L.
Went there for a bite after finishing at tmobile. The first waiter to take our order was impatient, wasnt friendly at all. We ordered pancakes n waffle. Food was soso. They r busy with japanese tourists probably bcos they advertise heavily. I dont advise locals to visit this place. They probably dont welcome us anyway. The second waiter who brought our food n bill was ok. But i m still giving one star bcos my first impression was very bad due to the sulky first waiter.
(1)Elizabeth N.
Been trying to come here for years now but the line is always out the door when we try to go (usually at 8am on Sundays). We went this past Saturday at 7:30am and surprise, surprise it wasn't packed! Actually, there was a lot seats open to our delight and it was definitely worth the wait. We got the kiddie pancake meal $5 (woohoo), Eggs Benedict with chef special fried rice ($12.95) and Bacon Frittata ($10.95). Everything was delicious and the portions were impressive, especially for the price. Café Kalia blows a lot of other breakfast places out the window. The service was friendly and fast. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of menu...if the lines are short.
(5)Nadine J.
Café Kaila hit it right on the nose for me with the flavor. I ordered the salmon benedict and was soooooo yummy. My cousin ordered the frittata and it was yummy too. they serve breakfast all day which I love cause I can eat breakfast all day. I will definitely be going back to try other things on the menu. The pesto chicken sandwich sounds delicious. This place was easy to find. I took the king street cut off going east bound on H-1, went straight and it was on my right after the first stoplight. located in the market city shopping center. you'll see foodland first before anything else. There were a lot of Japanese tourist there. I later learned that they have a Japanese menu. You have to sign in and then wait to be called. we got there at about 1130 and the wait was about 30 minutes. not too bad I thought. The place is kind of small but clean. The wait staff was friendly to us locals. I love that they have specials and you can try different things every time you go there. I have a feeling that anything you order here will be delicious and look awesome too. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Joseph Joel B.
I wanted to try a new breakfast & brunch spot, and read all the good reviews for Café Kaila. I never had a chance to eat here yet, because I just didn't have the opportunity to, and every time I passed by there was a long line of people waiting to be seated. Café Kaila is located in Market City Shopping Center, and parking always sucks here!! And I was already dreading the long line I had to stand in before we could be seated... But fortunately, we went there later in the morning on a weekday, and we were seated within 5 minutes... SCORE!! I really didn't want to wait because I was starving at this point. The food Gods are looking down on us!! =) Decor inside is really cute... "Looks like an adult version of a kid's tea party", is the best way I could describe it. LOL I ordered the Smoked Salmon & Spinach Eggs Benedict... I'm a sucker for Eggs Benedict!! LOL My friend had the Spam & Portuguese Sausage Omelette with Rice & Toast. We also split a Cinnamon French Toast between us. Despite being busy, our orders arrived within 10-15 minutes. The Smoked Salmon & Spinach Eggs Benedict was cooked perfectly, and the Hollandaise Sauce was thick, creamy & tangy, just the way I liked it. The Cinnamon French Toast was light and fluffy, and delicious. My friend seemed to enjoy all the food too. Service was excellent... Staff was friendly, and very knowledgeable about the menu. And we never had to wait to have our coffee & water refilled. What a great way to start your day... We're definitely coming back here!!
(5)Leslie M.
My "go to" brunch spot! It is of walking distance to where I live so I frequent this place often. I remember being one of the first patrons to dine here. It was much quiet and slow back then. But ever since they were featured in Japan magazines and advertisements, they have attracted a huge Japanese tourist crowd in recent years. Which makes the waiting time much longer, expect to wait an average of 20-30 min. The wait time can be longer depending on what time you go. We normally do take out now since it's faster than waiting for a table. Breakfast is served all day and lunch starts at 11am. We tend to order the same things each time we go. For breakfast, we go for the pancakes with side strawberry and a "create your own" omelette (Portuguese sausage, spinach and mushrooms). For lunch we normally go with a pasta salad with side chicken, bbq chicken ranch salad or panini and soup of the day. All of the above are wonderful choices. During the holidays they serve a homemade pumpkin waffle and Valentine's a red velvet waffle. Both are heavenly. I don't believe that it is a part of their normal menu. But it doesn't hurt to ask for these delightful treats. On the weekends, they serve specials that are not on their menu such as Benedicts and fried rice. Overall, this is a nice brunch spot in the Kaimuki area. Parking is free. They accept credit cards. Restrooms are located nearby. They do not take reservations, there is a sign up sheet near the door. Be sure to put your name down when you arrive. The place can get pretty busy throughout the day. I will definitely recommend this place to my friends!
(5)Glennie Mae D.
I would definitely come back here again for the Belgium Waffles with Fruit! My boyfriend had their omelet and said it was okay, but he took a bite of my waffle and loved it as well! The pricing is decent, but they charge an extra $2-3 for fruits (bananas, strawberries, blueberries). The Belgium Waffle was so crispy outside but soft inside, and they didn't get soggy fast when syrup was poured on it. This is also another popular place, I believe it was a 30-45 minute wait for us? There wasn't much waiting seating area and it was super sunny as well (no shade). But while waiting they gave us samples of their waffles! Servers were nice and didn't rush us when paying or ordering.
(4)Ryan N.
Saw this place on yelp and had to try so went with some friends. At 11 o'clock the wait was only about 15-20 minutes which isn't bad considering it's a great place for breakfast/lunch. I had the waffles with strawberries and it was definitely a great waffle. Crispy on the outside but soft and warm on the inside. Also had a side of their potatoes which were amazing! Definitely one of those places you have to keep coming back until you've tried the whole menu because everything looks so damn good.
(5)Reg Z.
Great brunch, went on a Friday so we beat the weekend crowds by the sounds of it. Tons of different options and the omelettes, Benedicts, pancakes, and waffles were all good. Clearly high quality ingredients made from scratch. FYI - There aren't reservations, and there isn't room inside to wait, so be prepared to stand outside. If your whole party isn't right there when they call you, they move to the next group (and you stay at the top of the list).
(5)Tarah T.
This breakfast place is a little local place, very small inside. They have monthly specials that I've heard are pretty amazing. The french toast is really good. It's on very thick bread and is cooked really well. The potatoes are large cubed potatoes and have pretty good seasoning. They are the best when they are well done. The waffles are also really good! Light and fluffy and amazing! Overall a great breakfast place without a huge line. Hidden secret!
(5)Kenji M.
I'll keep it short and sweet: No outside beverages allowed, since they have great food inside. My family and I came to this cafe since it was so highly recommended by the yelp community. When we arrived, my mother (who does not understand English very well) failed to recognize a sign stating that no outside drinks were allowed in the restaurant. Shortly after taking our seats, we were greeted by a seemingly rude warning from what seemed to be a manager/owner; she asked my mom if she was "done" with her Starbucks coffee and if she could "take it away." We ended up taking the cup of coffee back to our car. Despite the unwelcome greeting, our waitress saved the day with her smile and polite manners. She was very attentive and the food came within 5-10 minutes within ordering. Just as the yelp community advised, the food was very delicious and is considered, by my family, the best breakfast/brunch restaurant in Waikiki. In conclusion, if you are visiting Waikiki and are search for a place to eat breakfast; Cafe Kaila is a no brainer choice. The positives far out weigh the negatives.
(4)Alli C.
The rundown: -Great eggs Benedict -Expect a wait -Coffee bar -Delicious food Cafe Kaila is a great breakfast and lunch restaurant. Expect a wait when coming because it is a favorite amongst locals and tourists. I enjoy the coffee bar which serves straight coffee or you can have a flavored coffee. I always get the vanilla latte and love the artwork with the milk foam (it's the little things!!). My boyfriend and I came one day because of an Egg's Benedict craving. They are not on the normal menu but luckily they were on the specials! We got the salmon and classic Benedicts. IT WAS SO GOOD! The French toast is also a classic and comes with thick slices of bread, also delicious! Definitely come here to have a great breakfast!!
(5)Holden A.
Great food, awful seating if you're near the door. Constant foot traffic and wind through door opening.
(3)Asia D.
I love this place. I come here almost once a week. The food and service are both amazing. You can't beat this place for breakfast and I could eat breakfast for every meal of the day! They usually have a special waffle, and whether it's the red velvet, cookies n cream, lemon meringue or blueberry cheesecake, it's always amazing! They also have a breakfast wrap which is probably the dish that I order the most often. Sooo good with bacon and a spinach tortilla. Of course there's going to be a wait sometimes because this place is so popular, but that doesn't take away from the excellent quality and service. I'm always gonna love this place
(5)Rox M.
I've tried a lot of breakfast/brunch restaurants on the island and I always, ALWAYS make it a point to try out the benedict's that they offer. We went on a Friday morning...it wasn't that crowded. Wait time was minimal, about 20-30 minutes. We opted to sit at the counter since it was just 2 of us! We were generously seated, given our menus and waters. As I looked through the menu I noticed they didn't have any "eggs benedict" section. However, I failed to look at the "specials" board which did state they were serving it today on the menu. So automatically I knew what I was going to order. I got the original Benedict with roasted potatoes. Waited about 7-10 minutes for our order to come out. First bite and I was sold! Their Benedict is by far the best I've tried! So awesome! It was so flavorful and the muffin! So yum! In my honest opinion, it's the hollandaise sauce that really puts the flavor in so when I usually see a minimal amount of sauce, I assume it'll be a a bit bland. Everything about it was soooo good! They have the usual breakfast/brunch menu. The staff are super friendly! All in all it was well worth the try and wait. This was our first time here and definitely not our last!!!
(5)Ivy Lou H.
I've eaten here a couple of times and while it's good it's definitely not great and not really worth the wait. The long line is because the cafe is promoted in some Japanese guides to Oahu so loads of Japanese tourists come up from Waikiki to eat here. Can't blame them for that but as they do make this local style cafe burst at the seems like it was in Waikiki. Because of the long wait you're in my opinion better off finding somewhere else to eat. If there is miraculously no line then try this place out; I recommend the Belgian Waffles.
(3)Joyce L.
I was so excited to try this place today. I figure week day would be better than weekend to beat the crowd. It was around 8:30am there was a line already. Four parties were before me. But the line moved fast. This place is in Market City where Foodland is and next to t-mobile. I felt like I was in Waiks cause mostly Japanese were in the house. But I give them kudos for venturing out and not eating at Hilton or Sheraton hotels. I got the breakfast combo with fluffy pancakes bacon and scramble eggs. The food took awhile of course. It was a full house. Food was presented nicely and tasty as well. The place is cozy and servers are very efficient. I appreciate hard working people. But what made it even better was my young friend companion. She had Fritada or was it Fridata.
(5)Kuuri H.
Came here one day a few months ago to check out what's good for breakfast. We were prepared to wait in a long line just like everyone eles and of course the place is small and cramped but I didn't really mind. We ordered (my partner and me) 3 plates since we were supurb hungry especial after waiting. Also we just wanted to try everything. When the food came it looked like heaven. When we taste it, not so much like heaven... It was pretty disappointing since we got 3 plates of food and they were all huge but it just didn't meet the expectation we had for this breakfast guru. Don't really remember the pricing but ill just say a little pricy. The service was okay/good. It was busy I don't blame the poor guy he tried his best. I wouldn't come here again or recommend to anyone.
(2)Gary N.
Believe the hype! This place is legit! I finally found my fabled perfect Eggs Benedict that I have been searching for. I do blame myself though for visiting random places and ordering Eggs Benedict. They never come out right. Always something's wrong with either having fully cooked eggs, really soggy and flat English muffins, or something else. The Eggs Benedict here was perfect with runny eggs, ham and turkey, an English muffin toasted just right, and delicious hollandaise sauce. Also, I thought everywhere's home fries were the same, but not here! They were perfectly seasoned and I did not need to add anything to them. It was so tasty and I have to say they were the best home fries that I've ever had! While eating, they were passing out samples of their waffles and it was so yummy. I'm definitely getting that some time. In addition, I ordered an egg whites, crispy bacon, rice, and toast breakfast to go. The egg whites were masterfully cooked without any crispy burnt bits, bacon was not burned, and toast was perfect as well. Service was above average and parking is plentiful in the morning right in front. You should try to arrive early or you will have to wait for extended periods of time for a seat. It's definitely worth the wait.
(5)Krystal M.
AMAZING FOOD and SERVICE!!! This was me and my friends first time eating here and we don't regret anything. We ordered the mac and cheese with bacon, the Roma pizza, and meatloaf. We shared everything because everything was too good to not share. It was like we got raptured to comfort food heaven! We are definitely coming back with our friends and family to share more delicious meals.
(5)Jason Q.
I was first introduced to this place more than three years ago, and there was a time when I would eat breakfast here 2-3 times per week on my way into work. Sshhh, don't tell my wife :) I would continue to go more often but I rarely have time to wait. Always happy to see a local business do well, so no complaints from me that they are busy. The food is simple, but extremely tasty. The most popular dishes seem to be the waffles and french toast. I've had them both, and love that they are topped with big heapings of fruit and whipped cream. I am also a fan of their benedicts and potatoes. My favorite, and go-to meal is their breakfast bagel sandwich. Like I said, simple but extremely tasty. I recommend the Everything Bagel with egg, spinach and bacon. Pair that with a hot cup of coffee and it is a great breakfast. As busy as they get, their service is great. A lot of attentive and freindly people. You reallly feel like you are in your neighborhood restaurant. If you go alone or a party of 2, one suggestion is to walk-in and ask for space at the counter. At times it could be much faster than waiting for a table.
(4)Rika L.
Omg I crave every weekend their upside down pineapple turnover waffle. It was so delicious and they're not skimpy on the fruits. It was one of the best waffles I ever had. This will be my first stop for breakfast when I go back to Oahu.
(5)Elaine W.
The first time I wanted to go, the line was too long and we couldn't wait for it. Watching Parks and Rec, I was hard-core craving waffles for a straight month. This is where I HAD to get my waffle fix. I have heard great things about Cafe Kaila. Sandwiched between T-mobile and Fun Factory, you'll always have something to do while waiting to be seated. When my friend and I finally decided to go again, I rushed to the front hoping I could sign us up and be seated ASAP. We were seated within 5 minutes! The inside of restaurant reminds me of a cafe that a child would conjure up. It had a childish look to it, in a good way. I really enjoyed the bright colors that splashed across the walls and brightened up the room. My friend had ordered the traditional eggs benedict and I had ordered the blueberry cheesecake waffle. We waited about 30-40 minutes for our food because somehow they "mixed up" our order. While our neighbors were happily chit chatting and eating, I was suffering because I had not eaten breakfast and the whole restaurant smells wonderful. My friend actually got her food before I did. Her eggs benedict was not to her taste, but the potatoes were delicious. The waffles were AMAZING. It was light and crispy and soft. The blueberries were a surprise, because I could really taste them. It came with a large dollop of whipped cream and just the right amount of syrup. We ended up switching halfway. She enjoyed the waffles more, and I needed to balance the sweetness with something salty. Overall, the service was good, we got enough coffee refills and water refills and the the food was good. I would come back again, and hopefully the line is not too long!
(4)Jenel O.
Minus one star from my previous review. Came back for a waffle and the strawberries weren't fresh on my waffle. The waffle got soggy. I peeked at other tables and their strawberries looked fresh so I'm not sure why I got such a soggy bunch (pic posted). =( It was disappointing.
(3)Chris K.
Its an okay place to eat but the wait makes it not worth going to. We got there around 10am and had to wait 40+ minutes to be seated. Ordering food was quick but the wait for the food to arrive was 20+ minutes. the server did not describe the menu very well. We did not know what is the bst special so we asked and he studdered and hemmed and hawed and said bacon spinach and tomatoes... and we had to further ask to find out it was an eggs benedict. I ordered an omelet and it was very plain and watery because the veggies were fried and immediately put into the omlet. With veggies like spinach and mushrooms, they need to be drained because they hold a lot of water. These veggies were not drained and i had a plate of water by the end of the meal. "A rookie mistake" as said by my boyfriend. I got sourdough toast and it was barely toasted. It also tasted like they left it to sit for a long time. It was... i dare say... stale, hard and unappealing. My boyfriend ordered the bst eggs benedict. It tasted "okay, nothing special" the eggs werent too runny ao thats good. I've been there before and the fruit plates are amazing but today, the one pineapple i had was hella sour and the orange slice was 60% rine, like the butt of the orange. Lastly, the atmosphere was a little... moody? There is one worker, a somewhat large local looking man, that always has a mean look on his face. I had bought a coffee from the walgreens while waiting to be seated and he explained that i could toss it or they could hold it at the counter for me. He said this very firmly. I wouldnt say he's mean or rude but i heard another worker explain nicely to other costumers "sorry, we dont allow outside drinks. We can hold it at the counter for you or put it in the fridge but we cant let you drink it inside the restaurant" while this man just looked at me and saud "you gotta toss it or we hold it at the counter." This is not mean or rude but not friendly either. When we left, i couldnt get my coffee back. I asked and it never came and i didnt want to wait any longer for a 1.30$ coffee.
(2)M G.
I LOVE THIS PLACE. Anyone who hates it, I don't know why or what happened on that horrible day, but this place is pure breakfast heaven.
(5)Emily W.
This is my absolute favorite place to pick up some breakfast! I recommend this place to everyone who asks me for a good breakfast spot! Their Belgian waffle for $7.95 is the best! Fresh fruits like bananas and apples can be added for $2.00 extra but for $2.50 you could add strawberries or blueberries! I always get the waffle with strawberries and bananas! Today I got something called the frittata. I would personally give it a 6/10. I didn't want to order the waffle since my mom already ordered it. The frittata had a lot of starch and would be best for 2 people to share. It came with white rice, toast, and the frittata. I didn't know I could have substituted the white rice for fried rice and it was kinda disappointing that I didn't get to substitute it since the fried rice was the chef's special. For me, it was a little bland but my mother enjoyed it. The service was great and the wait to be seated was about 15 minutes for a party of 3 at 9:30 AM on a weekday. The wait for food was a little longer but that's understandable since the place was packed with people. The food is definitely worth the wait!!!
(4)Erno D.
Yes it's crowded with Japanese tourist. Yes parking at Market City is not the best. BUT this place rocks! They handle the crowds very efficiently. The wait help was friendly and very good. The breakfast was fabulous. I ordered the smoked salmon eggs Benedict and my companion ordered the Hawaiian sweetbread French toast with all the fruit. My dish was great with nice smokey salmon and spinach. Not too drenched in sauce -which is a common problem with benedicts. The potatoes were red potatoes baked and grilled perfectly. Her French toast was heavenly. This was perhaps the best I've ever eaten. It had so much fruit: banana, caramelized apple, strawberry, blueberries, raspberries and more that I forgot. Can you believe caramelized apples? That added so much. This is the best breakfast place that I have found in Hawaii.
(5)Liane K.
Yum! My favorite place to get breakfast. Friendly staff. Cute environment. Wait can be a bit long!
(4)James L.
Careful when paying the brown asian guy at the counter. I paid $50 for a $32 bill and he comes back with $8, he took a 33% tip for himself when he screwed up our order which we ate anyway instead of making him take it back. Maybe it was an honest mistake and he thought we stiffed him on the tip. I do not understand how he can screw up a $50 bill on the POS, it is one bill. My gf usher me out quickly, almost ruined a good day for me before I do something I regret.
(2)Mily L.
A very popular place as I drove up and saw the line!!! Fortunately, we only waited 5 minutes and we got our table. The food was good, the atmosphere is a mixture of the locals and tourists. Totally picked this place out from Yelp due to four star status and because the name of the restaurant is the same as my little niece...spelled the same way!!! She got a huge kick out of it...and a cup with her name on it!!! ;)
(4)Cassondra C.
We are in Waikiki on vacation and just happened to stumble on this place. Food is delious and the service is super friendly. We came back again today. I would recommend to anyone! The pancakes were the best i have ever had and the Italian sausage was so good and they didn't give the normal one or two pieces they hooked it up! We were very pleased. Update 7/1/15 beucase I cannot stop thinking about it literally. OMG DELIOUS! I HAVE CRAVED BREAKFEST SINCE APRIL BECAUSE OF THIS PLACE. I am from the Bay Area in Cali. We visited Oahu in April for Easter Vacation. This was by fair one of the highlights of my trips. I am a foodie. Breakfast is to me a hit or miss. Their breakfast was on point. The waitress we had, I cannot remember her name, she was real pretty and tall she recommended the buttermilk pancakes. Omg the best ones I have ever had in my life. They had strawberries and powdered sugar. I also got hash browns, which were fantastic. I also got a side of Italian sausage thinking the normal two pieces would come. When in fact there was a whole plate full of amazingly good sausage. It is sort of a hole in the wall and is pretty small inside. I don't think they take reservations either. But trust me the wait is worth it. The food was priced fairly well.
(5)Odille C.
I came here expecting a mind blowing breakfast, but was met with a line of almost a dozen people and food that was hardly par with my expectations. The French toast was hard and not soft as french toast should be. Although the other plates were okay. I was disappointed because the hype was not justified, but the servers are awesome and definitely try their hardest.
(3)Hervick R.
This place never disappoint. One of my favorite spot for breakfast. Working at the Hilton, I get asked by guests for good eats and I always recommend this place. It is so convenient that they serve breakfast all day. Perfect for people like me who loves to sleep in. Customer service is always exceptional or maybe its hard to see any flaw because I'm too busy devouring my Haupia Macadamia Nut Waffle. Try it! You won't regret it.
(5)Alleka K.
Great Brunch Foods! Eggs Benedict and waffles are my favorite! But if you don't like to wait in the line maybe this place is not for you.
(4)Ariana M.
The wait is long, but it's worth it. If you plan to come here, come early or not when you're already hungry. I enjoy sleeping in, so I usually don't get out of my house till after 10AM. By then the lines are crazy long and the wait is usually 45 minutes or more! So if you come here, already hungry, you're going to get super grumpy waiting that long. The Grub. yelp.com/biz_photos/café… [[ Salmon & Spinach Eggs Benedict ]] yelp.com/biz_photos/café… [[ Kalua Pig Eggs Benedict ]] yelp.com/biz_photos/café… [[ Omelet with Fried Rice ]] yelp.com/biz_photos/café… [[ Breakfast Burrito ]] yelp.com/biz_photos/café… [[ Apple Pancakes ]] yelp.com/biz_photos/café… To break it down for you, The food is good!
(5)Hiroshi K.
I can't cheer loud enough about Kaila....the food in my experiences has always been wonderful, but what set this place aside from a few eateries is it's staff's charm, hospitality, service and what took the cake and MADE my revisit here, was when the hostess said, as we were leaving..."have a great week guys"...maybe a "bye and thank you" and a "nice day"...but sending us off with a week wish of goodness that was delivered in a most genuine feel, forever sealed my love for this place. We sat at the counter and our guy was fantastic, the food and its preparers are FLAWLESS! (That Italian Omelette!!!!) and it's common practice to stare at every other customers plates as they get delivered. MAHALO CAFE KAILA---I had the worst hangover when I came in, u even fixed that---best of everything to you and your staff!!!!!
(5)Toni W.
This is a MUST try for anyone visiting or living on Oahu. The staff are incredibly sweet, there isn't anything on the menu that you can go wrong with ordering. They open at 7am and are full soon after so if you don't want a wait, get there early. I haven't had to wait yet but it does seem the table turn over relatively quickly, 15 minutes or so. I will be taking all my family and friends when they come for visits. YUM!!!
(5)Malia P.
Had a good experience! Threw a bridal shower brunch for my co-worker, and everyone wanted to order from Café Kaila! I had a large order about 16 plates in total, the staff member that took my order over the phone was very knowledgeable and patient with me when ordering. When we picked up the order it took a moment for everything to be put together but my order was correct and organized. The food was awesome :)
(4)Mohamed I.
Wanted to try something Hawaiian for breakfast and came across this place. Service is excellent and they are very attentive. Tried the Hawaiian breakfast and my god it looked good and tastes really good. I would definately come back here.
(5)Lyla D.
We've passed this restaurant numerous times in the past but the long waiting lines kept us away. Although, seeing lines of customers (a good mix of locals and tourists) waiting is pretty good sign that they must be good! Cafe Kaila serves breakfast, all-day, starting from 7:00 AM until 3:00 PM. They also have a lunch menu with service starting at 11:00 AM. There is a sign-in sheet located on a podium next to the restaurant entrance so you can see or watch the your wait status. This morning, our wait wasn't more than 10 minutes even though there were 6 other parties signed in ahead of us. The restaurant is deceptively big with counter seating, tables for 2 and 4 people (seating configurations are easily adjusted) and a small back room which could accommodate at least 16 more. The restaurant space is bright, clean and open. There were a lot of parking spaces in the lot fronting the restaurant, too. Within minutes of being seated, we met out waiter, Jeff, who was energetic, engaging, personable and attentive. He acknowledged us while on his way to another party who had arrived just before us. Jeff stopped back, recited today's specials and then went off to get our beverages. I was SOLD on today's special of Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, even though everything on the menu tempted me. I liked today's special Eggs Benedict..the poached eggs oozed its yolk when cut into, the sautéed spinach mellowed the smokiness of the salmon slices and the Hollandaise sauce was bright and just napped each egg. My hubby ordered an omelette filled, no, PACKED with Portuguese sausage, bacon, green onions and oozy-gooey pepper Jack cheese. There really was a lot of meat in this omelette...it was like asking "if you would like to have egg with breakfast meats?" Haha. We whacked everything off our plates, including the fruit garnish. We even downed 3 cups of coffee, each, concerned that we had gotten a big caffeine-hit. Jeff asked if he could get us anything more and joked that we must have "hated" the food. No, I said.."we're just performing QA (quality assurance) checks". Cafe Kaila, you've taken my breakfast appetite and replaced it with your deliciousness! We'd gladly return and wait in line. It's really worth the wait.
(4)Eric C.
Pancakes, fried rice, and eggs benedict are fantastic!
(5)Nelson Q.
Egg Cookery......looks easy, but is also easy to screw up. Such was the case here at Cafe Kalia. We came on a weekend, so I ordered the Smoked Salmon Benedict and Wifey ordered the Hawaiian Sweet Bread French Toast. For our drinks, I ordered some kind of Passionfruit Iced Tea and Wifey got the Lemomade since it said "freshly squeezed"....yeah right, out of a carton that is. How you gonna lie like that? My drink came in a nice tall purple glass with half of it being ice and missing about an inch off the top already!? WTH? Wifey's French Toast was coated with egg on the outside but didn't soak all the way through just tasting like dry Hawaiian Sweet Bread. The best part was when I cut into my benedict. One of them was fully cooked and the yolk didn't ooze out like it should. The other one? fully cooked yolk with poaching water that was somehow trapped in the egg!?!?! So now the poaching water watered down my entire breakfast-english muffin, potatoes, everything. What a disappointment this was, I didn't even finish it. I was done at this point....Moral of the story??? Stick to over easy or scrambled eggs...seems like thats the only eggs breakfast spots know how to do...ALOHA!!! Shaka Meter: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uu 2.5 Stick to Liliha........ YELP 365 CHALLENGE 2014-(18/365) "Liliha Mo' Bettah!"
(3)Lindsay F.
If you're expecting good service or even a smile, DEF NOT THE PLACE. Cafe Kaila has that 'turn and burn' attitude. But once upon a time.. it was filled with employees who looked like they enjoyed their jobs. If you want a good breakfast meal and don't mind waiting it's safe to say, THEIR FOOD IS STILL GOOD! I usually order the breakfast wrap(good portion) or the lox bagel with one piece of French toast on the side. I've tried a bunch of other items and I've never been disappointed. Their presentation is also cute, very Instagram worthy. P.S. Stay in yelling distance or you could get your name crossed off the wait-list and have to wait even longer.
(3)Amy B.
I really just want to be like, this place is awful and terrible! Just to keep people away. I already had to wait like an hour this morning! Sheesh! :P This was the best breakfast I've had in the Honolulu area and I have a feeling it will remain my favorite. We ordered the traditional eggs Benedict special, a create your own omelette plate, and shared an order of pancakes with strawberries and blueberries. The pancakes were outstanding! They were covered in fresh fruit. I couldn't stop eating them I totally neglected my potatoes, which was a huge portion size! I'll need to remember to ask for half a serving next time. The hollandaise sauce on the eggs Benedict was so delicious, the lemon really stood out. I'll wait in line any day for more of this delicious food!
(5)Hannah Q.
This place is delicious! We ordered the buttermilk pancakes with blueberries and Sean ordered the steak and eggs. For the first time there was no long line. Pancakes: fluffy just like the menu said. Really good! I think next time ill get it with all the fruit (strawberries, blueberries, peaches, banana). Steak and eggs: side potatoes are deliciously crispy and have a very distinct flavor. If you get anything here you must try the potatoes. The steak/eggs were really good as well.
(4)Grace L.
Out of all the meals one can consume in a day, breakfast food is a must have (regardless of what time it is). I love breakfast food with a fiery passion. (possibly even more than my bf..jk!) And Cafe Kaila definitely settles that craving I get for breakfast food. I usually order something savory with pancakes or waffles to share. I ordered the portuguese sausage breakfast with rice and over easy eggs. For some weird reason I dislike the runny eggs. It has a weird taste to it (and I've tried it multiple times). I can't quite put my finger on it but it tastes really "eggy" in a not so good way. But other than that the food is good. The waffle wasn't too crunchy but it also wasn't soggy either. The apple toppings were good but we wished for more. The pancakes topped with banana I had (not in the same visit) were good but I wouldn't say they were anything "special". But I'm not sure what makes pancakes different since there's no real way to make them outstandingly different. I digress. The lox bagel on the other hand was suuuuper good. The smoked salmon tasted so fresh, I ate half of my boyfriend's food. Theres a huge lot for parking so that's not a problem. Just come prepared to wait a while because there is always a line. Line during the weekdays, during school days, during weekends, during holidays, during every single day you could imagine. I'm guessing weekends are even more busy. I've only ever dined here with a party of two so the longest we've waited was 20-30 minutes, which isn't too bad in personal opinion. If you got some time and breakfast is your thaaaang, check um out.
(4)Michael G.
Cheap breakfast! And seriously some of the best pancakes and French toast I've had. Fresh fruit add on is s must! Servers are very nice and attentive. Food arrived quickly during both our visits while on vacation. Coffee was great, not sure if it was local but it tasted like it was to me. Will be a must visit any time we are on Oahu.
(5)Bella F.
Café Kalia is my go-to breakfast spot for the weekends. I usually order the belgian waffles with strawberries and a side of bacon, and I've never been disappointed. Definitely no need to ask for extra fruit at Kalia as they always make sure to top off your waffles or pancakes with plenty berries. I also recently tried their steak and eggs for breakfast, and was really surprised by the quality. Usually, breakfast joints overcook their meat, but my steak was cooked medium and juicy with just the right amount of pink in the middle.
(5)Cynthia C.
First time here! For my "21st" birthday! The wait wasn't bad at all for a Friday afternoon.. 3 people about 10 mins... Staff was very friendly, I think it was mostly guys! All good looking too! The kids took me here... I had the chicken pesto panini, Matt had the French toast and Portuguese sausage, Jamie had waffles and a big side of bacon! We finished everything! We be back here again... Next visit in November! 5 star for sure!
(5)Phillip K.
Okay, so what if I like breakfast food! Cafe Kalia didn't serve breakfast, they served a tenth degree black belt level breakfast! My good friend and I were nothing short of hungry and in dire need of nutrition and coffee; we picked Kalia! Speaking of short, the line isn't so be prepared to wait; unless of course you're there early in the morning. It was our first time there and I'm so glad it was during the weekend because they have some bomb difusing, smoke kicking weekend specials. Which would be nothing other than eggs benedict served with either canadian bacon and turkey or smoked salmon OR BLT! Whuuuuutt... So I got the smoked salmon; absolutely delicious and nothing short or ahmahzing! We also got coffee because morning, that's why. I really liked that the waiter kept giving us free refills! We ordered pancakes too, to finish off our most important meal of the day and man, were they fluffy. I'm pretty sure they have capsules of clouds in the kitchen... All right, enough! Exaggeration much... Go eat here! It's da bomb! Cafe Kalia, yoda bomb!
(5)Jennifer A.
Love this place! I could eat breakfast anytime of day. This place can get pretty crowded so get there early before the line. There's lots of free parking located in Market City. The staff is great and very attentive. They also make great recommendations. They say the waffles are a must...I gotta try that next.
(5)David C.
The chicken pot pie tastes terrible. The pictures of it look so much better than it really is. It is really bland and has a terrible consistency.
(2)Kimo S.
Bad wait always before 2 pm. Good good but they need to have less wait. They could have expanded a year back to include 100 more sq ft but only got a side room with 14 seats. Food is good but why wait and the tourist make it long not locals.
(2)Richard C.
Absolutely love this place! Reasonable price, huge portions, good flavors, and friendly staff! Will visit again definitely!!!
(5)Taylor N.
Not the first time I have eaten here and definitely not the last... The wait may be long, but it is soo worth it. When we went, I loved how they had little samples of the belgium waffle for people to try as we waited to be seated inside. Ingenious idea! We both got the Combo breakfasts, one with overeasy eggs, turkey bacon and pancakes and the other with overeasy eggs, bacon and french toast. Both were demolished... This is definitely one of my favorite breakfast places on the island.
(5)Cindy H.
Great food yummy and prepared fresh. The location surprised me. It's in a plaza strip shopping center. But the food and service is divine. So glad we found it. Right on the king street bus route. We had to sign a wait list but got in about 10 minutes.
(5)Thuy G. Lita N.
Only came here twice but I am so in love with their organics fresh made food. There is ALWAYS a line here so come prepared but that just how yummy their food is.
(5)Piyo S.
I went to Café Kaila on July 29th, and I didn't write my review, so I'm writing this now. Yelpers rave about the French toast, so I ordered it off course. But it was soooooo dry inside that I ate only half of it. As you can see on the photo, it looks so pretty, so I wanted like it, but ... it was a real bummer. Plus, the owner doesn't care about the interior design at all. It has no decoration, and cheap looking tables and chairs so that it looks like an old office! I just don't understand the business owner who doesn't care about interior décor... It should be as important as food they serve. And the ceiling is very low and the sound of people talking bounce off the wall, so the whole place is filled with noisy echo, it was so annoying. Even though the customer service was good, I won't return to this place. I'll go to Bills Waikiki and Sweet E's Café instead.
(3)Rebecca M.
I've been here quite a few more times then I have checked in. However I'm usually floating on clouds and never look at my phone after I eat here. It is SOOOOO good. This is where I come when I have hang over, when I'm celebrating something, when I'm starving, kind of hungry, when friends are visiting and wanna get food.... Well actually whenever I can I come here. I always get the Combo because you get a taste of everything. The cinnamon French toast is amazing. Eggs are always cooked to perfection and you get your side of meat. They have bacon, turkey bacon, Portuguese sausage, ham, and a fee other options. Their waffles, pancakes and french toast are INSANE!!!! Pancakes are perfectly fluffy. French toast is never soggy. Waffles are the perfect crunchy. I love love love this place. Coffee is also free refills and they give you a to go coffee on your way out. Staff is so stinkin fast and beyond sweet and kind. The wait can be a little gruesome though but no matter how long the wait is it's worth it!!!!
(5)Corinthian N.
Never go in the evening for breakfast. My entire family got sick (food poisoning), and the breakfast was horrible. We went there around 5pm for the great breakfast feast that we normally come there for during the morning hours, but we didn't know they have a very select breakfast menu after certain hours. We were disappointed but decided to stay, and choose a meal off the select breakfast menu. The meal was ok, and it did not compare to the meals we had during normal breakfast hours.
(3)Vi H.
Favorite place for breakfast!! The french toast was so good with fresh fruit! We also got the waffles. Small, cute spot but worth the short wait. I would eat breakfast here after a good hike! The parking lot is a bit small or try parking around on the street or behind.
(4)Micah S.
My wife and I have been coming here for the last 7 years! We normally get the pancakes or frenchtoast, with blueberries or strawberries, ( or the bagel sandwich, or maybe waffles ) and they have great local specials that are always fresh and tasty! Our kids love coming with us, and the workers are friendly, helpful, and have become our friends. We live in MT now, but we eat here every vacation!
(5)Sheryl K.
I love coming here on the weekends because they have really awesome Benedict's. Their waffles are amazing and so is the french toast. But unfortunately today's visit to Cafe Kaila wasn't as great as it usually is. I ordered a Florentine Benedict which was amazing. But my boyfriend ordered a Portuguese, mushroom, cheese omelette, with rice and sour dough toast. When his order came, he noticed he didn't get rice but got potatoes instead. My boyfriend notified the server and he quickly changed his sides from potatoes to rice, which was nice. Once he started digging into his omelette, he realized his omelette didn't have Portuguese sausage in it but instead had bacon. Instead of telling the server, he decided to keep quiet and just try to enjoy his meal. Halfway through the omelette, he realizes that he didn't get sour dough toast but got white toast instead. I told him he should notify the server just in case they gave him someone else's order and wouldn't want the other customer to get his order and be disappointed. After telling the server about the mistake, my boyfriend didn't get new, correct toast or a new omelette. We brushed it off in hopes that maybe we would be compensated for the mistake in our check. Unfortunately when our check arrived, there was no discount. So basically my boyfriend and I had to pay for something that we didn't order even when the server was notified. We didn't even get a replacement omelette or toast. It was such a disappointing brunch. Don't get me wrong, I love coming to this place for breakfast which is why I gave it a four star rating. But after this order incident, I'm pretty disappointed especially because service is always so great. Hopefully the next time we visit, it'll be better.
(4)Mona C.
Ok, I admit this review is going up late, only because there's so much I want to say about Cafe Kaila, but just didnt know how to put it into words! Our party of 4 arrived after the opening rush, so we had to wait a while. Thankfully, it was so very worth it! I LOVE eggs benedict, so it was just a matter of deciding which one to get... the crab cake eggs benedict... in one word... divine! I was in heaven! Hubby got the make your own omlette with spinach, mushrooms and cheese, side of potatoes and sour dough toast. He was a very happy camper! My son likes his usual, scrambled eggs with white rice and bacon, with extra bacon! So very quiet during our meal = he was enjoying every bite! Baby girl is the picky one... heard there were BIG waffles here, so she was game. She loved the powdered sugar sprinkled all over and decided it was sooo good! Our server was very friendly, and took excellent care of us. I inquired about the location in Japan, and he not only brought me a business card, but let me see the booklet with the location information, so I could share with my family there. We will most definitely be coming back for more!
(5)Tabatha P.
Looking at the line out front, I thought it would take forever to get in and be served, but my thoughts were completely wrong. We got in within 5 minutes and had someone serving water and starting us with coffee within a very short time. The server was very prompt and efficient, We figured out she is the owner and you can tell she cares a great deal about her business. I asked if the salmon had mercury in it because I have mercury poisoning and she even went and asked around, which showed me consideration and I appreciate that. The food came out looking fresh and delicious and the smoked salmon eggs Benedict was the best I ever had! People were smiling and taking photos of the beautiful food presentations. The coffee was fresh and delicious. Very pleasant experience all around!
(5)Corinne O.
Ok, the wait was sooooooooo long I thought it was not worth it! But it was!!! If it's longer than an hour, ok maybe not. But 40 minutes I could deal with. There is no place to sit while waiting and you have to wait outside the restaurant. There is a list that you must write your name on so don't forget to do that. One good thing is that they come out and offer you pancake appetizers so after waiting 40 mins you have eaten a whole pancake and don't need to order one...hahah....and it's delightful. I was held tempted to run down to the end of the complex and grad a coffee while waiting. I ordered the omelet and had spinach and a whole bunch of other good stuff in it. It also came with toast and potatoes. I was a little hung over and I was dehydrated so I had two mugs of hot chocolate. I was content after my meal. I had left overs which I don't normally do. I think my eggs were a little undercooked for my liking and it made me not want to finish it off. If you want to eat here, come early and don't come hungry. Lol
(4)Rachel V.
Stopped in based on the Yelp reviews, and upon arrival (mid-morning on a weekday) found a long line waiting to be seated. Since we were visiting from San Francisco, we decided to wait it out with everyone else. The cafe is located in a tiny strip mall with a small parking lot. There is no waiting inside the cafe, so be prepared to stand around outside for a while before getting seated. On the plus side, one of the wait staff came out with a plate fresh waffle samples for everyone waiting, and the samples were to die for! When we were finally seated, we realized that some of the favorite menu items are only served on the weekends -- boo! -- we were only able to order off their standard menu. I have to recommend the waffles because they were AMAZING. French toast with fresh fruit was delicious -- super yummy. We also ordered a frittata which I wouldn't recommend as it felt "heavy" and was way too much for 1 person to finish. All servings are generous, and can be shared with another person. If you're in the neighboorhood, give it a try.
(4)Vanessa G.
Ugh! Love this place so much it hurts. Like the best breakfast food I've had out here. After surfing kewalo's hit this place up for some fruit pancakes and loco moco benedict
(5)Julia S.
Cafe Kaila is a great brunch place. YES THE WAIT SUCKS. Come here expecting to wait at least 30 minutes. You're VERY blessed if it's under that, even under 40 mins. The place is cute though. Small and cute. The staff is all local, and gives it an even more homey vibe. They're all pretty nice too. Especially considering how hectic it gets here! The food is simple and clean. Omelets, waffles, breakfast burrito, lox, and some lunch items make the menu. My favorites when coming are the lox w/bagel, eggs florentine, and eggs benedict. Their waffles are pretty great too, but I recommend maybe getting that to share because of all the sugar and big portion size! Lots of fresh fruits on top. Their potatoes are great and seasoned nicely. They're always my choice of side. Prices are around $12 a head. So decent! Parking is in the Market City Shopping center. Remember there's a downstairs by Ben Franklin! I recommend coming early or closer to closing on a weekday. The middle time at noon can be crazy!
(4)Courtney Y.
So I had to let this visit marinade for a while. I had a couple of reasons for this: 1) a review for an amazing place cannot be something that is rushed, 2) had to write later on in order to appreciate how good their food was, and 3) I didn't want to be craving Cafe Kaila so soon after, because it would drive me crazy and pancakes and breakfast foods don't look too good on my love handles. I had the combo during my outing here. After waiting for what seemed like eternity (probably because I was hungry and so excited to see what the hype was about at this establishment) we were called in. Which reminds me, don't park right in front of the place, because some family was leaning on my sister's polished car like it was their own. What the heck. //End rant. Anyways, got a coffee, got a little entertainment from watching a little japanese tourist kid doing a I'M-SO-HAPPY-WE-JUST-GOT-OUR-FOOOOOOD-DANCE, and most importantly got OUR FOOD. I got the combo, a nice balance of salty food food, and sweet and savory sweet breakfast food. Scrambled eggs, portuguese sausage, and pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries (I asked for it to go with the pancakies). The perfect combination. I didn't get tired of either thing, as I alternated between eating the eggs and pancakes. Let's seriously talk about the pancakes though. Sure, you think, "Pancakes are, well, pancakes." But let's be for real about Cafe Kaila's pancakes. They are exceptionally fluffy (think Despicable Me, "THEY'RE SO FLUFFY" type of fluffy), melt-in-your-mouth, so good you don't need syrup type of pancakes. They are absolutely unreal, and like nothing I ever have had before. If I were to have my Master's degree in the art of pancake making, I'd bet nothing I could have ever made would measure up to this one. Food is not only spot on, so is the people working there. They are friendly, on top of it with coffee and water refills, and they were a smile despite having a constant barrage of hungry customers. They are pretty amazing in itself. Definitely will come here again, maybe on a day that I'm off in order to avoid the excess crowd so I can get straight to the eats!
(5)Janet L.
On vacation looking for a good breakfast spot. I read the reviews here on yelp and decided to give it a try. I got to say I'm glad I did. Went on a fri. There was a 15 min wait considering we were a party of 7. I had the Belgium waffle with bananas. Not only was it mouth watering delicious but the server was great. Excellent svc. I definitely recommend this place. Price is cheap. Place is not big or fancy. Parking is horrible. Other than that food was worth it. I also was told that dinner there is also just as good. Next time I'm back in honolulu, my breakfast will be here.
(5)Jimmy W.
The pancakes are definitely good, but I don't know if the portions are big as someone mentioned. Also, the prices are a little high. And as someone stated, this place is on the Japanese tourists' radar so be prepared for it to be crowded all the time for breakfast!!
(4)Russell Y.
One star is quite a bit for this place. Service was horrible and slow. People seated 20 minutes after us received their food before ours even came out. Management only offered excuses for their bad service. Will not go back.
(1)Joy P.
Apparently, once upon a time this place was a hole in the wall. Wish I knew about this place back then, because now it's flooding with locals and tourists. By 830am in a weekday, the wait is at least 20 mins. The menu claims that most ingredients are organic! Awesome stuff. Despite this claim, the prices are reasonable and nothing more than your typical breakfast/brunch joint. I had their cinnamon French toast, which was delightful!! So thick, so soft, so moist, so yummy!! My friend gave me one of her eggs Benedicts and it did not disappoint either. My friend raved about their bacon, and I personally enjoyed their Portuguese sausage. Rest assured, my friend and I felt stuffed and heavy by the end of this brunch, but it was well worth it. Interior was clean with ample seating considering it's a small place.
(5)Kammy U.
I've been here twice, and was not disappointed either times. I'm more of a savory over sweet type of person (although the waffles look so delicious :P), so I ordered the same thing both times (bacon frittata), which I personally love. It's HUGE; filled with mushrooms, potatoes, onions, cheese, and a breakfast meat of your choice. I also ordered a side of bacon, and I must say...theirs is one of the best. Just the right amount of crispy/chewy texture, and thick :) Keep in mind, this place is pretty popular, so you can almost guarantee a wait time, but it goes pretty quickly. I've gone around 0800 (one with a group of 6, and the other with a group of 2) each time and didn't have to wait any longer than 15 minutes. The perfect breakfast spot :)
(5)Scott K.
Great food and service. Enjoy the dinner menu
(5)Tara B.
Cafe Kaila is a great breakfast gem in Market City that serves breakfast till 3pm. I took my cousin here on a Monday morning around 11am and it was impressively busy. There were about 10 people waiting outside and you just sign up on a list (no host outside at the stand) and wait to be called. We waited about 15 minutes outside, which wasn't bad, but the food took a long time to come out when ordered (almost 40 minutes in a restaurant that seats maybe 50 people) who were all at various stages of ordering, waiting and already eating. The waitstaff was nice, very attentive and courteous, but incredibly busy and a little slow because of that. I ordered a made-to-order omelette with spam, bacon, grilled onion and grilled red bell peppers. I asked for it to be well done (i.e. not runny) and it was cooked perfectly, and clearly hot off the griddle, when it got to the table (and SO delicious!). I ordered it with white rice, which was super fluffy and sticky (the best!) and some sourdough toast that had two drops of butter on it (I didn't ask for more, but would have liked more!). All in all a great breakfast spot with great food, just expect to wait a bit, but it's worth it!
(4)Claire F.
There's a reason why this place is one of the top brunch spots in Honolulu. Loves: + Great brunch food + Good variety of breakfast and lunch items + Kept us hungry, waiting customers from feasting on each other by regularly bringing out samples of their fresh Belgian waffles (in my hour+ long wait, I had 3 samples!) + AWESOME waffles. Amazing plain, but you can add fruits for $2/$2.50 each! + Reasonably priced on most items Icks: - For our party of 5, we waited almost an hour and a half from 8am (might be shorter for smaller parties) - They only serve eggs benedict on weekends Huh?: = I'd say 80-90% of the people waiting in line at Cafe Kaila were authentic Japanese. Looking at a poster on the restaurant's window, I discover that there is a Cafe Kaila branch in the Omotesando district of Tokyo! Ahhh it all makes sense. The traditional eggs benedict I ordered was possibly one of the best I've had in Oahu. Paired with seasoned potatoes (delish!) and a fresh slice of watermelon, orange, and strawberry (I love these little touches), it was the perfect complete meal. I just wish I had more room in my tummy for some WAFFLES! Eggs benny was $12.95 + $1.50 extra for all-egg white request - yelp.com/biz_photos/café… If not for the ridiculously long wait, I would definitely frequent here more often.
(4)Rachel I.
It can be more on the pricy side & the wait can be long, but the food is to die for. Park anywhere at Manoa marketplace and I suggest going early to beat the line. When there are long lines they have sample of their Belgian Waffle (try to only touch one piece unless you really want to eat 3 pieces). I enjoy their Belgian malt waffle with extra strawberries or sometimes their various types of eggs Benedict. The first time I went 2 years ago I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious their Thai latte was with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. Unfortunately when I went there today it wasn't the same. I guess last time I had a better barista. Anyhow go here!
(5)Ramfis B.
(B) est be coming here early or else... (E) normous portions of food (L) ong lines are very common here (G) et the Sweetbread French Toast ( I ) love the coffee here (A) nother Cafe Kaila is in Tokyo Japan now (N) ear the Fun Factory is where thaey are located (W) ish there were more places like this (A) ttentive and very friendly servers here (F) resh fruits on top of your waffles is highly recommended (F) orget about trying to just walk in here (L) unch is also served here (E) at the Pancakes with Fresh Fruit too!! (S) o many choices here it'll make your head spin (A) sk your server what's popular here (S) ervice by our server Kalai was above and beyond excellent (L) ooking at the portions will make you full ( I ) love bringing my out of town guests from japan here (G) igantic Omelets here (H) awaii is so blessed to have great breakfast spots to eat (T) his Cafe is the HOT SPOT right now if you ask me (A) lot of hype here and they back it up (S) moked Salmon Eggs Benedict is on my hitlist next (A) ten minute drive from Waikiki and you are here ( I ) love the electric atmosphere here (R) amfis says order the Belgian Waffles with all the fruits..Thats it!!!! ** THIS IS A MUST ORDER HERE ** yelp.com/biz_photos/café… ** BELGIAN WAFFLES WITH ALL FRUITS ** ** MY SECOND RECOMMENDATION ** yelp.com/biz_photos/café… ** PANCAKES WITH ALL FRUITS **
(5)Hattori H.
A good spot to grab breakfast away from the main strip in Waikiki. We came here on a weekday and were seated within 10 minutes. I'm sure there's a wait on the weekends. We ordered a Belgian waffle with bananas, a side of Portuguese sausage, and a breakfast bagel - all good. The waffle came with coconut whip cream, which was pretty good. This place is located in the same plaza as Foodland and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. If there's no parking in front, there's always the back parking lot behind the cafe. Will definitely come back.
(5)Momoka K.
This is my second time coming here and it has been an amazing experience. The food is fresh, tasty, and overall delicious. Nice place to go with your friends or family for breakfast or lunch. It's usually crowded with tourists but it's worth waiting for. The service is awesome! I would rate it 10/10. Every single server came to our table to make sure we enjoyed our meal and to fully satisfy us. I would recommend the smoked salmon egg benedict special, it's to die for. Since this place is nearby, I'll always stop by to grind on some ono food.
(5)Sarah S.
Great place for breakfast! We were seated quickly even though the place was packed. The service was friendly and quick. Their special of the day was the smoked salmon eggs benedict, which I have a difficult time turning down but for good reason! It was very tasty and filling. Wish I had more time here so I could come back!
(4)Sean Z.
Half of the time I don't think the wait is worth it. Ultimately, there has always been a line outside (weekdays included). The good thing is they try to minimize the anticipation by serving bite sized samples of their Belgium waffle to customers outside. But sometimes the wait is too long; to get seated, and yes, to get served. Don't get me wrong, the service is indeed good. You can literally see their persistent drive for quality customer service even though they seem to be overwhelmed most of the time. Consequently, the food does not taste as good due to the long, sometimes grueling wait. Along with it being crowded, the interior feels cramped with small tables and chairs. I do really like, however, their emphasis on fruits and veggies. They also give good portions and the menu is extensive enough to satisfy a variety of customers. In addition, there are tons of parking spaces available. *Lots of tourists. *Consistently good service. *Not a fan of their cinnamon bread french toast.
(3)Ryo M.
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(4)Woobin C.
I liked loco mocco. Rice, steak, and egg. Your stomach would be full. Maybe too full. I loved the ambience of this place. I somehow felt that I am in Hawaii. Friendly and helpful staffs are favorable.
(4)Jack L.
There we're seats available at the counter so the host said we could sit up there but then he noticed my wife was pregnant so he offered us a table instead, amazing hospitality and friendly service. The food did not take long to make and tasted so good I recommend the waffles or French toast.
(5)Taryn K.
If you have heard of cafe kaila I'm sure you know the line is SUPER long but well worth it. It is your typical breakfast place but the food is SO good with AMAZING service. There are your busses that drop off tourist so if you're looking for a good breakfast place I suggest you come to cafe kaila early! I've been here numerous times and have tried many of the breakfast items but I have never been here for lunch, but the lunch food looks really good too. And in case you're wondering, yes the food tastes as good as it looks. I've had the waffles, pancakes, French toast, croissant sandwich, the breakfast blt, eggs benedict, traditional breakfast, breakfast burrito, and pretty much the whole menu before and trust me everything is amazing every time. Definitely a must try!
(5)Leilani M.
Came here with my bestie after a long night shift by recommendation from a good friend. We immediately found parking! And we didn't even have to wait to be seated. We decided to share their breast cancer awareness specials of a pink waffle with strawberry whipped cream (we added fresh fruit) and their traditional eggs Benedict. It was delicious! it's my new favorite breakfast place!! I will be back soon.
(5)Hoku F.
They have such friendly and great service!!! Love the food here! My husband and I shared the belgian waffles, he got steak & eggs w/ brown rice & whole wheat toast and I also got turkey bacon, over easy eggs w/ whole wheat toast & brown rice. The portion of the food is worth your money. Highly recommend this place and they serve breakfast all day. It usually is busy but its definitely worth the wait and the wait aint too long!
(5)Marquetta W.
I've been here twice and was never disappointed. The first time I had the waffle and it was the best thing I've put in my mouth. The second time, I had the crab cake eggs benedict and it was divine. There's always a wait, but it's never long and you're not rushes through your meal. The breakfast specials change daily and I think that's really the start of the show. They offer the typical breakfast options, but I've always been derailed by the specials. The place is super affordable. I can easily see why they're number one. It's definitely a place I will take all visitors.
(5)Linda D.
My first visit WOW factor! A must try for the adventurous. My first impression: the menu is pure genius, see for yourself. The food is a fusion of Hawaiian/Asian, done uniquely to impress. Highly recommend this resturant. Take visitors who want an experience! Small, quaint restaurant, friendly staff, go early or expect to wait.
(5)Stephanie T.
The earlier you can get here the quicker you will get a seat. After about 8:30/9 the line is out the door for a table, but well worth the wait. I always have a tough choice deciding what to order because its all so yummy for breakfast. The veggie omelette and the fritata are my favorite choices and if there are a few of us we will get a waffle to share. The staff is always quick to get your order and pleasant to be around. They are good about filling up your coffee and water so you aren't parched and well caffeinated.
(4)Rebecca C.
I was hesitant to come here because I heard it's usually super busy and the wait would be a while. However we got here on a Monday afternoon, and it honestly wasn't that bad. We put ourselves down on the wait list and waited for about 15 minutes. The service wasn't that good, hence the three stars. The lady server who told us our table was ready just handed the menus to me and told us our table was to the left. Then our server came by to drop off waters and asked if we wanted to order any other drinks. Throughout the whole meal, he did not once smile or ask how everything was. I guess they're used to not having to practice good customer service because this place is a huge tourist attraction, and tourists probably don't care much for customer service, but rather the product, which in this case is very good. The food is great, I won't deny that. I ordered an iced chai tea latte, and that was very good. It had a lot of cinnamon, which I like. I ordered the two eggs of any style~ got them scrambled, with three huge slices of Portuguese sausage, roasted potatoes, and white toast. This is a pretty basic breakfast, so it would be hard to mess it up. I was happy about the portions, really. Overall, this is a good restaurant, they just need to work on bettering the customer service. And next time I'll order a specialty of theirs to see if the more complex foods taste just as good.
(3)Diane K.
The Belgium waffles are absolutely spectacular. They are so delectable that I'm willing to pick up a few random hobbies like cross-stitching just to pass the inevitable wait time (over an hour). Prepare yourself. Make sure not to arrive with a very empty stomach. Have a light snack handy or you'll end up like me, sadly peering through the window living vicariously through the happy people inside. It was a pathetic sight, pack a granola bar. My friend and I got a breakfast wrap (with bacon) and a Belgium waffle with strawberries. GREAT pairing.
(5)David L.
Meh...was surprised it wasn't as good for breakfast as many of the reviews. Frittata was ok, but a bit bland. Not too much flavor. Malt waffles were good though not spectacular.
(3)Leslie B.
Hands down one the best places to eat in Oahu! We had the weekend special loco moco eggs benedict which was amazing! The eggs were perfectly cooked, the patty was moist, and the gravy....damn flavorful! Instead of potatoes, we opted for the fried rice and were so glad we did because we all loved it. We also had the pumpkin spice waffle which was light, flaky, and very tasty. The regular belgian waffle is just as good. My sister had the huge sweet bread french toast....lightly crispy on the outside and soft and gooey in the inside. Honestly everything we had was so good that we were already planning the next time we were going to go back. Highly recommended to everyone looking for a fantastic breakfast!
(5)Daniel P.
Probably one of the best breakfast places to go to. Be sure to go early because it can get crazy packed! I personally hate waffles BUT their waffles are to die for! Be sure to ask about their potatoes too!!!
(5)Vivian L.
To be honest, I couldn't get off my butt to get breakfast or lunch if The Boyfriend didn't get hungry. However, I really really love brunch. I've been wanting to go to Café Kaila for the longest time. I was craving breakfast foods so much The Boyfriend and I went twice in a weekend! The interior was larger than I had expected it to be, and the tables were spaced far enough to not feel too cozy to strangers. There's also a counter area in the back corner. The majority of Café Kaila's customers are Japanese tourists. Either arrive before the tour groups are bused over or after the usual lunch hour. The wait isn't bad after 1 p.m. or so. The longest we've waited was about 10 minutes, but we may have been lucky to miss the afternoon rush. Now on to the food! Day 01: My number one choice of breakfast food are breakfast wraps! Cafê Kaila's Breakfast Wraps are a bundle of warm, toasted delight! Along with the eggs, potatoes, and onions, you also have a choice of 2 veggies and 1 meat--spinach, mushroom, and bacon for me--and regular tortilla wrap, spinach wrap, or a sun-dried tomato wrap. I opted for sun-dried tomato. The wrap comes with a side of salsa, but I asked for a side of guacamole ($.75), too. The breakfast wrap was A-MAY-ZING. I loved that they toasted it. Not only did that hold the wrap together, but it kept the filling warm and my tortilla soggy-free. The guac wasn't anything amazing though, but it was something to satisfy my craving for it. My boyfriend made his own omelette (red bell peppers, onions, bacon, and cheddar) and ordered that with potatoes and sourdough toast. The omelette didn't really fill him, but I guess that's why it came with such a large serving of potatoes! My plantation ice tea was watered down, but my boyfriend's chocolate shake was super chocolatey! Very yummy! Day 02: I really needed pancakes that day, so I asked The Boyfriend to take me back. The response was, "Again?!" but not "no" so we found ourselves back at Café Kaila for a second time. This time, I knew I wanted their Buttermilk Pancakes with fresh bananas (+$2.00) and strawberries (+$2.50). $4.50 for fruit add-ons is a bit outrageous, but the three pieces of pancakes were that good... The Boyfriend ordered two eggs, scrambled, with bacon, sourdough toast, and rice. The eggs were a nice fluffy. It was enough to fulfill his island-style breakfast needs. The only downside was how the service varied... The first time we were waited on by a very friendly waiter who checked up on us several times. The second time, the waitresses refused to make eye contact with us when we wanted to put our names in. When I did walk in to get someone's attention, the closest waitress shooed us out and said she'd be with us. So we waited 5 minutes for her to wait on us. Took off a star for that.
(4)Vangie A.
I came here again because I remembered how delicious their pancakes were a few years ago. So we decided to come again during our visit. Unfortunately, we came here on a weekday so all the delicious looking benedict weren't available. We tried to call in for reservations but it was a first come first serve. So we (party of 5) came in and put our name on the waiting list. There were 9 people above us so my sister and mom left to pick something up. Good thing: for a small place, the wait moves rather quickly. Also, they were handing out free samples of their waffles! Delicious!!! The bad thing: they wouldn't seat us until EVERYONE was present. So they had to skip us for an extra 20 minutes. I had my niece with us and we were hungry. What we came for was breakfast and by the time we were seated it was almost lunch. The staff were very friendly though- they apologized. We ordered Belgian waffle with strawberries, their pancake and sausage combo, breakfast burrito, bagel and lox and breakfast croissant sandwich. I was mostly there for their pancakes and thy tasted just as I remembered them- light, fluffy and no one else makes it that way! I didn't try the lox and bagel. The waffles weren't as crispy as the free samples handed to us earlier but it was good. The salmon Benedict was good- home fries were delicious! After the end of our meals, we were all just happy we were fed.
(4)Sabrina C.
Came on a Friday around noon on recommendation of a friend. Wait was only 5 minutes if that, and food was great! We had the frittata and the Belgian waffle with strawberries. They pile on the fruit, which is great! Would definitely come again. Portions are large and wait staff is friendly.
(5)Tina L.
Wow I just had their meat and cheese omelet and french toast plate. For the meat and cheese omelet I got a side of potatoes and Italian sausage. Let me tell you, this place gives you SOOOOO much food. The meat and cheese omelet had A LOT of meat in it, I have never seen a breakfast place give so much meat before in their omelet. I've tried a bunch of breakfast places, and this place gives waaaay more food than their competitors. Eggs and things has nothing on this place. Their french toast plate was also REALLY big, Extremely thick cuts of bread, bigger than my head!! The only downside is their meager portion of butter and syrup. They need to give more syrup especially to cover those huge slices!! This is my go to breakfast pit-stop from now on!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Gabe T.
This place has a great selection of Hawaii-inspired home style dishes that will send anyone home happy and full. I ordered the special loco moco eggs Benedict. While it may sound like a contradiction, this was delicious! It had the customary brown gravy on top, but also side of hollandaise if you want to bring it back to its roots. The home style potatoes with the dish were great, too. The key though is to get here early - especially on weekends - if you want to sit in a timely manner. We arrived at 8:00 on a Saturday and got a table quickly, but by 9:00 there was a line down the sidewalk. Even so, the breakfast is good enough for a short wait.
(4)Jennifer Y.
Great breakfast selection - highly recommend the French toast, which came with a heaping pile of fresh strawberries, whipped cream, an orange slice, and syrup. Came in the mid morning and was seated within 5 minutes. Service was quick (15 min?) and friendly. Definitely a go-to place for Waikiki breakfast!
(5)Paul C.
I came here today w/ a friend to have breakfast. Originally heard about this place from a former colleague who highly recommended I try here. It was the first time for the both of us and I was excited after checking out some of the pics posted on Yelp. The food looks very yummy. Arrived shortly after 9am and as previously warned, there were people outside waiting to get in. Luckily my friend got here first and put his name on the waiting list. Because it was still early, the neighboring businesses were still closed so we just sat outside and waited. In about 10min we were called and seated. I cannot remember our waitress' name but she was very friendly and greeted us with a warm smile. When advised it was our first time here, she pretty much gave us some recommendations and obviously knew the menu very well. In addition to the waffles w/ bananas, we wanted to try their omelet but couldn't decided what veggies to add after doing the double Italian sausage w/ cheese. She then suggested we have the Italian veggie omelet and add Italian sausage, which was a great idea. But after further discussion, we just went with the regular Italian omelet w/ no meat at all. My friend wanted a large orange juice and she advised us there's only one size so it'll be basically a large glass of juice and we will be charged for 2 juices. I really like it when you are informed ahead of time so there is no confusion with the drink amount and billing. It didn't take much time for us to get our food and we were both amazed on the presentation. Both dishes were very good but personally I really enjoyed the banana pancakes, that had fresh whipped cream and syrup on the side. The bananas were at the perfect ripe stage (not too starchy or too mushy) and the sweetness of it blended well with the buttery waffle. The omelet was very tasty and we both agreed the fried potatoes, which had some rosemary, were outstanding. The omelet was also tasty so this plate was a winner. However, we didn't even touch the sourdough toast and when the waitress saw it, had she known ahead of time we can substitute the toast for fresh tomato slices. She even offered to bring us some tomato slices but we were full so we politely declined. Talk about going the extra mile for the customer! I would give this place 5-stars but knocked it down one because this seems like a tourist trap. I have nothing against tourists but over 75% of the people dining here today were Japanese tourists! While waiting for a table, I saw a tour guide bring a group of 10 Japanese tourists (with their JTB handbooks) and one of the Japanese men gave a healthy $10 tip to the tour guide. I am fluent in Japanese and don't like to eavesdrop on people's conversation but some of the young girls around us were talking so loud that I understood everything. I felt like I was dining at Eggs N' Things..... Was somewhat bummed that eggs benedict are only served on the weekends. I guess I'll have to come back again on a Saturday or Sunday. And, am curious to try their lunch menu as well. Overall, a solid place to eat breakfast.
(4)Jesse M.
Had the chicken pot pie, and turkey club. Delicious food, and good service. The atmosphere is cute. Unless you like waiting in line for a seat, the best time to go is late afternoon...we were the only ones in there.
(4)Jacqueline J.
great breakfast spot!! There is usually a line to wait so get there early. The food is really good!! You can't really go wrong with whatever you choose to order here ;)
(5)Tony N.
If you've ever been to market city, you're probably used to seeing crowds of people standing in front of Tmobile and other restaurants around in the morning. The amount of people that wait for cafe kaila is ridiculous! Even though the line is long, it is well worth it! Sometimes they give out free waffles for those that wait in line! You're not even seated yet they serve you waffles while you wait! This is probably my girlfriends favorite place to eat breakfast. We always come here because the food is unbelievably good. If you've been to eggs-n-things, then this place is a must try. My mornings start out a lot better after eating here.
(5)Lynae L.
I had the loco moco egg benedict and I thought it was pretty unique. I also tried the pancakes with fruit on top. Everything we had here was great. The line went by relatively fast. I feel like breakfast is breakfast, I never really crave to go back to the same breakfast place more than once. I really liked the Portuguese sausage and home fries.
(4)Mayumi M.
Went this place during a family trip with my parents! Pancakes, french toasts, egg Benedict, everything was very tasty! I loved french toast fluffy and not too sweet with lots of fresh fruits :) My husband's smoked salmon egg benedict was really YUM!!! I'd order that one if I could try this place again.haha All the dishes come so HUGE this place! Being small Asians, it was way too much for all of us, and we regretted that we didn't share those dishes. I think one dish here could cover 2 of us. We went around 9am of weekday morning, and waited about 10min. It was faster than I expected :)
(4)Chris A.
We arrived at 11am on a Saturday. Wrote our name down on the wait list fronting the restaurant on a podium stand. During our 35 minute wait there were (2) plates of waffles and (2) trays of ice tea served in paper cups brought out as samples to everyone waiting outside for a table. It made our wait time forgivable. We ordered the strawberry waffles and bacon frittata. Like others have mentioned the waffles melt in your mouth and have a perfect crisp to them. The frittata was delicious. 3 large eggs baked with your choice of meat or veggies and potatoes, onions, mushrooms, Monterey Jack and Parmesan cheese. A big plus to this was that my choices for toast weren't white or wheat. You get to choose between sourdough and rye. These 2 dishes will cost you $27 including tip, but it was a good amount of food to share between 2 people. We didn't ask for an extra plate or for the food to be separated but I did see a small charge for a split entree on the menu. There is no restroom in here but they have one located in the lobby which is 2 restaurants down from Cafe Kaila. You'll need a bathroom code. There's 2 stalls in the women's restroom, no hot water, and it's a bit creepy in there. It's a cute little restaurant, the staff is friendly and efficient. This is the perfect spot to head to if you are craving a really good breakfast. Although I can only imagine how much longer it would take during peak breakfast hours to be seated. My rating is actually 4.5 stars and I can't wait to return to try everything else on their menu. Location is in the Market City Shopping Center near Fun Factory. Parking can be an issue.
(4)Julie F.
Super cute presentation but they cheated me out. Asked for egg white french toast and they said ok but when my french toast came out, it was just bread.
(3)Krista S.
Wanted some good homestyle kind of breakfast and Yelp took us here to Cafe Kaila. This place is pretty busy esp in the morning so we waited about 30-45 mins before we were able to get seated. They were nice enough to bring out some food for the people waiting though! (waffles yum!) When we got seated the service was pretty prompt and the portions were HUGE! I couldn't finish what I ordered and I love breakfast food so. Even their coffee was really good and I'm really picky about my caffeine. I would say it's definitely worth a 30 minute wait but anything more than an hour would be too much unless you're really patient. Parking was easy considering they had a parking lot but it gets rather busy too. Prices are great for the amount of food you get. :)
(4)Jordan S.
I liked this place a lot. The staff were really friendly and the service was fast once we were seated. They are very efficient and turning their tables so even with a line, people were seated quickly. I had the Sloppy Joe Eggs Benedict and it was delicious. I was hesitant to order it at first, but I like Eggs Benedict and I like Sloppy Joes, so I went for it. The portion sizes are big, I was unable to finish mine, and my girlfriend was unable to finish he waffle. The waffle seemed ok, but not the greatest, which is why this place gets 4/5. The wait can be long, but it worth it, and they have rotating specials, so I will be back again for a new kind of Eggs Benedict =)
(4)Helen L.
Love the food and the service is great! The pineapple upside down waffles was scrumptious and loved it! The wait for a table was a bit long & parking can be a bit of an issue. However, I felt that the wait was worth it and will be back again.
(4)Paul H.
First time here and I must say I am very impressed. While waiting for our name to be called we were greeted with free Belgium waffle bites which actually made me more hungry but it was awsome. Ordered the Kailua pig eggs benedict and it was very soft and tasty. Service here is top notch and would definitely return.
(5)Ryan B.
I ate here last week. The food was decent.
(3)Pualani T.
Awesome Food and Service and worth your money. Large portions of food - fed the two of us the next morning. We went at 700a and had only 3 couples before us on a Saturday morning. We will be back to bring mom. Can't wait.
(5)cris s.
Ate here twice during my vacation. Amazing blueberry cheesecake waffles. Not too sweet! Just right! We also had the breakfast BLT which was very good. Everything you get is super fresh and isn't drenched in butter like other breakfast places
(5)Julie C.
I love coming to cafe kaila! Their Portuguese sausage is the best!! They are known for their waffles with all the fruits on top! I've tried almost everything here. You can't go wrong with whatever you order :)
(4)Nadine C.
My cousins, aunties and I passed by this restaurant for a couple of years and always noticed the crowd outside. We wondered what the fuss was and kept it on the back burner. After reading the Yelp reviews, I felt brave enough to venture to a "new" place and take some victims with me! It was my day off; my friends were retired or between jobs; AND everyone was available = the stars were in alignment!! Wayne C. got there first & signed us in. I got there before our 8am meeting time and changed the amount in our party. While waiting in the drizzling weather, samples of Belgian waffles were being distributed. Wow - I wasn't going to order that, but after tasting the fluffy, delicately crispiness, I had to have it! We also looked at the hand-written sign that was taped to the glass door. I focused on one of the specials of the day: Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict - and this was a Friday - not a weekend! I wasn't going to get Eggs Benedict, but the smoked salmon swayed me along with Brian M.'s review, so I ordered that also. While at the restaurant, Brian messaged me & reminded me to get the Portuguese sausage - my friends wondered what was so special about the sausage... They are larger than what you normally encounter - and less oily/fatty. They seem to have less chunks of gristle so they are leaner! Ah!! Very good!! If I was alone, I probably would have eaten everything because the Lilikoi Belgian Waffles were so light, the Portuguese sausage was so smooth and tasty, and the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict was delicious, beautiful, and had a great texture! However, to be polite, I refrained and took a box home with a few remnants of waffle and sausage. I had eaten all of the pretty garnishings - the apple slices, the orange twist, and the strawberry halves. YUM! The atmosphere was great since we were seated in the "back" room. We were wondering if this was reserved for the locals. The tourists seemed to be all seated in the busy front area. I liked the small room - it was more quiet and calm - except when the baby next to us had a brief need to yell! The service was excellent! I needed another napkin and was afraid our waitress would forget because it was so busy, but she remembered!! Even the hostess at the front was nice - she said to call her when all of our party arrived because she saved a table for us! Overall, the experience was a fun one! All five of us were newbies and we all agreed that we would return some day. I'm so glad that the reviews were so spot on because I trusted Yelp and brought my friends...and they were happy, too! What a relief for me! I wouldn't want to disappoint them!! Thanks to Brian for the encouragement & thanks to Yelp for enhancing my life!
(5)Jennifer J.
Ate here for the first time on Saturday. There is a line when you come, but it moves fairly fast. Everything we ordered was delicious with a capital D!!! We had the cinnamon french toast, the breakfast quesadilla, the breakfast BLT, and a strawberry milkshake...it was all amazing!!! I can't wait to go back!!! Even though it was busy, our waiter was outstanding and on point. Great ratings all around.
(5)Annie K.
On this rainy morning, Cafe Kaila made my day. There is always a line at Kaila but the wait never seems to be long. I guess it's because this place is always that good. When I first came here, I wasn't soo sure about it. I just remember waiting for a long time and the food taking a while to come out. After several more recent visits, it's as good as it gets! Woohoo!! Today, I ordered the frittatand my daughter ordered their famous waffles. The frittata was stuffed with delicious potatoes, mushrooms, onions, and ham. It's one of my favorite at Cafe Kaila. The lightly powdered sugar waffle is always a heavenly. Everyone who comes here need to try their waffle. It's absolutely wonderful. The smell of the crispy buttery waffle will send you to the clouds. And their coffee is pretty decent. The thai latte that I had just the right sweetness. The staff is friendly. When the staff is friendly, you know that they are happy to there. Smiles are contagious and the staff is always smiling and checking up on you. Food is delicious, service is wonderful, and the price are pretty decent. Cafe Kaila is the place to come to enjoy a meal with your friends and family.
(5)Chris Y.
Now I know why lines are so long (many tourists) & btw-definitely worth the wait. Very charming place, very pleasant wait staff, great varied menu. There's another seating area in back to the left. Will visit again!
(5)Louis D.
One of the best places for breakfast/ brunch on the island. Waffles with fruit are great, eggs, etc. Friendly staff and great service. Expect long lines and 30 min waits especially if you have more than 2 people. One of my favorites.
(4)Laine K.
Yelp 100 Challenge #4/100 I recently went back to Cafe Kaila and this place is very busy now. There is a wait from 7:30 am on a weekday and even though it is expanded, this place is very busy. I still love their waffles and think they are one of the best, but the service wasn't that good. I ordered coffee and had a hard time waving someone down to get a refill. Also, no one ever came by to ask how our food was or to refill our water and coffee. It seems like the staff is just slammed and that place is just a mad house of people waiting outside, coming in and going out. Service: Definitely not that good. No refill on your coffee or water unless you are able to wave someone down. Also, it took a long while (10 minutes) to get my coffee refill. The server was nice, but just overwhelmed. Food: The waffles are still my fav here and my friend did like the omelette they had Atmosphere: Not relaxing and is just a bustle of people. They are doing great as a business though Overall: I probably will not be going to Cafe Kaila for a while as the service needs improvement, but the food is good and doesn't disappoint.
(3)Geri B.
Belgium waffles were good, the server we got not so good. They cater to the tourist more than the locals, we finally sat & waited for our waiter, 10 min later a tourist with their family sat & they got their drinks & order taken before us. I flagged the waiter as he was passing telling him can I have coffee, he says "yup" & walks away. Now I'm getting upset, the tourist family gets their food fast, we're still waiting, finally our food comes & it's COLD, it's been sitting. I will not return, I understand we need the tourist for our economy but locals are the ones that will keep coming back!!
(2)Benjamin T.
Cafe Kaila, in my opinion, is one of the better places to eat for breakfast than most. I've eaten here a few times and I can't seem to stay away from their steak and eggs. What's not to like, piece of New York steak with fried rice, toast and eggs. Couldn't ask for a better breakfast. There's one bad thing about this place and it's the long wait for seats. We had a group of three and arrived in market city at about 10am. We didn't get seated until about 1130am. It gets extremely crowded in front of the restaurant and a little dangerous for guests who decide to stand in the parking stalls while waiting to be called (Not smart, I know). Anyway, let's get back to the food. I don't think any of my friends and I ever had anything bad to say about their food. It's delicious and their food comes out under 15 minutes. My steak was cooked to perfection with actual flavor! The fried rice was really good and not too wet like most places make. I'm not huge on breakfast food like French Toast, pancakes, or waffles, but I'm always satisfied when I order steak and eggs. I highly recommend this place to anyone if they are willing to wait! Good food and the staff is on it when it comes to taking care of the customers. If you have the time, the food is worth the wait.
(4)Shauna F.
Best breakfast I've had on the island and the best potatoes I've ever ate in my life. Amazing food, service, everything! I tried the frittata. Sooooo good!!
(5)Tessa G.
Cafe Kaila is THE BEST breakfast in town! I love coming for breakfast, and now that they serve dinner, I will make a point to try it ASAP. :) My personal faves here are the waffle (which my sister and I will share as an appetizer), and the veggie scramble.
(5)Jurija M.
Wait...what? I'm only give them three stars?! What can I say besides I have high standards for breakfast! Here it goes. . . after a very long one hour wait (for a table for 4) on a very hungry Saturday morning, I did NOT love the breakfast food here. I ordered the breakfast burrito and it was just OK. It was pretty bland due to all the veggies in the burrito (because as you know, veggies are yucky) and the onions were raw and crunchy (ew). I would suggest they start to make a special sauce to put in these burritos to give it more flavor and love. Secondly, the menu wasn't as extravagant as I was hoping for. They had no "special items" or items that they are known for. Say for example, red velvet pancakes, or cronuts. I will say, they do present the food nicely. . .it's not just all slopped on your plate, sad looking. Anyways, on a super positive note, the service was really friendly and prompt. They also give you HUGE glasses of water in bright colored cups.
(3)Austin V.
Really good breakfast spot. Fast turnover so the wait wasn't long. And the food was really good. Try the pineapple upside down waffle, Lox and Bagel and the spam and eggs combo are all really good. If you're visiting Hawaii, GO HERE. PERIOD.
(5)Vicky L.
Long lines. Long wait. So, I decided to come after all the fuss, so I got seated in twenty minutes MAX. Ordered the French toast with strawberries, ~ It was okay.. I felt like I wouldn't go out of the way to line up for it & I could probably get the same if I made it at home.
(3)Ruf-ryda4life C.
We really enjoyed ourselves at Cafe Kaila. It was a great "breakfast date" kinda place. Go early though, or else the wait will be horrendous! We got there just in time to be seated within 5 minutes of arrival. We relaxed, had time to look at our menu, and placed our order. To share, we ordered a plain Belgian waffle. For him, steak and eggs. For me, Italian omelette. We were not disappointed. The waffle was devoured almost immediately. The steak and eggs were to his liking. (No paper thin meat here.) The Italian omelette was delicious!! Reminded me of a veggie lasagna! We chose potatoes to go with our meals over rice and they were sumptuous! Everything was plated beautifully and with color. (Orange slices, strawberries, whipped cream, etc...) We are so happy that Yelp helped us pick out a new breakfast spot to try!!
(5)Laura P.
Best breakfast on the island. Can't go wrong with anything you order. It's all fresh and unique! So yummy! Wish it were larger so the wait time was shorter during peak hours but wouldn't want the experience compromised because I'm never disappointed! The breakfast wrap, and waffles are favorites..
(5)Melissa C.
Great service, really friendly. I ordered the Make Your Own omelette (choice of two veggies, one meat, and one cheese) and it was stuffed full. Also comes with roasted potatoes (which I got-- excellent) or rice, and choice of toast. They constantly refill your coffee and are very accommodating. We waited about 15-20 minutes; even if you wait they have an efficient wait list system, so it's well worth it. Make sure your entire party is present, otherwise you'll be passed over for the next party.
(5)Little D.
We finally tried their Eggs Benedict the past week. These were pretty good but we like Grand Café's Eggs Benedict the best. PS. This place is happening... expect to wait to get in. Don't forget to put your name on the board. PPS. We did not like the coffee here.
(4)Joy N.
Yay! They accept credit cards! =) I read in a few older reviews that it was cash only, but now they accept cards. We came here on a Saturday morning around 11am. The wait was about 1 hour and you had to sit there the entire time because there was no paging system. A few people walked away and came back to find out that their name was called already so they had a wait a bit longer. When you arrive to the restaurant, the sign up is right outside the door. Every time I come go to Market City to run errands, I always see people waiting outside so maybe try the weekdays to see if there's a shorter wait!? We were seated all the way in the back. Service was pretty good. I know they were super busy so they weren't able to check to see if everything was okay or if we needed anything. i.e. I needed shoyu but had to walk out to the bar to ask for a bottle. The staff were super friendly tho so I didn't mind! I ordered the combo special which was 2 slices of sweet bread French toast, 2 eggs and a choice of meat. I ordered the Portuguese sausage and it was very delicious!!! I would definitely order this again. French toast - excellent!!! Love how this was in a combo because I would get tired of ONLY eating French toast. I ordered my eggs scrambled and I love how they prepared it... super soft and had great taste. Boyfriend ordered the Belgian waffles and raved about it! They give lots of fresh fruit too... I think he ordered it with strawberries and they were very generous! Overall, we will definitely be coming back to Café Kaila!!!
(4)Sharon D.
Not sure what can be reviewed about this place that hasn't already been said. Amazing food, our favorite breakfast spot on the island. The malted waffles topped with strawberries, blueberries and fresh whipped cream are the bomb. So are the omelets. Worth standing in line for.
(4)Katherine A.
I have visited Cafe Kaila many times for breakfast. They do breakfast VERY well. However, most recently I visited for lunch. I ordered one of their paninis and was completely appalled at was brought to the table. Traditionally, a panini is a pressed warm sandwich. I grew up consuming amazing paninis in Manhattan and owned a panini press growing up. The sandwich I consumed was anything but! I ordered the turkey club. The sandwich had slice bread I could get at Costco, and there was nothing remarkable about the cranberry sauce. In addition, the sandwich wasn't really that warm. I strongly recommend this place for Breakfast, but I am not so sure about lunch.
(3)Danny F.
Well.....it isnt bad. I found out about it online and decided to try it on my way to a hike. The service is nice enough and the wait time not too long, considering the fact that they always run a sign in sheet. A friend and I ordered the eggs benedict and the italian omelet : the eggs benedict had very little flavor, they even took a lot of flavor from the mustard in the sauce which i didn't think possible. Their omelet had very little flavor, with what seemed to be canned marinara sauce. After all said and done, the side of potatoes were delicious. I probably won't be coming back, if you have nowhere else to go, the food is edible just not special.
(3)S M.
Fantastic little breakfast shop. You'll have to wait a while on the weekends, but it is worth the wait. While you wait, a San Diego Chargers fan (he's forgiven for his poor taste in football teams because he is so friendly) passes our treats like pieces of freshly made Belgian waffles. Yum! The service inside is friendly yet efficient. The water glasses are never empty and coffee is freshened quickly. I've sat at the counter and a table and actually enjoy the vibe at the counter more. The food is fantastic. Fresh fruit, fresh local ingredients, all yummy. I ordered the salmon Benedict which was on special on one visit and an omelet with veges on my next visit. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the potatoes were crunchy and well flavored. I have to say the hollandaise sauce used on the Benedict is among the best I've had so I'm definitely returning and trying another version of the Benedict just to eat more of that sauce.
(5)Rikki J.
My husband and I stopped here after looking around the area for a good breakfast spot. OMG!!! So delicious! The service was amazing and the food is worth the wait (there will be one most of the time!!) because the restaurant isn't big. It's definitely one of our new go to' snow that we are here in Hawaii!!
(5)Tammy C.
Tres Bien! Cafe Kaila is a must-try! Honolulu has a lot to offer when it comes to breakfast foods and Cafe Kaila *may* be one of the best if it weren't for that long wait. Might as well head to Foodland and get your shopping done for the week as you wait. That aside, it is all worth the waiting. Each meal is made with TLC and you will taste it on your first bite. Service: Excellent and informative staff. With the people crawling wall to wall, they still find time to give great service. They make the crazy busy hectic establishment seem not so crazy busy hectic. Professional and friendly. Not much more to add. Atmosphere: Immaculate and a happy little joint. Bright walls and welcoming decor. Something about breakfast/brunch places that makes me feel good. Adds to the excitement and anticipation of your upcoming delicious meal :3 Food: Absolutely lovely. The pancakes are fluffy and big! Batter is perfection. The malt Belgium waffles (from the samples I have tried) are to die for! Will get that next time. The variety of fresh fruit that you are able to choose is so fresh! Perfectly ripe and bright in color. Makes a beautiful dish. Not much a fan of their bacon or sausages or potatoes. I am a sucker for sweets for breakfast. I will say the savory did justice. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a great experience. Though be prepared for a line. Cafe Kaila, love at first bite. *insert ":P" emoji here*
(4)Sean Q.
Overall a great place for breakfast. Wait is typically long so be ready to wait. Once seated the food comes out fast and service is friendly! I had the steak and eggs. Steak was good, eggs were over easy and done just right! Potatoes were delicious! Soft and well seasoned. Wheat toast was perfect. My wife had the pancakes with blueberries. They were great! Price wasn't cheap but reasonable enough. Will defiantly come back.
(4)Karen E.
I have been wanting to try this place out for a LONG time but everytime I passed by there was a LONG line of people waiting to be seated. One day finally after a LONG morning without anything in my belly my fam and I stopped by and guess what no line! We were seated right away and were pretty hungry. Wasted no time ordering since everything sounded good and the smells of yumminess from the kitchen made our stomachs growl even louder. Got their special Cookies&Cream Waffle, Italian Omelette, and some pasta dish with red sauce (my husband ordered it so I have no idea what it's called). One word A-MA-ZING! The food is fairly simple and portions are just about right but everything was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. It is so hard to find a place that makes a good brunch menu but this place is close to perfect. Now the reason it is not a five star is because every good brunch joint needs to have great coffee. I would personally skip the coffee here and head down across the way and purchase my cup of joe at another establishment which will remain nameless. You'll know what I'm talking about only if you make your way down to Cafe Kaila. Enjoy your brunch peeps!
(4)Al D.
Came here on a weekday around 8. There was no line but I still had to put my name on a list, as a waiter rudely told me. Things got better from there though. I was quickly taken in after putting my name on the list and sat at the counter (where I was going to sit in the first place). My server at the counter was excellent. He was friendly and attentive. I got the salmon eggs benedict. It was delicious. I also got an ice coffee, which was strong and tall. I forgive the initial rude waiter. I will return.
(4)Joey T.
Cafe Kaila has great food! Service it's alright, definitely had better elsewhere. Location is easy to miss if you're not from Hawai'i. Food: I definitely have to give their food five stars. I had their omelet and it was amazing, it had so much stuff inside and so much flavor. Their rice tasted a bit weird like it wasn't washed enough but I used lots of shoyu and ketchup to get rid of that weird aftertaste. My best friend had the chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries on top and it looked amazing. He said it tasted amazing too. Portions are very large compared to most standard breakfast eateries. Their drink menu was also pretty large as well. Hard to be disappointed with so many delicious options. Service: I think the service could be worked on for a few employees so I give it three stars. They definitely don't have the best service and we had to wait ten minutes to be asked what we were eating after or waiter dropped our drinks off so we had to grab another waiter to order for us. I don't believe they have the worst service either considering they were really busy and aren't just standing around. But always make sure to check up on those you're waiting on even if it's on the way to doing someone else's order. In the end we waited forever to get our check so we had to grab someone else to get our check for us. I guess you have to be a more aggressive customer here. Location was very easy to miss especially because I'm not from Hawai'i. My friend and I had to do many turns just to find it hiding in a small section of a market place. Price: I gave the price four stars. The prices were very standard for breakfast restaurants but what set them apart was their portions and their taste. Fantastic deal and they have specials too. I'm definitely coming here again in the future. I highly recommend this place as once to visit.
(4)Lainie U.
Probably the best French toast I had in a long time. The customer service is amazing!
(5)Eric F.
You can't go wrong with Kaila's if you don't mind waiting. Pro-Tip: wait for the next Hurricane and show up at 7am and you will be just fine! Food was delicious as always and the staff was awesome...and the ice water tastes good...unlike Koko Head Cafe. That's right...I'm calling you out on ice water! :)
(5)Amy Y.
Passing by Market City 5 days a week on the bus before work, urged me to explore Cafe Kaila. Finally, my friends and I head there for brunch. It was a little busy around 1ish. We got seated before the others started coming in. There wasn't any tables left so we got seated on the counter. I forgot what the plates were called, but I remember ordering something with salmon and eggs mixed together. It was pretty salty. I asked for the rice, and it also included a slice of bread. I got the wheat bread, pretty good. I tried my friend's rye bread, not bad. Pretty pricey though. My friends and I wasn't that full after eating. Haha It really was a cute looking cafe. The decorations were nice. Servers were nice.
(3)Vernelle O.
Yum! I has the steak and eggs and they were delicious! My mom had scrambled eggs and my daughter the quesadilla...everything was yummy! We looked at other peoples plates and they looked so delicious! One was smothered in fruits and another looked like waffles with a whipped cream and blueberry/strawberry topping.
(5)Tolkien L.
The wait can be unbearable. Food has a homey feeling and has never disappointed me. Seating is tight and it can be very noisy.
(5)Lauren D.
I have an aunt living in Hawaii and she took us to this local brunch place and it was delicious. There was a waiting time so you should get there as early as possible and put your name down. I ordered the Belgian waffles with fresh strawberries on top and another order of the French toast to share on the table. Both were good but I think the Belgian waffle was even better. I loved how the waffle was perfect on the outside and not too doughy on the inside. They also load up the strawberries. Definitely not stingy bout it. My cousin ordered the omelet and although the portion was a bit small I recall her saying it was really good and the eggs were nice and fluffy. Definitely come here for some good breakfast foods. The place feels really down to earth. Its more of a local shop and you feel part of the community. Great vibe.
(5)Lorraine P.
See all the people loitering out in front? They're not homeless. Probably just waiting for breakfast at this mom and pop spot bc its usually packed and there's nowhere else to wait. Café Kaila does breakfast and lunch only. And no rush waking up.... they do b-fast all day. Thank you Jesus! I had the Local Scramble ($10) with Portuguese sausage and scrambled eggs which were cooked perfectly soft with no traces of brown (brown on my food is not okay). Unfortunately, the sausage seemed to be laced with waaaay too much sage, giving my husband a newfound aversion to sage. The Cinnamon French Toast with strawberries ($7.50) is what originally caught my eye due to the fact they use sweet bread. Too bad it was a huge bummer. Sweet bread schmeet bread. It was painfully dry through and through. The buttermilk pancakes ($7) were darn good at least. Their fluffy cakes saved the day from my dry, Sahara French Toast. Overall, a good option for breakfast in Honolulu. Prices are cheap and they serve up trusty dishes pretty quick so you're in and out. They're located in the Market City Shopping strip mall and you can expect to wait in line. And if there's a wait, be sure to put your name on the list at the podium yourself so you don't get passed up by other lurking breakfast go-ers!
(3)Therisa L.
After almost a week of eating out it was getting kind of old. I logged on to Yelp and found this little gem. Not only was our breaky great we sat at the counter seats and the service was excellent. I had only wished we had found this place at the beginning of our stay instead of the end!!
(5)Kennedy P.
My friends and I had ten parties in front of us and we ended up only waiting about 40 minutes so I was pretty surprised. Although it took about 10 minutes to get served water, our waiter was very good. I had the breakfast quesadilla for $10. The taste was fine yet nothing spectacular. I expected more from all these reviews but next time I'll just order something different :)
(3)Lindsey K.
They need to do a better job on their waitlist system. Stood here for 20 minutes and their were 11 names behind us but because we were a table of 6, we kept having to wait. We decided to stand in the shade for 4 minutes and when I walked back, they had already given our table away. -_- Wtf.
(1)Hillary R.
Late Review: We came here on July 13th. First off, no one told me you had to sign in on a clipboard in the front. If you lan on coming here, remember this as you will miss a table or two before you realize. Okay next, service: service was great up until we got our food. After that, we only had our server return with our check. Granted they were busy but a refill on the kids drinks would have been great. As for the food: Great and Fresh. We will be back for sure, we'll just remember to sign in this time.
(4)Sabrina M.
Had breakfast here and ordered the salmon Benedict. The hollandaise sauce was very lemony. I am a fan of eggs Benedict because of the smooth buttery taste of the sauce but in this cause it was far from that. We also had the Portuguese sausage bagel sandwich. The bagel was perfectly toasted and not too hard because I know I hate a bagel that u bite into and cuts the roof of your mouth! The Portuguese sausage was a pretty good size cut and the eggs perfectly cooked. I would say the bagel was better than the Benedict for sure. This place is a pretty busy place. They wait is about 20 mins on average and the inside is very causal. There is a separate room kind of hidden in the back so don't be fooled this restaurant is actually bigger than what meets the eye. Price ran about $40 for two drinks two entrees and a single pancake. I would come Again just for the bagel.
(3)James F.
This is the best kept breakfast secret on Oahu! Great waffles and the service is awesome. On the weekends you can get fried rice with your breakfast. I haven't made it past the breakfast yet because it's so amazing. They even bring out waffle samples while you wait. Get there early because the line forms quickly outside.
(5)Erin K.
I always have the hardest time deciding what to order whenever I come here because everything is so good! The potatoes, friend rice, Belgian waffles, pancakes, French toast, breakfast bagel, breakfast burrito--- you seriously can't go wrong in ordering anything on their menu. The last time I was here I decided to get the combo: French toast, eggs, and choice of meat (I got bacon). It was a lot of food so I had leftovers to take home but I thoroughly enjoyed every bite! Love love love coming here!
(5)Cammie R.
Loved the salmon eggs Benedict! No wait at 12:30 on a Monday, otherwise, take your reading and be prepared to stand while you wait.
(4)Richard K.
Almost two years since I wrote my first review on Cafe Kaila. Sad to say my recent visit will be my last. Why? Very simple. 1. Quality of the food has gone down. 2. Staff's service has gone way down, no smiles , more grouchiness 3. Don't recall the chairs being so rickety. Perhaps it's made that way? But eating while worrying about the chair is not fun. By the way, my wife tried other chairs, but they were all the same. I noticed that they have opened up a branch in Tokyo following in the footsteps of Eggs and Things which opened up in Yokohama. Good luck! But it would be nice if they "fix their act" in Hawaii.
(2)Jenifer G.
Haven't been here in almost 5 years! My first review was 3 stars but now I'm a 3-1/2 so I'll round it up to 4 :) Go early (by 11am for breakfast/lunch) and on an off-day (not Friday). Food is still not wow-broke-da-mouth but still good. Came here with a couple of coworkers recently. Unfortunately no reservations, and at 11:10am, a lengthy "30 minute" wait. After putting our names in and getting past all the tourists, we walked around to take up the time, even down on the other side by Ben Franklin, then returned only to find they bypassed us and they had taken in at least 3 parties after us. Bummer! I guess the 30 minutes was really a lot shorter, oh well. We had to wait another 15 minutes..it was drizzling and had a couple bouts of rain so everyone had to huddle along the building or go in the side area to keep dry. Waiting outside is not fun, there's no benches, seating, papers to read or keep occupied. We built up our appetite after 45 minutes. Happily being seated we were immediately given these humongous cups of water. Smart idea! This way we don't need as many refills! I ordered the CHICKEN PESTO PLATE with tossed greens (lettuce mix, carrot shreds, avacado, grape tomatoes), and 2 thin slices of perfectly toasted and buttered sourdough bread. The pesto could have had more consistency and flavor because the chicken didn't have much wow factor, but I did like the freshness of the whole plate. (I'll upload a photo my plate) My coworkers had the PESTO SALAD with Chicken, served with some spinach, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, shredded parmesan cheese and also a thin slice of sourdough bread. I got a bite of the pasta salad, it tasted good. But I noticed the sundried tomatoes were huge so I'm sure it was overpowering to eat (they should dice them or cut into thin long slices to balance out the flavors). The parmesan cheese also looked processed, not freshly shaven. (I'll upload that photo too). Altogether the food options are great, but the food itself is pretty simple. Maybe that's why it just works but also why I sometimes feel jipped when I have to wait so long to eat something I can make at home. Yet, I was quite impressed with the perfect amount of butter on that bread! ;) Service is great, the servers (both guys and gals) are attentive and kept busy. I even saw the owner moving around helping out a bit. The seating insidie is really tight. Another small round table (that sat 3 of us tight) was given FIVE seats, somewhat blocking the area between the breakfast bar and wall. We were like, "How is the pregnant server going to walk through that?!" We finished and left before we got to see how that went. Wish they had a bench or seats outside where you could wait. The wait is ridiculous! I blame it partially on the lack of these kinds of cafes in Honolulu with both breakfast and lunch foods.
(4)Shirlene T.
Love their breakfasts, especially the Belgian waffles, BLT, French toast, and pancakes. Actually anything you order there is very good. The staff is friendly and keeps the water and coffee mugs filled without asking. They are spot on. If you go on the weekend, forget it because you better have time to wait and wait in the long line outside. And while you're waiting, they bring out samples for you to munch on. Trust me, the wait is worth it because the food is delish.
(4)Mitch N.
What a yummy breakfast place. The french toast is made with really thick cut sweet bread. It's fantastic. The eggs were soft. The coffee strong, and the papaya ripe and sweet. The service was great too. The one knock against this place, CASH ONLY. Seriously, this is a stupid practice to save a buck.
(4)NWB T.
EAT Here! It's so yummy! Breakfast is my favorite! Belgian waffles with strawberries and blueberries is my go-to. Cash Only! And now the line is getting longer the more people spread the word...Thanks???!
(5)Bay S.
Someone here needs to fix their attitude. As you may know, there's always a line outside of Cafe Kaila and you have to put your name on the list. When it was our turn to be called, the Caucasian waitress called someone else so I walked up and said "Wait, um..." Before I can even start talking, she goes, "Yeah I know, they're a party of two and we only have a table for two. I can read." She turns around and walked back in. Wow. I was utterly speechless. "I can read"?!!!! JEEZ. I swear these days some people really don't deserve to work in the service industry.
(2)Gerald P.
Wait was long but it was worth it. They gave us sampler waffles while waiting and it made waiting a little more pleasant. Food was great! Especially waffle w/ everything. Would definitely come back.
(4)Jay T.
I've been wondering about this cafe for a while now. Every time I pass by the shopping center, there seems to be a line of about a dozen people outside. It wouldn't have caught my attention if they were tourists, but the majority were locals. And LOCALS HATE TO STAND IN LINE. Yet, here they were, waiting in the hot sun, waiting to get in.... Curiosity got the best of me, and I finally gave in. I had guests from out-of-town, and they wanted to have breakfast. Perfect! We'll try this place out! It was around 10 am, and there were a dozen people ahead of us. We waited about 30 minutes before being called, and during that time, waiters and waitresses would come out with pieces of sample waffles. BIG BROWNIE POINTS!! The interior of the cafe is clean, well-lit and very welcoming. The menu had a lot of items, which surprised me. All this time, I thought they were limited to pancakes and waffles. Well, it seems they're known for their pancakes with a choice of toppings: Bananas, blueberries, caramelized apple and strawberry. I chose blueberries & strawberries. Food arrived inside of 15 minutes, and it did not disappoint! Fruits were fresh, pancakes were moist and fluffy. The only thing I would like to see improved is their tiny packs of whipped butter. It was like a 1/2 inch square by 1/8 inch thick. There were two of them, but I have 3 pancakes on my plate...It's a VERY minor thing, but I'm a butter person; It would have been better if I had more. All and all, the service was great, prices weren't outrageously high, and yes, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good breakfast. Next time, I think I'll try their omelet
(5)Andrew D.
One of the best breakfast joints I've ever eaten at. Food was delicious, staff was friendly, lots of parking, restaurant was nice. Only downside is there's usually a line to get a table, but that's because it's awesome!
(5)Dara L.
Food was good. But manager told us we had only 5 minutes to order since other people were waiting for tables and they needed to turn over the tables quickly. At least, the waiters were attentive with refilling drinks.
(2)Tia S.
I found love at Cafe Kaila and his name is...TURKEY CLUB! He's oh so delicious served hot on sourdough bread. A close second is the penne with pesto, chicken, and sun dried tomatoes. But my steady and always reliable fix is the breakfast wrap with portuguese sausage and extra side salsa and guacamole! CK carries breakfast basics and lunch, but on another level of freshness and quality! Everything is made to order and they give full size portions. I suggest sharing entrees so you can try more items, because CK does not skimp on anything! Their mission is to cover the entire surface of your plate. The service has improved greatly since they first opened and the owner and staff have finally found a good rhythm. Casual atmosphere. The waitstaff is made of a handful of attractive 20 and 30 somethings. Cafe Kaila has definitely proven itself as a wonderful addition to the Market City Shopping Center. It's exciting to see the dream of a local girl develop into an adored and successful establishment. CONGRATS, CHRISSIE KAILA! You get the best bang for your buck here. Don't be discouraged by the ridonculous (haha!) parking lot or long line. It's well worth the wait. Trust me...you'll be back! (Plus, the "eye candy" staff is a perk!)
(5)Lani T.
Took my friends to Cafe Kaila thanks to a recommendation from my Supervisor and it was awesome! There was a line when we got there around 10 am and it took about 15 mins to be seated but totally worth it! Such an awesome place for breakfast! I had their special Salmon Benedict and it was so good! Parts of the salmon were a little salty but all in all it was pretty good. It also came with some fruit and a nice helping of hash! Delish! The Biscuits and Gravy Benedict was even better! I definitely got my money's worth and the server was really nice. All in all great experience! Will definitely go again!
(4)Ray S.
Breakfast worth the wait! (25 minutes) got in sooner because only 2 persons, ahead of larger parties. Wife had the waffle with pumpkin spiced,nutmeg, cinnamon special. Order it extra crispy and it came exactly how she wanted it! Added side fruit, blueberries,strawberries ($2.50 each side). I got the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon with potatoes! Delicious. $30.00 plus $5 tip with great coffee, special Lion Coffee Kaila label also. Would give 5 stars but not super friendly seater, and a little on the messy catchup bottle and hot sauce, minor but fingers sticky taking cap off.
(4)Cindy L.
Had a little girls gathering for Sunday brunch. As always, I like variety in food, so we decided to order a bunch of different items and share. We had: Loxs and Bagel ($10.95) - Smoked salmon, capers, cream cheese and tomatoes. Super yummy! Kaila Mix Salad ($9.95) - Mixed greens with cranberries, walnuts, and cheese with vinegrette dressing. Very appetizing! Strawberry Waffles ($7.95) - Freshly made waffle topped with strawberries, honey and whip cream. Indulging! They also have pasta and sandwiches for the lunch menu. And they have excellent chai milk tea. The food is not the best I had, but it offers a great variety of breakfast items to choose from. Go early and wait in line, there's always a line.
(3)David T.
After hearing how great this place was from my friends, family and gf, I finally tried Cafe Kaila out awhile ago. It was a shockingly bad experience. My girlfriend is a regular and always gets the belgian waffle, but I had pancakes and bacon. How could this have gone so horribly wrong? Started off with terrible service. The waitress seemed unconcerned with us and we waited quite some time to get a menu and start ordering. When we finally got our food, I dug into the pancakes. I eat from the outside in and noticed the closer I got to the middle, the runnier the pancakes got. I've heard great things about this restaurant and their pancakes so I figured, oh maybe this is just the way they make it... Finally, as I hit the middle of the stack, it was all mush. RAW pancake batter! I have no idea how someone, let alone a reputable, popular restaurant, can mess up pancakes this badly?! They were completely raw in the middle on the inside. Now this is where it gets downright shameful. I tell the waitress and she says oh, and takes my plate. I wait about 5 minutes when a man comes out and apologizes and gives me some extra bacon (that I never wanted to begin with). He tells me another stack will come out shortly. At that point, I've lost my appetite and feel a little sick. We wait ANOTHER 15 minutes for the pancakes to come out. By then my stomach was full from waiting all that time and eating a third of the terrible pancakes. I said no thanks, I don't want it, just send the check. I paid for the entire meal and left the extra pancakes and bacon. I should have refused to pay but I didn't bother since no one paid any attention to our table during this ordeal. Never again.
(1)Kim S.
After a handful of visits to Café Kaila, I feel I've given it enough chances & will never return. 2nd to the last visit: after waiting the usual 45-60 mins for a table, the waiter forgot/lost our order. He didn't know this until we asked about our food after 4 of the surrounding tables, who were seated after us, rec'd their food. Compensation: free beverage (no biggie to me bc we didn't order beverages in the 1st place & I generally drink water with most breakfast/lunch meals so I may reserve the calories for later). Last visit: after waiting the usual 45-60 mins for a table, the egg portion of my meal was a complete disaster! Ordered the combo w/2 French toast pieces, 2 eggs "your way" & crispy bacon. Well, "my way" for eggs is poached hard - I'm not a yolk fan. Well, 1st my breakfast arrived with no eggs. Then 15 mins later, 1 poached hard egg arrived - WTH???! 1 egg??! Where the heck was the 2nd? When I inquired about the 2nd egg, it took another 10 mins for it to arrive - a total of extra 25 mins for eggs? Well, I found out the hard way (yes, after placing it in my mouth) that the 2nd egg still had a bunch of shell on it!!! Really???! Was the kitchen trying to pass off a partially peeled boiled egg as poached hard ???! When this screw up was pointed out to the waitress, she simply said "oh" & removed the egg. Another 10 mins passed & I asked about the 2nd egg's replacement, the waitress responded with "oh did you want it?" Seriously???! A total of 35 mins AFTER a portion of my breakfast arrived & my order was still not complete. The manager (owner?) ended up comping my dish but who cares when after nearly 2 hours my breakfast was not complete + the needless frustration??!
(1)Michelle U.
This is my new discovery for AMAZING breakfast (served until they close at 3pm)! A friend and I ventured here after seeing the 330something reviews and 4 star rating. That has to mean something, right?? I was so set on ordering their french toast (because a million people mentioned how good it was), but as soon as we were seated, I was staring the couple next to us. They were eating the most beautiful plates of eggs benedict I had ever seen. Ok, I'll admit I was hungry, and everything looked good... but still! I was sold. I ordered the smoked salmon eggs benedict, and decided to save the french toast for next time (yes, I already decided that I absolutely had to come back). This may sound a bit weird, but I think I'm in love with their potatoes. Don't get me wrong, the smoked salmon eggs benedict was mega-oozy and REALLY GOOD, but their roasted red potatoes were perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection. I found myself wiping my plate clean with each little potato! It's important to know that they only serve eggs benedicts on weekends. This will definitely keep me coming back! My parents came here for breakfast the day after my first visit because my mom LOVES breakfast foods (especially eggs benedict) and after hearing me rave about it, she wanted to try it for herself! She ordered their regular eggs benedict (with ham or turkey I think?) and she absolutely loved it. Mom's seal of approval! Yes! You can't get any better than that! During my 2nd visit, I knew I had to try their french toast. I got mine with apples and bananas and WOW... I sincerely hope people who read these reviews on Yelp actually listen to them. THE FRENCH TOAST IS AMAZING. I also had their chai latte, which was definitely better than Starbucks! Some other tidbits on Cafe Kaila: - I went before 7:30am on my 2nd visit and there was already a crowd. By 7:45, people were already waiting outside. - Parking can be pretty hard to find since this place seems to be packed all the time on the weekends. - Service is okay, but often pretty slow. The servers are really friendly and helpful, but they tend to forget you when it gets super busy. They should hire more help on the weekend mornings! - NO LONGER CASH ONLY! YAY FOR ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS!
(5)Helene W.
This used to be my favorite breakfast place, until Sweet E's opened up. They have really tasty food and yummy coffee. The french toast is crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, dusted with powdered sugar... Perfect! The wait is really long but the staff are friendly. It's very cute inside, but a little cramped... and the wait is always a long one. The food is all pretty decent, but you can get much better and more creative plates at Sweet E's right around the corner.
(3)Jay G.
Heard so many good things about this place, none of them matched up with my experience: - rude servers - long wait...with empty table available, told to wait outside. - dirty glasses with water - medium rib eye...got a well done...steak, not sure if it was ribeye. - how about asking is we needed ketchup or anything to help eat that well done steak. I'll say this, the waitress was polite, the waffles and French toast were good. Would I go back..maybe if I can forget this experience.
(1)Marnelli Joy B.
It's a nice, simple place to eat breakfast. Only thing is the wait can get pretty long. I have been here a few times, and each time was just as good as the last. I have had a variety of things here: belgian waffles, eggs benedict. Both were good, except the muffin that came with the eggs benedict seemed store bought. Service is good. They pay attention and make sure you are okay.
(4)Mindy D.
Long line for brunch on a Saturday afternoon but service was quick and prompt. I enjoyed the food (french toast and eggs benedict) and my latte was incredible. However.... it's pretty pricey in my opinion. Benedicts are weekend specials but at $15 a pop, I don't think they are worth that much. Everything else seemed overpriced as well. My reasoning is that it's a very casual setting and you seat yourself. Heck, we got the counter seating since all the tables were full. Grand Cafe offers just as good a brunch menu and has outdoor patio seating and a classier ambiance. Hence, I don't think prices they charge add up to the ambiance / quality of food they offer.
(3)Julia O.
Actually woke up early for once and decided to Yelp a good place for breakfast. After seeing the good reviews for this place we decided to check it out. And boy was I glad I did! I see that service is a hit and miss here, and we actually saw that in our single experience. Good thing we came early so there was no wait and got seated right away...or well we seated ourselves right away. I don't know if they always run that way but here's how it went down: we wrote our name down on the stand outside, waited for the guy to come out, there was another family behind us so he told us both we could be seated so we followed him into the door. Then he hands us two menus and tells us to go walk to the end of the restaurant and turn left and there's a table for us in the room back there. And he did the same with the family behind us...I thought that was kind of weird. Oh well it was a nice little separate area in the back left of the restaurant and more quiet and private. A bunch of other waiters came by and asked us stuff so I wasn't sure who was our actual server but finally there was the one who took our order and kept coming back so that was our guy. His name was Curtis and he was great! The only problem he made was on our check he swiped our credit card to the wrong check and when we got the check back it was like double what it was supposed to be. We looked and it wasn't our check so they had to fix it and that took a LONG time. It turned out ok but they didn't really do anything to apologize for the inconvenience. Oh well at least the food was really good and actually had nice presentation too. I ordered the Combo which had pancakes, two eggs, and choice of meat. I'm glad they had turkey bacon since I don't eat pork so I went with the turkey bacon and then I also upgraded my pancakes to get caramelized apples on top for $2. The pancakes were super fluffy and had a nice creamy taste to them. The bf got the Steak and Eggs and he said of all the steak and eggs he's had that was one of the best prepared steaks (on that particular dish). We left around 9:30a and by then there was a wait outside the door! Good thing we came early but all in all it was a good experience and I would come back :).
(4)Topher D.
Not bad at all. There was a tremendous amount of hype previous to going so my expectations were high. Market city parking is pretty ridiculous but parking will eventually open up. Had the italian omelet with zucchini sh-bang and all that. It was really tasty almost like a pizza stuffed in a egg. Downside to it was the filling was dominated by the egg, so not as much tasty goodness. Potatoes are simply seasoned and the coffee keeps coming. Vibe is very bright and makes you feel happy and pleasant. Staff is friendly and drinks are always filled to the top. Willing to go again and try their lunch foods.
(3)James G.
I have to give them 5 stars. Especially since earlier this week I ate there 3 times in less than 48 hours. The staff is extremely nice and the food is extremely good. I haven't had to wait the recent times I've eaten here (the only reason I previously gave them 4 stars). I have also turned my boss into a fan of Cafe Kaila. So much of a fan, she bought a Cafe Kaila shirt she is going to sport in New York City (where she lives half the year). Previously I had only eaten breakfast here, but their lunch is pretty good. The sandwiches are delicious. They are definitely worth a try. Tips: Lunch is usually not as busy as breakfast Weekdays are less busy than weekends Sunday mornings are ridiculously crowded I believe Eggs Benedict is served only on weekends
(5)Christie R.
If you're familiar with Cinnamon's in Kailua, this place gives them the run for the money! My daughter suggested this place & it was no disappointment. We were seated within 5 minutes of placing our names on the list.We opted to sit on the bar which turned out to be the best thing we did because we had Wayne. What a gentleman. He had us laughing the whole time we were there! We had the Italian omelette & the pancakes with blueberries. The pancakes reminded me of the ones my grandmother used to make for me. They were extrememly generous with the fresh fruit (whicn seemed to be on every plate). I suggest the Italian omelette which a three cheese omelette (Wayne suggested to add Italian sausage). It came with eggplants, mushrooms, zucchini & lots of mozzarella & topped with a lovely Marinara sauce & Parm. Unbelievable!!! Totally recommend this little gem in the Market City Shopping Center!
(4)Ren M.
Food is amazing!! Yum yum. Service is good too! There's usually a wait but its so worth it!
(5)Angela T.
OMG the waffles are just sooo good. Totally worth the wait both times we went. Also the french toast is delish(and huge!). Can't wait to go back.
(5)joo h.
Finally got to try the Belgian waffle. I ordered it extra crispy, it came out perfect! I got it with just whipped cream and real (!) maple syrup, it was wonderful!
(5)Miranda S.
I love this small little space. This place is always pack with people. While you wait the waiter staff will bring out sample of waffles for people that waiting to be seated. Not to mention the waffles just very very yummy. Once you seated the service is pretty quick too. Been here a few time and everything i have from waffle, French toast, and Eggs Benedict is delicious.
(5)Jennifer L.
I was in a huge breakfasty mood and high off a night of not sleeping (graveyard shift at work) but it was my first time with a friend I hadn't hung out in a while. We were happy to get a chance to catch up and all that, despite the fact I was sleep-deprived. We had to wait for a good 20 minutes, despite both of us starving. There were 2 small parties ahead of us and in light of our hunger, felt like everyone was eating very slowly. :) Our tummies are impatient. My friend had been here several times before but she said she almost always got a waffle or pancake and didn't stray too much into other things. We checked the menu so that we could quickly order once we were seated. I decided to splurge and grab a chai tea latte, which I was not fond of, but to their credit, I'm probably just not a chai-lover (or maybe not fond of that type of chai). I ordered a Belgian Waffle, something I've been craving for weeks but never had the chance to get...and picked blueberries as a topping. I couldn't decide between strawberries or blueberries, but anyway. I thought it was a little pricey for the toppings but not after the plate arrived. The waffle was HEAPED with fruit, something I rarely see at restaurants, no matter the price. My friend got the same thing I did, but with strawberries and she got a good amount too!! I would most definitely come here again but I don't love having to wait so early in the morning :p. Too hungry to be patient! 1 star off for being cash only (and not stating it prominently on the front door or on the counter).
(4)E V.
Worst service on the island. Food is average. Had 2 bad experiences here back to back..servers have no sense of urgency, attentiveness or understanding of hospitality, and they have dirty uniforms. After the first bad experience, we thought we would try again and the 2nd time was just another reminder of why we avoided this place after the first time. We will never go back. Outside of service being horrible. There will be a wait, the french toast is probably there best item on the menu...everything else is average and not served hot.
(2)Danielle D.
I love kailas! Everything is so fresh and the fruit they put on almost everything is so delicious. fast service and so friendly. My boyfriend and I went to try it out since alot of people told us to go here and I quickly understood why, we literally have gone almost everyday for 2 weeks for breakfast. We tried checking out other places but ended up back here. I wish they had one in LA bc I will be missing there perfectly cooked omelets (which I've never found done so perfectly in LA) and their addictive French toast, pancakes and waffles which I'm not even a fan of but ate the entire plate. Thank you Wayne for making our experience here so fun and enjoyable! You're awesome!
(5)Deanna P.
Delicious! I have been here a few times and have never got in under 45 minutes wait. Very worth the wait. The breakfast eggs and potatoes were amazing. They also have great iced tea which is really important to me.
(5)Mei Hsin L.
It wasn't astounding. I was rather disappointed. The French toast was really bready and the steak was of very low grade. The eggs were flavored with some orange zest so I admit that was good. Customer service was excellent. But I don't give more stars for customers service. I want happiness in my mouth, not in the way my meal is handled to my table. I could give a rip about customer service because asshole servers just give me something to do on a PMSy day and God knows I mostly go out to eat when I'm PMSing. Presentation was awesome. But I could give a rip about presentation. Constructive criticism: More egg in French toast, either smaller piece of better quality steak or use Canadian bacon, and give me rice if I ordered rice. I don't like potatoes in the morning. Oh! The coffee was really good! I wish I could give a half star for that. Maybe this review isn't fair because I only ate here once. But I'm a regular at Bogart's when I visit and everything is amazing there EXCEPT their coffee. First world problems, I guess.
(3)Chantel C.
I frequent Cafe Kaila and have come to know the wait staff who are all great and super nice! They really work as a team, and let you talk over your coffee (Yes, even for the pakes like my dad and me), with frequent refills. I am a huge fan of their omelette. The last omelette I ordered had spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese (you get to choose the ingredients for the veggie omelette). They definitely do not skimp on the fillings, and they balance it really nicely. I'm not such a fan of their pancakes, or french toast. They were not as gooey and soft as I like them, and a little too fluffed out for my taste. Oh, and be careful with where you sit. This morning I got caught next to a table with a bunch of foreigners talking loudly. My dad and I had a difficult time hearing what each other were saying. I have a higher pitched voice, and dang I couldn't even hear myself. When they left, it was no problem. My dad said, "Oh! Now I can hear you, and the music!" The problem wasn't the foreigners, but that sound echos throughout the whole restaurant, and the table are packed closely together.
(4)Becky U.
Thanks to yelp, we had to try this spot. GREAT FOOD, GREAT SERVICE, friendly staff, and good customer service.. must come in early enough to beat the line. IT DOES GET SUPER BUSY!
(5)Emma P.
I always feel that I should enjoy Café Kaila more. It's near to my home (although the hectic Market City parking lot does work against much convenience...), the staff are attentive and warm, and breakfasting in its bright, open space is such an ideal way to spend a morning. But the truth is that I'm not a huge fan of their food. It's fine, you know. But it's only fine. My most recent visits there had me trying their pancakes and waffles. I'll freely admit that I am picky about my pancakes (I like 'em dense), so the texture wasn't quite to my taste. I thought the waffles were better (a sweet server gave us a preview while we waited in line!), but I also had waffles earlier in the week (since I do my breakfast foods in strides) at a Zippy's dine in -- and it was better there, I felt. Also cheaper. Although Kaila does outdo any Zippy's in prettying up their dishes (garnishes aplenty!). Perhaps next time I'll skip the food altogether and order a coffee and take in what I truly enjoy about Kaila's -- it's atmosphere.
(3)Craig M.
It's not very large, fewer than 50 seats tucked away in Kaimuki, one of a number of eating establishments in the little Market City Shopping Center complex. But Café Kaila, which opened in 2007, has a lot to offer. The name, Café Kaila, derives from owner Chrissie Castillo's middle name. Her inspiration was breakfast - her favorite meal. I had lunch there the other day, after discovering the restaurant on a little lunching expedition in the uptown Kaimuki area of Honolulu. It has a varied menu, but basically, they offer breakfast (eggs, griddle pancakes and breakfast meats), panini-style sandwiches, salads, pastas, and a few entrée items like steak and roast chicken. I was reading the framed newspaper and Internet coverage stories, and apparently they're a local favorite for breakfast. My selection was from a list of sandwiches that come with chips, but I upgraded to a tossed salad because ... well because I hadn't had my vegetables that day. They all looked so good, but I finally settled on the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich - a tender slice of Italian-flavored breaded chicken breast, with marinara sauce, melted cheese and eggplant. The salad included some grape tomatoes and a few small, crunchy carrots, and was dressed with a lovely vinaigrette. An orange slice went well with the salad (I broke mine into wedge pieces and tossed them into the leafy greens to play with the dressing). They also included a little condiment container of extra marinara sauce for dipping. Toasted and served hot, the sandwich was perfectly done to my liking. And I'm proud to say, I didn't rag up the roof of my mouth with the toasted bread - something I'm always doing. And I'm even prouder to say that I left there without a single spot of marinara sauce on the front of my shirt. Now THAT'S an accomplishment in itself. Breakfast, huh? I'm going to have to take the wife to breakfast there one of these days.
(4)Jana T.
This is my absolute favorite breakfast and lunch place. If you order the omelette, it will always come out fluffy. I haven't tried their french toast or waffles, cuz whenever I go there I remember how great their omelets are and i end up eating that instead. For lunch I ordered their caesar salad with shrimp, and their salad is awesome, not drenched in their Caesar dressing. One thing, not a place to sit a long while and talk story, always people waiting.
(5)Dawn G.
Expect to wait about 30 min or more. Somehow it's a lure for tons of Japanese tourists. Everything we had was good. Lox & bagels, steak & eggs, pancake, veggie scramble. All very good, nicely presented and reasonably priced.
(4)Hashim A.
Went here for breakfast one morning, and I must say I was highly impressed! It's located in an unassuming strip mall, and the venue isn't that big, but it is clean and we had no trouble being seated. I ordered the french toast with eggs and turkey bacon (yay!). Everything was good. Girlfriend had coffee & french toast with strawberries and she liked the fact that the strawberries were fresh and not coated with syrup. It does take a little longer than usual for your food to be served, but it is definitely worth it. You know they say good things come to those who wait. I will definitely be coming back here for breakfast.
(4)Kim S.
My grandmother and I decided to hit up Cafe Kaila this morning for the first time. For 9am on a thursday, the place was quite packed--and mind you, a self sign-in tablet sits quietly on a podium outside of the restaurant. Don't sign, don't sit. Guilty of this ourselves, we walked in and stood awkwardly at the door for a few minutes before a waiter strode by to fix a fallen sign on the door. About to ask him for a table for 2, I got a swift "Did you sign in?" "No." "Well, I can't figure out where this two-top is, so you can take a seat at any of those tables against the wall." Dang. I was still optimistic--taking into account the full house and good Yelp reviews. Clean, bright, nicely decorated. Something like a quaint Parisian Cafe--cute, I dug it. We were handed menus, waters--still no sign of a greeting. The waitress approached, sans smile. "Ready to order?" Took the menus and left. Dang x dos. My two stars come from the the quality of the food. I will give them that. I had the Locks and Bagel--fresh, separated out to construct it yourself on a nicely toasted wheat bagel. I enjoyed it, though the onions appeared to have been taken from the outer-most layer... Nana had the croissant egg sandwich. Looked delish and she confirmed it was delightful. Our first cups of coffee bit with a slight burnt flavor--and was not refilled until asked. No water refills ever came. Why the service sucked so badly at this place surprises me. With what seemed to be a well-staffed, well-paced, successful establishment, there was absolutely no need for the 'tude--or the lack of any at all. Their apathy obviously said they could care less if we were there or not. Maybe they were trying to exude some form of "french arrogance?" Though...the last time I checked, we are in warm, hospitable Hawaii, and...the french are actually nothing but friendly. Cafe Kaila--I am inclined to return because in the kitchen, you've got some good eggs. But next time -- try to tally up at least a genuine smile...and not just when we're paying the bill.
(2)Nicholas H.
Great local hole in the wall. We came from Seattle and it came highly reccommended. French toast was huge and the omlet was perfect. Would go back again for sure.
(4)Kiani Y.
Been coming for years. Sometimes twice a week. Lately havent had time to eat out breakfast with a long wait but its usually worth it if you got the time. Food was good as usual. We were def getting rushed out with our food only half eaten. Understandable being in the restaurant business too, there was a lot of people waiting outside. But the only complaint and reason for me writing this review is the rude comment from the owner as we were asking for a take out cup for the full cup of coffee our server just poured us. She made a face and said thats 50 cents under her breath but loud enough to hear. I know it wasnt said directly to our face but she was literally standing behind us talking to the server we asked for the cup. WE SPEAK ENGLISH! We can hear what you say! We didnt want to waste our fresh cup of coffee as we were getting rushed off our table. I mean do you really need the 50 cents for the take out cup?!
(1)Arlene B.
I don't usually eat breakfast very often but when someone wants to meet for breakfast I always suggest this place. Although I don't expect too much from a breakfast place. I just love how they have small pieces of strawberries, oranges or blueberries on my plate that usually accompany whatever I order. Id give it 4 stars if I ordered more of other stuffs but i only order the French toast combo cause I love French toast. I have also tried their eggs Benedict which was really good but unfortunately it was only a special.I guess nothing else really matters to me oher than the French toast. When my friends usually order different items they all seem to have their faves as well. So all in all its never failed me. Try not to go their when you need to eat right away. I usually expect to wait 15-25 min. Its definitely a go to and try place.
(3)Caryn W.
I had read a few reviews about this place and it was always so crowded whenever I passed it. On Black Friday, my fiancee wanted to eat breakfast somewhere, so I suggested we go to Cafe Kaila since we were in the vicinity. We pulled up and I thought it was closed since there was no line, but fortunately, my fiancee saw the "OPEN" sign, so we went in, grabbed our menus, and took a seat. I had heard that their cinnamon toast was good, but I decided to get the breakfast wrap instead. My fiancee got an omelet. A few minutes after the waiter took our order, people began trickling in and soon the entire restaurant was full! We were lucky to have gone in at the time we did. The food came and I was surprised at the size of the breakfast wrap. There was so much stuffed into the wrap! The omelet was huge as well. I thought the wrap was pretty tasty, but if I were to go again, I'd definitely try something different. The staff was really nice and always came around to fill our water glasses or ask how our food was. I wouldn't mind going back again to try lunch.
(4)Mad E.
Absolutely wonderful! I came here with my friends from out of town. GREAT pancakes and french toast, and they do no skimp on the fresh fruits they add for $2 a plate. Service was quick, and the waitress nicely split our check for us. Highly recommended for breakfast!
(5)Aly M.
Everything about this place was so good. I thought I had discovered the perfect French toast when I visited San Francisco a couple of years ago but I was wrong. This place has the best French toast I have ever had. Cooked so perfectly and delicious! I also ordered the breakfast sandwich..that was goo as well. Everything here looks so fresh and tastes great. If I ever visit the island again, ill definitely be back. Definitely recommend this place.
(5)Joseph M.
Another great breakfast place, but the wait could be very long. The parking lot is big, but a lot of people parking there for Foodland or other locations to eat. I love getting their breakfast croissant sandwich, burrito, and pancakes.
(5)Allan K.
its been a month since my visit to Cafe Kalia, but my memory has not forgotten the delicious meal that we ate. there was 5 in our party and we each shared our meal, from Waffles, Pancakes, Omelette's, and one amazing eggs benedict.! there will be a wait and its so worth it!!!
(5)Tracy M.
Bruyson had the vegetarian omelette with fried rice and I had the Eggs Florentine. My son thought the vegetarian omelet was very good with the fried rice. All of the ingredients were very fresh and it was very flavorful. I had the Eggs Florentine. The sauce was amazing, however, the English Muffin was undercooked and made it too chewy (this is a major novice error)...thus the two stars less. I also brought home their waffles for my family. They are very attentive to these because they cook them until they are crisp and crunchy with a lot flavor, yet not burnt. Also we strawberries with the take out order Rest assured that their fruits are very fresh and sweet plus they are very generous with the portions.
(3)Vincent Q.
We called ahead to make sure there were seats, even though it was just after 8 a.m. They said there was one available. Thankfully, I live a few minutes away! So I took my mother to breakfast once again. As everyone says, "They take cash only!" For some people, this is a big no-no. For us, that just means visiting the ATM at Foodland. Pancakes with Bananas- 4-stars- The dark brown color of the pancakes gives away an idea or essence of the depth of this dish. I actually thought it would be more moist, just because of that darkness. The size of the pancakes are huge. You get about two bananas worth of sliced pieces on your dish. Although the size of the syrup dish is a bit small. I thought I just needed to pour it on the pancakes, but it's far better to dip is sparingly. The top layer sucked up the syrup immediately, and left nothing for the other two giant pancakes. I had to ask for a second little tub, which the waiter seemed prepared for. For me, that was a bit too much sugar by the end, but pancakes always need that extra moisture to make it taste just right. Breakfast BLT- 3-stars- It is a BLT with a hefty piece of egg inside. Although it was enough to fill my mother, I was still able to get a bite of it. We were both surprised, it is exactly what it claims to be--a breakfast BLT. We were both expecting some secret sauce, or additional pizazz or flash of flavor to surprise us. Every dish needs just a little of that 'surprise' to take people's breath away. Atmosphere- Cafe Kalia has a fresh, open look to it because of the bright colors and space. It has a homey feel, which is casual and laid-back. Although, it does get filled rather quickly, I can see them perhaps widening their space eventually. It isn't utterly cramped, but the fact it fills so quickly gives the idea of closeness. The clientele was a mixed batch, I was pleasantly surprised to see several tables of visitors, too, so this place has already got it's name out to the tourists. This is generally a good sign. Service- Several people are around to serve you. Nice-looking waitstaff, too. The coffee is constantly filled. There doesn't seem to be a long wait for food and drinks--I was interesting in the clear, glass-style coffee cups they use here--so you can watch the coffee and cream mixing together. You can also see there are a lot of people working in the back of the restaurant. Business must be good. Conclusion- The portions for me were large, and just enough for my mother. The dishes were all colorful and pretty, good enough for pictures, which is important since many people start out their day with breakfast--it might as well look good, right? I was missing that extra surprise in my dishes--a secret sauce for my mom's BLT or a wow-factor for my pancakes. Still, the atmosphere is nice, the place gets crowded so people like it. Finding a nice breakfast place is getting harder these days. Cafe Kalia is a good place to stop for an eat, if you got time or wake up early.
(4)Jonathan S.
I finally took the plunge and visited this place. I've read some really good reviews on Yelp and had wanted to try them out for some time. I'm a HUGE breakfast fan. We arrived at about 8am on a Saturday morning. Surprisingly there was no wait. That wasn't the case as we were leaving, post-meal. There must have been at least 4 parties waiting. We were sat and watered right away. Our waiter was very cordial and hospitable. So was the hostess, I might add. I ordered an omelet with spinach, mushrooms and bacon ($10.50). It came with a choice of rice or potatoes and bread for toast. I chose rice and wheat bread. My wife had Lox & Bagels ($10.50). To my surprise, they had a small kiddie menu which catered nicely to ours. Only 2 choices ($5), but hey. At least they made an effort. On a side note, they actually were able to bring out a bowl of blueberries for my daughter, which wasn't on the menu. Nice! While we were waiting for our food, the table next to ours was served. Coincidentally, I noticed they had ordered the Eggs Benedict. I guess I missed the sign on the front door which listed their specials. It would have been nice for our server to at least mention the specials before we ordered. Or the hostess to advise us of the sign. We're first timers so we don't really know what's up yet. I might add that Eggs Benedict is my all time favorite breakfast of choice. Slightly disappointed to say the least. We received our food in a timely manner, considering that they seemed like they were really starting to pick up. But for $10.50, I expected a bit more from my omelet. I also expected to get rice. Not a huge gaffe. In my personal opinion, forgetting to remind us of the specials is a bigger gaffe than confusing potatoes with rice. Ultimately, though, I think that Liliha Bakery makes a better omelet, and at a cheaper price. But that's just my taste buds talking. To each their own when it comes to food. My wife said the Lox was a bit better than Sweet E's Lox. But Sweet E's Lox was more smokier. I think the portion size in relation to Sweet E's portions swayed my wife's opinion. Both my kids split one kiddie order of one pancake, one piece of bacon and milk. They didn't complain. I tried the pancake. Not bad, a hint of cinnamon. I think Liliha Bakery makes a better pancake as well, but I digress... Service was good. Great, actually. Our waiter was prompt in refilling our coffees and water. He was always in a great mood, and if he wasn't, he faked it very well. I really can't complain about the service at all. If I remembered our server's name, I'd give him a shout out on Yelp, but his name has slipped my memory. Thanks to him, my review came through with 3 stars instead of 2. My conclusion: Not bad. I spent more than I expected and expected a bit more considering the reviews. Maybe I should have ordered something different. I might return to try out a few other menu options. I would hate to judge this place based on an omelet. I may have to come back and edit this review in the future. Until then...
(3)Katsumi S.
Waffle was so bad!!! We went many times. This time was very different than before. We won't go there in the future.
(1)Chester A.
Food was good. Had the Fritatta and Waffles w/Blueberries and bananas. Nothing extravagant. Now the reason for the 2 stars was the service. Our waiter didn't bother to check up on us once to see how we were doing. On top of that, he took so long to give us the check, I had to go up to pay for the bill. But as soon as I got to the front, the lady said, "Oh we don't accept debit cards here, cash or personal check with an ID only. And we'll come to your table for the payment, so you don't have to keep coming to the front." I was like sheesh, first off I only came up to the front once, second of all if the waiter came to check up on us then maybe I wouldn't have to come to the front, and lastly I don't remember seeing a sign in front saying cash only. What made it even more of a bad experience was the cramped table we had, against the wall near the front of the entrance. I know I can't expect much out of tap water, but it tasted like there was chlorine in it. Although there Espresso was average. I really thought that I was going to enjoy my experience since this was my first time here and I've read many good reviews. Probably the last time coming here.
(2)Vanessa C.
Amazing food and staff! Totally recommend this place to someone looking for a good breakfast place. Worth the wait. Pancakes were my favorite!
(5)raechelle v.
Finally got to try out this place! Met with a girlfriend for breakfast this morning and the wait wasn't too bad. The best bet is to just put your name in as soon as possible. Even on a weekday, it was pretty packed. I had their make your own omelette. It was really light and fluffy. It wasn't too cheesy and I liked how they chopped the mushrooms into smaller pieces. I also enjoyed their coffee and it was served in a really cute little cup. I couldn't finish my omelette and had to take the rest home. My girlfriend had the steak and eggs. She said it was one of the best steak and eggs she had in a while. Prices are okay. My omlette was around $9. Got to sample some of their waffles. It was really crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I think next time I'm gonna have to have some of their waffles. All in all, nothing that out of the ordinary for me. It's just like any other breakfast place. However, nothing beats Colombia Inn in my book....I really wish they didn't close that place down.
(3)A G.
I'd actually give this place 3.5 stars. We did take-out to avoid the long wait for a table. We ordered the meat omlettes which were good, but nothing extraordinary. You get a starch, rice or potatoes, and toast as well. I'd eat here again, but I'd try lunch next time.
(3)Ka'ili H.
This is a great place to go for breakfast and lunch. Everything is fresh and made to order so there is usually a bit of a wait. The service is pretty good as well, they try to get everything out as soon as they can, which is nice. I enjoy the hawaiian breakfast and the roasted chicken salad. Do avoid weekends unless you don't mind waiting or if you get there early, it gets really busy. When it gets busy the it is easy for the staff to forget little requests that you may ask for. Other than that it's a great place to have a meal with friends and family.
(4)Jarrod A.
I came here yesterday with my wife because I have herd a lot of good things about the food!! I wasn't disappointed in the food at all. I had the French toast and it was awesome 3 thick slices of sweet bread you can't beat it!! When we got there it was a little bit of a wait maybe 20min but living in Hawaii you get used to that. The reason I give this business a 3* is because the service wasn't great it was at best good! I felt rushed by the server to order the food he never told us his name and for me that's a big one and I never got a refill on my drink! Not sure if it was an off day for the guy because he seemed nice but just wasn't impressed with him but the food was amazing and I would recommend people to go here just don't expect service like you would normally.
(3)Amiee L.
We found this breakfast in Honolulu on our way to the H1 freeway. We did like it and were pretty lucky that there was a table open when we got there. There was 5 people in our party and most of the tables are set up for 4 tops...so you need to push to tables together (which for this place was hard to come by). The food was "ok". My eggs & rice was a little bland....it felt like there was no flavor in this breakfast. Also, the milk on the table for the coffee looked a little old. Lastly, this place is either cash or local check (with local ID) only so beware if you try to use a credit card.
(3)Sheryle I.
I don't know if I'm completely justified to give cafe kalia 5 stars because I didn't dine in, so this review is entirely on the food itself. Ok, it's justified. So I've been told this place is good, seen it featured on cheap eats a while back and I love, love, love breakfast food. So I finally decided to give it a try. First off, it was what I thought would be considered prime time so my bf and I did a phone order, but there is no online menu available (sad face). But thanks to the all you yelp fanatics and food-photo-documentation, I ordered off what you guys took pictures of. Seriously. Not even joking. For reals deals. (I mean if the pictures made the food look like crap, I would have of course opted to eat elsewhere.) So we ordered apple pancakes and banana cinnamon french toast. First off, lots of fruit and they still made it look pretty. Awesome. The pancakes where pretty good, but I'm not really a pancake kind of girl it was the french toast I was after. Two words. So good. I don't know what it was exactly, but the toast was moist and sweet with lots of bananas and a couple of strawberries that were kind of tart tasting (but that's ok because that's what I like) and again still pretty in my take out box. Before this, I had banana fosters french toast at good to grill and cafe kalia blows it out of the water into space to the next galaxy. Oh man, waffles: you are going to be my next victim and have a lot to live up to. Don't disappointment me.
(5)Kristen S.
Wow! You know it's great when there is a waiting list for a cafe at 8:15 am! Great food, great service - EAT LOCAL! Show up, write your own name down on a piece of paper and wait to be called. We only waited 10 minutes and had a spot at the bar. Excellent coffee. Terrific, fresh, local fruit. Portuguese sausage. Eggs. Rice. Such a wonderful meal. I was surprised and thrilled at the attention put on local and organic ingredients. We will be back! Parking is easy in the little shopping center. This place is a gem.
(4)King H.
I really hate to drop 2 stars at this place because it could've and should've been a much better experience. Similar experience with Joshua A. Maybe we were there the same day? The only person who seemed to care was the brunette girl who gave us waffles as we waited. She was very sweet and courteous. We were a family of 6 including two toddlers. Inside, this local or Latino looking guy looked like he had something up his you know what. They would not give us two tables despite an empty table next to us. He didn't smile and didn't respond when I said there was a slice of tomato on the floor under the table. 2 stars for the food as it was very good but eating cramped at a table with waiters who had an attitude more than ruined the experience.
(2)Jeff P.
Great breajfast spot. Get there early though as the lines can be pretty long.
(4)Cecilia D.
Had breakfast here the other day and each time I go, it's been really good! You have to seat yourself, so grab your menus at the front and find a table. I shared a veggie omelette served with home-style potatoes and sour dough toast with my girlfriend and also had the sweet bread french toast with strawberries and bananas. Both were yummy. The coffee was pretty smooth and bottomless (love that since I drink it like water). Cafe Kaila is a bright and cozy restaurant with a nice wait staff. Will definitely come back for breakfast and want to also try for lunch.
(4)Jaisa C.
If you're looking for an affordable quality breakfast meal outside of Waikiki, then this is the place to go! They get really busy so be sure to come early or you'll have to wait a while before being seated. They have the best French toast, omelettes and eggs Benedict. I also like that they add fresh fruits to their plates. Overall, one of my favorite breakfast spots.
(5)Justina L.
I got the Hawaiian Breakfast for 9 bucks. I thought it was worth it. The banana bread was SO good. It was probably the best banana bread I have ever eaten. The plate also came with SO many different fruits! It made my plate so colorful and beautiful and healthy! It put the other plates at my table to shame! hahaha jk. but seriously though, I think the Hawaiian breakfast is a good breakfast choice because from a nutrition point of view, you're getting your fruits and some starch and very little protein. but hey, it was a good start to my day. :] Oh, and come early. There's a 15 minute-ish wait. Put your name on the list.
(4)Jo L.
Best waffles! Omelet was Devine. I had a bite of a friends frittata that was good too.. It's on the pricey side but I'd rather spend money on good food. The next day we went somewhere close to our hotel, international pancake house in Waikiki, well... We spent just as much but the food here at cafe kalmia was hands down better. There is a wait, but when the guy comes out with warm waffles as samples there is no way you are leaving, you will wait!
(5)D R.
This place is the bomb! Granted there is a bit of a wait, but good things are worth the wait. The food is excellent and the service is good. The servers all seem to enjoy working there and are trying to please; my favorite server is Wayne - he always makes me feel special, like I'm the only one in the restaurant. I met the owner too, she is a super nice local girl who actually took the time to ask us how our food was and ensured everything was done right. Talk about attention to detail! If you are a local or a visitor you must check this place out. Try the veggie omelet, it's healthy and delicious, or the waffle special is always good - they always have something unique, red velvet waffle, peaches and cream waffle, etc. All the haters on the other posts, just can't stand a little wait - it may be a little while until you get your food. If you're looking for fast crappy food go to McDonalds or Sweet E's, if you want good honest food with a caring staff come to Kaila's.
(5)Kana T.
This 5 star is specific to the Salmon Egg Benedict that they have just on Sat and Sundays. It is THE best Egg Benedict I have ever had anywhere. I really wish they had it on weekdays too! Be prepared to wait though, I don't think there was ever a time I came here and was able to sit right away. At least they have lots of parking at Market City...
(5)Ira J.
From the time we added our name to the waitlist until we were served our breakfast was one hour and 35 minutes: It was absolutely worth the wait!
(5)Sheryl G.
what: a cute, airy, tiny european country cafe. something good: i absolutely love the ambiance! they could serve mediocre food and people would still come here because it's so cute. i can totally tell girlfriends, young and old, will come here to be chatty and eat delicious food of course :D something not so good: i get that it's self-serve however i feel like the staff could step it up just a tiny bit. more smiles, more sweet responses. something to try: vegetable omelette with potatoes and strawberry waffles
(4)Lauren T.
The last time I've come here I fell in love with their corned beef! I got the corned beef eggs benedict and it was to die for. My boyfriend got the steak and eggs and that was delicious as well. I've been here twice and really enjoyed it. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The only drawback is the wait. I'll still be back though
(5)Iris T.
I love eggs. I love Spam. I love rice. So it's no wonder I loved Cafe Kaila! I got their Spam and egg scramble with rice and I may have been the happiest camper ever. It was delicious -- the eggs were perfectly fluffy and the scramble wasn't too cheesy. Couldn't have asked for a more filling and delicious breakfast!
(4)Stanislava K.
This place is fantastic! be prepared to wait a while on the weekends as it is popular among locals and tourists alike. The food is wonderful, portions generous and staff friendly and helpful.
(5)Fred S.
Baller. A awesome local experience. Even when we were waiting they offered us a "waffle bit" that was unbelievable. A must see in Honolulu.
(5)Akiko T.
Cute little place I have been wanting to go for quite some time. I gave a try a month ago only to find that they were closed on Sundays.... Today, after my yoga class with a visiting friend from Japan, I took her to breakfast at Cafe Kaila. As soon as we seated ourselves, lots of other guests started coming in, so we got in just in time!! Lucky us! We both loved the light wooden accent the cafe had and the natural light that came all the way into the counter seats! (We seated ourselves at the counter :)) The staff here are all cute and handsome looking and they were all attentive and kind. Every staff was busy doing something and no one was being lazy in the back or behind counters. That was so nice to see. I ordered the Cinnamon French Toast with bananas ($1.50 extra). I LOVE French Toast but the one here was THICK!!! and there are THREE slices of them!! Oh my! I'm glad I added the banana or else it might have been tough trying to tackle only with syrup. Delicious, though. I think it was one of the best ones I've had in Hawaii. My friend ordered Buttermilk Pancake with bananas ($1.50 extra). We swapped our pancake and French Toast, so I got a taste of her pancake as well. Usually, for some odd reason, many of the pancakes here in Hawaii tend to break down into parts when you pour the syrup, but the one here stayed nice and fluffy!! Just like the Japanese pancakes I am more familiar with!! That is something that would bring me back here again. We also wanted to order eggs (we saw the omelette on our neighbor's table...) so we decided to share an omelette plate. They let us choose three veggies and a choice of cheese to cook our omelette. That's nice. Something for everyone. Very volume-y. Made us full for sure. I think we were too ambitious today. I think we could have had enough with just French Toast OR the pancake, and then share the omelette plate. We ate it all, though, but for next time, I think two plates will do. Oh, and NO DEBIT/CREDIT cards accepted!! They only accept CASH or LOCAL checks! (I gave up all my bills in my wallet to pay!! Whew! Lucky I had enough to pay for the meal and tip :) Got me sweating for a sec!)
(4)Lana N.
The food here deserves 4 or 5 stars.. but the service really killed it for us. There was a wait when we arrived, thats cool.. no problem. 5-10 minutes and our party of 4 were seated. 5-10 minutes later, we ordered. 5-10 minutes later they bring out our drinks.. but they also bring out the wrong drink - they quickly fixed it, cool beans. 30 to 40 minutes roll by... wheres our food? 3 tables that came in after us have already received their orders... ugh, wheres our food? Waitress: "I'm sorry, tables of 2 get their food faster" *walks off* Us: [WTH..] You've already served up 6 people who came in way after us! We wait... our food comes... NOMMMMMMMM (see other posts). The bill comes, WTF. They charged us for the drink we did not order. Everything is priced incorrectly more. WHAT?! Just because we're not locals doesn't mean we're ignorant and don't know how to do math. Don't think you can jip us. Owner: Whats wrong? Us: *Points at numbers on menu* Owner: Oh, let me go check the menu prices... ugh.. no tip for you! If you're patient.. go for it. Food is good. Service, not so much.
(3)Amy h.
The BEST breakfast we've ever had!!! A must go for locals and tourists!
(5)Carol B.
So this morning we were at Cafe Kaila bright and early...7:30 and immediately found seating at the counter. What fun! Wayne, master humorist, delighted us with his nonchalant humor, assisted by our seatmates, total strangers who became straight men. oh, I forgot,, this was about the food.... and the pumpkin waffles..to die for! Everything i had anticipated came true. Crispy outside and soft almost like custard on the inside. And subtly spicy with pumpkin pie spice, ummmm. Deeleeesch. It was a waffle special so I don't think that you can get it all the time. The eggs benedict, pancakes yummm. The guy sitting next to us had the corned beef patties which looked good too. We usually have to wait in the lineup outside and it's always worth the wait. But show up at 7:30 on Saturday morning and it looks like you can step right in. Always a must when we travel to Honolulu once a month from Maui.
(5)Michelle F.
Not a huge breakfast person but this place makes me want to eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner. Sat at the counter and there was no wait. Our server was super cool and was very attentive. I got the waffle and a side of potatoes! All I have to say is YUM. Was cooked to perfection topped with Strawberries. Potatoes were herb roasted...some may say salty but I think they were amazing. Had to keep fighting my boyfriend away from my breakfast! Would highly recommend. It is worth the wait if you have to wait.
(5)Tammy T.
Absolutely adorable place. It sort of has this home style feel; very comfortable. We went early morning on a Saturday, parking was plentiful, and so were the tables. At around 9-10 the place was packed. I suggest to go 8-830ish. The wait help was super attentive (3 totally different people spot by to check on us, but being our first time it took us a while to decide) We looked around to see what everyone else got, and everything just look so good. The presentation is great! Veggie Scramble: Just the right amount of food; less then 10 bucks. Potatoes were delicious. (Though every once in a while I would get a uber salty potato piece) I am not a fan of eggs but I'll eat theirs. I read (and heard) a lot about their pancakes, waffles, and french toast. I am not a fan of those things, so I don't feel I am a good judge for that. (They were okay to me) Majority of breakfast places only serve hot coffee, and I don't drink hot coffee (unless it's my only dying option) being a "breakfast, lunch, and espresso" place, I got to choose from many of my favorite iced drinks; americano, thai, macchiato, lattes, etc. Though not the best coffee, it was still an option. Mmmm iced coffee and a breakfast; *le sigh*
(4)Matthew L.
A pretty good place to eat breakfast on sundays. Parking is abundant and easy. I never waited too long here. The coffee was good and the server refilled it alot. The eggs benedict is pretty good, but the super combo at cinnamon's restaurant in Kaliua is a little better. The Omelettes here are pretty good, I love the Italian Omelette but I prefer the one at boot's and kimo's. The waffles here are great. It seems like they have the freshest and best presentation out of all the breakfast places I went to.
(4)Sarah K.
If you want to get out of the tourist trap restaurants and away from the hotels, this is a great little spot to find. Might be a little far to walk (we drove), but it's on the way out of the city, so it's great for grabbing a bite in the morning. Everyone was super helpful, and all the food is super fresh and yummy. I had the fruit pancakes and they were awesome. Prices are great, but it's cash only. There's an atm in the market nearby. I would give them 5 stars...but the coffee is terrible! I read the reviews before coming and thought people were over-exaggerating. But seriously.. it's like torture. Kind of tastes like coffee that was made in a coffee press and then left there for about an hour. Seriously - stay away. I was only doing it for the caffeine - and I could barely chug it.
(4)Andrew R.
Was on my way to lunch at Anytime Cafe, saw the line for Cafe Kaila, and decided to give it a try. Waffles were served while we waited in line. So that instantly earned them three stars. Ambiance is simple, spacious and clean. Service is very friendly . I had the Chicken Pesto sandwich and loved it. Will return for the breakfast items, which are served all day.
(4)Yoko O.
I'm a BIG breakfast person (if I had to choose one meal a day to eat for the rest of my life.. Breakfast would be it)!! They have a pretty good selection, super yummy (especially if u like "fresh fruits"), super friendly staff, & the price is pretty reasonable. The place is kinda small.. So if U are claustrophobic then pray a lot of smaller people are eating that day, lol jk. Small restaurant but at least there's free parking (good luck w: market city parking, sometimes it gets wild!!). If u go on a weekend try & get there early because they get busy fast :\
(4)Mie H.
this my go to place for an omlette or pancakes. I searched for the perfect breakfast place since i moved here and finaly found it in this weird strip mall. once you get inside though the ambiamnce improves dramaticly. No only is the place cozy, the food is perfect everytime but the staff is warm and welcoming. The fact that there is always a line should tell you something. I really do dig this joint.
(4)Elizabeth K.
Don't hesitate, just go!! The food here is amazing, fresh, delicious and all those other good adjectives... Yes, the wait can be long but once you taste your food, you won't even care. Just make sure you have cash b/c they don't take card.
(5)Kathy S.
I don't know if it was because I was pregnant and have been craving nothing but pancakes and waffles but their waffles was the best I ever had so far.
(5)Dananana D.
Working late = Not able to go to many tasty breakfast places unless you want to stay up all night. Cafe Kaila (at last check) still serves its breakfast items all day, hooray! I sampled delicious pancakes and a delish fritatta shared between the bf and I. It took awhile, but it felt more like I was waiting for an Aunty to make something special in the kitchen, especially since the coffee was flowin' and when the food came out, it was REAL food, not made up of unrecognizable ingredients. Also, they served real maple syrup, which is so rare these days! Now that I live closer I'll definitely be going there more often ;)
(5)Esteban W.
Waking up early and wanting the traditional "American" breakfast we head out to some place that promises the basics, and promises them done well: Pancakes, eggs, bacon ... waffles? So I realize the ironic idea of an "American" breakfast is peppered with foods from every where else in the world, but hey - what is American, but a peppering of people from every where else in the world. I know a few are still going to comment on this anyway. I apparently was the last person to hear about Café Kaila. When I recommended it for breakfast to a group of friends they all seemed to have their own opinions about it already. Thanks for the invites A**holes. In the end, the goal of breakfast was to have some typical favorites and have them served well, typical breakfast your mom could have made, except if she were Martha Stewart - because you know Martha doesn't do simple and she would bump breakfast to a slightly higher notch that would make you want to marry her - even if she is a cougar. The GOOD: Café Kaila offers those breakfast favorites, and I hear the waffles are the golden ticket to bliss-hood. The location itself is calm, simple and clean. I was reminded of eating breakfast in my own kitchen with about 57 of my closest friends... in my kitchen that has available seating for four and a service bar with a cash register - doesn't everyone's kitchen look like this? The décor is simple, and that's definitely a plus, nothing fancy that makes you feel like you have to dress up - like at Denny's. The special for this day was Mexican Eggs Benedict, quite possibly the most interesting concoction of the mind that made me say wtf. When asked what it was, the wonderful waitress facetiously replied, "it's your typical Eggs Benedict, we just have a Mexican in the back make it." Being Mexican myself I instantly thought I may know they guy in the back - maybe my cousin or something. As funny as the waitress was with that she went on to explain what it ACTUALLY was, a breakfast burrito atop an English muffin - ground beef above beans under guacamole and sour cream garnished with a tortilla chip - wtf? I would have stuck with the original description. Needless to say, I went with traditional Eggs Benedict - made by a haole apparently - with the most perfectly poached eggs I have ever seen. My accomplice ordered a frittata - eggs, stuffed with potatoes, served with a huge scoop of white rice and then they add toast just incase you didn't get enough carbs this month. I am not judging, I wish I would have ordered it. The BAD: Because of it being in Market City, parking is incredibly frustrating when it's busy. Most of the time, parking isn't that big of a deal, the turn around is typically good, but in CAN be a bitch sometimes. Another bad is that you're going to have to wait for good food. Café Kaila typically has a 30+ wait unless your lucky, or just one of those people that always has good timing and always wonder why people are always bitching about wait times - normal people have wait time - and Café Kaila usually has a long wait time, because they're sofa king delicious. Café Kaila is also CASH ONLY which is always a downer. Price wise, two hungry guys and a really good breakfast with coffee and tea - we both left pretty full but NOT under 30 bucks. Overall, Café Kaila is a great place when you wake up early and don't feel like cooking for yourself. It makes a great spot to hit up just before you go for a trip to the beach or cruise around the island. I will definitely return when I have a free morning and free cash. RECOMMENDATION: the typical Eggs Benedict were simple, delicious and surprisingly filling. The poached eggs on top were so incredibly done, compact and perfect that I tried to replicate it my self at home. I wont tell you if I succeeded or not, but I will tell you that Café Kalia is killer.
(4)LesliAnn K.
Always seems to have a line, no matter what time of day. Very popular. We ate at the counter because we were hungry and willing to take whatever we could get. Our waitress was friendly and prompt. A lot of people had ordered belgian waffles, so my mom and I shared a Belgian waffles with caramelized apples on top (YUM!, we got to choose our toppings) and an omelette packed full. Was enjoyable, would come here again.
(3)Shige O.
Free parking, fair prices, great food! Def. another great breakfast brunch spot. Decently sized place but fills fast. Usually you might run in to a wait line, walk in and put your name on the wait list and the server will come out and seat you. Had the french toast and omlet this past time i went. So so so good! Staff is also on it, fast and friendly! They also have an awsome lunch menue if you cant make breakfast!
(4)Jaz M.
Went there for the first time and the last! As soon as I walked in I didn't know if I was supposed to seat myself or just wait! No one was helping and yes I'm local! By the name of the place I exspected maybe a local kind of astomphere! I felt like I was dining around a water fountain the way it's decorated! Took about 10 min for the waiter to finally get our order! The layout of the place is very small and not much room at all! I had pancakes and sausage and didn't even taste that great! Was pretty decent crowd mostly college kids! However I wouldn't repeat due to slow and poor service! Didn't ask to refill my water,also the food isn't that great but then again local people think everything is Ono! And it's very small and parking is very hard to find due to all the businesses around there! I'm better off at mcdonalds
(1)William H.
Good atmosphere, had the Italian omelet. It had mushroom, zucchini, and it said that it has basil and garlic....but I think they used dry basil instead. The Parmesan sauce wasn't that good and didn't go well with the omelet...it kind of threw the whole dish off. The french toast was good very fluffy and the cinnamon was delicious. I wish they gave more syrup though, but overall I had better. But this place was OK if you hadn't tried this place yet its OK but I wouldn't go over here everyday.
(3)Brown B.
Quality food. Minus one star because of the long wait to be seated. My favorite place to eat breakfast-- I usually get the Italian omelette and a side order of sweet bread french toast.
(4)Maude L.
Have been here for breakfast at least 7 times now and have had a nice experience every time. Love the pancakes, waffles and french toast, and their coffee is always good. My toddler loves the pancakes - this is hands down her favorite restaurant. They open early, so as long as you get there before 7:30am, you don't have to wait. I'd give 5 stars except the service is a little off when they get really busy - they're super nice, but could probably use an extra body during the rush.
(4)Adrienne S.
I like that I can get breakfast until 3 pm here. Delicious cinnamon french toast and eggs just the way I like them. The bacon is crispy and not greesy. The hot chai is good. The iced tea is good, as it is a local brand (forgot the name, but it's served at Pa'ina Cafe, McDonald's, and lots of local places). The servers are courteous. I wish they took credit cards because the only cash machine nearby charges a fee. I usually go around 2:30 to avoid the long wait.
(4)Sandy D.
I brought my 7 year old daughter here for breakfast Wednesday morning around 8 a.m. There was no wait and we were seated right away with servers taking our drink orders right away. There is a kids menu and my daughter ordered the pancaked with a portuguese sausage. I had the french toast with strawberries as a topping. There is a wait for the food, but we were expecting that from reading other reviews. My daughter said that was the best breakfast she ever ate. I didn't think she would be full with the one pancake, but it was a big one. My french toast was light, fluffy with just the right amount of cinnamon. I don't like too much cinnamon on my french toast. There was a generous amount of strawberries. Our breakfast including tip was under $20. We were nice and full. Defnitely would return.
(5)Mary R.
Had to give a positive review. It's the least that we can do. Went to Hawaii. Our first real vacation with the baby. One of our first breakfasts was at Cafe Kaila. Family friendly, etc. Had a great breakfast. Big portions. I had the belgian waffle with tons of strawberries. don't recall what Joe got. had a good range of kids meals. As we were leaving my husband tries to politely allow someone to enter into the restaurant but accidentally moved a shelf where a large chinese lucky ceramic cat was on the shelf. cat falls in to a bazillion pieces. whole restaurant which is quite full at this point share a collective gasp. My husband has his hand over his mouth, eyes open wide (as wide as they'll go) in shock, lets out a somewhat girly yelp. Someone yells pick up your baby. I scoop up miles, joe's still frozen. the owner graciously says that's okay and starts cleaning up the pieces. really nice about it. Sent joe back in to try to give them a $20 to pay for the cat. they refused. they were really nice about the whole experience. and it made me laugh so hard through out the day recalling joe's expressions. and hopefully this positive review will counteract any bad luck incurred by a broken lucky cat. food was good enough for me to want to return during our trip but poor joe so embarrassed couldn't do it.
(5)Doug A.
First time here. Food and service excellent. Will continue to return. One word of advice. WATCH your step when it rains. The floors are extreemely slippery. I cut myself on the table legs when my feet slipped on the floor. If the chair wasnt there, i would have probably hit my head on the floor. Instead cut my toe on the metal table legs.
(4)Scott R. D.
Cafe Kaila is in the Market City Shopping Center. It's in part of what was the Blockbuster. It's a cheery, welcoming space. The menu offers all day breakfast as well as lunch items and some entres that look like possible dinner items. It's a good sized menu, with something for everyone. The menu also has a carefully worded warning at the bottom: "ALL ENTRES ARE MADE TO ORDER FROM SCRATCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. THANK YOU." It really stands out in all caps like that; basically saying: our kitchen is slow, but for a good reason. I'm not sure it's a wise idea to advertise that. But then again, the kitchen acted as promised and I knew what to expect. I ordered the Kaila Salad($7.50): mixed greens, dried cranberries, walnuts, feta cheese, cucumbers and shredded carrots with a raspberry vinaigrette. It's served with focaccia bread, which was on the dry side, but somewhat mitigated with some butter. The salad is a tasty combination of flavors and the only thing holding it back from being a complete success was too much dressing. I visited on a second occasion for breakfast. Once again the kitchen lived up to it's self acknowledged slowness. My omelette was bland and boring.
(3)ra c.
BEEN here about 4 times,--of course, not everything is good--and everyone has different taste buds. i liked the breakfast burrito and the turkey club s/w---the potatoes that cover 1/2 of the plate of eggs, i thought was NOT good. everyone who works there is so very nice, so then the food tastes better!!! the pancakes and french toast to me were average although most rave about them. maybe that's because i just came back from S.Francisco and Tartines's Bakery on Guerrero. i don't know why people always mention WHO goes to a restaurant? tourists, Japanese tourists, locals??? who cares?? can someone explain that to me?? people are people--all over the world.--maybe i'm missing something here? overall, i like this restaurant, as there doesn't seem to be too big a choice here in Honolulu.
(4)Joseph B.
I love this place. The breakfast was good. Pancakes were good. The fritata was delicious. Wait staff were friendly. Great small restaurant.
(5)Z Z.
Are you kidding me? This place sucked on my first visit. The staff was insulting, my omelette was practically burnt, the meat in my omelette was rancid, and my waffles were hard. I mean come on people, Kaila's is way overpriced and a total jip. I had high expectations and was utterly disappointed. Will I return? Never again!
(1)C O.
Great atmosphere, quick moving line, plenty of seating (for a breakfast place), expansive menu, wonderful family-owned operation, and fresh, organic, delicious food! What more could you ask for? My wife and I swung by Kaila for a late morning Sunday brunch and were surprised---we only had to wait ten minutes. The menu is full of breakfast and lunch options that sound and taste amazing! This time around she went with the cinnamon french toast (way too big for her to eat in one seating) and I swung for the fences with the roasted turkey club. Two great dishes, fantastic service, and a new favorite town-based breakfast joint!
(4)natasha m.
So I have been hearing about this place for a while from numerous friends, and been wanting to try it. So today my sister and I went there for lunch. Parking was not a problem. We walked in the setting of the place was simple yet very cute and clean looking. The servers was all very friendly. I got the salmon salad my sister got the blt and they sent us a yummm waffle on the house! 2 stars for that. My salad was just an average salad but the waffle was de-LISH! My overall experience there was great, and I plan to return again soon! :)
(5)Emmanuel F.
This was one of our only breakfasts at a restaurant (most days we cooked ourselves). So our expectations were for a special Hawaiian breakfast experience. This is not to say that Kaila doesn't have a great breakfast, it just wasn't uniquely Hawaiian. In fact, as compared to breakfast that we get in SoCal, it was pretty good and very affordable. Our favorite dish was definitely the frittata.
(3)jojo l.
Went there a while ago with the bf & friends & thought the food was excellent & fresh! I was so impressed that I wanted 2 go back a 2nd time. Well, got a chance 2 finally go back the other day. I was so excited again until we walked in 2 find the waiter on his cell phone & not paying attention 2 the dining room. After we sat down, one of the waiters came & brought us water but then said "have a nice day" & left! We thought it was strange but just shrugged it off. After we ordered & got our food, all of a sudden, this roach landed on my hand (I think it was from the picture frame above our table) while I was eating!!! I was so grossed out, I totally lost my appetite & wanted to hurl!! I'm not the type 2 make a scene @ a restaurant, so I asked my bf 2 hurry up so we could leave!! If the dining room isn't clean, I don't want 2 know what else isn't!!!
(1)Lani P.
Nice little place but the four of us waited for 45 minutes on a Wednesday morning at 9:30 am. That's too long for me. Food was good but lost a bit of my appetite during the wait. People tend to hang out here which slows the turnover time. Not sure if I'll try it again - defintely not on a weekend!
(3)Hannah C.
My fiancé and I woke up early due to the time difference from San Francisco. We didn't want to eat the standard breakfast you find in most hotels so we ventured off of Waikiki. We relied on trusty yelp and found Cafe Kaila. There was no wait since it was so early. The coffee is amazing and our food is delicious! I enjoyed the frittata and my fiancé enjoyed the steak and eggs. Highly recommend Cafe Kaila!
(4)Elizabeth C.
Thanks to Yelp, we found this gem while on vacation. It was the best breakfast we had during our stay! The waiter was really friendly and told us that pretty much everything was made from scratch. We wanted to try a little of everything so we ordered a la carte - one french toast, one pancake (with fresh bananas and strawberries) and a scramble. Everything was really good! The french toast was not too heavy like in most places. The pancake was even light and fluffy. I got a slice of banana bread to go (no nuts!) and it was really tasty as well. We went for breakfast on a weekday, so there was no wait. However, knowing how good the food was, this would have been worth the wait .
(5)Jill Y.
Here's the thing with Cafe Kaila, you have to go at the right time. I live in Kaimuki and I can walk to Market City, which I do...sometimes when I'm not lazy. If you go at the wrong time, you will be grouchy because you'll have to stand in line OUTSIDE the restaurant amongst the cars and the barking puppies (the puppies are actually cute) as you stare at the ppl instead eating yummy food. And as you are waiting, you will start noticing all the not so perfect things about the entire experience. So my advice again is to NOT go during the busy times. I know, I know that's when you want to go, but either be an early bird or be lazy and sleep in. Okay, so here's a secret that I have, I go at the following times: 8:00 am (beats all the 9:00ers who think they are early) OR 11:00 am (end of the breakfast crowd and beginning of the lunch ppl) OR 2:00 pm (end of lunch crowd). If I am really really craving Kaila and I cannot make those times then I go another day because I know I will have to wait outside, which is kind of awk. because there is absolutely no seating. Sometimes, if you are lucky, there is a chair by the register up in the front next to the beverage bin, which you can sit on if you go solo, but otherwise, you are kind of out of luck. Often I go with friends or my family, but sometimes I like to go on a weekend and have a coffee, read the paper, and chill with myself to mull over my weekend and my coming work week. It has a cute little water fountain that is unique. I once overheard the owner telling a waiter to put more water in it because the water was down to a trickle. I thought that was nice that she noticed. Things to Love About Kaila and why you should go: 1. Hot waiters and waitresses. Seriously. But no really, they're all just really friendly and funny. 2. Yummy food. They use real maple syrup and everything is cooked perfectly (esp the eggs!!! which is pretty hard to find.) 3. Medium prices, not cheap, but not uber-expensive. 4. Nice location. 5. Easy parking. 6. Quality food. 7. Nice portions. 8. Local girl, I think the owner went to Punahou. 9. Clean and neat. 10. Cash only. This is a good thing. In this economy you don't go out to eat unless you have the money to do so. No charging it on the card. Reasons not to go: 1. You are not into the faux-Euro breakfast cafe and just you like grind some local breakfast at Zippy's. 2. You have no cash. 3. You no like go at the times I mentioned above. 4. You want a Japanese breakfast. (Kaila serves American fare.) 5. You can't stand looking at puppies sleep and play before breakfast. *I really love this place and even though they used to undercook the potatoes (something awful, which they have since correct over the past few months) and they only give two slices of bacon with their bacon, eggs + starch meal (used to be 3-4 depending on the cook) and their food was, at times, very slow to come, I've always gone back because the ambiance and the general feeling of the place is really nice kind of like a Zippy's and Bogart's mixed into one place. It just feels nice hanging out there and spending time with people you love. Or it's the real maple syrup.
(4)Rossemary C.
This is my first time in Oahu and I wanted to have a yummy breakfast to start the day off. I saw that this cafe had great reviews so I wen to check it out. There was a long line outside which is usually an indication that the place is good! We waited around 15 minutes for a table but the time flew by especially after the owner came by giving delicious waffle samples to those waiting in line. The food was really good! The sausage links were a little burnt but the fresh fruit and pancakes made up for it. The service was really good, our waitress was super nice and very attentive. The place itself was inviting and cozy enough for good conversation. Def recommend this place for great breakfast at a reasonable price :)
(4)Jay M.
Cafe Kaila was recommended by a local friend and I am glad we went. We didn't have to wait for a table and the service was great. Our coffee and water were refilled constantly. The portions are generous and the prices are reasonable. The French toast were large and fluffy and the eggs were delicious.
(4)Angel L.
This is my other favorite place to eat on the weekends! This place is great in every way I think b/c the food & service is great! I LOVE IT when they have BREAKFAST ALL DAY! That's my favorite thing about it and how they make their eggs are good! Who can mess up eggs?! I just LOVE THIS PLACE :)
(5)Joey B.
I recently ate brunch at this place at last minute. I wasn't really expecting much, because I am not a brunch person, especially when I saw the prices. I ordered the All Begal, with Ham and Monterey Cheese. It was GREAT! My friend ordered a Begal with Cream Cheese and Salmon, and unusual as it sounded/looked, it too was GREAT! The staff and service was awesome. The price compensates well for the service. I never was a brunch "fan", but I am now if it's at Cafe Kaila.
(4)Sabrina W.
All I know is that this is Paul Walker's favorite breakfast place in HI :) so if he likes it... it's probably a pretty good place
(5)Daniel K.
Everything on the menu is great! The waffles are light, pancakes are fluffy, omlettes cooked well, spam & eggs...always good! Very friendly staff, great service, and VERY kid friendly! Prices are very reasonable! It's a must visit when you're in Waikiki!
(4)Jahna V.
had the breakfast sandwich. when i first opened the box it looked really yummy and appetizing and i couldnt wait to bite into it, but once i took the first bite all of the stuff inside fell to my plate. i had to pick it all up, put it back into the sandwich. i did this after most bites that i had. i did not really like to have to reassemble my food after each bite.
(3)Poo P.
Opting out of the usual local pancake house, our party of three ventured over the Market City to visit Cafe Kaila. Having previously visited, we were accustomed to the wait, but were anticipating the excellent food and service in return. The food was well executed with the exception of a plastic piece of thread (perhaps from as scrubber) found in my caramelized apples that accompanied my belgian waffle. The service, however, left much to be desired. Our server was a tan local male with a honu tat on his leg, he seemed indifferent and not cheerful at all when approaching our table. With the exception of a "irashaimase" for the entering tourists, he was unapproachable, bland and unhelpful throughout the meal. Dining with a child, we proceeded to order an adult menu omelet as it was instructed that the price difference would not be reflected for a child. We concurred that this would be fine for the price, but our server "up sold" for "bacon on the side" (very slyly I may add) to "a side of bacon" when it was listed as inclusive of a breakfast meat and cheese. As minuscule as this may seem, it was pathetic to have to see a server need to up sell a tiny 8-year-old that is already getting a three-egg omelet off the regular menu. Poor judgement on his part, because we will definitely not return. Words of advice to the proprietors, investing in local business will be the key to such a volatile industry; building a repertoire with regulars will be far more important especially as the tourists begin to out number the locals. First of all, there are definitely cultural differences with the tipping procedures and Japanese, though appreciative will be less likely to tip appropriately in comparison to a seasoned local diner. Hands down, I would put my efforts to serve all tables equally, but if comparing local diners to tourists(as noticed over the past few visits) I would spend as much or even more effort to ensure that returning diners get a better experience. There is a plethora of breakfast spots on Oahu, best not to waste your money where service is impersonal and staff obviously show no pride in what they do. To the server: If you do not enjoy your job, then find another one! Hint, hint, you are in a SERVICE based industry and you are a SERVER. Minimal effort means at least a smile, but that is...if you like tips.
(1)Jon D.
Line is fast, food is Great & they give plenty!!!
(5)Ji Young C.
Really good for every day breakfast fare. It's nothing super fancy or out of the ordinary, but the basics are covered well and the service is wonderful. The server that we had treated us like we were family. I felt completely at home here. It's simple and yummy.
(4)Isao Y.
Great Waffles and Pancakes !
(4)George C.
Really good food. Surprisingly good coffee. Standout pancakes. Very attentive, friendly service.
(4)Micah P.
The Humble Palate is back! Went here on Saturday morning with Gf on the recommendation of an aunty. I had veggie omelette with toast and Gf had veggie scramble. We shared a belgian waffle. Place is dope. Plenty of food made very well from scratch. Omelette was perfectly made you get to choose 3 fillings and what type of cheese you want. I had mushroom, zucchini and onion with pepper jack cheese. Roasted potatoes or rice for your starch and I had the potatoes which were very tasty. Belgian waffle was really good served with whipped cream and syrup on the side. Little bit of a wait but like most things they are better when you wait for them. I'll definitely be back for dis solid breakfast spot!
(4)Nathan M.
Excellent service. Fresh and delicious. What more can you say.
(5)Glenn N.
Don't know where this is?
(3)R C.
Oh la la ! I love the hot servers here, and the food is delicious too. Great Service -seriously, even though the men here are hotter than the weather outside they surely know how to make women happy. I go back there just to check out the servers and of course the menu. This is a quaint-little place, a reminder of mom and pops eatery which are gradually disappearing with the existence of corporate chains! We need more places like this -always. Thank you for being here in Kaimuki. The owner -local woman- is very nice, she makes you feel like a family. I came here when she had just opened the cafe , a couple of years ago and fell in love with the food. At first, they were still trying to put things together and food wasn't as great but I knew they could do it!!! They are very popular amongst Kaimuki residents, and others, so the lines are long and the food might take some time- but I swear -it's worth the wait. GOOD food -especially, home made quality, takes time! Please keep that in mind. If you want a fast food-faster churn and burn kine place please go to the nearest McDonald-up in Waialae Ave.The decor is simple and very welcoming. FOOD: So delicious. The Belgian Waffles with Strawberries on top and whip cream is like waking up in a land of wonderful puffy clouds and feeling like a princess. The breakfast combo -just the right quality and quantity for those who deserve a good meal after a long night of partying and waking up with a hangover! The breakfast bagel lox- simply the best. What I love about their brunch is that it's a lot of local -organic products and very affordable. The food is 5 star quality, better than most places, yet the prices won't make you cry. Cafe: they have a full espresso bar, order up! They are only open till 2pm, I think. This is a great place to take family,friends, out of town visitors, first dates, exes, whoever! Food is definitely worth the 45 mins wait! I kid you not. I love this place. And the servers.
(5)Brad K.
The food here is amazing! Just wish it was bigger so I wouldn't have to wait so long to get in. It's worth the wait! The owner has done an amazing job with this place. She's always working so hard!
(5)Chi W.
Not impressed. Take out: Vegetarian omelette with tomato, spinach, mushroom, portuguese sausage & provolone. NO tomato, barely any spinach, and a TON of sausage. Yuck! Accompanying Potatoes semi made up for it. French toast was decent, but they should separate the fruit (strawberries) because it was pretty mushy by the time I ate it. Pancakes = nothing special. Pass. Would I recommend this place or return. Probably not.
(2)Sarah K.
Food wise I love Cafe Kaila. It's probably one of my favorite breakfast places, the food always hits the spot and the atmosphere is quaint and homey. I usually go there when I'm craving waffles, I love getting with fresh fruit. My sister loves that they serve illy coffee too. I also love their breakfast scrambles with potatoes, my favorite is the salmon with onions and capers. There is always a long wait for breakfast, but I say if the food's ridiculously awesome it's worth the wait. Ok so why the three stars? The service here is hit or miss. On my last visit the guy seating people totally bi-passed our name. My friend kindly pointed it out and the guy working said he totally called our name, but other people came in and took the seats. (we were a party of 2 and a party of 3 took our seats... yeah right you called our name, could you think of a better excuse?!?). So we waited for another 5 min, and he motioned to us that our table was ready. When we came in, he pointed to a small table for two, and handed my friend 2 menus. And get this.... WE SAT OURSELVES. Great customer service Cafe Kaila. I get you're busy, but really walking ourselves to the table. Now I'd understand if they were that kind of seat yourself kind of restaurant, but we watched them previously walk customer to their table and then hand them their menus. It was total turn off. Thank goodness our waiter was polite and friendly, that and the food was awesome, totally salvaged the whole experience. I hope he got our entire tip that we left. Cafe Kaila please remember first impressions do count for something.
(3)R K.
Been back here a few times since my first review. We have tried the pancakes, waffles, and french toast and all are superb. I have not once had my request for dry toast messed up (that is a huge deal to me since so many places can't seem to do it, look irritated if you ask, and/or or you can tell they scraped off the butter afterward). We have been there when it was nearly empty as well as totally packed and service has always been great. Coffee is constantly refilled (yay!) The omelets are amazing! That is my typical restaurant order, so I have tried omelets all over the place, and nowhere else even comes close to these. Cooked perfectly, and there is no oily residue on the plate. Also, when I ordered a side of rice with my last omelet, it was perfect. So flavorful and just the right consistency, moist, not overcooked. All these little details make a huge difference to us. This place is a winner!
(5)Brooke M.
What happened to my beloved pancakes?? I was served gummy, undercooked pancakes here yesterday. Twice. I sent it back and it came back barely any better. I hope it was just a new cook and not a new recipe...Still a nice spot though, and service is always prompt and friendly.
(4)Russel M.
We tried Cafe Kaila for lunch the other day and were pleasantly surprised. We ordered the Rib-eye Steak Sandwich & Vegetarian Sandwich, talk about opposite sides of the spectrum? Both were large portions and really good. We are definitely going back. Parking can be tricky during peak lunch hours. CASH ONLY! Service was very good.
(4)Jesse W.
8/1/10: Wife and I came for Sunday brunch, bad idea to show up just after 10am. Lots of people which meant a 30 minute wait outside. Best thing that happened was that a waitress came around to apologize for the long wait along with providing everyone with a sample taste of the belgium waffle. shoots! My wife and I shared our dishes, I ordered the Cinnamon French toast w caramelized apple (excellent, not too sugary), while she ordered the breakfast wrap. Both were well made and enjoyed by us. The wrap was awesome, especially with guac and salsa dressing. Solid four stars for the food. Five stars for the excellent attentive service even though restaurant was packed. I ordered a latte, quite disappointing. No microfoam at all, just frothed milk. Barista wasn't up to snuff, especially since their sign touts "Breakfast Lunch and Espresso". I was very disappointed, Glazier still hands down has the best coffee in town. Two stars.
(4)Alfred G.
Delicious & Fresh!! A good friend of mine eats there at least once a week and highly recommended eating there for breakfast so I finally gave it a try and was very impressed. I ordered the sausage & mushroom omelette w/potatoes. The omelette was delicious, nice & fluffy the potatoes were surprisingly good also.I like the fact that most of the ingredients are organic which makes it look & taste fresh and appealing. I'm definitely going back because I wanna try the cinnamon french toast w/strawberries, word on the streeet is that it is the BOMB!!! the only negative is that parking is kinda scarce and you may have to wait awhile to get a seat but it's all worth it!!
(4)Julie Y.
I was excited to try Cafe Kalia. I love breakfast food! We went on a weekday morning and it was still busy. I ordered the French toast and my husband the frittata omelette. Both were disappointments. We were sitting on a table close to the kitchen and my husband saw that my French toast was just sitting there, think they were waiting on my husband's food. So when I got my dish it was COLD! The frittata omlette way too many potatoes and the omlette was over cooked and dry. I did not have a good first impression. But decided to give it a second chance. M friends took me there for my birthday and the food was a lot better. I ordered the veggie scramble with rye bread and potatoes. It was good but nothing I couldn't make. We also ordered the waffles to share which was yummy but nothing to go crazy about either. Bottom line: meh....just ok. long wait for ok food and service. The one plus is that they give huge portions, so great if you have a huge appetite.
(3)Austin T.
FIVE star local owned cafe. It's clean,fast, friendly and the owner leads by example with the brightest smile in the place. Get there early or don't b about lines. waiting for food is a choice,the patrons choice.
(5)Joshua F.
Amazing everything, especially breakfast. They give out free waffle samples on Sunday, which are so crispy and tasty. The eggs bendict and breakfast potatoes are golden. Any of the lunch items are really done well, also. Service is good, but place is cozy, so be prepared to wait. It's well worth it!
(5)Enrique B.
Perfect for a low-key breakfast with a close friend. Parking is easy, and the food tastes so fresh! I had a scramble of sorts with egg and portuguese sausage. So yummmmmm. The server would check up on us not too often, but just enough. This is easily one of my favorite spots in Honolulu.
(4)Robyn P.
I ordered the waffles and veggie omelet which turned out to be pretty good. My friend ordered the French toast and said it was so-so. This review gets two stars because it is SO NOT A KID FRIENDLY place to eat so maybe someone should change the description. My boys pretty much behave themselves so that's why I'm writing this complaint. The waitress brought my sons their milk. Next thing I know, it spilled all over the table. That's not what annoyed me, what did it was she blamed my son for whacking her hand (he's 15 months old) and that's why she dropped the cup. Look I don't care whose fault it was. However she came back to our table on two occasions and said "oh when he whacked my hand..." Like really do you have to bring it up that many times?? To top it off when both my boys finished their milk, I asked her for a refill and she said "you want another milk?" like she didn't want to bring us another. It's definitely a good place to go with your friends but I would avoid taking a toddler who is excited to see his milk arrive at the table.
(2)Cat P.
Cafe Kaila... Cafe Kaila.. Cafe Kaila.. *sigh.. 1. Great scenery, I felt like they were going for a Paris theme (waterfall, pictures on the wall, coffee, "breakfast") 2. I like how different tables had different cups. 3. I would go here if you had a lot of time on your hands because your probably, not probably.. but your going to be waiting for a while.. 4. Waiters were kind of rude, at first I didn't want coffee so I didn't order it. Decided about 10 mins into waiting for our food that hey, I might as well drink some coffee. Asked a random waiter who wasn't "waiting" us if we could get some coffee because our waiter hasn't checked in on us or told us anything of our food. I got the response,"Did you order with your waiter?" I said,"Yes.." He must have been a manager or something because our waiter came back and.. I don't know if she meant to say it rudely or what but she sounded like she wasn't the happiest,"I'm sorry but when you first ordered you didn't want anything to drink. You want coffee?" WHOA, when YOU say "but when YOU first ordered" sounds like your blaming me for something. I'm pretty sure people change their minds all the time. I wasn't asking her to kiss my arse, I was asking for a fricking cup of coffee. Whatever. Just give me the effing coffee and get the hell out of my face. 5. ANYWAY, the food was great. Good portion size. Enough to make me full for 3-4 hours after wards.
(4)Jesse C.
Service is A++. They say you can measure the dining service but how empty your water glass is at any given time. If it never falls below half, that is almost golden. The staff here keeps true to what customer service should be. The breakfast is good. The lines attest it. There is a good wait on any given weekend. But again this is where the staff shine. They came out and shared waffles to those waiting. (They were good.) And expressed their gratitude for us waiting.
(4)Lisa D.
Very fresh and tasty food. Slightly slow to take our money, but otherwise very good. Waffles were delightful.
(4)Brian A.
So, we were waiting for this place to open and I got a coffee from the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf inside the grocery store across the way because we were waiting for this place to open for quite some time.* My girlfriend was quite interested in trying this place so, what the heck! They finally opened their doors and after being seated, we waited to order. For a breakfast place they didn't seem ready for the influx of customers waiting to eat breakfast, which did catch me as quite odd. Sitting there waiting for a while, as the staff was scrambling around, we had a chance to look around and the ambiance was okay. It's clean. We still didn't have any menus. After getting settled, our waiter came over dropped off our menus and after we had a chance to look it over took our orders. We finally get our food after waiting for some time after that, but I remember thinking that the food was okay. I had the pancakes and a side of sausage. *They do not allow outside drinks into this establishment.
(2)Ashley S.
I love this place! The food is delicious and the service is generally quite good. Expect to wait awhile if you go during peak hours, though. I've waited upwards of 40 minutes to be seated here, but the servers brought out samples of their waffles as we waited, which was nice. Contrary to what other people have said, I think the parking here is pretty bad. Market City's parking lot seems to be packed no matter when I go. Minus one star for that, although that may just be my impatience speaking. I love love love the food here. I don't consider myself a breakfast person but I must say the pancakes here are amazing. The fact that they use fresh fruit is a huge plus for me. I usually order the combo plate with pancakes, spam and scrambled eggs. The portions are generous so I usually end up taking some of it home. Yay for yummy leftovers. I also love their chicken parmesan sandwich! They make it panini style and it is to die for!
(4)Samantha M.
We arrived at 6:55am and the doors opened at 7:10am. We were seated right away and ordered our food. I ordered the French toast with strawberries, and my bf ordered the Belgian waffle. I loved loved loved the French toast. It was so good...soft, tasty, and fulfilling. The strawberries were a nice touch, adding a somewhat tart flavor to a sweet dish. I tasted my boyfriend's waffle and thought it was so so, but maybe if he got fresh fruits on his it would've been better. I'm glad I ordered the French toast. I would recommend this restaurant to friends and would go again.
(4)Tiffany A.
Two syllables: yum-my. This little cafe is one popular joint. We ventured to the country of Kaimuki to find this place and deep in the jungle of that city plaza you've gotta fight the people to find parking especially on a holiday. But once that battle is won another ensues in the wait for a seat. Lucky for me I have some great pals that had put their names on the list so that by the time I actually got to the cafe we were seated. Seems like a typical little cafe. Bar area and many little tables. Very cute and homey atmosphere. We sat at the bar and that was nice allowing for room since the first table we got was more for two people. The menu is a very nice selection of items and I decided on the omelette. The wait for the food wasn't too long and that fabulous! I ordered my own with mushrooms and tomatoes with portuguese sausage, potatoes and wheat toast. It was a whopper I tell you! Jumbo for the price you pay. Very tasty, not overcooked, lots of portions and just plain ol' delic! The service was really good as well for being crowded. Definitely willing to return for the other items but hopefully on a day where it's not too crowded.
(4)Michou N.
Cafe Kaila is such a fun spot! The food is delicious and the service here is so great: personal attention by the chef, and very attentive and friendly servers. The French toast here is so, so good. The food is fresh, the portions are huge, and again, the service is outstanding! Absolutely love this place!
(5)Tad N.
Decided at last minute to have a late lunch there. Stood in line for about 30 minutes after arriving at noon (duh). First time for breakfast went with the waffles, which were great. This time, decided on the warm spinach salad and the turkey club panini. Both were perfect for two to share. Server (guy) was working hard and took care of us just fine. Will definitely go back, next time will get there earlier.
(4)Nick Y.
I'm going to take two things I liked about Cafe Kaila, and fill it with something that I didn't quite like. The service was quick and friendly. When we first arrived mid-morning last Sunday, the line seemed ridiculously long, but tables opened up quickly, and our order was taken immediately. Our waters were refilled often, and the food didn't take long at all. Awesome. I wasn't really grabbed by any of the breakfast choices, but I finally settled on Ribeye Steak and Eggs. The pathetically thin steak was gray, and the fat that makes ribeye one of my favorite cuts of beef wasn't charred at all; it was white, bubbly, and chewy. It seemed like they cooked it on low heat in a puddle of oil. You know, since I ordered it med-rare, they should have preheated the pan for a few minutes, and seared it fiercely for a very short time on each side. Not very good at all. The eggs were perfect. Mine were beautifully over-easy, and my girlfriend's omelet was really fluffy. Also, the pancakes were really nice. There was, like, cinnamon, or something, in them; and they were light, yet perfectly dense at the same time. I guess I know what to order in the future. So there you have it: a compliment sandwich for Cafe Kaila. Would you like fries with that?
(3)Chels C.
after working out with my friend we were craving something healthy, so we came here for the first time. i got the chicken avocado salad and my friend got this one plate with salmon and scrambled eggs. SO delicious. dededelishlish! cute restaurant too!
(4)amber L.
Yum, Yum. I love this place! I am always willing to wait if the food is amazing! I have never been disappointed!! I love Cafe Kaila!!
(5)Michelle S.
Great little place. Locally owned and operated. This is where the locals eat! Line out the door before 8am but worth the wait! Fast friendly service. We had the pastrami (they make their own) eggs benedict. It was fantastic! Everything is cooked to order. We even had a bit of food envy as other dishes were being brought to neighboring tables everything looked really good and the portions are big enough to share. We'll definitely go back before we leave the island.
(5)Sara E.
This place has deelish food but the wait to get a seat can be ridiculous if you go too late, which means after 10 AM. The service is a little slow, but you must take into consideration that they make everything fresh to order. We had the: portuguese sausage, ham, and provolone omelet- well portioned and fluffy. best omelet i've had everrr in my 21 years of life. haha french toast- soft and chewy. not too sweet, but juuust right. fruit parfait- took this home to try it, but by the time i got to it later that night, the granolas was soggy...sadface. so next time, i will try it there and give you a true review. This place is a good find in the tiny market city shopping center. They have yummy eats and would have gotten five stars if it was just the food I was reviewing (sans the long wait and somewhat slow service). Also, for it being my first time going there and it being such a tiny establishment, I expected there to be extremely nice service..but they weren't very friendly...*shrugs oh well. maybe next time.
(4)Christian R.
This quaint lil place is definitely good if you're looking for a breakfast spot near Waikiki. It's about a good 10 min drive from the beach. They have pretty standard fare for their breakfast menu, but I always love seeing "spam" and "Portuguese Sausage" on the menu. I, of course, had to get the scramble with both mixed into it, with rice and wheat toast. Pretty delish if I say so myself. I'll definitely come back if I'm ever back in Oahu. It gets the 4 stars because, between this, food food joints, and drive-ins, this takes the cake for breakfast in Waikiki.
(4)Steve A.
Like so many places I seek out, this place is small, quaint, and feels very local. They do have a good selection of breakfast stuffs, but lacking in the brunch department. I had the "local scramble" with spam and my girlfriend had the veggie omlet. Though I wasn't impressed with spam, I can't really say what I was expecting. Everyone told me that the spam/japanese food in Hawaii was amazing, but it's just spam. Good, but the same canned meat as I'm used to. The coffee was actually pretty darn good. I tried the coffee black and had plenty of strength, flavor, and character without being bitter. No cream needed.
(4)Mary R.
Yummy quick bite before work. Had to eat the breakfast burrito again
(4)Michelle L.
baaaa, baaaa! i'm a fricken sheep for checking out all of the hypes on yelp but this one was worth it lol. cafe kaila was a nice experience. the food was good and portions were generous. they made a mistake on our turkey club (forgot the bacon!) but they fixed it right away :) i love that there is an actual fountain inside the dining area...wow! next time i will try their coffee since they serve them in cool glass mugs. this is a kind of place you take your mom. really cute place with a fat menu : D
(4)funopher c.
Great place for breakfast/brunch! We can't help but to keep coming back every day of our stay. Service was friendly. Food was yummy and fresh! We just had to go back every morning to try as much from the menu as we could. Top these with fresh fruit and you're in heaven: French toast - AWESOME!! Delicious thick slices of soft, sweet bread. Pancakes - fluffy goodness Belgian waffle - big, thick, crispy on the outside and just the right slight of chewiness insice. The fruit parfait was deliciously elegant - I think there was sunflower seeds and flax seed in the granola. The mouth watering fritatta was huge (comes with rice, but the staff kind made a substitute with potatoes for us). By day 4, we got the local routine down: Grab a menu (and highchair for our daughter) by the door on your way in and seat yourself. Staff comes shortly and you can order your coffee/drink and food if ready. This definitely will be our brunch spot on our trips back to Waikiki.
(5)Trav15t ..
Top notch, broke da mouth, etc. Have to give this place a 5-star. I have been looking for great breakfast on Oahu and have found only a few I would go back to. Kaila is a no-brainer! This weekend my Mom and I went and had an omelete, breakfast quesadilla and one side pancake. Not only was is very tasty, we had plenty of leftovers. Leftovers you actually want to eat again! I will be returning there next weekend. :)
(5)Momma C.
My favorite place for breakfast on Oahu! When you drive up, you'll likely see a line of people waiting outside the door. There's a good reason that so many people are waiting to get in - the food is delicious! The line moves quickly & servers bring out yummy food samples. Favorite dishes - belgian waffles with fresh fruit, french toast, coffee drinks. Everything tastes like homemade (if you have a really good cook at home!). Fresh ingredients, large portions, huge selection. The servers are friendly and fast. I havent tried lunch yet, but the menu looks really good. Man, I'm craving a belgian waffle w strawberries & blueberries now!!
(5)Natalie T.
Good breakfast place. I enjoyed their Belgian Malted Waffle (around $7) with blueberry topping (additional $1.50). If you're unsure of what to pick from their varied selection, the combo is always a good option, that way you can try pancakes & eggs and some add-ons of sausage (the cut was kinda thin though). While the spinach salad we ordered was nothing spectacular, the other dishes being served on the other tables looked appetizing. Service was acceptable and I saw the owner handing out toys to children dining in the shop. The ambiance is warm and cozy, a good way to start your day.
(3)Jake V.
FINALLY!!! Finally got to try this breakfast joint. I live not 5 minutes away but every time I have stopped by, the line was ridiculous. This of course, only served to pique my interest further, but alas, patience is not numbered amongst my many virtues. Alright, I have just the one but I REALLY am the most humble person that I know :) The stats: Decor: Simple, clean, 15 or so tables, small bar that seats maybe 8-10, with a couple of paintings depicting places that I presume to be somewhere in Europe. All in all, very cozy. Service: A little longer wait than I expected or desired, both to order and to receive our check, but I'm not really a patient man to begin with. The wait staff did attend to our table frequently for coffee and water and were pleasant, which is great. Also, it seemed that the staff had a steady following of regulars which is usually a fair sign of good service. Now to the good stuff: The wife ordered the Eggs Benedict (regular), while I barely won the inner battle over whether to order a stack of waffles to accompany my Steak & Eggs. I opted not to gorge myself. As usual, going against ones natural instinct is a huge mistake! In this case for two reasons: 1) While I have no physical evidence, I am almost positive that they have employed in their kitchen, a menehune whose sole purpose it is to crank out their waffles at an alarming rate. I know this because, between the time that we sat down and the time the waiter brought our first cup of coffee, four tables that were seated AFTER us received their orders of waffles. So there we sat, staring at mounds of golden, fluffy, syrupy goodness pile up all around us. With nary a bite to be had, it was cruel and unusual punishment. Lesson learned. 2) Seeing the unwholesomely speedy rate at which the waffles were being deployed only made the unanticipated wait for my steak and eggs all the more bitter. And the Waffles looked and smelled, incredible. My wife enjoyed her meal quietly, which meant it was good but neither great nor bad. The Hollandaise sauce had just a bit too much lemon in it for my taste, but that's just personal preference. My steak was well seasoned and tender. It was swimming in sauteed onions and mushrooms as god intended all beasts of burden to be, but most importantly was a perfectly cooked medium rare. This was especially surprising considering the thin cut of the meat. As breakfast steaks go, this was pretty darn good. But none of this could hold a candle to the potatoes. Perfectly cooked, awesomely seasoned. I'm almost sad to say, but the perfect side to this steak and eggs dish. Coming from a local boy who once brought his own pot of rice to a mainland all-you-can-eat breakfast bar because all they had were spuds, this is saying a lot. If you do nothing else, at least once in your life you must order these potatoes.......with a side of waffles. Enjoy! - Jake
(3)Laurie M.
I've been reading so many good reviews about this place that I drove all the way in from the Windward side to try their breakfast. I'm a huge pancake lover so I tried their basic buttermilk pancakes. Unfortunately, their pancakes were not tasty - they were flat and doughy. After all the wonderful reviews of how good their pancakes were, I was highly disappointed. However, everything else about the restaurant was great! My croissant ham, egg and cheese sandwich and my friend's breakfast wrap was delicious! The service was excellent and friendly and most importantly, my coffee cup never fell into a drought situation. I was glancing at all the other dishes that were coming out of the kitchen and they looked amazing, especially the Belgian malted waffles. I'll have to try those next time. In all, very good experience and would return for a second visit.
(4)Sara M.
So glad I found this place! I've been here three times and haven't been disappointed once. My family had a good time. The prices are low and the portions are huge. The pancakes are amazing but my moms favorite is the omelet. If you come, be here early or be ready to wait.
(5)Scott M.
Great place for breakfast! Had the French Toast...loved it. Wife had the waffle. Would recommend getting here early and/or plan on a wait. We arrived about 8:00 am on a Sunday and waited about 45 minutes. Definitely worth it!
(5)LANCE C.
I have been here several times and I must say that their breakfast is really delicious. However, some of their lunch items are not that great. On my recent trip, i ordered the Pesto Chicken Sandwich. The bread was toasted too much and almost chipped my tooth. After two bites, I decided not to eat the bread. Also, the chicken was rather tough and chewy. Apparently, Miss Kaila has hired a cooking staff that appear to be college age, thus resulting in a rather mediocre dining experience. During my previous visits, Miss Kaila herself was in the kitchen and creating wonderful dishes. This place tends to get rather crowded and busy. After placing your order, expect to wait 15-30 minutes to be served your meal.
(3)Dave L.
So a lot of people seem to compare Cafe Kaila to Bogart's. I think this is warranted since their menus are freakishly similar. For me the winner is Bogart's..why? For one, the prices are cheaper at Bogart's, they use real maple syrup, and they have cool cups. Pretty insignificant factors, however I think Cafe Kaila has a friendly staff. My one gripe is that the french toast seemed like they painted both sides of the bread with batter, then they just put it on the skillet for a second or two.
(2)Rob G.
After a few years in New York, it's been odd to come to a city where we get seated right away as walk ins, so the wait outside of Cafe Kaila sort of felt like home. The place is crammed with happy eaters. On the walk to your table, just scope out other people's plates, wipe the drool off your mouth and point out what you want to the waiter. The wait staff, by the way, is hot. All but, say, one person. Try to have one of the hot people bring you the French toast with blueberries or one of the omelets with sausage. And tons of coffee. The parking is plentiful there, don't know what other reviewers are complaining about. But keep one thing in mind: Avoid the bathroom. They share it with the shopping complex there and if you try to use it, you'll be going on a gloomy adventure. So, hold it! But eat there! At the restaurant, I mean, not the bathroom!
(4)Anna D.
Love it! The people who work there are really nice..and good looking... and tall! They have great service and the food is affordable. It's nice to have a place like this right down the street. I enjoy eating here all the time. This is one place that I actually eat the potatoes. The omelettes are yummy! Try it
(5)Jennie C.
WAFFLES! Probably the best set of waffles I've ever had. They practically melted in your mouth. So warm and crispy. There was a long wait but it was all worth it! They were nice enough to bring out some waffle slices to keep the crowd satisfied so that was awesome. I had bananas and strawberries over my waffles and had every last bite. It was my last meal in Hawaii and it was definitely memorable. Do not leave without trying them!
(4)Joe M.
Mmmmm! Get the pancakes with the apples on top! So fresh and delicious. Short drive from Waikiki. Totally worth it! Bathrooms are not in the restaurant, you need to go out to the shopping center bathrooms, but they were clean!
(5)Angelica A.
Awesome place for breakfast or lunch. Went here with my Grams on Saturday for brunch. We started off with a croissant and banana bread. Banana bread is freshly made everyday and absolutely 'onolicious! Croissant came out piping hot and crispy, just like it should be! Grams ordered the Belgian waffle and caramelized apples and she gobbled it up so you know it was awesome! Waffle was nice and crunchy and the apples were cooked to perfection. I ordered the chicken pesto panini with a salad absolutely delicious. They definitely don't skimp here i had so much food i could only finish my salad and 1/2 of a 1/2 of my panini. Cafe Kaila you never let me down :)
(5)brad v.
What a great breakfast restaurant. Since my first time to Cafe Kaila in September 2011 I have been back a dozen times. The coffee is a great starter and the omlette's, french toast, and waffle's are some of my favorites. If you enjoy a waffle with fruit this is the place to go. This is another one of the cash only establishments to be prepared for that so its not a surprise. It would be nice to see a military discount added to this great local restaurant. The location parking lot is sometimes tricky so be patient you will find a spot to park. Enjoy!
(5)Mallory M.
Thanks to yelp again, i found this cute little breakfast place! it was sunday morning and my boyfriend and i were supposed to go paddle boarding. we woke up and it was pouring outside. i decided that we should go eat somewhere. i used my iphone and yelped breakfast and this place showed up. i read some reviews and looked at the pictures and we left. we got there and signed our names on the sheet because there was no open tables. we waited about 10 minutes and got seated. our waitress was so nice we ordered our food and it was so good! the potatoes were yummy and bacon so crispy! i had noticed that a group of 11 came after us. they had to wait a while because its kind of a small place. as they waited one of the girls brought out a plate of french toast i believe and gave them samples. they are really nice there! def. recomended and i'll be back soon!
(5)Maka I.
Yum, yum, yum! :) ... Cafe Kaila has delicious breakfast food ... you must go early otherwise there will be a huge line. I went at 8am and only about 6 people waiting so very cool ... I had the veggie omelette w/ potatoes and rye toast and everything was so 'ono. Gotta hand to Cafe Kaila, so akamai, cause they have a server come around to the table with samples. I got to sample the waffles and it was really good. I didn't like the way the servers were kind of hinting at us to leave the second we finished and then when we didn't leave right away and kept talking a server came and asked us if we could move on as there was a long line. Maybe next time we'll go at 7am.
(4)Derek N.
I went here for breakfast at the recommendation of my female friend. She was spot on as we had an excellent breakfast and it set the tone for a great day! The feel was definitely as many other reviews describe it; quaint. We got there around the time it opened and the place was still busy! The staff was friendly and attentive. The specials were really good! She got the salmon eggs benedict (which sounded really good) and I got the steak and eggs, because my manliness demanded it. Okay, it's actually because I can't say "no" to ribeye. But it was really good! It came with onions and mushrooms and here's the best part: the waiter offered to let me have fried rice (one of the specials) in place of white/brown rice or potatoes! Plus it came with toast, and a couple of pieces of fruit! I think he charged a little extra for the fried rice upgrade, but it was worth it. My "date" had a coffee to go with her eggs benedict, which they let her take in a to-go cup! I thought that was really cool of them to do. I didn't get to try any of her eggs benedict, but it looked really good; the salmon was uncooked (the way I prefer it) and there was spinach in there too. The roasted potatoes it came with were delicious as well. The only bad thing I have to say about the place is that they don't take credit cards. Cash or local check only! Good thing I had cash!
(4)Janice L.
Sweet E's is better (add mixed fruit for $2). The food wasn't horrible here, but the portions weren't large enough for my combo. We ordered a combo which included french toast, 2 eggs and meat. They only gave 3 small slices of portuguese sausage. I expected more meat. Also ordered the rib eye with potatoes and green salad lunch. We ordered medium rare and the meat came out medium well. We sent it back and they were so nice to get us a new piece. A portion was medium rare and the other half was medium - much better :) Lesson here is order breakfast stuff and not steak. Go to a steak house if you want good steak.
(3)Sean K.
Take a credit card and you're perfect. Love you anyhow, see you next trip out next month.
(4)T W.
Great Breakfast!!! We had the French Toast and the Traditional Eggs Benedict and both were fantastic. Arrived on a Saturday morning and the owner did a great job of managing the wait list and efficiently got customers in and out without a rushed feeling. Note....Cash only
(5)Cindy N.
We went here on a Monday during lunchtime and was seated right away. We tried their breakfast scramble, breakfast wrap and french toast. Food has been good everytime I've visited so far. Would have given 5 stars but the waitress wasn't really polite.
(4)Catherine L.
I am taking the breakfast matter very, VERY seriously. And I am always eager to try out new places, to see if you can top off Pancake house pancakes, or Bogart's crab cake egg benedicts. So I was very pleased to hear of Cafe Kaila. We went to try it out on a Saturday morning, and although it seems like the line can get pretty crazy, it was ok for us. We just had time to ooh and aww in front of the puppies next door, when we were called. My +1 and I shared a veggie omelet and a belgian waffle with strawberries. The waffle was really good, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, with a lot of strawberries, and real whipped cream. And although I tasted better omelets, this one was still good. The veggies were fresh and perfectly cooked, and there was just enough cheese. Pricewise, it is slightly on the higher side, with about $15 per person, but I think every now and then, it is worth it, especially because the service is attentive and friendly. We will definitely go back to try the other kinds of omelet and the other waffle toppings :) one thing though: we did not taste the french toast, but the table next to us did, and it did not seem super good. I won't risk it.
(4)tom y.
Not sure this one's worth the wait. The food was pretty good, but we've experienced much better in the honolulu area. We had the local scramble and the waffles -both tasted great, but the service is slow and it's pretty overpriced for what you get. The place is all tourists, so I guess you can get away with the high prices, but there are so many more local places to try and have a great breakfast at!
(3)Brent K.
This place is famous with tourist. and locals. I never herd of it until my friend took me here. The food looks Fabulous. Great presentation.But for me it's ok. a little to plane for me. Not enough taste.
(3)Kayla L.
Just ate here last week after hearing about it from a friend. Want my honest opinion? This place is seriously overrated!!!!!!! I don't know what the hype is about and for me, it definitely was NOT worth the LONG wait or the hassle with parking. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, but it's nothing special. I'd say it's worth trying at least once if you haven't ate here yet, but for me, one time was enough. I won't be back unless the wait is short and we can find parking.
(3)Chris O.
EDIT: Going against my vow to never return, I returned (because family members wanted to go). This time the wait wasn't as long even though the line was decently long. Food quality is still average at best. As a resident of Kaimuki, I am blessed to be in the vicinity of a diverse range of eateries. Cafe Kaila came to my attention one day through word of mouth a couple weeks after it opened. After eating there, I wish I never heard of it. I took my mom to Cafe Kaila on a Sunday morning. It look 45 minutes for us to be seated, then an addition 15 minutes until our order got taken. So, approximately one hour has passed from the time I opened their door, and still NO FOOD. But wait, it only gets worse. We both ordered pancakes, as recommended by another review. The pancakes took 40 minutes to make and when the waitress delivered them she said, "I am sorry for the delay, the pancakes got burnt so we redid them." Guess what? the "redid" pancakes were STILL BURNT. Maybe it was new restaurant jitters? Or maybe the staff at Kaila just simply cannot handle that volume of customers? Either way, I sadly will not be going back.
(2)Olivia M.
Never had a bad meal here. Staff isn't the friendliest and it's usually pretty busy, but the wait is never too long. Their french toast is good and lox and bagel. Great place for breakfast or brunch if you've never been
(3)R Y.
Tried for the 1st time today. There were at least 4 or 5 empty tables but I chose to sit at the counter to allow multiple parties to have a table. Waited for about 5 min and then waiter came by to take order but then noticed I didn't have a menu. At that moment someone came from behind and placed a menu in front of me. The waiter came back after about 5 min to take my order. Repeatedly told waiter (Asian male) at least 3 times that I wanted my Omelette "soft" and he didn't acknowledge my request at any time. He then walked off to take another order. On his way back to the kitchen I flagged him and reiterated that I wanted my Omelette "soft". He acknowledged me this time. After about 15 min my order arrived. Omelette was fluffy but it was dry (i.e. overdone for my tastes). Didn't want to wait again so I ate it and told the waiter upon finishing my meal that the Omelette was over done. Waiter's response was that he went in the back to tell the chef how I wanted it done. That suggests to me that he did not write down my request to begin with on the order and only communicated how I wanted my Omelette done AFTER the order was put in. Overall attitude of the waiter was essentially inattentive and detached. No apology and basically passed on blame to the chef. There was another waiter that he was talking to about some kind of new age philosophy who seemed to come across with similar attitude but I don't really know as I was not personally attended to by him. I guess the restaurant counts on the reportedly great quality of the food as I was recommended to try this place by some other friends. I'm grateful for not having to wait a long time to get in like I have heard from others. That would have resulted in a 1 star. The Omelette aside from being dry was fluffy with good flavor (Ham and Pepper Jack Cheese). Nevertheless, I'm not sure if I would come back given the service and attitude of the staff I had contact with (except for the cashier who was nice and polite).Maybe I caught my waiter and chef on a bad day but, I have had better quality food that was cooked to my liking and served by staff who had great attitudes and a serving heart at many other restaurants.
(2)Stacey K.
you have GOT to be kidding me. I went with one other person for breakfast this morning. We waited OVER 45 minutes for an omelette and a croissant sandwich. I noticed THREE tables that arrived after me received their meal before mine. Probably more but I was too busy sitting in my seat banging my head on the table. I was STARVING and after finally getting my food.. MY ORDER WAS WRONG. so I sent it back and had to wait longer. we were there ALL damn morning. I am NEVER EVER EVER going back here again. Plus bogarts is WAY better anyways. the coffee here tasted like airplane coffee. the omelette was forgettable. nothing I can't make. bogarts all the way, plus it's only 5 mins away from here. SAVE YOURSELF GO TO BOGARTS AVOID THIS PLACE
(1)Mishya J.
Cafe Kaila has got to be my new favorite place for breakfast. Yeah, have to wait for your food, but R and I were in luck, we only had to wait about 10 minutes today. It's definitely well worth the wait. I had the traditional eggs benedict with the potatoes, and R had the veggie omelet, and both of us were stuffed. The eggs were perfectly cooked, being that the yolk was still runny, at other places it sometimes comes out like a hard boiled egg. Ham, not salty at all, and the english muffin was perfectly toasted. You know how sometimes with eggs benedict you have that chewy rubber muffin... not this one... definitely winnahs... I also had the iced Chai latte.... OMG, that's my new favorite place for them. Usually when you go to those other chain coffee places it starts off good, and by the time you're done with it it's all watery and yucky. Well, they put enough tea and other stuff to make it good from the first sip to the last. Atmosphere wise, well, it's not my favorite, hence the 4 stars. It' was a little too noisy and it felt rushed. We were at the table closest to the bar, and the noise of the other diners and kitchen made me feel a little anxious. All in all, we'll definitely be back.
(4)Cynthia A.
If you're searching for breakfast. . . it's none other than Cafe Kaila! The pancakes were so luscious, light & fluffy but my favorite is the lox & bagels, cream cheese & capers. The little touches make the presentation so appetizing. This place is definitely not a fast-food restaurant and the freshness makes me realize that every dish is prepared on order. My girl friends took me there for my birthday and two ordered omelets that were so huge that they couldn't finish the entire portion. The owner bakes specialty items which change periodically and therefore, the gals surprised me with a "brownie a la mode" which was the most sinful thing I've had in a long time! I would give it a 5 star but my "quirk" is that I do not like drinking from glass mugs. I like my coffee HOT and I just think that it cools too fast in glass. Just my opinion, of course! Getting a table may be tricky during the peak breakfast or lunch hour because it has become popular with the locals on weekends but this quaint, small cafe just adds to it's charm!
(4)Mandy C.
I've been a fan since they first opened and have been coming here almost every other weekend to have breakfast. I usually order the waffles, french toast, or the combo when I'm indecisive. The omelets are awesome. I've also tried the frittata, breakfast burrito, breakfast BLT, breakfast quesidilla, etc. ALL GOOD! You don't even have to worry about getting something bad. I've never been there for lunch, heard it's good but wait is long. Breakfast line is getting longer but I usually try to get there before 8:30 to avoid a long wait. Going with one or two people helps shorten the wait. This place can't easily accommodate groups more than 4. It's a cafe! I'm always on the lookout for good breakfast joints. This one is at the top of my list.
(5)Ryan K.
omg the potatoes are amazing sooo good replacing like like for cafe kaila from now on aurai
(5)First Name L.
Been here twice and so far one of the better if not the best breakfast place in Honolulu. Parking - The lot is poorly designed, always busy, but there's always a parking space if you circle enough times. The restaurant is clean and well lit. We've only come on Saturday late mornings and we haven't waited more than 3-4 minutes for a table. Water and coffee arrived right away, wait staff is really friendly, and there's always someone there to help you. Considering the restaurant was packed, our orders were taken when we were ready to order, the wait was reasonable, and the food was overall very good to excellent. So far we've tried- Sausage with Eggs, potatoes, toast - Very good Steak and Eggs, rice, pancakes - Very good, steak was especially good, nice thin slice cooked just right Salmon Salad - Very good, refreshing salad for a hot day. Coffee, Latte were good mild to strong flavored, nothing out of the ordinary but definitely not watery as you'd expect from a Zippy's. A lot of people compare this place with Bogart's... my other favorite breakfast place. Cafe Kalia is much larger, cleaner, and overall more efficient operation. Food is very close in quality and taste. Bogart's has the inconvenience of a much smaller restaurant and the potential to have to hover over someone to grab their table. Bogart's is not as clean and you have to bus your own table. Bogart's does have a really good corned beef but that's about it's only advantage. Coffee is much better at Cafe Kaila... not watered down like Bogart's. Advantage - Cafe Kaila. While I always felt Bogart's was a tad expensive, Cafe Kaila is roughly the same cost but I don't mind paying because the ambiance and service was par for the cost. Overall, it's a great value!
(4)Voice Of The People S.
pros: really good breakfast. the potatoes were seasoned with a mixture of like sea salt and rosemary maybe?? really good. the Portuguese sausage omelette was great. cons: super busy, as in put your name on a list and wait kind of busy if you're not there early enough. THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS! there are some establishments that you realize going in that you need to make sure whether or not they take cards or if you need cash but this did NOT seem like one of those places. the place is big and its busy nonstop. they seriously need to get with the times and get a credit card machine. its a real inconvenience for customers. luckily i had my debit card on me (which i don't always...) so i ran over to foodland's ATM and got cash out. kind of a big hassle. but now that i know this going forward i will go here again.
(3)Jay D.
Man, I was pretty disappointed when we visited Cafe Kaila a few weeks back. I took a day of vacation and insisted that I start my day off with breakfast at Cafe Kaila. I LOOOOOVE breakfast. It's my favorite meal of the day and I can't function without it! So why 3 stars? This place wasn't anything special and it was pretty pricey, IMO, for the quality and taste of the food. I ordered the veggie scramble with wheat toast. While the scramble was good, I've made comparable at home in my own kitchen. Hmmm, maybe I should start my own breakfast spot... My BF got the banana pancakes with a side of bacon, which he seemed to enjoy, but when we he was done he said, "so that's it? This place is just OK." I had to agree with him. Maybe we didn't order the right stuff, but I won't be back to try anything else. So many other more affordable and better places to start the day.
(3)Sara H.
let me start by saying i am a HUGE fan of brunch! i think it's because i enjoy breakfast food a lot and an opportunity to eat it at any time of the day is really exciting to me ("breakfast for dinner" is like my favorite meal concept... i'm simple, what can i say?). since i'm such a brunch fan, i'd been dying to try this place forEVER. finally got the chance to today, when i headed over to market city with a friend for a late lunch. i was nervous because i had heard cafe kaila always has a long wait but i guess when you go at 1 PM, the bfast crowd has died down. :) we didn't have to wait at all! the venue is adorable! super clean and fresh looking. loved the blue glass bottles with roses in them at every table! i loved the crowd too! VERY brunch - old and young couples, groups of friends all dressed up for saturday-night-recap-gossip-sessions - super fun to just look around and take in the scene. i had the breakfast wrap with portuguese sausage. a little small for the price (~$10) but was probably just the right amount of food to avoid a post-meal nap. the staff was super friendly - checked in on us a lot and kept our waters filled. :D my only complaints: 1) parking was rough while we were there. had to drive around a few times but maybe there might have been more spots open on the bottom level? 2) no bathroom in the restaurant. had to use the communal market city one which was a little udgy.
(5)Crystal B.
This place gets 4 and a half stars, but I am rounding up because the food is delicious. I've had the sweet bread French toast, several of their omelettes, the breakfast wrap, and the frittata, all of which were phenomenal. The French toast is light and not overly battered, and all the ingredients in everything taste fresh. If there were half stars on yelp, they would lose half a star because it seems like they haven't figured out how to keep the service as good as it used to be while handling the huge amount of business their success has brought. The food can take a long time, some of the servers ignore you for extended amounts of time, and I think these problems are due to high volume. Not deal breaker service issues, not even enough to lose a whole star, just one small thing to be ready for. The wait can also be super long, but that's because the food is so delicious! I'll never subtract a star for that.
(5)Elvis V.
Café Kaila: a prime example of why looks can be deceiving. From the outside in, it looks like your run of the mill, run down small time eateries but once you walk through the doors, the atmosphere changes dramatically. Perhaps, dramatically is too strong a word, it won't take your breath away but once you are seated, this being done on your own accord (which just adds to the relaxed environment, rather than the long lines and the hustle and bustle of other restaurant establishments), you get a feel for the quaint atmosphere. The food, although this was was my first time eating there, was well made, both in taste and presentation. I ordered the Belgian Waffle with carmelized apples. The waffle came on a plate with butter, syrup, whipped cream, carmelized apples, and a strawberry cut in half. The outside of the waffle was crisp, the inside fluffy -- the perfect syrup scenario. The service was friendly and the servers were just about as tasty as the entrees. I will definitely be coming back here again in the near future.
(4)Jen D.
Our first full day in Oahu and we wanted to start out with really good breakfast and since we had scooters and wanted to explore, we looked for some place that was outside of the tourist trap that is Waikiki. After some searching, I found this place on Yelp. Decent reviews meant it was ok to try. I was leading on scooter and after carefully reading the directions on my laptop back at the hotel, I thought I could find this place no problem. Not true. I ended up going around the neighborhood a few times until finally finding this place. It's inside a shopping center. Hard to see the sign from the road too. Just FYI. Navi would have been good. So I go in and I am seated right away. I opted for a latte and the belgian waffle with fresh strawberries, bananas and whipped cream with a side of bacon ( flickr.com/photos/dukeof… ). The very nice and VERY cute waiter asked me if I wanted my bacon regular or crispy. Wow.. Never been asked that. But I'll take it crispy, thank you very much. My friend opted for the portuguese sausage scramble with rice and toast and a plantation iced tea ( flickr.com/photos/dukeof… ). That drink would become my favorite of the entire trip. Fresh brewed iced tea with fresh pineapple juice. YUMMMM.... Everything was DELICIOUS and the service was top-notch. The ingredients were very fresh and seasoned perfectly. And the price? Let's just say I would have paid a lot more than we did for what we had. It was that good. If you are in the Honolulu area, please do yourself a favor and come here. This place is great!
(4)Edwin F.
I took the advise of other reviewers and went after ten in the morning. Seated right away. Very good menu easy to choose from yet a good variety of breakfast items available. Service was prompt and friendly. Water and coffee served just after greeted. I ordered an omelette with spam, portuguese sausage, spinach and monterey jack cheese. My girlfriend had the combo scrambled eggs with spam and french toast.. A mere ten minutes later the food showed up nice and piping hot. My omelette was cooked to perfection. Not too huge but a great size for the price. Great taste, just enough spam, portugese sausage, spinach and monterey jack in the ommlette to have in every bite. The potatoes were hot and tasty too. The french toast, eggs and spam my girlfriend had was equally as good and hot with great flavours. The service was good, prompt and they were very attentive to our needs throughout our meal. This was my first visit to Cafe' Kaila and it won't be my last. If you go when it's busy remember like any restaurant expect to wait for you are not the only table in the restaurant like most customers perception is.
(5)Jolene K.
Besides the long wait, I can't find any problem with this place. Friendly service, delicious mind-blowing breakfast (I usually order mushroom and tomato omelet) and they have the best breakfast potatoes I've ever had. Always choose the potatoes instead of rice. It it 9.95 for a big omelette, potatoes, and toast of your choosing. Also pleased at their expanded choice of cheeses like Monterey and Pepper Jack. A+!
(5)Robin P.
Apologies for the short review. I stopped in to Cafe Kaila on my way to the North Shore. I like to throw restaurants a bone and order their "special" to see what is so special about their special. The special was an interesting take on eggs benedict with bacon and spinach replacing the ham from Canada. Hollandaise sauce was sufficiently tangy and tart. Bacon crispy. English muffins crispy and poached eggs not too over poached (gotta have those runny yolks!!). Perhaps it was my time in southeast Asia, though, with the preponderance of tasty cheap eats that clouded my eyes as I tried to digest the bill. With a cup of coffee and tax and tip, the bill came out to $22. Therefore, 4 stars for food, 4 stars for solid service, 2 stars for pricing, and 3.5 stars for overall (damn yelp for not allowing fractional stars!).
(3)Delilah A.
Upon reading the reviews prior to going, I was rather excited to try. The place was very crowded when I arrived. My brunch buddy had already arrived and indicated that they were giving out samples of belgium waffles while people waited for their table. Parking wasn't terrible, but I did have to wait to get a spot in front. We got a seat at the bar and it was very quaint. Our server was very prompt and was willing to describe any questions we may have had. I opted for the fritata with bacon, served with tomoato slices, my companion ordered steak and eggs, and we split a belgium waffle with strawberries. We like to eat! My fritata was amazing and I would totally get it again. I didn't try the steak but he said that it was cooke perfectly. The belgium waffle was amazing! It was perfectly cooked and the strawberries were fresh. I would def recommend trying it! Prices were so-so, but given the quality of the product, seemed standard. I really had a craving for corned beef hash- and it wasnt on the menu- so that's why I am giving it 4 out 5. Overall, ambiance, quality, taste, and friendlines was superb.
(4)William L.
Been here many times and every time it's been great. The food is sensational.
(5)uilani c.
Revisited this establishment yet again and was still thrilled with the quality of the food and the friendly service. Try the lox and eggs (scrambled), you will not be disappointed. Generally, lox is something I'd shy away from but this mixture is done just right and the saltiness of the lox lends powerful taste to the eggs (served with a side of your choosing and toast). I picked off my husband's plate and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the flavor. I ordered a blueberry muffin and was pleased that it was not a gargantuan, over-sized muffin but rather a homemade average sized (think reynolds cup cake liners sold at Long's, ooops! CVS) daintily sprinkled with a blend of cinnamon and sugar. It was a melting moment. :) Cafe Kaila makes me happy!
(4)Richard G.
8:30 AM MIDWEEK BREAKFAST - Even with a line two of us got in quickly by sitting at the counter (about 15 minutes). I had waffles with strawberries, wife had every day eggs plus a papaya. Bottomless cup of coffee. Food was excellent and people very friendly. With a packed house it took 15 minutes to get fed (read the menu while you wait). Major walk from Waikiki but excellent way to work up an appetite/work off the calories. REMEMBER: CASH ONLY.
(4)Nived A.
Ahh... Its okay... Had an omelet with pressed and formed ham type substance. Did not care for it much. Also ordered the waffles and it was not bad. Be prepared to wait to get seated and to be served.
(3)Unyong N.
young local entrepreneur opens cute cafe in market city shopping center (decent location) next to pet store (love dogs!) and offers breakfast (love breakfast fare) all day....sounds great, right? NOT! cafe kaila receives the dreaded "never again." went to cafe kaila for the 4th time this past superbowl sunday sans the hubs. small wait, no worries. then as soon as i sat down, i remembered the poor service received the 3rd time i went there. but considered that one an anomoly since 1) we were at the counter, 2) the waiter was a surfer dude, and 3) the waiter apologized from the get-go saying "it's my 2nd day." cool. but here we were, a party of 4, at a table, with a waiter who seemed (key word "seemed") seasoned enough. water, coffee - no problem. placed our order. 2 frittatas, 1 omelet w/ ham and cheddar, scrambled eggs w/ bacon. 40 minutes go by.....nothing. remember....we ordered eggs, not lasagna. i ask the waiter to check on our food. he says "it's just a few more minutes." LIE. 10 more minutes go by. waiter brings us complimentary slivers of muffin to hold us over and says "it's just a few more minutes." another 10 more minutes go by, and the waiter says "we're having problems with the new cook." 5 minutes pass and hallelujah - we get our food. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! we waited over an hour for this? cardinal rule of restaurants: either the food or the service has to be good in order to get return customers. service = horrible. food = unremarkable. i could make any of the egg dishes at home, maybe even better. frittata my okole - more like an omelet. omelet was nothing special. scrambled eggs definitely not creamy or fluffy. bacon cooked to death. but here's the cherry on top - the potatoes that come w/ 2 of the dishes still not served. they're having problems with the potatoes. it's potatoes for christ sake! we're eating....10-15 minutes pass. waiter says potatoes are almost up. we say "forget the potatoes." laugh, laugh, laugh, ask for the check, and leave ZERO tip. don't often do that since hubs was a waiter back in the day - but cafe kaila def deserved it. there is no need to discuss ambience, parking, etc. never again......
(1)A U.
This was my second time to Cafe Kaila-the first was for breakfast and today was for lunch. We had the Cobb Salad (gargantuan in size) and sandwiches. Let's just say that I think the food is better for breakfast !
(4)Julie M.
Saw the reviews and had to try it. Looked like the frestest thing nearest our vacation combo at decent prices. Showed up around 11 on a Wednesday and there was a little wait but they kept checking in so we didn't feel forgotten. Potatoes were delicious! Had the veggie and avocado sandwich with a side salad and it was great. Also had bites of the veggie omelette and salsa was delicious. Good portions...not too much, not too little. Lemonade and iced teas are great. Our waiter was super-friendly, quick to suggest the items we might like and very attentive.
(4)Randy E.
Great food and large portions. Definitely a place I'd visit again when I return to the Islands.
(5)Erin C.
Went on a Friday morning - there was a little bit of a wait, but the line moved quickly. Ordered the veggie omlette with egg whites, potatoes, and sourdough toast - everything was delicious and a good sized portion. I was eyeing my neighbors waffle with fresh berries next to me at the bar, which I'll have to try next time. The service was very pleasant and attractive (not that that matters, just sayin :) I'll definitely return!
(4)Leah Y.
I know a lot of people love this place but to me it's just okay. The first time I was here the server was very short with my friend and me. Definitely not a very friendly guy. The food was good but nothing amazing so I thought maybe I ordered the wrong thing. So I gave it another shot but on the next couple of visits I still felt like something was missing. It's a cute little place though and on more recent visits the service was a lot better. Oh and don't forget, it's cash only!
(3)Sharon L.
Great food if you don't mind the wait! I have enjoyed the strawberry waffles and the lox and bagels on various occasions. The waitstaff is courteous and attentive. If you're in a bit of a pinch for time, I'd suggest you eat elsewhere, though...I've waited up to half an hour for a table on a Saturday morning. Aside from the wait, I'm a Cafe Kaila fan!!
(4)Krishan K.
Food was really good and the prices were awesome for the amount of food you get. I ordered the Ribeye steak and eggs with rice, with a side of french toast...very good!!
(4)Vance J.
Solid food, and our waitress was super nice. Had an omelette, and pancakes, and was stuffed and satisfied. Would surely go back to try some different dishes.
(4)Kermit F.
Went on Saturday, around 1 pm. There were around eight parties before us. I had smoked salmon eggs benedict, the other people with me had traditional eggs benedict, and chicken parm panini. Everything was good, but the place was busy, so the waiters had their hands full. There was no line from around 2 pm, so I would recommend going for a late lunch. Other reviews said the place doesn't take credit cards, but I guess now they do, because that's how we paid.
(4)Mark G.
Dropped by Cafe Kaila for some coffee and breakfast. The coffee is not good it must be said and personally I'm just as happy drinking coffee out of a regular old coffee cup. I don't need the glass stem-ware cup that just seemed elaborate for the sake of being elaborate. The service was very good, attentive but left me alone when I was eating although the place wasn't really busy. The food was good, nothing particulary outstanding. Looking through the menu; it was all pretty standard fare. That's ok though, the place is nice, clean, pretty comfortable. We tried the breakfast quesadilla and waffle with bananas. The quesadilla tasted like any other quesadilla the egg as sort of over powered by the cheese. The omlettes looked pretty good, maybe that's a better choice. Maybe I'll see if I can put a shot of expresso in my coffee next time and jack it up to acceptable levels.
(3)Manuel Labor J.
For the healthy AM eaters and definately for female palates. Was dissapointed in the selections of breakfast items. There was hardly any meaty and salty items to choose from. I was stumped on what to eat. settled for the ham and bacon omelette. It lacked SOUL but was executed well with the fresh red bliss potatoes. I would spend my money elsewhere unless i was trying to impress female guests.
(3)Jas C.
Thanks again to fellow yelpers! It's a great pick for breakfast!!! Tasty gourmet meals, fresh ingredients, friendly & relax environment. A++. and did I mention the price? OMG similar meals would cost twice as much in NYC! However, it did take a bit long to prepare, fortunately we were not in the rush that morning, otherwise I might get a little bit anxious if I need to go somewhere Not a place to grab a "quick bit" I think, since they do take their time to prepare a good meal for you.
(4)D F.
Opened late this morning. That's ok we all did not mind the wind and rain, once inside the service was excellent with a never ending supply of good coffee. Food presentation was great and servers were polite and cheerful. Oh yes. The cinnamon toast with blueberries was delicious.
(4)Henry S.
Have had breakfast and lunch at Café Kaila and the food is superb! Be prepared to wait in long lines. Arrive early and bring cash. Prices are reasonable; add-ons to the dishes will bring the prices up. Big portions; I could barely finish the breakfast!
(5)Alyssa K.
I'm upping my rating to 5 stars because the truth is, I really think this is the best breakfast place. Food is tasty, presentation is lovely, and the prices are great. you really can't beat it!
(5)R L.
If Cafe Kaila didn't have such a long line during the weekend breakfast, I think I would be eating here more often. After reading the good reviews from fellow yelpers, I had to check it out. My only gripe was that I waited in line anywhere between 45min - 1hour. During the wait the staff would come out and offer bite size waffle samples to hungry customer which was a plus. Once seated I ordered one of the specials which was the smoked salmon benedict which I thought was really good and enjoyed every bite! Bottom line, breakfast is really good but the line is just too long of a wait for me which is preventing me from coming back for awhile. If you don't mind the wait, go check it out.
(4)Paul K.
OMG!!! The best waffles ever! Mahalo to our waitress Sher Estrada and the rest of the team...can't wait to go back soon...like tomorrow morning!!!
(5)Allen N.
First to arrive yet received our food after other customers. Food was ok but not special as customers stated. One positive was their female staff. Very friendly.
(2)Aldora K.
a perfect place to enjoy breakfast in a small location, but prepared to wait in line for about 10-15 minutes. I usually get waffles or white egg omelette.
(4)Shar K.
great food, great service, and great prices. Ive been there during breakfast time and your need to make sure to go early because their is a line. the one thing that i found funny was on the drop they posted a poster about payment (cash,credit, debit,etc) and if you dont pay then you have to wash dishes...idk if thats true but its super funny to see that they put that down.
(4)Mizuho M.
Cute little cafe at Market City. You walk in, grab menus to your left and seat yourself at any open table. My boyfriend ordered an Italian omelette. It comes with marinara sauce on top, with your choice of starch. I got a veggie omelette (about $9.50), with avocado, mushroom, spinach, and cheddar cheese (choice of 3 and a cheese). I chose potatoes for my starch, and it also comes with toast and a piece of orange. We also shared a Belgian waffle ($6.50?) with whipped cream & strawberries (add one fruit= $1.00). My omelette was really good...although they couldn't put in avocado because it was not ripe enough (hence minus one star). But the lady who came out to inform me was very apologetic and offered fresh guacamole instead, which went really well with the omelette). The potatoes were seasoned well- they were red potatoes. The portion was huge- my boyfriend helped me eat my meal. The waffle was delicious too. Overall, I think you get your money's worth here (much better than Eggs n things) and they boast of using organic products. Everything was delicious & I would definitely come back here again to try more things on the menu.
(4)Peety P.
Food is fresh and tasty. Wait can be long, especially on weekends, but it's worth it for the tasty breakfast goodies. Lunch items are equally delicious. Service is attentive. Cash only.
(4)Janelle K.
cafe kaila is one of our go-to places when my bf and i are in the mood for a breakfast that is big, delicious, and reasonably priced. for something sweet we order the pancakes. they are perfectly fluffy and have a hint of... cinnamon? or nutmeg? we are not sure, but it is delicious! and the mountain of strawberries makes cafe kaila's pancakes the perfect breakfast indulgence. for something savory, we order the frittata with portugese sausage. an impressive combination of flavors, digging into the frittata is like going on a treasure hunt, digging up treasures of potatoes, meat, mushrooms, enveloped in egg and parmesan cheese goodness! yes, the wait for a table can be long on the weekends, but i feel the wait is worth it. however, if you are in a rush or impatient (as my bf and i sometimes are), their food is just as good in a take-out container as on a plate.
(4)Howard L.
my girlfriend gave them 4 stars but i'll give them 5. Places like these are places that need to stay in business........FOREVER. French toast and bomb diggity. Great service! I read in older reviews where they had bad service but the owner probably read those comments and took action. Just the type of caring business you want on your side of the block. well priced, clean, big portions, great value, and TASTES GREAT. Well maybe except for the coffee, which kind of sucked, but stick to juices or something. It is worth the wait. If you are impatient, or is with somebody impatient, go to McDonalds or something. (which sells spam in hawaii, HAHA, priceless.)
(5)Anh W.
I cam here with my financee and we were very excited to come here because it's very highly rated on yelp. The first 15 minutes we were there was good because the waiters were very nice and friendly. I ordered the eggs with sausage and rice. My fiancee ordered french toast, eggs, and sausage. My food was fine but my fiancee found 3 pieces of hair in his french toast. I was disgusted by what I saw and it made me loose my appetite. While I know this might be an isolated incidence because we read a lot of raves about this place on yelp, it is nevertheless still disturbing.
(2)Danielle Y.
This place will solve a problem I've had since arriving in Hawaii, land of the 10:30-ending breakfast: Which is more important- Life Partner Who Likes To Sleep To Noon or Breakfast? Can't wait to eat here again!
(4)Maryam H.
Great food!!! They have daily specials. Try the waffles!!! Be prepared to wait.
(4)Mike C.
I had a great experience here this morning - it was around 9:30am and it was pretty busy. the wait staff was very friendly and was able to get my order in very quickly. had a french toast combo w/ scrambled eggs and some bacon. despite the busy time, i got my order really quickly. the french toast was pretty big - and tasty. i don't eat much bread nowadays, but this was a excellent reason to do so. timely water and coffee refills really sealed the deal for a breakfast gone good.
(4)Toku F.
What can I say about my favorite breakfast cafe. I've spent a lot of time at a lot of restaurants having breakfast ... but, Cafe Kaila is now my official favorite. They went through some growing pains, but, now has blossomed into a bona fide foodie hotspot. The food is excellent & the wait staff is friendly. My choices would have to be the Italian omelete or the pancakes (like mom used to make). So grab a menu, find a seat & enjoy Cafe Kaila.
(5)Robbye N.
Great spot for breakfast! The fam ordered waffles ~ one with strawberries, one with blueberries. They were great! We also ordered the italian omellete and it was fantastico! Finally, I ordered the french toast, put this in voice of Dee from "what's happening" it was gooood! The parking was okay and the wait was about 30 minutes before being seated which was well worth the wait. The hot buttered waffle samples were great for our children. This will be a regular "go to" spot for us! Service was quick and friendly.
(5)Sherlie O.
i've only been here twice and ordered the same thing both times but it was delicious. i was craving the avocado veggie sandwich the other day so i went in alone and it was just as i remembered it - amazing. i really should try something else but i couldn't help it. that sandwich had been calling my name for weeks. the carrots are cut thinly and are mixed perfectly with the marinated spinach. the portions are big so i think you get your moneys worth. and everything was fresh. the only thing is remember to bring cash! or a check... ^_^ can't wait to go back and try something else!
(4)kelly k.
every other time i've been to market city, i've seen cafe kaila closed with all the chairs on the tables elementary school style. for years i wondered what was in this little shop. well, not too long ago i found out it was a breakfast haven. dang! this place was pretty freakin packed and my girlfriends and i came here at around 2! i had a vegetable omelet with eggplant, spinach, mushrooms, and pepperjack cheese. can you say yummm-o??? and the thing was hugangous! not to mention, fluffy. it came with these tasty little potatoes that melt in your mouth, and toast. another plus...once you order coffee, they keep refilling it and refilling it and refilling it. i swear i must have had about 7 cups that day (i left feeling a little jittery). service is on point, joint is clean, food is yummy, prices are decent...would i ever come back here again? yes!!! i'm waiting for the next girls' brunch!!!
(4)Tomtom K.
ok breakfast. Little pricey but edible food(paid over 12 bucks for eggs). They dont have anything special that I couldn't put together in my own kitchen and i am no chef. The place is SMALL, uncomfortable, and always packed. I feel like a sardine in a yellow painted can. think people go here because there arent too many breakfast joints around the area. or they go to be trendy and support the owner. In my opinion, its not worth the wait or the headache you get from the noise and the crowding and the yellow walls! I wouldn't suggest this place for large groups. ou can get way more tasty, filling, inexpensive, and just as fresh food elsewhere.
(2)Ivy C.
super yummy and fresh! well worth the wait. Service is excellent and I loved how they brought out waffle samples to us outside while we waited for a table. HUGE portions.. more than enough to share and take home leftovers! Cant wait to go again and try something else.
(4)Rachel L.
Not my favorite. Mediocre at best. I have better ways to spend my calories!!! The sandwiches were awful!! On plain white bread served with stale potato chips. For 10$ I expect a better sandwich.
(1)Keith Z.
Good stuff! Like everyone else has said, be prepared for the Sunday morning wait. Your patience, however, does reap its rewards. The staff was fast and friendly. The menu's prices were very reasonable. I ordered the lox scramble with capers. Cooked perfectly with a generous portion of steamed rice for perfection. Everyone in the dining area seemed to be a local. Exactly how I wanted my first morning on the island to turn out.
(4)Jina R.
This is my new favorite restaurant. I love the atmosphere and the service. I have only been there twice, both for breakfast. I really want to try their lunch. I love their pancakes and love that the syrup is served warm. :) Everything seems super fresh. Also, I love that you can wash dishes in turn for food, or so the sign says. I would never wash dishes, LOL, but it's nice that they are willing to feed anyone. :)
(5)Jodi K.
The funny thing about this place is that I've only gone with the same friend. Weird huh? It's not that I ONLY have one friend, but rather, she's available more times then most of my other friends. =) Anyway, on to the review. I have been here, maybe three or four times now. In fact, we were at the cafe this morning for some brunch. Amazingly, they were not 'full' as they usually are on a typical weekday. Probably because today is Monday, hence everyone is at work...sort of. So, there is a sign posted on their door that states their hours are now from 7am-3pm, and I'm sorry but I don't remember the exact days, either MON-SAT or MON-SUN. Sorry fellow Yelpers... On every visit, the service and food has been pretty much consistent, which is one thing I enjoy going here for. We always order the same three dishes (most times): Lox and Bagel (whole wheat), Belgian waffle with whipped cream on the side and fresh strawberries, and their Breakfast Burrito (your choice of meat and how you like your eggs). We usually do ours with italian sausage and depending on the mood, scrambled eggs on the side, or inside the burrito. I found if you get the eggs inside the burrito, there's not as much red potatoes in the burrito. LOVE red potatoes! Anyway, the first two dishes has always been 'right on' while the last, the burrito, can sometimes be made a bit 'loose' or packed 'tightly.' This matters because if the cook wrapped it 'loosely' then the filling will fall out, but if it's packed 'tightly' it's wonderful! On a side note, we also get the guacamole and salsa with the burrito...yummy! Their coffee is served in these unusual glass, cafe mug type things...it just seems more..."fancy." Sorry yelpers...I found this review unfinished, therefore I am finishing it now! Sumimasen! Cafe Kaila never fails, they are pretty consistent with service and food, just go early and bring cash as they do not accept credit cards!
(5)Carly Q.
French toast is amazing and delicious, but this place has become a bit overrun with tourists lately... food is still great but you have to get there super early or expect a long wait. It would be 5 stars if I didn't have to get up at 7 to eat there. ;)
(4)Dan Z.
Great breakfast place! Amazing waffles and French toast! And terrific omelets, too. Wait wasn't too bad.
(5)Nicole C.
This is my go-to place for breakfast, when I actually DO have time for breakfast. They have a great selection on their menu with very filling portions. I especially love their omelettes - DELICIOUS. Great service, too!!
(4)Eric D.
Our favorite breakfast place in Hawaii! Local atmosphere, great food and reasonable prices. The French Toast is reason enough to go all by itself. The omelets are also tasty - light and fluffy with plenty of goods packed inside. The service was what you'd expect at a local's cafe... If you want Denny's style service, by all means, go to Denny's... and leave places like this for those of us who appreciate good food and friendly service.
(5)Joshua A.
I am sooooooo sad that my girl and I did not like this place. After talking about our experience there, we can collectively say that we will not be back anytime soon. First the wait. This is something we expected from reading all of the reviews. A lady comes out and gives you waffle and/or French Toast samples while you wait. Nice touch- though you are waiting close to 40 minutes. Next we get sat. Our waiter behind the counter (tall dark guy with a beard) was the most unfriendly and cockiest server that I have had the displeasure of being serviced by in a LONG TIME. Once we got sat on on of the bar stools, we waited a solid 10 minutes before he even looked our way and another 5 before he finally took our order. When he approached us- he did not say "Hi" or welcome us in any form. Since he did not address us, I merely stated "I think we are ready to order." After that he stared into my eyes and coldly replied, " I am ready to take your order." Very cold demeanor toward me and my companion- yet we observed him enthusiastically chatting it up with his fellow co-workers and singing to himself while behind the bar. He looked much happier doing that than serving guests. On to the food. We had the Breakfast Burrito, Omelet and shared the waffles with berries. All of the food was good. Burrito was tasty with meat, cheese and spinach. Waffle was the best thing we had with LOTS of strawberries and blueberries! The omelet was nothing you can't get at Zippy's or Kenny's restaurant. When we finally paid and not a surprise, our waiter was nowhere to be found. We had to flag another server to ask for our bill. As we walked to the counter to pay, we were greeted with the same pleasant lady that offered french toast in the beginning. It turns out that happy lady is the proud owner of Cafe Kaila. IT's too bad that she couldn't somehow rub some of her pleasant demeanor on our waiter that day. :( Overall- place is quaint and ambiance is very nice. Food was good but the service was much left to be desired. I will probably not be back until they fix there service issues. Kaila exudes the "aloha spirit" and I only wish her her waitstaff at least attempts to do the same.
(2)Lorene P.
We arrived at 10:30, signed in and waited till 11:30 to be seated. While waiting, we were offered waffle and French toast samples. Generous serving, delicious, good service. If you have the time....try it!
(4)Crystal T.
Went on a monday at around 12p. Wasn't too busy, frittata and belgian waff. was delish, The food overall was very yummy and so were the two guy waiters working;) Win!
(4)Keiko J.
Clean! friendly staff ! Fresh and tasty food (not oily like other pancake place) ! close to my house ! Perfect B'fast joint for me. This morning they gave us sample bagel to taste while we were waiting. Cafe Kaila is super !
(5)Steve L.
Hands down my favorite breakfast place on Oahu. Fair warning though, I only eat one thing, the frittata. I know it's a glorified omelette, but it never let's me down...now who doesn't like that...maybe I should aim higher in life....
(4)Geary U.
The food is pretty good. It's fresh n tasty, but in my opinion it's not worth the 40min wait outside and then the 40min wait for your food. You gotta serve some bomb a** food if your gonna make people wait that long. Just didn't cut it.
(3)Reimy K.
Being a mom to a 21-month old active boy makes it a bit more difficult to go to restaurants and enjoy my meal. I have always loved Cafe Kaila since they opened, but since have my son I haven't been able to go there for awhile. We have family visiting from the mainland so decided to take them to Cafe Kaila and I'm happy to report that this restaurant is VERY child friendly. Of course it did help that we went on weekday at 8:00 am so there was no wait. The service was outstanding and our server Sheryl was so nice to us! Our glasses of water and milk for the kids were never empty! Our kiddies also received plastic kid's forks and knives and small cups. Food was great and fresh! And my personal favs are either the frittata or breakfast wrap with avocado! YUM-O! I'll definitely be going to Cafe Kaila more with my son, but of course will be there early! But remember--they only take cash payments, so be sure to go the ATM before you arrive....=)
(4)S. Y.
I'm not feeling it. Tried it before and thought it was OK. Now, I see a long line outside very often. I figured they must have changed something, or maybe I missed something the first time. Checked out the menu again and it didn't seem worth the buzz of the usual lines outside but what the heck. Gotta give it a try again right? However, one of the servers that was greeting people was pretty unfriendly. Crossed name off the list (of two people) and left. Forget it. I'll spend my money where they make me feel wanted.
(1)Breeze L.
Wow.....this is absolutely the best breakfast on island. It is our new "go to" spot. The pancakes are great but the french toast is heavenly. WOW! That is all I can say.... WOW! Great... AWESOME
(5)N m.
I've only been here twice, but it's a 2 for 2 so far for us. This is one of the few places that lives up to the hype! I've tried the eggs benedict, 2-eggs (scrambled) with bacon, and belgian waffles. ALL of the food I've tried here is so delicious, so perfect. The eggs benedict are absolutely scrumptious; the scrambled eggs are perfect, light, and fluffy; the bacon was surprisingly perfect and so good (just the right balance of crispy yet tender); and the belgian waffles are Pure Heaven on a plate. Oh, and their breakfast potatoes are so yummy! What a treat! They have definitely perfected the art of cooking and serving breakfast! Their food is absolutely delicious, perfectly cooked, aesthetically pleasing, and not greasy or heavy at all. Love the decor and plates, and the finishing touches like fresh strawberries and orange slices with each entree makes the experience "worth it" by adding that extra charm and flair. Service has been friendly and welcoming. The only downside is that there can be a wait at times (for seating and service) since it is such a small establishment with such a constant and large crowd coming and going, but most people know that already and come prepared for that. I love the food here as well as the cozy experience - so so good. And I'm not even much of a breakfast food person! So far, there's nothing I've tried that I wouldn't love to have again from here, including their coffee! Well worth the hype, and occasional wait! :)
(4)S Y.
Didn't have any lunch, famished and was in the neighborhood. Wanted to try this place so I walked in about 3:30 pm and the place had 2 other patrons. I ordered the Kaila salad like scott and found it to be yummy. Lots of dried cranberries. The nice touch was that they have dressing on the side so you can control how much to put on. I think they read yelp :). the dish came out very fast in my opinion but maybe it was because of the time of day? Very cute, clean and charming shop. I loved the roses on each table. I plan to go back for breakfast next time!!
(4)C R.
Well, the waffles were divine in a simple sort of way. The setting was um blah - in a parking lot next to a highway. Service could have been better. The wait was over 30 minutes and the door man was rude. Why 3 stars though... the waffles alone warrants it...
(3)Mark F.
The food was quite good - excellent French toast; however, their coffee specialty drinks were PATHETIC! I ordered a double cafe latte and my wife a double espresso which was very, very bitter! The double latte wasn't too bad (for the USA), but far from what it should have been as prepared by anyone with barrista expertise - no microfoam and the typical burnt bean flavor. Folks at Cafe Kaila, if you don't know how to make Italian coffee specialty drinks, then give it up or get some training!!! Another thing I did not like is that they only take cash or check....come on folks - step right up to the 21st century! Another thing I did not like is that the bill is all coded, so you have little idea of exactly what you are being charged for...and whether you were actually given a refund for the very bitter espresso! Although the food was good, I"m not anxious to go back! Offer credit card service, hire a barista, and get itemized billing set up for GREAT improvement.
(2)JC C.
Great salads and sandwiches. Perfectly dressed and salted. Breakfast items are just OK, so stick with the savory lunch items. Be prepared to wait for your food, but it will be worth the wait.
(4)Jay D.
Great portions on breakfast foods. Came here during vacation, left feeling like I was in heaven.
(4)Christy T.
Extremely friendly staff that was especially attentive to kids! They anticipated all the needs of my 1-year old and the food was yummy too! Will definitely go back soon!
(5)Lindsay G.
I went to Kaila Cafe because my grams has been telling me how good the food is. We went on Tuesday and the 6 of us were seated within 5 minutes. There isn't a huge selection but the selection wasn't bad. Our waiter took our drink orders as soon as we sat down, he wasn't very friendly. I got the impression he didn't want to wait on us all though he was the waiter. After we got our drinks, he took our orders. I opted for a ham & cheddar cheese omlette and shared some pancakes with my sis. The food took a decent amount of time to come. When I got my omelette and potatoes I wasn't wowed. I tried the pancakes, it was a little dry. The best thing was the whole wheat toast, the bread they used tasted great! I must say they are good on refilling the coffee and water. Only at the end of our meal was the waiter nice to us. I don't think I will be going to Kaila Cafe again, the breakfast was ok and the staff was not friendly.
(2)Eric Y.
Went in about 930am, place was buzzing. Does any body work? Service was good and attentive. Food was excellent. I had the french toast w/ bananas (needed no syrup). Delicious, except the portion was a little small for the price. My son "inhaled" the keiki breakfast and wanted a side of bacon! My friends had the salmon omlette and the breakfast bagel. Both were pleased. Nice find in Market city. Will return.
(4)bobb n.
went on Mother's Day morning, the Christmas day of breakfast dining expecting a huge crowd and a long wait...i found neither. that should have been enough to warn me but... the special Mother's Day menu was really just an admission that Kaila's is overwhelmed and not very good at what they do. 7 choices and scrambled eggs the only option. really. the entire menu was 7 things. even though there were at least two empty tables at all times they were so overwhelmed that they couldn't make eggs? weak. $16.95 for two pancakes, scrabbled eggs and meat. they food was ok. the service SLOW. the coffee mediocre. i suggest this place if you are in a hurry cuz i suspect there will always be an open table. i know i won't be back.
(2)Anna P.
I really enjoy this little breakfast place. There is a wait during busy breakfast hours in weekends but it is not usually too long and it is worth it. Not necessary cheap eats but worth it for a nice breakfast out. I like their breakfast burritos, my daughter enjoys their waffles, I have had fruit plate there etc etc. It is all good. The wait staff is really friendly (and nice eye candy for us females!!). I have to go and try their lunch next time.
(4)Claudette S.
We love this place. There are no locally owned breakfast places anymore that serve all day with great healthy and hearty choices and great service like this. It would be excellent if they got a credit card machine in the future but other than that, love it.
(4)Ryan C.
Great selection of vegetarian meals. Very friendly staff. Good sized portions and pretty tasty food. Go early to prevent a MASSIVE wait. It is not worth that kind of wait in my opinion, but the breakfast options in that area are very, very slim.
(4)Andy s.
If you're ever in the pacific ocean swim, paddle, or float your way over to Cafe Kaila. There's nothing here (that I've had) that's anything short of amazing. I must thank my lovely wife for introducing me to this place. If there's a better french toast out there I'd like to meet it! The place is not huge but it does have a huge following, so the earlier you get there the shorter the wait.
(5)Emily F.
I went to Cafe Kaila for my first time today. The food was great, very big portions. Service was a little slow but overall it was great. I will definitely go back.
(4)Walt B.
Was staying near here and after seeing all the lines in the morning, and reading the reviews, came here for breakfast on a Sunday morn about 10am. Had to wait about 20 minutes. Overall, the food was really good - french toast,yummy turkey bacon, egg whites, coffee. The women that came to refill our water glasses and my coffee were really nice and cheery. But the guy working the door and handling the list was a jerk. We had gotten coffee from the Coffee Bean a few doors down while we waited, and when I tried to bring it in he told me no outside food and drink. Which I can understand, but really, I had been waiting for 20 minutes and was obviously going to buy a big breakfast. No matter. But the women visited our table to help with refills and such more than he did, and when he brought the bill, i noticed my meal was $12 instead of $10.50 as listed in the menu. I asked one of the women why after I told her what I had gotten, and she said it was because of the egg whites ($1.50 extra!). So the guy was nearby doing something with the list, so I told him that he could have told me about the extra cost for the egg whites, and while not looking at me, he said "I didn't know I had to tell you" real smart-ass like while NOT LOOKING AT ME. How rude, and way to get a tip! Then i basically shouted at him "how else would I know" as he hurried to the back. A few minutes later he hurried by with a menu, and NOT LOOKING AT ME again, pointed to a spot in the menu under "omelettes" and said "it says it right there" and then hurried way. What a jerkwad. Note for the future - you might want to gently remind your customers that egg whites and also EACH FRUIT ($1.50) added to the meal will be extra, so they don't get shocked in the end when the bill comes. Even if it is on the menu. So, for food, I give this place 4 stars, but for the grumpy, rude door/waiter guy, 2 1/2 stars. The ladies who work here rock.
(3)Patti K.
Waitress recommended Italian omelet and pancakes to share. Yum! Great choices. I'm not a huge fan of Italian, but the omelet was a WINNER!
(5)Gee Gee M.
Love this place for breakfast and to be able to get breakfast early in the morning or at lunch time is wonderful! I got hooked on their Smoked Salmon scrambled eggs and always ordered it - we always share waffles too - the waffles are a must have or at least a much try - recently after tasting a bite of the Fritatta, I tried it on my next visit and love it - plan to have it one more time and gotta go back to my Smoked Salmon eggs at least until I get brave enough to try something else. Service is always good and a cozy accommodating kind of place. Yes the wait can be long at times but for me, it is always worth it. This is one place that I will go to by myself and sign up to sit at the counter - never ever felt uncomfortable. Always fun to dine with others but when you are in the area and crave Cafe Kaila - grabbing a bite by myself is truly a treat to myself. After being introduced to this place, I have introduced many friends and all love the food here - don't forget the waffles - soooooo gooooood!
(5)Annie A.
Eh. I would actually give it two and a half stars, but I didn't think anything was really that amazing. We went on a Saturday at around noon, and there were a couple of tables open, although they all filled up within three minutes of us sitting down. We went wanting breakfast food... and my dining partner said this place is good. I did my due dilligence by reading a handful of reviews here before we went in. We had an omelet (Portuguese sausage, mushrooms, spinach, Provolone)... which was pretty good except it was a little light on the cheese. The potatoes that came with it were tasty. Also had the waffles with caramelized apples... as someone else here said, the apples weren't very caramelized, but they were good. I wasn't entranced with the waffles... they were decently crispy, but I've had better. They came with two tiny things of butter and a couple of tablespoons of syrup. Also had the French toast with bananas... these were better than the waffles, although we found the bread to be a little too thick... it was a little too chewy and, well, like plain bread in the middles. The bananas made a nice addition. Again, two tiny things of butter and a couple of tablespoons of syrup for the three big pieces. Had a side of bacon... five crispy slices for $3. These were good. We asked for more butter and syrup... they brought one more little butter and a little more syrup... I love butter so I asked for more, but they never brought it. I like the atmosphere and ease of seating a little better than Bogart's, but for the food I would rather do Bogart's. Or even better: Liliha Bakery.
(2)Abigail B.
The lox scramble here was really good and my boyfriend also liked his ham & egg croissant. Overall, no complaints.
(4)Chris V.
I was fairly excited to try this joint out, as a friend had reccomended it and the reviews were good. The French toast would have been pretty good if it was hot, but still the $7.50 price tag was a bit steep. The side of potatos wasn't great either. My accomplice had the two meat omlette and wasn't very impressed.
(2)Meep M.
A lovely cafe for breakfast and lunch. They have a good selection for any type of appetite at a reasonable price. Everything is made from fresh ingredients and from scratch (something they are very proud). The venue and food has a very homely feel, which welcomes every guest that comes through their doors.
(4)Mattthe M.
Wow! What a great find. Cozy, great looking and great tasting food. Fantastic service. We go as often as we can
(5)donnie b.
I went back again last month and was pleasantly delighted with how well Cafe Kaila has maintained superior food quality, service, and atmosphere. I love this place!!!
(5)Sherry T.
Eating breakfast in a cute cafe is always a plus. the portions are good and the prices are right. me and my friend normally get two plates and share for variety. we normally get something sweet and something savory. for sweet it's normally the waffles with strawberry, blueberries and banana. for savory we've tried the frittata-yum oh! and the breakfast wrap is also good. either comes with your choice of breakfast meat. I usually get bacon but if you wanna be more healthy you can turkey bacon eventhough it's not on the menu. depending on the time you get there, sometimes there's a wait but usually not too long. don't forget to bring money b/c they don't take ccards. that's usually a pet peeve of mine but I still like the place.
(5)Bruce G.
Delicious basic breakfast place. Good quality ingredients and a friendly staff. Get a reservation as there is usually a line.
(4)laura e.
ordered: omelette w/ ham, bell peppers, onion, and cheese; came w/ your choice of potatoes or rice and toast (different breads to choose from) $9.95 belgian waffle - $6.95 food was pretty good. nice presentation and quite tasty. how can you screw up breakfast though? i would go back again, but they need a little more help on the service. service wasn't bad. just not top-notch. if you're looking for a good breakfast in town, kaila is the place to go!
(3)Raechelle K.
My boyfriend and I like going here because we live nearby, and I love breakfast food. I liked that the food was all organic and made-to-order, so I didn't mind waiting an extended period of time for the food. I usually order the veggie omelette w side of potatoes and he orders lox and bagel, with one strawberry milkshake to share. Today, the wait was insane, and nobody was apologetic. They just stared at us (we come here all the time!) and we waited about 45 mins. We usually sit at the bar, but sat at the table this time since the place was full. I am totally grossed out by insects, and there was a lot of them crawling on the wall next to me. It looked like the wall was moving. My boyfriend was constantly wiping them away since I was getting upset, so I decided to ignore it. Our food came quickly to my surprise, and I dug into the potatoes to see.... hair! YUK! one thick short black hair right on the plate. I was already feeling nasty from the bugs, and now this. I couldn't take it, I excused myself to the bathroom. Walked the freezing corridor next to the cafe to the bathroom, GIANT cockroach fighting for balance next to the toilet. I almost cried but I had to puke from all the nasty in the cafe. I came back and sat down, and politely asked the waiter from a wet towel so that we could wipe down the wall, from all the bugs. He grunted at me and said "they're just gonna come back, there's something under the painting." WHILE WALKING AWAY WITH HIS BACK TOWARD ME. Ugh! I was so mad, but I at least believed he would bring one anyways. He never did. It was the darker skinned man that always seemed so pissed to be at work, and like you are inconveniencing him to be a customer. Tattoo on the calf. I was appalled, since we come so often, and I always liked the food. (average, but no kitchen in my bf's house) Nobody said anything about the wait, and I threw away all the disgusting hair-food. I told my boyfriend not to tip the snob waiter, but he's too nice. Ruined my whole day to receive such terrible service! Never again!
(1)Demur E.
Located in Market City next to Fun Factory, this little cafe has promise. They're open for breakfast and lunch (which starts at 11 a.m.?) For lunch, they have a bunch of gourmet salads, homemade soup, paninis, pastas, and specials like grilled steak or fish or roasted chicken. I recently went for breakfast. Food: For a relatively small place, they have a wide variety on the menu. Dishes seem made to order, so expect to wait awhile for your food. Belgian Malted Waffle ($6.50): Big and for $1 more, it is covered with strawberries or another fruit of your choice. Malt flavor didn't really come through and texture-wise, not really crispy on the outside/fluffy on the inside. The waitress said it might be a bit chewy (which it was). I think she would have taken it back and made another one, but we just ate it anyway. Frittata ($8.95): 3 eggs baked with choice of meat, potato, onions, mushrooms and parmesan cheese. Comes with rice or toast. Tasty and fluffy, but I wish the cheese was browned on top (I like heavy broiler action!). Local Scramble ($8.95): 3 eggs with spam, bacon OR Portuguese sausage along with onions and cheddar cheese. It comes with potatoes (wedges of red bliss roasted in the oven with olive oil, rosemary and other spices) or rice and toast. I misread the menu and thought it came with all three meats, but you have to pick one. I chose bacon and it was plentiful, plus it was nice and crisp despite being mixed in with the eggs. I wish the potatoes were cooked a bit more (they were a little hard). I like when they get that brown crust on the outside and are fluffy on the inside. Brewed coffee ($2, free refills): Not bad, but not as good as I would have liked for a breakfast place. Still, I had 3 cups, so it wasn't so bad! The coffee comes in a stemed glass mug, which is cute. They have a bunch of coffee drinks as well as teas and juices. Other: Buttermilk pancakes, Cinnamon French toast, 3-egg omelettes, wraps, quesadilla, bagel or croissant sandwiches, granola, baked goods, and the like. Service: Really good. They are nice and friendly and constantly check to see if you need more water, coffee, etc. It looks like a mother/daughter team. You can tell it is important to them that you have a good dining experience. When you walk in, there is a shelf to your left with menus on it. Everyone seems to know that they should pick up their own menu and seat themselves. Wait staff will arrive soon to take your drink order. Ambiance: When I went, it wasn't busy, so we felt free to relax and talk. There are pictures of European scenes (Italian trattorias, French pastisseries, etc.) and gilded mirrors lining the walls. All the way in the back, there is a bar and take out juices and pastries. The space is small, but well-lit and did not feel squishy. Overall: While the food was not as great as I had hoped, it certainly was good and imho, it just needs a little tweaking here and there. I will definitely go back and try more menu items. Important Note: They do not take credit cards (at least not yet), so it is cash or personal check only. Good thing I happened to have cash on me that day (although American Savings has an ATM by Foodland).
(3)Michael C.
This place is now our favorite breakfast place in Honolulu. We got here just in time and only waited about 5 mins for a table. It wasn't long before there were quite a few people waiting to get in. The service was very fast and attentive. We had originally planned on trying Boot and Kimo in Kailua, but were put off by the many reviews about their long waits and poor service. I'm glad we decided to try Cafe' Kali instead. My wife and I decided to split the Belgian waffle and the Italian omelet. Oh my God, the omelet was absolutely terrific. I've had Italian style omelets before that were just simply eggs with bell peppers, sausage, and Italian seasoning...boring. This one has eggplant, mushrooms, and zucchini saute'ed in olive oil and topped with mozzarella and marinara...FREAKIN' AWESOME!! Plus the potatoes were great, too. Breakfast is easily my favorite meal of the day, and I really appreciate a place that strays a bit from the typical and boring breakfast fare. The waffle also seemed to be a favorite among people, and for a good reason. It was nice and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and definitely delicious. I was planning on eating my last breakfast in Oahu at the Original Pancake House, but I think I'm going to have to reconsider that now.
(5)Jen T.
this place is so, so nice. tried it out after reading so many rave reviews on yelp + my boyfriend wanted to eat breakfast (at 1pm) somewhere nearby. positives: good paninis, beautiful and clean environment, cute dinnerware, good portions, decent prices, healthful salads, and they serve breakfast all day. negative: sometimes on busy days (apparently sundays), orders take like a half an hour to come to your table! so try not to come when you're super hungry (like i was) cuz you'll be pretty grumpy for a bit until the good stuff comes. otherwise, perfect service, perfect food, and perfect prices. just to let you know, they don't take credit card. whaaat? why ruin the fun with this little bummer? but they take checks. oh, and cash too. i'll try this place again on a (hopefully) less busy day. i really wanted this place to get a perfect five!
(4)Ann L.
When we got there, there was a wait, but it was worth it! The food here was soooo good! We had the pesto eggs benedict, a side pancake, and the breakfast wrap, and all were delicious! Our waiter was very good and came around a few times to refill water and coffee, but wasn't a pest. All in all, this was a great choice for brunch!
(5)K N.
Went to cafe kaila with 3 friends. Waited a bit but it was worth it . Since there was a bunch of us we shared a few dishes. The waffle is probably the best I've ever had. It was so crispy and light. The yogurt with granola was also one of the best I've had. The vanilla yogurt was creamy and light and granola was sweet and crunchy. The fruits on the top were so delicious and fresh. The pesto pasta with sun dried tomato was simple but good. Our least favorite was the Caesar salad. It had an odd taste and seemed a bit lacking in traditional caesar ingredients and flavors. Overall it was really good. It's more of a 4 and a half than 5.
(4)L K.
The first time I went here was two weeks ago, with a friend who knows the owner. Cute place, small, but nice. Our food was superb! We were working on a paper so I didn't notice a long wait . Though my friend did mention that food took awhile. Anyway the food was so good I decided I had to bring my mom. This past Saturday I took my mom and grandma to have lunch here. It was pretty busy, we got there at a good time because as soon as we got in two tables cleared up so we were seated. And immediately after there were at least three parties waiting at the door for more tables to clear. We waited maybe 15-20 minutes for the food once we ordered, which was not bad at all. Roasted Chicken Pesto Sandwich, very yummy! And a nice portion for $9.50. The ingredients are so tasty and look so fresh. The sandwiches come with either chips or salad. My mom got the chips, they were Maui Onion chips. The mixed greens (salad) is nice and fresh. More yummy. For dessert we all shared the Espresso Brownie, a la mode. SO yummy! A nice sized brownie, with vanilla ice cream and warm chocolate sauce. It was good. Just writing about the food is making me want to eat there, now! Anyway, the prices are good, especially for the quality of the food. I will definitely be going back again sometime. Must try their breakfast items. The only downside to this place that I experienced so far is the location, the parking lot there is crowded and tight; and they don't accept plastic, so have some cash handy.
(4)S Y.
The trick to not waiting in line is to go there as they open. I have not stood in line except for the first time I went with my family and I did not know their system of putting your name on the board inside and then wait outside. My entire family loves to eat here. Coffee is delicious, Belgium Waffle with lots of strawberries, French Toast is great. So is omelet. To make sure I burn off the calories, we even walked all the way from Waikiki on Kapahulu. Be sure to have cash as credit card is not accepted. I really like how the food is not greasy and the ingredients are organic. Yum. Cafe Kaila is definitely our favorite breakfast and lunch place in Honolulu.
(5)sofia l.
I had heard good things about that place, so I decided to try it out and went with a friend on Wednesday. I ordered a soup and an omelet, the soup was too salty and bland but the omelet was descent. The thing that annoyed us was that there were 3-4 waiters and honestly, the place is not that big. Maybe the staff is trying too hard in maintaining service, but they kept interrupting our conversation to offer us more coffee or water even thought we had said a few times that we were fine. At the end even the owner came to offer us a fourth time. I have worked in the industry for many years and something is not working there. I see the potential and hope Kailas improves and becomes a success. Maybe the servers are so focused on service that they forget to show their individual personalities, an added dimension in service. I will come back but, pleaseeee no more water or coffee.....;-)))
(3)Jeremy C.
Great pancakes. My new favorite breakfast spot in Honolulu. Service can be slow, but very nice staff.
(5)Derek G.
If you're into food that looks great, but taste as good as it looks, this is the place for you. Everything was presented very well, however, when I ate my french toast if was very dry inside and the carmelized apples were not so carmelized. The pasta in my wife's pasta salad was undercooked and tasted starchy when eaten. We returned the pasta salad and received pasta that was hard, not al dente. Basically the food looked Four Seasons, but tasted like Denny's. The cooks need to go back to cooking school.
(1)David K.
I am giving this place two stars, only because I think it's been overrated. Otherwise it deserves two and a half. Very average breakfast fare. My omelet was assembled almost mechanically. The sausage was chopped into these micro uniform pieces and wanted to fall off my fork and roll onto the floor. Also it seemed there was a cheese shortage that morning as only trace amounts were found in my Omelet. Wow and lets stuff the frittatas with potato's, and serve them with a large side of ....wait for it... the very same potato's ha. Can you say filler and monotony boys and girls? Although I guess you could opt. for a different side dish. All in all there just doesn't seem to be much passion in the food here. Again very mechanical with not much taste. On a positive note it does appear to be fairly clean, and because this place was rated in the local newspaper ha ha ha, business is brisk so food turnover is good.
(2)Ian Karl L.
This place is amazing. As Ron Swanson would say, "I am a simple man, I like pretty dark-haired women and breakfast food." This place fulfilled both. The waitresses are friendly and are there to check on you even when the place is super busy. The potatoes were amazing and a very generous portion. Definitely will go back again.
(4)Tom C.
This place has some pretty awesome breakfast wraps! The wait can be long but the wrap stuffed with guacamole, chicken, italian sausage, spam and bacon is well deserved the wait. And don't forget on the amazing banana bread that will melt you away.
(4)Melissa S.
My friend has been talking about this place for months, and I finally went this week. It's GREAT! Great food, great service, good coffee. GREAT value. The only drawback is having no restroom inside the restaurant itself. And they're very generous with refilling your coffee! A must try!
(4)Madeline M.
So glad my friend, Sheldon, is a breakfast fan! He brought me to one of his favorites, Cafe Kaila, and it's a local place, so it's not overrun with tourists. However, the tiny parking lot shared with neighboring Foodland, IS overrun with peeps. Apparently, there is a lower parking lot available. The cafe is a poplular place, and we had to wait for a table. Meanwhile, I perused the menu and narrowed my choices down to three. During our wait, one of the staffers came out to offer all of us in line a waffle sample, which immediately became one of my choices. It was light and fluffy. I ordered a French toast with Portuguese sausage and poached eggs, their combo. You can have your choice of meat and how you want your eggs. The French toast was really delightful, the thickness of three slices at home on the mainland. Sheldon explained they were made of some variation of Hawaiian bread. I didn't care as I was stuffing my face. I still was able to take some of my French toast in a doggie bag. I so wish we had a Cafe Kaila at home!
(5)kyle y.
Went to my favorite breakfast place this morning. The food is consistent and always good. My favorite is the Belgian waffle which I never came across a better one in Hawaii, California & Vegas. I wont talk about the food since its always good. Its the service which has gone bad. I know a few of the workers and got to know a few more just by frequenting there. The person we had was very bad. The last time we got back more change than we supposed to and my wife brought it to the attention that person had given us more. That same person waited on us again today. No refills on any drinks, we had to ask for it. Condiments wasnt offered at time of food serving, I just got it myself. My toast wasnt served at all, even after he asked if I wanted white, whole wheat, sourdough or rye. At the time of serving he didnt come to the side of the table and serve. Next time I go there i'll make sure that person wont wait on us. I can wait for another waiter, even though I have waited for awhile. Also when our order was taken, our drinks were taken also and I had to remind the person what I wanted. This person has been working there for awhile and its not hard to get into a routine under time management. I have worked in food service and know what to do and expect so I know what goes down. The owner shouldnt look this over lightly since it is hurting her business. Hope she fixes it and looking for Cafe Kaila to last a long time.
(5)Ian C.
Wow! Since we discovered this place a month or so ago we've been going at least once every weekend. Newly opened, Cafe Kaila serves breakfast all day and lunch starting at 11am. I've tried nearly everything vegetarian on the menu (since I'm a vegetarian) and my wife has tried nearly everything else, and everything has been *awesome*. There are no decent breakfast places in Honolulu, so we're very happy this place opened. One important thing to keep in mind is that everything is made from scratch, so only come here if you have time to relax and wait for your food. But the coffee and the ambiance is really great, and we love coming in for an extended breakfast on the weekends.
(5)David B.
overall i think this place deserves 4 stars. nice ambiance, totally give you that feel of a breakfast spot. service was decent as well. i also could kinda tell, that the food here was going to be on the healthier side, just from how everyone looked. my favorite was the pancakes, it was really awesome! i also ordered omelet with potatoes for my side and it came with multi grain toast which really impressed me. as i know most places would rather save money and give you the cheapest slice of bread. so i know these guys are putting a lot of attention into the little details of whats good. also had the cornflake crust french toast. which was ok. all the food was nicely garnished. everything was lightly seasoned. i cant say the omelet and potatoes were the best i had out here. but it was surely an enjoyable breakfast. i would come back for those pancakes. i also wish they would combo the breakfast with omelet and pancakes like some of my other breakfast spots. this makes it so much more worth it. another winner is that they serve breakfast till 3, when the others usually close up at 2. for late risers like me, that comes in really handy.
(4)Jolene K.
Well worth the 20 minute wait for a table. this place was flooded with tourist at 8 this morning. Crab cake benedict was on special this morning and it was soooooo yummy! Our server was extremely busy but very attentive to our party. We'll definitely be back, maybe earlier next time to beat the rush!
(5)Dan M.
yes yes YES, THIS IS BREAKFAST!!! I'm going to jump right into it. I had the Cinnamon French Toast and they were ORGAZMIC. I, dare to say, am a french toast whore. It's probably my most favorite food in the world. In my personal food pyramid, it's at the top. I love it so much, it's also my user name for most websites. Don't believe me? furenchitoasto.yelp.com Did you click on it? YEAH THATS RIGHT IT COMES RIGHT BACK TO ME! I know I can cook it at home (and sometimes I do), but it's nice to have your favorite food served to you by someone else, yes? Anyways, Cafe Kaila has incredible french toast. Nice thick slices and hard to stop eating once you start. Go ahead and spring for the extra fruit. It's MORE than worth it. It's like a fruit monster vomited delicious strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and the most incredible cinnamon apples all over your plate, almost spilling onto your lap. I've been to other places where they're skimpy about the additional fruit on top, but this place goes all out. What's that? There's an hour wait outside? Doesn't matter. WORTH IT. Apparently, this place is popular with the Japanese tourist crowd (as it looks like they've built a branch in Tokyo!), but it's cool! Mingle with them! Tell them to throw up the peace sign and take their picture. Whatever. Because at the end of your meal, you're gonna be just as satisfied as they are. EAT HERE. Can't stress that enough. And especially with this place being so close to mine, I may have found MY go-to breakfast place in town. Already looking forward to next time!
(5)Erin M.
Expect to wait a little bit, always crowded. Never been here without seeing a line at the door. But the food is worth it! Love the friendly staff too :)
(4)Dawn H.
Hmmmm, I can't say this place lived up to all the hype stated below. Maybe it was just my dish, but I felt it was average. I actually can't remember what I ordered in my omelette it was so forgettable. Luckily we didn't have to wait long as there are always tons of people outside, but we got in right away. I had to wait EONS for my coffee refills and the place isn't that large so I don't see how its so hard to get coffee and water refills in a reasonable time frame. I had an omelette and ONE piece of French toast as a side. I was really disappointed - it was HARD I mean HARD like stale bread hard. I should have tried the melted waffle - it looked softer. The fiancé had the frittata which he had me try but it was a bit cold and greasy. Maybe we need to try again on another day and maybe for lunch or dinner. As for now, I can't say I was that impressed and I REALLY wanted to like this place.
(2)Denise L.
Went here for Father's Day after friends said how great this place was. Maybe it was an off day for us, but it was manini bad things after another that just summed up to a big bad experience. First, we had added our name to the last spot on the page of the waiting list, but was skipped because the host rewrote our name to the second page so he can get rid of the first page. Had to take a nice customer to point out to the host that he skipped our name, but I'll forgive that...honest mistake. We were seated next to the door and two minutes later the same host seated a couple next to us and gave them menus. A minute later the host came to us and asked us what we wanted to drink. No menu. He chuckled and left to get us menus with no apology - then went to the couple next to us to get their drink order. Still manini stuff. But then the couple got their order of drinks. We got our drink order in and added our food order hoping we can catch up. Another family comes in after 10 minutes and sits behind my husband. The couple next to us gets their food, the family adds in their order. Half hour later....couple is finishing up their food, and the family gets their breakfast. No sign of food for us. BTW, we have a two year old with us who is already antsy and hungry. We ask a waitress walking by about our order and five minutes later my hubby and daughter finally get their food. I, on the other hand, am still empty handed. Five minutes later I asked our host, who originally took our order, if I should just order something else. He finally went to the back and a waitress finally came out with my Eggs Benedict and an apology, accompanied with extra napkins (maybe as part of the apology?). Hoping all this wait was worth it, but eggs were cold and English muffin soggy and rubbery. The pastrami that came with it had congealed fat on it---wtf! Obviously it's been sitting there. Couldn't finish half of it and our bill came out with my food as the most expensive at $15.95! We are never coming back! Better to travel to Mililani to Rise and Shine Cafe for eggs Benedict. Service there is better too!
(1)Kelly Y.
I couldn't help but make the trip to Cafe Kailia after all the photos and the reviews, and my husband and I were not disappointed! Luckily we only experienced about a 10 minute wait. If there's a wait you sign up outside of the door on a clipboard (they may want to consider relocating the stand over slightly so people don't slam into others on the way in/out of the place). I had the smoked salmon scramble, which was so satisfying on so many levels...combined with the fried rice...yum yum yum! Perfect for the Chinese girl from NY who grew up near so many awesome bagel spots with lox! I was too in love with my food to remember what my husband had, but I know he loved it too! We will definitely be back!
(5)Tamiko D.
Went for my first visit on saturday - the staff work together so well to provide great service and delicious food - def worth the wait!
(5)Taylor M.
Who doesn't love going somewhere for breakfast? Especially during the weekend! Yes it's the easiest meal of the day to cook, but eating out just makes it that much better. I love going to cafe kaila because not only is it yummy, but they are so friendly. There's usually a long wait to eat there but their turn over ratio is so fast! Lately I've been getting the steak and eggs plate and they never disappoint! Perfectly cooked steak with mushrooms and onions on top and a choice of rice or potatoes and you get toast as well! Their food has not dissapointed me yet and neither has their staff. I think the main reason I go to a restaurant like this is because I love how friendly and welcoming their staff is. It's always service with a smile and they make you feel as comfortable as possible. Keep up the good work cafe kaila!
(5)Gary C.
I don't understand all the hype about this place! The decor sucks, the place is dirty, waitresses are just vile and the food was terrible. Ordered a cappuccino, grouchy waitress comes back and told me they turned off the machine...I guess it's too much of a hassle to turn the switch back on. Eggs were rubbery and overlooked, I've had better pancakes at McDonald's! It was bad. Really, why the line? Why?
(1)Jenny B.
I've seen so much people coming here on Instagram that I had to come and check it out myself. Finding the place wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Just far from where I live. There was a lot of people waiting on the day I went so I assume the wait would be long. Because of the sun and the minimum of shade available I decided it would be best to just wait in the car. I would say we waited about 30 minutes or more, I wasn't keeping track. At first I thought I heard our name being called so we rushed to the front, but as we got there another name was being called for 2. I swear I thought I heard them call us so we confronted them about it and they were nice enough to let us sit in, cleaned table and everything. Inside there is a counter in the front on high top seats, if I knew we had the option to sit on a table or the counter, I would of chose the counter but they didn't tell us. So that sucks. The menu is pretty limited, so it's easier to choose. I've heard a lot of reviews on there egg benedict but I noticed there not on the menu. So I thought it was a special so I didn't budge. I wanted to try there waffles mainly so I ordered the belgian waffles with both bananas and strawberries, portugese sausage and coffee. The wait wasn't long but I also didn't mind since the place was packed. But we did receive our food on time which is a plus. KUDOS CAFE KAILA. I haven't had waffles in forever and the belgian waffles did not disappoint. it was not crispy but not moist, just good in between for me. The fruits weren't too sweet or sour, just perfect which is another plus. Plus, the sausage was huge. For $3 something there was about 5 pieces I think or 6 but cut biggg which is another plus for me. As I was eating I did over hear someone talking about the eggs benedict and the waiter did say something that "the eggs benedict are listed on the front door". I love eggs benedict and wanted to try them but it sucks that there listed on the front menu which was not in site when I was in the front, so that sucked for me. I heard reviews on them and wanted to order to try on the side but I couldnt, so maybe next time. Overall for me the experience, service, food was all on point. But just some minor mistakes which bummed me but it's nothing to serious were I wouldn't wanna come back here again.
(4)Ryan D.
The food here is always delicious! Recently i have been calling in for take-out. I call in before i leave my house near Punchbowl and by the time i get there it is ready to go. Today i called in an order because my family is in town and the wait was at least an hour. So I'm placing the order, i ask for two quesadilla and two breakfast burritos. The very patient server told me they had to take the order one at a time. OK fair enough. One breakfast quesadilla, flour tortilla, bacon, guacamole. Two times, burritos the same please. He responds with "we don't have a breakfast burrito, we have a wrap!" OK, the same for the "wraps" then. Alright ordered and repeated back. Time to cruise. On my way over i started to think about the "wrap" thing. My understanding was that a wrap was usually cold and left open on at least one end... I get there and low and behold it is hot, wrapped neatly on both ends and served with salsa and guacamole.... A BURRITO! Furthermore, they don't have a menu online and the yelpers are saying great things about the breakfast burrito. So forgive me for the misunderstanding but do you think you could maybe guess i was talking about the "wrap" and save me the condescending corrective tone. Love you guys! I still tipped a gracious 15% on take out. The greeting party was a hoot. ;) P.S. it's a burrito.... ~sent from my nexus 4
(5)Chad S.
If I'm basing it strictly on the food, I'd probably give it "4 stars", but of course you can't leave out the service. And the service wasn't very good. Granted they were busy, but that's not excuse not to be friendly and courteous to their customers, right? After all, we are the reason they're busy in the first place. I noticed all the interactions with met with the sense they were just overall irritated and didn't want to be bothered. Strange, since they're in the service industry.
(2)Yuko A.
I like to cook breakfast at home a couple times a month. I'll cook crepes, pancakes, french toast or omelets but since I don't have a waffle maker - waffles are the one thing I can't make and I was having a serious craving for them... My friend had slept at my place since she just moved to Hawaii and after going to bed super early, we woke up the next morning at 6:30....Perfect timing, since 1. I was craving waffles 2. I wanted to hit up Cafe Kaila 3. It was early, so I knew we would beat the rush. So we caught a cab and headed to check out Cafe Kaila around 7:30. We still waited for 10 minutes after getting there, giving us ample time to flip through the menu to figure out what we wanted...although I was 90% sure I wanted waffles. My belgian malted waffle topped with generous strawberries hit the spot. The waffle had a crispy outside with an airy and light inside. After spreading some butter, and drizzling some maple syrup I was in heaven..... yelp.com/biz_photos/vVdo… My friend got the french toast with bananas and although it was fluffy and cooked to perfection with a hint of cinnamon in the batter, I preferred my waffle more I might have taken off a star for service because the guy who took our order never checked up on us, wasn't that friendly to us (he was laughing and smiling to other guests) and didn't keep our coffee's filled. BUT another woman who was also on the floor was always walking around with a smile on her face and finally refilled our coffee so I'm going to call it even.... Hopefully next time our waiter will like us and maybe smile. But, my highest expectations were met and I'm so glad I finally got the chance to eat here! YELP 365: 174/365
(5)Donna M.
Breakfast here is life changing.... I hate lines. I hate waking up in the morning. Putting them together sounds practically like a disaster waiting to happen. So why is it that I like breakfast from Cafe Kaila so much...? Magic, in the form of their loco moco eggs benedict. I think I could actually taste the love in there. Loco moco is one of my favorite plate lunch dishes. Eggs benedict is my favorite thing to order at breakfast. Their lovechild sounds like a dream come true. Like me you might think that amongst the combination of all these things, the gravy and the hollindase sauce might not work out... but somehow it just does. The baby hamburger patties are fork tender and melt in your mouth, covered by the most perfect poached egg you've ever seen, smothered in brown gravy with just a smidge of hollindaise sauce. Excuse me while I wipe the drool for my face... The accompaniment of the herb roasted potatoes just bring the dish to a whole nother level. Not greasy, but tender, perfectly seasoned potatoes just soak up all the gravy and bring harmony to the entire dish. Can you tell that I am in love with this breakfast? The loco moco eggs benedict isn't on the regular menu, though it should be. Seriously, if you see it on the specials menu, don't even think, just order it. You won't regret it! The wait here is not even THAT atrocious... Coming at 9AM on a Saturday, I waited about 45 minutes for a table. It truly didn't seem that bad, though there isn't really a comfortable place to stand and wait. I guess you could stand around and fiddle awkwardly with your phone, or sit in one of the few chairs they have outside. Okay, I'm done nitpicking now. Remember, loco moco eggs benedict!
(5)Alice R.
All you need to know is: Malted Belgium Waffle. SO freakin crispy and yummy. If you are like me, brunch always puts you in a conundrum because you're pretty good about cooking up and hosting a delicious brunch at your casa. But if you're looking for something that you can't quite master at home, consider the malted belgium waffles with your choice of fruit at Cafe Kaila. The crust is crispy and delicious that you will forget the last 20 minutes you waited for your table while cursing and second guessing yourself on other brunch options. If you are there past lunch time, consider going next door to Gina's for a take out meat jun lunch option. Oh and it totally sucks if you have to change your baby's diaper because the restroom is in "the lobby" which means you have to trek all over creation to get to there and make sure you have the code to open the door or you are SOL while your 4 year old is screaming at you and telling you that you are a loser for not taking her to the fun factory next door. Not that this happened to me or anything. I'm just speaking hypothetically.
(5)Virginia B.
This cafe always has a line because it has a lovely breakfast/brunch menu. The line moves quickly though. Their specials are so good I have never had anything from the regular menu. I truly love their waffles - so light and airy. The bacon is perfectly cooked - right between chewy and crispy. I can't wait to go back.
(4)NIKKI F.
I can't believe it's been a year since I last reviewed my beloved Cafe Kaila. The lengthy of wait has increased from around 20 to 45 minutes but it's still worth every minute of it. The friendly staff and the skilled chefs continue to produce an excellent breakfast experience. There are several menu items that you really should do yourself a favour and try: The French Toast: it's the lightest and fluffiest French toast in all the land. Eat it as soon as it comes to the table and you'll be in gourmet heaven. The pancakes: did I mention fluffy already? Ok you kind of expect pancakes time fluffy but these never fail to exceed expectations. Get them loaded with the berries mix and you'll still feel virtuous for eating something so delicious. Finally, the spinach breakfast wrap (or burrito): you got to respect that they don't call it a burrito because it has potatoes and no rice and beans but it is so full of flavour and is so filling that if you can get through this as well as the French toast, then you are a breakfaster of champions! Now eat, you've waited long enough outside :)
(5)Glen I.
Went to Laila today. Ordered an Italian omelet and waffle with fruit. Disappointed in the waffle, it was soft and not crispy as usual. Asked the waiter of the recipe changed and he said no. Just said that the kitchen didn't cook it correctly. No sorry or offer to change it. Very disappointed
(2)Jorge H.
Hands down, the best breakfast in Honolulu that I've ever had. I live here and love it. I love Kaila Cafe and would go there more if they weren't ALWAYS packed with a waiting list. But, hey, that's the sign of a great restaurant, yeah? Everything at Kaila's is ALWAYS Excellent! Great omlettes! Pancakes and waffles with freakin' MOUNDS of really excellent, fresh fruit and whip cream on top. Da freakin' kine! Good service for being so packed. Really nice folks as well. I asked my waiter today when the best time to get in there before the crowd was. He said 7 AM. I then asked what time they opened? He said 7 AM. :o). It's just that good. Enjoy
(5)Mike H.
Peeps always raving about the breakfast here, had to try it. No doubt a hole in the wall restaurant gone Viral. Outside the front door is a waiting log, enter your name and wait your turn. Table for 4, it took about 20mins. Friendly and polite staff here. Ok so put in our order... OMG the food here is Delicious. Def worth the wait.
(4)Dk P.
My wife was asking to visit this place for a while, so on our special extended anniversary, we went to Cafe Kaila. It was a little bit of a wait since it is quite popular with tourists, but when we got in and placed our order, it was truly a good meal worth waiting for. I had their special cookies and cream waffle with special order cartelized apples, and my wife had their classic eggs benedict. Service was fast, and food was good. We will be coming back again :)
(5)Denalee C.
Fellow Yelpers, I figured out why Cafe Kaila is now a bilingual joint: they have another location in Japan. Check it out here: ichirokadotai-news.blogs… This place has been crawling with tourists for a while now, which is good for business, but not good for my stomach which now has to wait much longer in line than usual. The servers here are pretty cute (extra star). I've been coming for breakfast for the last few times and everything is good: french toast, pancakes, waffles, and eggs. However, I'm going to say something a little provocative here: I think I like lunch better. Sandwiches and salads are delightful and maybe, just maybe the lines are shorter at lunch? We'll see. I'll let you know.
(4)T K.
Loved the Malted Belgian Waffle, we got it with no fruit. The waffle was crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. We also had a create your own omelet with: mushrooms, spinach, bacon and provolone cheese. The omelet was literary overflowing with the add-ons.
(5)Lyanna R.
It is my first time ever trying a smoked salmon Benedict and it was great!! The service was very good and they made me feel welcomed.
(4)Cathrine C.
I came in the other day with my friends and its my favorite breakfast place. The service was above excellent and the food was amazing. I wanna be there for lunch next time.
(5)Angie K.
Oahu definitely has some awesome brunch spots and this is one of the best I had during my 10-day stay last month. My hubby and I went during the week around 9:30 am so I knew a highly-rated place like this would probably be packed. We got there and the line didn't look that bad. I walked in and was instructed to put my name on the list outside. At that point, there were about 6 names before us. I thought it would've taken about an hour since I only saw the front room and everyone still had food on their plates. I made my boo walk a couple blocks to another breakfast place but that had 15 names so we stuck it out here. To my surprise, we were seated within 10 minutes! They had extra tables in a back room that we were brought to. We had a really sweet waitress that was unbelievably nice from beginning to end. We each had coffees, I had the salmon scramble and he had a bagel sandwich with sausage, I believe. O.M.G. That was the freshest salmon I had during my time on the island. Even my non-fish-eating husband was stealing a couple bites because it smelled divine. I tried a piece of his bagel (without the meat) and it was so very moist and fresh, like it was just baked. We had plans to go sight-seeing, so we had to eat quickly and leave. Thanks to the fantastic service, doing this was a breeze. The only thing holding me back from 5 stars is that the decor inside is a little empty with only a couple light wooden tables and chairs, looking like someone just moved in and didn't finish decorating. I care more about food than decorations so I didn't give it much thought. Anyone staying in Oahu must make a trip to Cafe Kaila! Your belly will thank you.
(4)Maka K.
I love me some breakfast food, but I don't love having to wait long periods of time to get it....that fact aside, the food was worth waiting for if you ask me. Unless you're there when they open at 7am or come on a non-busy weekday, then be prepared to write your name down and wait outside for anywhere between 30-60 minutes before you even make it in the doors. On the bright side, a server comes out every once in a while with a platter of cut up belgium waffles for the waiting crowd to sample, so I can appreciate that they're not forgetting about the folk outside. Parking: It's in the Market City Shopping Center, so there's normally lots of parking available, especially during morning hours when the other businesses haven't opened yet. Food: I ordered the Combo (Choice of 2 pancakes or 2 french toast, 2 eggs prepared how you want them, and a side of meat of your choice) for $11.50----I got pancakes, over-hard eggs, and TURKEY BACON!! Seriously, when a restaurant offers turkey bacon as a meat choice for no extra charge, I'm a happy camper because that's RARE. The pancakes were fluffy and delicious; i didn't use the butter and only about a tbsp of syrup, but that was enough because they were pretty damn good on their own. Eggs are eggs, period. Turkey bacon was non-oily (score!) and surprisingly crispy (which I know from experience can be hard to achieve)! They don't have eggs benedict on their regular menu, but they apparently tend to have some form of it on their specials menu (i.e. the handwritten specials on a piece of paper taped to the front door w/o any listed prices). This morning they offered the traditional egg benny, a smoked salmon benedict, or a chicken apple sausage benedict (and some other stuff that looked less interesting). Bf loves eggs benedict and uses them as benchmarks for what breakfast restaurants he likes, so he got the smoked salmon benny and said it was really good. Poached eggs were done right, salmon was tender and not over salted, and the side of red potatoes that it comes with were done well, too. On the downside, since there are no prices on the specials "menu" paper, he didn't realize until the bill came that his eggs benny was $14.95 *shock*, so the lesson is to ASK FOR THE PRICES OF THE SPECIALS FIRST before ordering them!! Service: Even if the restaurant isn't huge, you know these guys are swamped from the moment they open. You can tell they're moving as fast as they can to clear tables, get you seated, and get your food out to you. That being said, I'm not gonna fault the host/waiter who just handed us our menus at the door and pointed us to our table to seat ourselves. Despite the frantic dash, they're nice enough when they come by to take your order and check-in on how your food is. Conclusion: Aside from the little boy who thought he was an opera singer who sat behind me for a while scream-singing before his family actually left the restaurant (oh my f-ing god, I was hoping someone would shoot me...), I had a great experience. Wait or no wait, I would definitely go back for more of their food!
(4)Caitlin F.
Benedicts are good, but it's sorta in the hood. An American diner, but the foods a bit finer. If in Hawaii, I'd come back, next time I'll get the stack (of pancakes).
(4)Saige B.
I love this place! Food is delicious, atmosphere is cozy, service is awesome! The only downside is the wait. My boyfriend and I arrived there around 10 and didn't start eating until about 11. It was well worth the wait. I had the special which was Salmon Eggs Benedict which was amazing. My boyfriend had the strawberry French toast which he said was good but he really like the hash browns which he started to steal from my plate. If you're looking for a good breakfast place than this is it. However you might work up an appetite just waiting to be seated.
(4)Patrick G.
I really want to know how many tourist pictures have me standing in front of Cafe Kaila while I'm waiting to be seated. Upon my recent trip to enjoy a much anticipated breakfast at this hot spot, my wife and I waited in line for a half hour (not bad at all) and saw more people come up pose for a picture in front of the restaurant and leave than actually wait in the line with us for the food. It was very comical to me to see people take a picture of a restaurant that they didn't even eat at. Once I was over the outdoor antics of this restaurant, my wife and I were seated and promptly waited on. They seemed to have a really good system for getting people in and out, which was needed because of the large customer base cycling through Cafe Kaila. The staff members were all very friendly and personable and seemed to really enjoy just talking to their customers. They were also very good at their main jobs of serving food. I was very impressed. As for the food, I knew I would regret my decisions if I hadn't gotten some form of sweet breakfasty delight (pancakes, waffles, french toast). So I ordered the pancakes, my wife ordered the french toast, and we split them to have a more enjoyable sampling breakfast. The pancakes were great, but the french toast was probably the best I have ever had! It was thick cut, fried perfectly, crispy on the outside, and melted in my mouth. I don't know if I can ever go back to the slop I make at home again. I have been spoiled and will never be the same again. I will definitely be back to enjoy the great atmosphere and breakfasts in the future.
(5)Mike O.
Coming here on a week day after 11am is the way to go. You get to order off their lunch menu as well as serving breakfast all day. There is also no wait. I usually eat their italian sausage ravioli. It was no different on this visit. I really like this dish as their marinara sauce with small piece of italian sausage rich and flavorful. The ravioli is firm and nicely filled with cheese. My wife had french toast with strawberries. She says its really good. Her only complaint about this place is she says the coffee is only luke warm.
(4)Shay F.
I've been back a few times now and I think they upgraded their food. It actually tastes good and I enjoy eating the food! (Of course the wait is still horrible.) What I like most are the waffles with fruit and the mushroom soup. *Thumbs Up*
(4)Rainy L.
Long wait. If you know what you would like to order, might make everything quicker. I had frittata. It was yummy. But to be honest it tastes just like Thai omelet with stuffing. The only difference was this one was baked and Thai style omelet is fried.
(4)Talor M.
I've been trying to think of a place that has better breakfast than this joint. It's really tough so far........... When we first pulled up me and my girlfriend were really intimidated by the line. We had time to kill so what the heck. Signed our name on the clip board and then a guy comes out with a giant plate of waffle samples and that was it! It was a done deal after that. It was soo good. Golden brown and crunchy on the outside while fluffy and light on the inside. It just got better from there. After we sat down and ordered it took a little bit of time for the food to come out but no big deal they're really busy. So I got the omelette and she got the waffle. The omelette was just right. Not too heavy, not tough, really filling and great breakfast potatoes too. Her waffle was just as good as the one outside, this time with fruit! That stuff is so good you don't even need syrup with it! Afterwards we were so full but kept looking at the menu for some reason as their food is so good. Then the brownie ala mode just jumped out at me, we both nodded at each other and crazily enough we ordered it! I don't regret a thing! It was the perfect balance of the gooey warm brownie and the cold vanilla bean ice cream. What a crazy epic breakfast! Man I feel so fat from just typing this. lol If you don't mind waiting and hour and have time to kill this is the place to go for breakfast!
(5)Chris T.
Hands down the best pancake place in all of Oahu. The pancakes are so buttery soft...If the lines weren't that long, I'd be there more frequently.
(5)Cecilia L.
All of the food was absolutely amazing. Everything my party ordered came out perfectly. Took a star off for the average service and the crazy parking situation outside. But all in all, very satisfied customer and I'll most likely eat here again.
(4)Amy G.
I finally got to try this place after seeing all the Instagram photo's from my friends. I wanted the waffles, but at $7 for just batter (+2 for ever fruit), i decided to get something more filling: the burrito wrap and my friend got the veggie omelet. Service started off good as we placed our order in a timely manner and we even got to try a piece of the waflles: hmm, i think i did make a mistake ordering the wrap so the food came out and we looked at each other: "that omlettes really small" says my non-picky friend "yeah, especially for the $12 you spent on it". she added a few other veggies but it didn't look like it for 3 extra toppings anyways, i looked at my wrap and all i saw were potato's. since when did i order a potato wrap? i bit into it hoping i'd get more then just potatos...wrong...its a potato wrap indeed. i got mine with sausage and yes, there were enough sausage but what happened to my onions and eggs and everything else? it was just a small little portion that really didn't satisfy. we were both full by the end of our meal but that was due to the huge amounts of potato we were given. for the price we paid, def not worth the money. as far as service is concerned, we never got a refill on water even though my friend finished hers halfway through the meal. with our food already being a disappointment, no water refills just kinda upset me so out of spite, i asked for a water refill (the lady didn't even stop i just asked her as she passed) and took a sip and paid for our meal. the only reason why this place got the decent 3 instead of 2 star was that we got to sample the delicious waffles
(3)Tiffany O.
Always busy busy, so if you're not in a complete rush for breakfast, put your name down on the list! The wait isn't usually too long though.. Both times, that I've been here, I basically got the same thing because it just sounds so good. I got the Breakfast combo, which included eggs, choice of meat, and choice of pancake, waffle, or french toast? Something like that, but it has a little bit of everything if you can't decide what you want. You can also add on fruits if you like. My friend got one of the omelettes too, and that looks really good! Their roasted potatoes are delicious too! I honestly, just like to come here to take pictures of the food because it looks pretty and appetizing. Overall, not worth the price for my combo. As for their service, there's one lady that took our order last time, she was really patient and nice to us. The first time, they were really busy, so we felt a bit rushed. Also, it says that they are cash only, however, I payed with my card the last time I went, which was a few weeks ago.
(4)Britney C.
Food comes out quick but the service is never really there when my family and I go in. Punctual at taking the orders but once you get your meal I received no "how is the food? Everything ok? " It's probably because there are apt of people especially tourists coming in but really!? Anyways, food is ok and If you don't mind leaving the place without any "have a nice day/ goodbye!" This place is for you!
(2)Michele T.
Great food, not a terrible price for overly decent food. Staff was friendly and the place was clean. Wait was long, but now I understand why!
(5)Erina A.
I had French toast and my husband had chicken panini! They are both really good and service was great too:) I want to try different dish next time. Can't wait to go back there:)
(5)Alysha K.
Maybe I'm spoiled cuz I lived in San Francisco for 8 years, but I have still yet to find myself a really good breakfast place in Hawaii (and no, I have not tried Cinnamon's or Boots & Kimo's yet). Don't get me wrong, what I ordered was tasty, nothing wrong with it. I got the smoked salmon eggs bene with potatoes. However, I didn't think it was worth the wait ~45-60 mins + 5 of us squished on a tiny table. It was so hectic inside that they messed up part of our order too. (I wanted rice instead of potatoes). But I didn't bother to change it cuz I could feel the stressed out energy from the waiters. I do like how they gave out free samples of waffles while we waited though. That's a plus!
(3)Brandon B.
We love this place! The service is outstanding and the food is even better. For a reasonable price, you get large portions and the best quality. Definitely try this place.
(5)muilani u.
It's gets busy and the parking lot fills up quickly, so be prepared to wait. This was our first time and we both tried the specials. Meatloaf locomoco and Kailua pig eggs Benedict. Potions are huge, but unfortunately my Kahlua was way too salty. I could only eat the eggs. The meatloaf was ok but not great. The server didn't even ask why I barely ate the Kahlua. From the reviews, it seems they over salt their food. Light on the salt ..please! Well try waffles next we'll try the waffles.
(3)Belle B.
I could write a poem about how much I love this place - if I wrote poetry. I have been here several times. My husband and I came here years ago on a whim since we were staying at the family condo on Kalakaua Avenue. Since then, we have been bringing our family members here one by one when we are in town. My first words of advice if you want breakfast is to get there before they open. The line builds quickly and they are full the minute they open. Lately I have been on a veggie omlet (with meat) kick. I love how you can build your own omlet with lots of goodies. They also have a wonderful breakfast selection of different combinations of eggs and meats. We have ordered their scrambles, which you can't go wrong with either. The thought of their waffle with fresh strawberries makes my mouth water. The endless frequent refills of coffee helps to even out the meal. This is a great place to visit and it is obviously very popular not only with locals but with all the nihonjin tourists and transplants as well. I highly recommend this place to everyone.... who can wake up early enough to enjoy it without a long wait.
(5)Cynthia C.
Their breakfast is very wholesome & YUMMY! Best french toast I've had in years! Bagels n locks are delicious! Almost every menu item is organic & fresh! Love this place!! Plan time for seating. Maybe about an hour.
(5)Lisa G.
My go to place whenever I'm in Oahu!!! Great food great service....it's always a wait to get a table but so worth it!!
(5)Alicia D.
I used love going to Cafe Kalia. This place is close to my house, My boyfriend Jordan S. and myself try to go out for breakfast every weekend. This was one of our go to spots, but after i got a couple mediocre dishes we do not go anymore. The location is good but parking can be tricky and there is usually a long wait if you get in after one of the big Japanese tour busses drop off people. Try and park close so you can wait in your car with the windows down. The food is pl! The waffle is a little dry but the other things I have had are good. My Boyfriend loved all the different varieties of eggs benedicts they have. The menu has a few rotating items every weekend so it keeps things interesting. The price point is good for what you get. The servers are friendly and nice. Service is quick. The location needs to have a little TLC done to it, like some new paint and some fixing of dings in the walls and such but otherwise its really homey. Its a decent place for breakfast.
(3)Jenn T.
Another awesome breakfast place! I went to this place for breakfast on a weekday and boy was it crowded! It seems to attract a lot of toursits here, but not sure how they find it since its sorta hidden in market city shopping center. They have a good menu with a local twist to it on breakfast. I tried the omelet with 2 choices of meat and cheese, which I got portuguese sausage and ham. It was very delicious, came with a choice of side and some fruit! The other items also look awesome on the menu, such as the french toast, the scrambles and the pancakes. The waitress we had was very friendly, and was great a refilling my coffee! I must have drank like 3 cups cus she was so good at refilling it. Very crowded place and is bustling constantly so it's slightly loud, but a cool place for breakfast with good food.
(4)Aaron W.
Many people know by now that I'm a big breakfast fan. Even better when you see a waiting list (to get seated) form on a Monday. I came by with my family on this visit, and seven names were on the waitlist before us. I expected a longer wait, but we got seated in a reasonable amount of time, perhaps 15 minutes. It's a very inviting environment. A contemporary feel, with high-quality traditional breakfast and lunch dishes. Breakfast is served all day, while the lunch orders begin at 11 a.m. I also noticed that there are two menus: one in English and another in Japanese. I saw several Japanese tourists inside, so that was one heck of a great decision. I also thought it was cool to have some people sit at the counter. Since I didn't really see alcohol choices, it resembles that upscale diner aspect. The Cinnamon French Toast ($7.50) features three large pieces of Hawaiian sweet bread soaked in a cinnamon-egg mixture. The toast gets dusted with powdered sugar and served with a side of maple syrup. You can get bananas, caramelized apples, blueberries, or strawberries on top for $2 each. I ended up getting both strawberries and blueberries. I enjoyed it, and probably would have liked a bit more cinnamon. I should mention that I'm a cinnaholic, so its current form should be fine for the vast majority of customers. I found the French toast hard to cut with a butterknife. A steak knife should be a better weapon to conquer this food. The Belgian waffle is another immensely popular item, and we all agreed it was the best of the dishes we ordered. It's extremely light; crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Although you'll get a side of syrup for this one, I think the malty, sweet waffle batter (which also gets powdered sugar and whipped cream) doesn't require additional sweetness to be enjoyed. In fact, while we were standing outside waiting for our table, one of the employees came out with waffle samples. Real cool of them to do that. The Breakfast BLT comes with your choice of white, wheat, sourdough, or rye bread. Really a BLT with scrambled eggs added. A very good job on the bacon: crispy and not burnt. There's mayo on here, which I'm not a huge fan of, but you could easily omit that if you wanted to. My father usually sticks with traditional breakfasts, so he got two eggs (scrambled), ham, and potatoes. Awesome color on the potatoes. I'd personally pay a bit more for a larger meat portion. Good-sized portions here. I'd devour everything in sight, but others may leave with leftovers. Friendly service. I'm certainly a fan. Check this place out!
(4)Ed W.
Little out of the way but on point!!! Great breakfast spot!!!! We had French toast with strawberries and scrambled eggs with Portuguese sausage both were very good!!! Ample free parking in lot and there is a food land supermarket in the same lot to pick up some drinks, snacks etc...
(4)Nicole K.
FYI this place buses in tourists to their establishment as early at 7 AM! (Tuesday morning). I got there at 7:20 and there was at least 15 deep of tourists waiting to get in. I left to eat breakfast at another venue. Great for business, junk for the locals. The one star is only because I couldn't even get in the door. I've eaten the food before, but it was a while ago, so I can't comment on the food and service. Just forewarning, don't go early expecting to get a seat and have a nice meal... I'm sure you'll be waiting until at least 8:30. Hawaii needs more breakfast joints that actually have places to sit down and eat.
(1)Lily B.
Cafe Kaila is located in the Market City Shopping Center on Kapiolani Blvd. The BF and I ALWAYS pass this shopping center but I never knew Cafe Kaila was one of the establishments! Fail... lol. It was black Friday and we had just finished up 4 hours shopping at the NEX and we were HUNGRY! I'm usually not a fan of breakfast, but my BF likes it so we decided to Yelp some places and try somewhere we'd never been to. Insert Cafe Kaila here. I've heard many great things about this place and was very excited to try it out. We arrived shortly after 10AM and there was still ample parking and a short line. We signed in on the clipboard at the podium and waited less than 20 minutes to be seated. The menu is fairly simple. An assortment of omelettes, meat w/ eggs, pancakes, french toast, waffles, etc. Breakfast is served all day and they also have items for lunch as well. My BF decided on steak (ribeye) and eggs w/ herb roasted potatoes and sour dough bread. $12.95. Steak was cooked perfectly. Potatoes are delicious! yelp.com/user_local_phot… I got the 'combo' which included: french toast, a choice of meat (link sausage), and eggs. Average sausage and eggs. The french toast was fluffly and delicious! I'm not a french toast fan but these have me rethinking that! French toast is highly recommended. yelp.com/user_local_phot… We shared the belgian waffle with strawberries. The waffle was VERY crispy. The strawberries were soaked in some kind of sauce. It was okay. I must say, I think the waffle at Anna Millers is better. The waffle is always cooked perfectly, the strawberries are freshly cut (no sauce), and whipped cream surrounds the strawberries and is thick! I wouldn't order the waffle again. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Staff: Everyone we encountered was friendly and efficient. This place is SO BUSY but it's great that the staff doesn't rush you and that they still are attentive and nice. Ambiance: Kinda loud because it's so busy. Several tables inside (people are in and out!) and there's a bar area with seating on stools as well. Price: Average prices; comparable to other breakfast joints. Total with tip: $48. End result? We're glad we tried. I wouldn't mind coming back one day... but I wouldn't go out of my way to return either.
(3)Ranier D.
The food here is pretty much average. I feel like this places reputation preceeds itself. The omelets and pancakes were almost flavorless. It took a healthy dose of ketchup and tobasco to add flavor. The service was okay though..
(3)Julianne C.
Great brunch, however is always packed which is sometimes discouraging. Their waffles and breakfast dishes are fantastic though.
(4)Courtney O.
If it weren't for the long lines, I would be here much more often!! The service here is wonderful. And the breakfast options are limitless! I had the banana pancakes and omg! I think it was enough for about 4 people!? The portions are HUGE!! They know what they are doing here!! The reason I only gave 4 stars is because this is one of my least favorite parking lots. Sorry! Ease of parking gives you big props in my book.
(4)Bob S.
Cafe Kaila gets a lot of accolades (eg Hale Aina Best Breakfast) and 5 star reviews, and it deserves all of them. It's not perfect, but it is just bloody good. If you come here and don't have a great breakfast/brunch, then there's probably something wrong with you. Most of the staff are really nice, and the owner Chrissie is a star. Even now she tends to make most of the food herself, and apparently she's the only one allowed to (/who knows how to?) make the pancake mix! They opened a Cafe Kaila in Tokyo a year or two ago, which was apparently a big hit. Consequently, there are a lot of Japanese tourists who come here, but don't let that bother you,as they're all nice enough. You will have to wait, but it's worth it. Just chill out and relax in anticipation of the deliciousness that awaits. I suspect most of the reviews commenting on bad staff are probably guests who got angry at having to wait (as if that's the staff's fault?), and then were rude to the staff. If you're nice to the staff they'll be nice back.
(5)Kalamo K.
Last breakfast on the island and this place helped make it memorable. Standard items to order for an american breakfast but my special of Rueben eggs Benedict was seriously the best thing on the menu. Always order the special. Always. Don't be mistaken u will wait for a great meal but just be prepared food will rock you. Service is pushy so just make them wait. U just waited an hour they can too.
(4)Lorilynn L.
The breakfast here is incredibly delicious, the wait in the hot sun, not so much. If you have time to wait, it is definitely worth it.
(4)Jhoren C.
I'm rating this based on SERVICE. To me at any business excellent service is a MUST! Food: the food was a HIT! Belgian waffles, french toast and fritatta did not dissappoint and the portions were big. Totally filled us up and price wise was okay. Seriously I would have gave this place a 4 star but the service was what dissapointed me. I can understand they are a pretty busy restaurant whose known for their brunch menu but you do not let your table of 2 wait for almost 20 minute to see if we needed anything else after we have been served our food. What was annoying was there were 2 workers cleaning a small table that sat 2 people and no other worker was around to get their attention. We had to go up and actually ask for a to-go box and ask for our tab, oh and another 1 star minus is the fact that they do not accept major credit/debit cards...I must've miss the CASH ONLY sign. So not only did I have to wait on our tab, I had to walk out and find an atm to grab cash. As we left there was no goodbye or thank you...yeah don't think I'd be coming back here anytime soon...
(2)Bryan W.
Usually when I order steak and eggs, the steak is of poor quality. The steak here was very tasty and done as I ordered. Eggs and toast were perfect. Had to wait a little while for a table and waiter was not bad.
(4)Jeff C.
When we get a chance to eat upscale breakfast (a step up from Zippys) there are a handful of choices. 2-3 are in town and this cozy place is right on the cusp of Moiliili and the mouth of Kaimuki. Parking is good if you come early. And please do come early. This restaurant is a favorite of locals and tourists who are jonesing for that cafe feel in the islands. The taste and presentation is similar to breakfasts served on the bottom floor of an executive hotel on the neighbor islands. Food is plentiful, tasty, and the presentation is well done. We have eaten here about six or seven times. I usually order the typical two eggs, meat, etc. Wifey usually gets an omelette. When we get brave, we eat waffles or pancakes. Service is great. Food is great. Cost is slightly pricey for breakfast, but seriously it's a two time a year splurge. My only complaint is that IF you aren't early enough the wait is crazy. Maybe... 30 people can fit in this place at once.
(5)Michael T.
This place is gourmet! Always busy but worth the wait. Best breakfast on the island. Fresh with some healthy options as well.
(5)Stephanie R.
I remember it like it was yesterday... it was September 11th, 2o13 to be exact. Took my boyfriend for his birthday breakfast and it was AMAZING! I read a review on it that mentioned the wait for seating but how great they were that they stayed. i saw the pictures and we decided to give it a try.Order strawberry french toast, pancakes, potatoes, fruit bowl and coffee. Everything was so fresh and delicious! We waited no more than 10 minutes and our order was taken promptly. Since food is made to order, we waited a bit but i would do it all over again. Since then, I have told several of my friends traveling to Waikiki that this place is a MUST. My boyfriend and I have even been tempted to book a weekend trip to Hawaii just to eat at this INCREDIBLE place. The staff is friendly and makes sure that you leave full and satisfied. Love everything about it!
(5)Lauren G.
I'm quite the breakfast food buff so I've wanted to try Cafe Kaila for quite awhile now, but living on the Kailua side makes it hard to get up early enough to avoid the crowds.... But after a long night out in Waikiki we were finally able to make it over! My husband and I decided to split the breakfast burrito and the banana pancakes. The burrito was awesomeee.. packed full of eggs, bacon, onions, peppers and topped off with guacamole, YUM. I had been craving a solid breakfast burrito like the ones I grew up with in Texas, but hadn't found anything comparable on the island.. this one hit the spot! The pancakes were good too.. maybe I'm just not enough of a pancake fan to fully appreciate them? No complaints though. Every plate that went by us looked sooo good.. I'm going to HAVE to come back and try some of the other stuff on the menu. Oh and side note: they now accept credit cards! :) Yay for not having to go hunt down an ATM!
(4)John L.
The wait wasn't as bad as I feared. We got there a bit early, around 8:30a and only had to wait 30 minutes. There were quite a few Japanese tourists and some locals mingled in. The service was a mixed bag. Our main server was a bit rude. I don't mind if they are in a hurry to get a busy place served, but they were dismissive and not very helpful. It was nice that they brought around fresh waffle samples for those still waiting for a table... But the second time they came around we asked for more samples for my kids who were hungry and she told us our food was coming out soon, dismissed us, and walked off. Quite rude! I thought at least the food will be better...... How could so many reviewers be wrong. Maybe it was a bad day...... The eggs were decent. 3.5 stars. Cooked decently. My mother in laws breakfast quesadilla was good. Salsa was too sweet but the guacamole was good. 4 stars. The French toast was decent but nothing spectacular. hard to mess up as it is made with Hawaiian sweet bread to begin with. 3.5stars. The pancakes were decent. 3 stars. The potatoes were terrible. The seasoning was promising but they were extremely undercooked. Still hard and slightly crunchy in the middle. I tried potatoes off of 3 plates. 1 star. Also found a hair in my kids eggs...... Don't think it's worth the wait.
(3)Jeremy B.
Perhaps the best French Toast I've had anywhere. The pancakes were amazing. All the fruit was perfectly ripe and sweet. For the whole table we had the French toast combo, fruit platter and original pancakes with fruit. And a huge plus, they use organic whenever possible. If you're a fan of breakfast, you must try this place.
(5)Clarissa M.
Excellent service - you can see great the work amongst the staff to hustle and bustle the tables and crowds. They even do it with a smile no grumpy faces here. We had the frittata with turkey bacon and French toast with side of bacon. The thickness of the french toast was the bomb and the maple syrup just oozed through-yum!!! The potatoes in the frittata was cooked well and it was so tasty! It was great when our server brought all the condiments shoyu, tabasco, and ketchup! All what we needed :) Our breakfast was do damn tasty! We will definitely return!
(5)Ruth S.
Today 3 of us shared - waffles, smoked salmon Benedict and lox&bagel. I don't usually like waffles but it was so fluffy and delicious! The smoke salmon Benedict was amazing, but the eggs were over cooked. You must stop by for breakfast when vacationing in Oahu!
(4)Daniel G.
This was our first time trying this place. I ordered the special, corn beef hash eggs benedict (I'm a big fan of eggs benedict). Very good! The eggs were cooked perfectly. Other things ordered were the "your stlye" omelet, croissant sandwich and a pumpkin waffle to share. Everything was delish! The service was good and the place was clean (a big plus). And the wait was only about half an hour. For a Saturday...that was excellent!
(4)Ronda G.
Amazing! The line went quickly and the food was amazing!! We ordered two entrees each because it was possible to choose! Try the eggs Benedict or pumpkin waffles- you won't be disappointed! The staff is quick, courteous and very helpful! Worth the drive and wait:)
(5)Tyler B.
Good lord, this place was entirely worth the wait. The service was awesome! All of the waiters and waitresses were beyond friendly and the food was amazing. We both had gotten the specials; loco Moco eggs Benedict and cinnamon waffle. Ugh my god, that eggs bene was AMAZEBALLS! Perfect way to start a Sunday off :) Going back for sure, 100x better than boots and kimos and cinnamons. Closer too :)
(5)Savannah P.
One of my FAV island breakfast joints. On my drive over, I cue Cheers' opening song, "You wanna go, where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came..." That's what it's like when you come here. You get poured a hot cup of coffee (& repeatedly if you want to be caffeinated throughout the day) with a smiling waitress. The food and price intertwine like marriage. The ambience is nice. It's clean insde. There's a breakfast bar (not an alcoholic one :P) where you can eat and talk story. You can always tell the regulars apart from tourists who love taking pictures of their hot, delicious Belgian waffles with fresh cut bananas and berries topped with whippped cream! * B O O M * Tip: Come early the lines get long for breakfast! Tip: Cash only
(5)Naomi L.
Yay! I finally got to eat at Cafe Kaila! I have heard so many good things about this place, I really had to try. Unfortunately, the 1st time my friends and I went - the line was so long we left. The 2nd time it was closed. I guess the 3rd time really is the charm! Good thing we got there at 8, since we only have to wait ~10 minutes. By the time we left, there was a huge line of people waiting outside. You know a place is good/worth waiting for when people are willing to wait in the rain to eat breakfast. I got the quesadilla, which turned out to be so huge I ate the rest for lunch. Base price is $9.50, but I added guac for 50 cents (totally worth it). It came with cheese, eggs, and a choice of meat. I've been a pescatarian for the last ~5 years, but they happily switched out the meat option for a choice 2 veggies (thank you!). The eggs were light a fluffy/delicious and the tortilla was crispy and not soggy. All-in-all delicious. One of my friends and I also got the chai tea latte. Having spent some time in India, I am kinda reluctant to get chai tea at places. However, this hit high marks with me for being yummy. It wasn't traditional at all, but good in it's own right. It definitely hit the spot on a rainy day and for $3.50, wasn't a huge imposition on my wallet. I think I will ask them for less foam next time. The staff was very nice and patient with us. One guy even held the door for us on the way out! How nice. If the line isn't too long, I will definitely be back to try some more food. Lunch service starts at 11, so I may try that some other day.
(4)Matthew T.
Although there's always a wait, it's well worth it. Put your name down once you get there and the wait isn't too bad. With hungry eyes, I ordered the stack of 3 pancakes thinking that I would have to order something else later to fill me up. That wasn't the case, as the pancakes were large, fluffy, and extremely filling. Delish.
(4)Lindsay S.
Cafe Kaila always seems to be busy with long lines outside waiting for tables. The wait seems to be around 30 minutes to an hour depending on what time of day you go. The food is decent with a selection of the usual breakfast/brunch offerings like pancakes, waffles, omlettes etc. I have tried the pancakes, eggs benedict, corned beef hash eggs benedict, and pumpkin spiced waffle special. This time the eggs were over poached but the wait staff was kind enough to take it back and get me a fresh order. The only reasons I'd give this place four stars are the wait time and the prices. If you have plenty of time for brunch, I'd recommend trying Cafe Kaila but I wouldn't say that the food or ambience is worth over an hour wait.
(4)Yuzen Y.
The wait was long to get in as well as to get our food. However, the food was good and they kept the coffee flowing
(4)Beth I.
Omg... this place is delicious! Yes, you will wait a while even on a weekday (so be patient), but it's worth it for a relaxed breakfast. I haven't been here in years, but it's still as wonderful as I remember it! Now that i'm on a bit of a health kick, I'm really grateful that I can still have an omelette or scramble with egg whites that doesn't taste health-foody. (You know what I mean...that tasteless white blob.) I had a tasty scramble with mushrooms and spinach and I love the toast AND potatoes that come with it. I can't really have much starches, but I couldn't resist the sourdough toast! I also love their lattes with lots of perfect froth! You really can't go wrong here, so enjoy a relaxed breakfast here to kick off a wonderful day.
(5)Nikki M.
I used to like going to this place but after getting multiple bad service experiences...I don't want to go back. This time, 5 minutes after finishing our meal a waitress told us she wanted us to pay our bill and leave so she could make room for a group of 5. While two to three groups in front of us were still sitting talking....can't even wait for my food to settle before being asked to leave...and we ate faster than other groups that got there after us. Fortunately, I haven't seen her working there since. They are so packed all the time that I feel like I have to rush when I eat. So I get take-out instead.
(3)Kelly K.
Simple, honest, homestyle cooking at a reasonable price. Went here on a Saturday morning and waited 40 min for a table. This place must be doing something right. They brought out samples of their waffles to the folks waiting outside. Nice touch! Service was friendly and the food (albeit simple and straightforward) was good. Loved the corned beef hash eggs benedict special. Portions are huge so come with a healthy appetite! Their coffee was tasty and was refilled often. Definitely coming back!
(4)Karen L.
Came here an hour after it opened and there was a wait but thankfully not too bad. I love eggs Benedict and was looking forward to trying their braised beef eggs Benedict but they weren't serving it. I got the regular one and it was good not great. The side of potatoes were delicious though. We also got waffles and they were light and fluffy. They were great waffles. My husband ordered the breakfast burrito, again nothing special. If I come back it would be for their waffles and pancakes, although I don't usually eat them.
(4)Reid A.
Awesome Waffles! I always passed by this place and always seen a line to get in. I finally got the chance to see what the big deal was about. I came here with my family. We noticed a bunch of Japanese tourists also waiting. They must be yelping or maybe they get a coupon booklet to this place? The wait was tolerable since we were not in a rush. One of the waiters came out and gave us samples of their waffles. One bite and I knew I had to order it. I ordered the blueberry waffles with Portuguese sausage. The waffles have a crispy shell and the inside is pure fluffiness. It was magical! Every waffle indentation had a blueberry in it. What attention to detail! If you order the papaya you also get blueberries in the papaya. It's pretty cool that they add on more things than what you expect to get. This place is perfect for breakfast.
(4)Danielle K.
This was the best breakfast we had during our vacation! We came here on a Sunday morning and, of course, it was crowded, but we all decided that we would wait the 45 minutes. Good thing we did because we all thoroughly enjoyed our food! Between the four of us we ordered two of the pastrami eggs benedict special, a belgian waffle with strawberries, a breakfast burrito, an order of french toast, and a side order of fried rice. Our food came out fast and everything looked and tasted great! We even ordered an extra waffle to go to bring back to my boyfriend's parents!
(5)Bianca V.
One of thee best breakfast joints in town! My cousin dragged me out here from my comfortable bed, but oh was it worth it! We got there & immediately found parking, which looked like it was hard, considering the small parking lot. Then waited just 15-20 minutes or so. (Be prepared to wait longer though, it gets pretty busy. Seems to be a tourist destination.) But trust me on this one, it well worth the wait! I have their maple bacon waffles with side strawberries & a slice of their french toast. I couldn't decide! They were both very delicious! The fruit was so fresh. The waffle was cooked perfectly, it was crispy when I cut into it & had bits of bacon & syrup actually in the waffle. The french toast was perfection- light fluffy, with the perfect amount of sweetness. You HAVE to try this place!
(4)Melani M.
I actually considered giving this a 1 star so the ratings would go down and I wouldn't have to wait in line for such an amazing breakfast!!! We had the Daily Special Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict and the French Toast with Blueberries and Strawberries! SOOOOO YUMMMY!!! I dine out probably 3-4 times a week and I have found my new go to place. I will definitely be a 2x a week regular....guess I better get used to the wait....or I could time it? The average diner takes 1hr to 1hr and 15 min. If they open at 7am then....IT REALLY IS THAT GOOD!!!
(5)Annie L.
Recommend steak and egg dish. Potatoes go well with the mushroom topped rib eye steak. Great deal!
(4)Raych D.
NOW OFFICIALLY MY NEW FAVORITE BREAKFAST/BRUNCH JOINT! I LOOOOVE this place so much that I came here twice last week! Came here on Saturday for brunch around 10:30 am to introduce the ex here since he has never been here (and because we were to late to go to Kcc's farmers market). The wait was about 30 minutes since we hit peak hours but it moved pretty fast. Only thing that was weird was 2 people after us got called and we wondered why then found out that someone changed our party of 2 to a party of 3...not sure who did it but that was really strange...anyways, we ended up getting the veggie scramble with wheat toast to share along with their infamous fried rice and sweet bread french toast with fresh strawberries. The veggie scramble was delicious with mushrooms, spinach and Monterrey jack cheese. Took a bite of the toast which was good also, since I don't eat rice or any type of meat I didn't try the fried rice but he claimed that it "was one of the best fried rice" he's ever had. I'm not much of a french toast kinda gal but their french toast is very tasty. Just enough sweetness to it where you don't even need all that extra sweetness like whip cream and syrup to it (which is included on the side). The prices are just right and portions are on the bigger side so you know your getting your buck or enough to take back home. And each plate comes with slices of fruits to it such as strawberries and an orange. Second visit was just yesterday for breakfast. A friend of mine from Vegas is in town visiting so I took my friend here for breakfast and got here around 8:30am..the wait was about 10-15 minutes. When it was our turn, the worker said we could chose from 3 different tables which was the first time that ever happened...because normally it's always so busy that you never get to chose your table. I got the spinach egg wrap with no meat, just veggies and eggs. It comes with a slice of strawberry and a slice of arrange wedge with side of salsa...add Tabasco to the salsa and they both go perfect with it wrap. I always opt out for the guacamole but I'm sure it tastes a lot better with it. The wrap is about $10. Friend got the breakfast platter with rice, scrambled eggs with Portuguese sausage and toast. We also shared their famous Belgian waffles ($6) with fresh bananas for $2 more. As a person who doesn't eat waffles, I will say their waffles are extremely good! And it is a MUST TRY!
(5)Jay C.
Busy busy place but the staff do their best to minimize the wait. While I was seated, someone came by with small portions of the waffles to try. So light and fluffy, not too sweet! I ordered the traditional scramble. The eggs and potatoes were a little sweet, not sure if they intended to do that. Excellent food. My friend got the eggs benedict, and another got the pancakes with apple. They were pleased with their choices as well. Friendly for small groups, including small children. Parking can be a little hard for the plaza but there is a lot of movement.
(4)Tammy S.
The long line is a testament to how delicious their breakfast is! I would eat here everyday if I could. I can't help myself, I order the waffle AND the french toast! FAT GIRL STATUS!
(5)Shan S.
I wish I lived on Oahu. Everytime I go to Oahu I have to stop here for breakfast with every one of my good friends. I love the portuguese omelette with the roasted potatoes. I just love this place period !!!
(5)Traci H.
It did live up to the hype--the food, the service, and the wait... Food: --Sweet Bread French Toast with fresh strawberries on it ($1.50 extra): delicious and heavenly. The pieces of french toast were huge. Super thick, but yet light pieces of sweet bread, lightly egged/spiced up and cooked just enough so it was light and fluffy but yet tasty. And for a little more you got fresh strawberries--none of the syrupy kind. Biggest let down is that it is not served with fresh whipped butter--they give you the takeout side of butter --Malted Belgian Waffle: it was good. Flavorful and you could tell it wasn't bisquick or anything. Not my thing but it was still good. It didn't seem like much food as you get 1 waffle. --Side of bacon: quite tasty. Very salty. In between being soft and crispy (just as I like it, and our server described it). Service: They are super friendly and attentive. One person took our order but everyone helped us out and they are all friendly and trying to make for a good dining experience. And after they brought the bill they said "no rush...i'll take it whenever you're ready" and they sounded like they meant it. Instead of the "there's tons of people outside...why the heck are you sitting there munching on the crumbs that fell off your plate?" The wait: got there at 8:05am on a Saturday, thought it would be early enough but I guess not. But at least the tables were turning. He said about a 20 minute wait and since we had nowhere else to go I said fine. 8:25 came and there he came to seat us. We are out by about 9:05. There's a list inside that they use for all seating, counter included. So there's no first come first served on the counter and when your turn is up he'll ask if the counter is ok or if you want to wait for a table. The place is small but it's not squished. They could easily pack in more tables, but then you'd feel squashed like a sardine. So they do maintain the nice cafe feel. I'd definitely be back but if the wait is longer than 20 minutes I won't do it. It's still just good food. It's not like the food was plated in gold or anything...
(4)Kimberely N.
So obsessed with this place! Everything, literally everything, is sooo good! And it is pretty close to UH's campus which means I eat there way more than I should! Ohh.. And you get so much more than you pay for; they have great portions and the ingredients are high quality!
(5)Shane V.
Breakfast is my favorite meal so I have high standards for morning eateries and Cafe Kaila did not disappoint! After much deliberation, I ordered the French toast combo (with scrambled eggs and bacon crispy)($10.50). My friend ordered the waffle ($6.95) with strawberries and bananas($2) with a side order egg ($2) and port. sausage ($3). Everything was fantastic. The bacon cooked to a charred crisp just how I like it, and they dont skimp on the s/o of sausage either. The highlight was the french toast and waffle. Not the best I've ever had, but pretty darn close! I really appreciated them putting the whipped cream and butter on the side so I didnt have to scrape it off. They only thing that is my personal pet peeve is the waitresses didnt refill my water. I drink when I eat so I ended up chewing on ice. The refill didnt come until our waitress came back from her break (of which she informed us she was going on). No biggie though, the food more than made up for that! *side note, it is a super popular place so the lines get pretty long. They serve breakfast all day so sleep in, go at noon and avoid any wait!
(4)Nimai W.
"Our special today is an eggs benedict with pastrami and dijon." "Whuuut? That sounds.. different" "You know what though, I had one earlier, it was bomb." "...I like pastrami, I like eggs benedict--what the heck" That line of reasoning doesn't always work, and I get that servers are always working to sell the specials.. but that day, it was the right choice! Amazing, possibly the best eggs benedict I've ever had. Though it's a toss up between this and Sweet E's Benedict with home style corned beef hash. I loved Kaila before, and even more after that day! I'll say this, Kaila is lacking in one area, consistency. Their food is consistently great, BUT the way in which certain items are prepared seems to vary. It's not a terrible thing, I've always been happy with my food. It's just something I've noticed. It's certainly never stopped me from coming back, but consistency is important. They've got an excellent menu that should satisfy anyone, they standout in both the savory and sweet. I highly recommend the Italian omelet. It's a little different, but so fantastic. And get those herb roasted potatoes (gahhh!) I also love their club sandwich + salad, and their various soups. The food is light and healthy feeling, and the ambiance matches that. Even when it's packed, the experience is nice. And even when there is a line outside, they manage to get food out of the kitchen in a reasonable time. The parking can be tight, so I often go to the other side in front of Ben Franklin. Breakfast lovers far and wide, this place needs to be on your 'to try' list.
(4)Ania L.
My grievance isn't with the long wait, or the decent food, its with the incredibly rude wait staff. I visited here on Dec. 29th with a group of 8 others and after waiting patiently for 45 min, we were seated at a table which needed one more chair along with a baby seat. The lady made it out as if WE were in the wrong because she wrote down a wrong party size. No big deal, we got seated, and brushed the tension off. I've been living here for 5 months, and I must say the waitress who proceeded to serve us was the worst I've experienced. Straight off the bat she goes into a speech about the tedious task of splitting our checks 9 ways when we were 4 groups, so straight off the bat, attitude about something we didn't even want. It continued that way throughout lunch, as though we were a nuisance! Why would you do a job where your manners are what get you tipped? To top it all off, a couple next to us proceeded to put two chairs together and change their child''s DIAPER right there next to our food table!!! Talk about health code violations. I don't know about Hawaii, but most other places would shut a place down for 72 hrs after something like that; just gross! I hated the whole experience!
(1)Jessica H.
I had the French toast combo. Food was decent, but 3 stars because of the rude service. My husband and I stood outside for about 10 minutes as the host stand was there. After standing there for 10 minutes I decided to go inside to try to find someone. I asked if it was possible to be seated and the server states, "Did you write your name on the clipboard?" I answered no but nowhere did it say I has to write my name on the clipboard. Even if I did write it down, he was literally on the other side of the restaurant so I don't see how he would even know I wrote my name on it. Aside from being irritated my whole meal the food was ok. Could get it at any breakfast place.
(3)Mel P.
Another mixed emotions review. This really should be 3.5 - stars, but I don't have that option. The goodness we were still on California time. We arrived at Cafe Kaila at 7:30 AM and there was no line and a number of free tables. We sat down and were handed menus and ice water. Of course I busted out my iPhone to: 1. Check-in 2. Find out what other Yelpers enjoyed Based on the pictures alone my sister ordered the pancakes with strawberries and bananas. The order is huge and delicious, loaded with fruit and pancakes so fluffy and moist that you don't need any syrup. I ordered the eggs with Portuguese sausage, potatoes, toast and a coffee. Honestly I wasn't that impressed with my breakfast. It was OK but not anything to really write home about. OH, I also ordered one slice of french toast for like $3, that too was somewhat of a disappointment. I found it to be dry and dull, not a lot of flavor in that thing. The pancakes are much better! I wasn't too fond of the restroom situation. They don't have a restroom in the cafe. You have to exit the restaurant, walk two doors down and go into the inside of the shopping center, where Cafe Kaila is located, punch in a code and use one of two stalls (women's restroom). The restroom was clean but I can see how it could turn into a nightmare as the day goes on. Just use the WC at your hotel/home before you go there. *Note - hostess was super sweet but our server was kind of rude, further supporting my mixed emotions about Cafe Kaila.
(3)Mahina C.
I've heard nothing but great things about this place so since we were in the area we decided to give it a try ourselves! the wait was about 20 mins so it wasn't bad at all but as soon as we got seated and served the wait was over and well worth it! We got all the starch you could think of, pancakes, waffles & the french toast everyone was talking about. The waffles were probably the best i've ever had in my life! and the pancakes were not as fluffy a usual spots and more denser so i felt like i was definitely getting my moneys worth in every bite. The french toast wasn't the greatest i've had but good but nothing great or special. I'm definitely coming back here again! The service & food was great. couldn't ask for more!
(5)Joe D.
The best food I have ever tasted. I have had breakfast every time but today I had lunch and WOW. A must have this is the best restaurant I have ever been in. Thank you HI.
(5)Henry O.
Girlfriend found this place either on yelp or foursquare. I decided to try the french toast and she got something else. I dont remember what she got because my french toast was amazing. It was crispy, chewy, flavorful and just delicious. I would have destroyed the whole plate, but she like mine more than hers so i had to share =( Get the french toast, its worth it!
(4)Wil V.
Wait was a bit absurd. The food was good though and the service was a great. A bit overpriced IMO but it was one the better breakfasts I've had since moving here.
(4)LeaDan Y.
Cafe Kaila is a nice place to go for breakfast, brunch, or lunch however, 90% of the time wait is insane. I have tried to organize just a simple breakfast for 2 there for a month. Since I work on the weekdays, it was almost impossible to get a table without avoiding the crazy line on the weekends so my boyfriend and I finally had the opportunity to try on this restaurant for brunch on a weekday during fall break. While we did enjoy the food we didnt find anything especially unique about the menu. Most of the items can be either made at home OR ordered at another restaurant without the wait. If you are in the mood for breakfast food, despite the wait, the line at Original Pancake House moves much faster than Cafe Kaila. If you are in the mood for a breakfast burrito then there are a number of other great options nearby. Save yourself the time!
(3)India R.
Extremely looooong wait!!! Granted it was a Saturday morning, I waited an hour and a half and ended up leaving, and had breakfast elsewhere. I spent time in Fun Factory and in the T-Mobile store and there was still 7 parties in from on me. I ended up leaving. I was excited to try their food, and I will go back another day, maybe on a weekday! :)
(2)Nick S.
Ended up finding out about this place through a friend who worked there. The owner called me in to do some emergency repairs. She was really nice and has a great personality. I ended up working after closing into the morning. She came in early and made me breakfast. Let me tell you that this breakfast was the best breakfast I've ever had! I don't even remember what she made but it was perfect and too much for a hungry contractor to finish! I had to come back for another visit to tackle another repair. You don't have to ask me twice to go here! Of course the owner asks me what I want to eat and I say "anything you feel like making". Again it as the most awesome breakfast meal of my life! This time it was a waffle covered in all sorts of berries and bananas. I couldn't believe how tasty this waffle was as I've never had one so delicious before. Keep in mind this place is BUSY!!! The few times that I've been here there is always a line waiting outside for the restaurant to open. They had finally expanded when the store next door shut down, but that didn't seem to help with the ever growing crowds. If you want to have the best breakfast of your life (on Oahu anyways) make sure to stop in!
(5)Michelle Q.
If you are coming here, just be prepared to wait. A plus side is that they give free samples of their waffles while waiting! It was so good that I ordered one with fresh strawberries when we got inside. It was one of the best waffles I have ever eaten. It has the perfect balance between fluffy and crispy. The wait staff was very attentive and friendly. I would most definitely come here again. Great people, great environment, and great food. Just be mindful when you ate standing in line. Try not to block the entrance to the Vietnamese restaurant next door. They get pretty upset.
(4)Philip C.
I'm not a breakfast person but here goes... My wife (who is the breakfast person) wanted to go to here for breakfast. Apparently, they also have a branch in Omotesando, Tokyo too where the lines are long and the wait can average 2 hours. I, for one, refuse to wait 2 hours for breakfast. By then it would be brunch. Anyway, we got there and the wait wasn't that long, I'd say about 15 minutes - not enough time to photobomb the tourists who kept taking pictures in front of me at the entrance. I got the menu with the backside up and right at the top was the rib eye steak. I saw that and told myself this is what I'm going to get. But then I realized I'm at a breakfast place so I might as well get what they specialize right? Well I ended up getting the French Toast, while my wife got the pancakes and my daughter got the waffles. My French Toast was so-so, I was expecting more egg batter on it so it was like eating plain sweet bread with syrup. My wife ate half her pancakes while my daughter demolished her waffles. So I would say out of the 3 the waffles were definitely the best. If I ever come back though I'm getting the rib eye.
(4)Christine A.
Best banana pancakes I've ever had...and not just in Hawaii (5 Stars for the pancakes). We missed the crowd because we got there around 8am, so that was great. It got packed around 9 and there was a wait outside when we finally left. The minus 2 stars goes to the service. It was horrible. Very slow and our server had a weird attitude. He didn't seem very happy to be there. When I'm back in town I'll probably come back because I really liked the pancakes=)
(3)Joj K.
Went a little after 12 noon on sunday with my GF and her mom. Long wait of 30 min or so mostly Japanese tourists who arrive with every trolley bus with very few locals. After being seated, our waiter seemed friendly and asked what beverages we would like to start with. Ordered 2 coffees which were so so not very hot. Waiter took our orders, GF had the brekkie burrito and her mom had the standard brekkie of two eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast. I ordered the salmon salad. Upon receiving our food, the waiter forgot my GF's mom's bacon and was very absent minded where we had to ask him for the bacon several times. Started to eat my salad when I noticed wilted lettuce and even found the wilted lettuce turned to a black mold which I picked out and placed on the sides of the plate. So gross. I immediately notified the waiter who never apologized or asked me if I would like anything else and said he would bring me a new salad right away while leaving the spoiled salad in front of me. During my years of attending college, I used to wait tables where protocol dictated any discrepancies with a customers meal is removed immediately to be replaced promptly on the fly and to my surprise, I was appalled after a prolong wait the waiter bought out just a plate of greens nothing else. No salmon, no veggies, no dressing. I suppose I was to transfer my tainted order to the new plate of greens. More disappointment ensues after I find more wilted greens and a few deteriorated moldy stems in the replacement salad which I placed on the side of the plate to show the waiter. At this point I have completely lost my appetite and asked the waiter to remove both plates. Upon being presented the check and still no apology or any explanation, the salmon salad was on my bill much to my astonishment. The waiter never returned for over 10 minutes so I proceeded to the back of the restaurant to the cash register to inquire about my bill. Just so happens the waiter was waliking out of the kitchen and I promptly asked him why he charged me for a salad I hardly ate maybe taking four or five bites. His response to me was in a sarcastic tone was "because you did eat the salad". Wow, I wonder what school of customer service he attended to come back with a flippant remark like that. The waiter went back to the kitchen and had the kitchen manger come speak to me and I expalined what transpired. The kitchen manager seem distant and excused himself to notify the owner. This is where I have to give Cafe Kaila 1 star as things go from wrong to worse for me to write my first review based on a such a horrible experience. The owner approaches me with hostility and proceeds to interogate me in front of her staff and other customers of why I sent the salad back as she inspects every plate that goes out of the kitchen and found no mold ot wilted greens. She stated they take the greens out of the bag and serve. After a few minutes of awkwardly explaining to her while being debated everytime I spoke, I stated that I did not come to her establishment to be served inedible wilted salad and perhaps she should have checked the entire salad before stating claims about quality control. The owner thought about what I said for a moment and a light blub must have went on in her head as she agreed with me and said she would take the salad off my bill. Perhaps she came to her senses that this is a health issue. I have never been so throughly embarrassed in front of other people by a owners unwillingness to acknowledge the poor quality of food her staff served me and to haggle me over removing a $10 salad while questioning me the entire time. Due to the disappointing experience, I will never return to Cafe Kaila and will not recommend this restaurant to any of my family and friends. The owner and the waiter displayed unprofessionalism that is very unbecoming to a restaurant that has gotten good reviews and is popular. With the rise in popularity, Cafe Kaila has lost the essense of customer service. My experience of working as a flight attendant, sales representative and waiter many years ago has taught me that customer service is king. Too bad the owner and the waiter does not know this. Gave 1 star rating only because my GF did like her breakfast burrito. Her mom said her breakfast was average.
(1)Scott O.
Really great Breakfast! But the line gets a little disorganized and crazy at times!
(4)Holly B.
The Belgium waffle with fresh assorted fruit on top was great. With a side of ham, it was perfect. Less of a wait than Sweet E's, which was really nice. Everyone was looking at everyone else's food when deciding to what to order, and we did the same. Everything looks good! Waitstaff is friendly and helpful.
(4)Mari K.
I went to Cafe Kaila for the first time this morning to have breakfast. Today is Monday and I went at 8am - there was still a little wait and a line to get in! I was really excited because I've heard a lot of good things about this place. Our waitress was very nice - promt and always refilling our drinks. I ordered the vegetarian omelet; you can choose 3 toppings and your choice of cheese for the omelet, toast and potatoes or rice. What a hearty breakfast! The omelet was good; very flavorful and beautifully made. The potatoes were yummy too. My bf had the breakfast quesadilla; you can choose your tortilla type - spinach, tomato or corn, and your type of meat. This was so yummy too :) Definitely a great spot to go to for breakfast with friends, family and your significant other. Casual yet good food.
(4)Alan P.
Okay, where to begin. This place is amazing. The one place I make sure to take everyone who visits for breakfast. Be prepared to wait for a table, but that's how good this place is. The only place nearby that I'm willing to wait in line for. They start serving lunch at 11, and it doesn't matter if I've had breakfast or not, the Italian sausage ravioli with sundried tomato pesto is to good to pass up. My wife always gets the lox and a side of strawberries. The strawberries come with whipped cream and brown sugar and make a great addition to whatever you're eating. For breakfast, I love the wrap, the frittata (ask for potatoes with your frittata instead of rice), and the steak & eggs, but my absolute favorite is the quesadilla. It's thick and oh so good, get the guacamole with it, they have surprisingly good guacamole, at least to this SoCal native. It would also be sinful if I didn't mention the French toast. I don't like sweets for breakfast, but the French toast is so good I've ordered it on my own, unprecedented in my life. Get it with the apples, they're like candied or something. If someone in your group is unsure what to order, suggest this so you can steal a bite. I have a friend who always gets French toast here with his other breakfast order. Now to what really separates this place from everywhere else is the staff. I have always received great and very friendly service here. The staff always seems happy and their turnover is really low for a small restaurant so they must enjoy the place. I drink coffee like it keeps me alive too and they never let me down. The owner is always working hard too, and that just rubs me the right way. The place is kinda small, and if you come in a big group you may be asked to split in half. I think their largest tables are 2 six-tops. If you come as a group of 2, you'll get seated much faster than a group of 4. That said, I would give this place 6 stars if I could.
(5)Rose R.
You had me at "BREAKFAST (served ALL DAY!)" This spot is really cute. We got here at around 12:30 (on a Monday) it wasn't too busy, got seated right away! My first time here & I didn't know what to order. The waiter suggested the french toast & waffles as their most popular items. I love me some belgian waffles so of course I had to order that! My cousin ordered the french toast combo. The belgian malted waffle was beyond amazing. CRISPY, fluffy & they are very generous with the amount of fruit they put on top of it! Each bite was PERFECT! The french toast was very yummy too! Not your typical french toast but made with sweet bread which made it even better! The service was great :) I will definitely be back again!
(5)Crystal I.
Ooooooooou lemme tell you! A-mazing. I came here a month ago on a girl date (: there was a bit of a wait, saturday morning but it was worth it. The cafe is so cute and homey! I feel as if im eating in my own home. I had the waffle since my friend said when she had it, it was good. And I topped mine with strawberies for $1 extra. (You can also choose to add bananas and blueberries and other fruits for a dollar each). Man oh man when my waffle came my tummy was already pleased. Afterall sometimes we do eat with our eyes. The plating is so colorful and appealing. I mustve ate my waffle in ten mins less. Mmmmmm goodness. My girl ordered pancakes and previously she ordered French toast. She couldnt finish the pancakes since they gave 3 big ones. Def go here if you want a satisfying brunch that will leave you kanacked for the rest of the day.
(5)Jay P.
Don't you just love it when you have a huge lunch break in between your schedule? I do. It gives me the opportunity to try new places I've never experienced! In this case, drive to Market City Shopping Center to enjoy Café Kaila. A group of friends and I drove to Market City Shopping Center and found parking in the parking lot, which sometimes gets crowded depending on the time and day because it is shared with a number of other establishments. Right when we walked into Café Kaila, we avoided any waiting and were immediately seated, despite it being lunch time! We were seated in the very back of the restaurant and I was worried that we'd be neglected because of our not so ideal seating. Turns out that we ended up being checked up on occasionally and never had an empty glass of water. Great customer service! I ordered the pesto chicken panini and the buttermilk pancakes with strawberries. The pesto chicken panini was flavorful and light, a combination I absolutely admire! The buttermilk pancakes were also extremely light and could satisfy any sweet tooth. One thing that I wish I had known before ordering was that the buttermilk pancakes always come with strawberries regardless of what fruit you order. If I had known that, I would have chosen a different fruit to blend with the strawberries and the buttermilk pancakes. I overlooked that lack of information given to us though because of our extremely kind and attentive server. Our server noticed when we ran out of syrup and immediately came back and offered us more. He also gave us smaller plates so that we can share what we ordered (without us even asking)! That's seriously as good as it gets.
(5)Terry B.
Fantastic breakfast!! THICK slices of french toast - perfectly seasoned and cooked. Eggs Benedict was awesome. Perfect down to last detail. Very friendly and attentive service.
(5)Lance B.
The best breakfast find via yelp. Great food. Be prepared to wait a bit but well worth it.
(4)Caroline L.
Best steak & eggs ever!! Only thing is sometimes there is a line and can be a wait (from what I have heard lol!) lucky that the two times i have went there were no lines. It is best to call to see if there is a line or not. The waffle is great too, with or without the loaded fruits you could add :)
(5)Simone B.
Really enjoyed the French Toast. Food was great. Good sized portions.
(4)Omar M.
as of now, this is my goto brunch spot. i just love the seasonal waffles, it was pumpkin last fall and gingerbread in the winter, both outstanding. the coffee is great too. get there early or late or be prepared to wait a long line! put your name down on the notebook queue out front and just chill in front of the t-mobile.
(5)Valerie M.
Nice that they serve their Belgian waffles while you're waiting in line.
(5)Kellie O.
This place has been on my to-eat list for quite some time now and after trying this place, I kick myself for not coming sooner! Cafe Kaila is located in the Market City Shopping Center with ample (and FREE) parking space. It's a few doors down from Fun Factory. If you are by Foodland then you've gone a little too far. Head back towards Fun Factory and you won't miss it. If you're very impatient, I would suggest arriving when they open. I arrived here on a weekday at around 10:30 a.m. and had to wait about 20 min. In my opinion, that's not a very long wait time but for those that think it is, it's WELL WORTH the wait! I have to admit that I assumed this place is another brunch joint just like the other brunch places in town. Boy was I wrong. My friend and I ordered the belgian waffle with strawberries & bananas and lox of bagel with cream cheese, capers, smoked salmon and onion. The last time I saw a belgian waffle was long time ago and mind you it wasn't as big as Cafe Kaila's. It was much bigger than expected and much tastier too! The presentation is oh so yummiliciously pretty! It was almost too pretty to eat....ALMOST. The waffle was perfect in every way: presentation, size, taste and the way the fruits complimented the taste of it too. I was very satisfied with our order. I did not get a chance to try the lox of bagels but I did try the smoked salmon and I'm on the smoked salmon team! Woo hoo! I'll have to try that the next time I dine in (and there WILL be a next time :)
(4)Ha N.
From the outside, it looks incredibly fruity like a tea party place for little girls. That's why I never thought to try it. Stupid me. I tried this place during the summer but didn't return until the 23rd. And then back again on the 24th. It was that good. :) The first time, I didn't have the pancakes. THAT'S WHY. I really like this place. The ingredients taste really fresh and it's really clean. I had the COMBO (pancakes or toast, eggs your way, and a side of meat). I had pancakes with ex strawberries and blueberries ($1.50 ea) with over medium eggs (came with 2) and bacon (3, I think). My meal alone was ~$14. BF got the breakfast wrap and that comes with salsa dipping. His tasted fresh and light and not greasy as they come, but mine was much much better. Maybe it's the syrup, but I really really loved the pancakes. I thought The Original House of PC was the best.. The 2nd day, I got the cinnamon french toast with strawberries and BF got the italian omelette. Both were very good. The omelette comes with either rice or potatoes. There's something for everyone here. I'm surprised they can accommodate so many different items on their menu, it's SOOOO huge. :) Try the pancakes. Seriously. :) Did I mention it comes with whipped cream? :DDDD
(5)Chip M.
Come early or wait at least an hour depending how quick people eat. Service is swift. Hot Coffee came first and like ever other coffee nothing unusually tasting. I ordered the two meat omelette with mozzarella cheese. It was good..I would of preferred bigger meat pieces than diced up pieces. The waffles with strawberries was also good but Zippys waffles taste just bout thr same. One thing is Kalias have a better choice option and present their waffles in a pretty fashion. I guess breakfast to me seem the same all over Hawaii but i probably wont come here and wait in line for breakfast..still have yet to try the lunch menu.
(3)Chad Y.
I hate to disagree with some of my fellow yelpers, but I found Cafe Kaila to be ok. It was a place that didn't wow, nor did it disappoint. It offers good service, decent food, and a good location. On my first try, I opted to try the belgian waffles with strawberries which was a decent offering. It had decent flavor and the strawberries were quite lovely. My companion opted to try the veggie omelette with potatoes which was good and the vegetable flavors came through simply but made me regret the waffles. On my second visit, I opted for the local scramble which was good and served with an order for their homestyle potatoes which were cooked well and flavored nicely with herbs. My friend tried the Croissant sandwich which looked good and something I'll have to try in the future. The service was good and the waiters very attentive. The wait wasn't too bad, never having to wait more than 15 minutes on both times I went. Prices are good and very reasonable. All in all, a good place to stop off for breakfast or brunch!
(3)Zar A.
Service is wonderful here! I went here for breakfast one day around 930/10AM and it was PACKED. There was a long line outside the door... and the sign-in clipboard was even longer. As my group and I were waiting, a staff came out of the restaurant carrying some sample waffles and offered it to every customer waiting outside. It was a very nice gesture to ease the pain of waiting for the next available table. I've never experience such a thing! This really wasn't anything big and it really doesn't cost the restaurant a whole lot, but I felt that it was very thoughtful of the restaurant... so, immediately, I was impressed by management and management's decision to come up with such a thoughtful gesture. Still, I wasn't going to let one nice gesture influence my entire experience at this dinning spot. My group had to wait quite a bit for a table. They were completely full... After we were seated, we made our orders. I'd have to say this place has the friendliest staff and the most efficient staff I've ever seen for a simple, non-upscale, breakfast eatery! To top it off, our plates were of very decent portion sizes...The strawberry waffles I noticed other people had ordered at their tables were very appetizing with tons of fresh strawberries piled on top of their waffles. I am more of a health conscious person, so I ordered the Fritatta. It was decent but the portion size was much larger than I had expected. I was expecting something skimpy and small. The staff was very, very, very attentive to how we were doing at our table and at refilling our waters. Little things like this really makes the dining experience a heck of a lot more enjoyable. I'm also glad this place is not a tourist spot. There are great breakfast eatery spots in Waikiki, but I hate the fact that we get treated like a tourist there. I'm more of a local eatery person. This is easily my new favorite breakfast place in town. Thank god I don't have to drive all the way out to Kailua for a decent breakfast place!
(5)Kelly G.
Saturday morning 11am, loong line but went relatively fast. Sat in the back alcove in this relatively small place, not too noisy. Waiter was attentive and brought waters. Although small space, and crowded, the food came out pretty quickly. Food was delicious - turkey club with salad subbed ($11.50). Tasted the corn chowder and was yummy. Portions are Was looking forward to their soup/salad/panini option ($10.50) but it only comes with the ham and havarti panini. Would love to try it another time. Prices felt a tad high, but everything was satisfactory. Seemed like everyone was enjoying fruit on their pancakes and waffles!
(3)Candace F.
I kept on hearing rave reviews about Cafe Kalia but hesitated due to the long wait and lines. The first time I signed up on the seating list I noticed at least 15 people ahead of me with names..that indicated this maybe a tourist destination. I don't care about that...but for some reason I thought this was a secret local destination. During my expected 40 minute wait, the waiter was very nice to those on the list saying he won't seat you until your entire party is here. At one point the waiter stepped outside to offer waffles making the experience almost pleasant. Be around when he calls your name or he will cross your name off and that's it! Finally! In the restaurant the area the tables were a nice size where you could have private conversation with your guest. The service is fast and for the amount of people the waitstaff very pleasant. I ordered simple eggs over medium, Portuguese sausage and fried rice. My friend ordered frittata requested potatoes instead of rice and a waffle with blueberries and strawberries. Food came very quickly. Waffle was excellent! Light fresh cream, fresh blueberries and strawberries. Frittata was great as well. Evenly cooked, fluffy stuffed with fresh veggies, potatoes and Italian sausage. Minus - gave rice instead of requested side of potatoes. Waiter noticed but no comment, My simple dish was probably the worse and I should have said something but they were so busy! Eggs over salted. My friend took a bite and said it was in edible. Portuguese sausage was over salted as well..like the kitchen staff got distracted and added salt to it for good measure. Saving grace though was the fried rice. That was awesome! A+ for service C+ for food Will definitely give it another try one day....
(3)Junelle G.
One of our go to place for breakfast whenever we're in town. The food is well worth the wait...my daughter especially enjoys the keiki menu...its one of the very few places where she'd finish her meal.
(5)Oliver K.
Awesome breakfast place! Very fluuuffyyy pancakes and waffles!! Also I recommend the omlettes. Make sure you come either early or after noon because you def wanna beat the crowd!
(5)Lisa P.
This is my both my son (4) and daughter's (8) FAVORITE breakfast place!! To tell youths truth, we usually come during lunch hours, but tend to order breakfast food. I've heard that there can be somewhat of a wait, but we've never had to wait longer than 10 minutes to be seated. We always get a waffle to share, with fresh strawberries--and they are generous with the strawberries!! The kids are simple--bacon and eggs. The sandwiches here are huge, so sharing is what we do. So far we've had the BLT, Veggie and Avocado, and Turkey Club. My daughter enjoyed the Veggie and Avocado sandwich best. The waitresses and waiters here are super friendly, and by that I mean KID friendly ^^. My son is a bit of a rascal (and by that I mean he is a TOTAL rascal)!! He vies for special attention from the waitstaff here, and anywhere else he goes--and no matter how busy they are, or how he may be pushing the limits, the staff at Cafe Kaila seem to have patience and understanding on kids. The last time we were here, my son spilled a full cup of water, and repeatedly took the pen away from our waiter, so the waiter let my son use his pen and even brought him some paper to write on!! I was embarrassed, but the waiter and waitress who came to clean up my son's mess were so understanding, which made me feel tons better! On another occasion, our waitress let them pick a toy, each, from the treasure chest!! Boy, were they happy ^^
(5)Jonn D.
Rating: 3/5 Date(s) visited: ***5/14/2013, **10/27/2010, *Father's Day 2010. Food 4/5 Drinks 3/5 Service 3/5 Atmosphere 4/5 Price 3/5 Parking 4/5 *1st visit, which was on Father's Day, was packed! Don't go there on that day unless you are prepared to wait around an hour. **2nd visit, 10/27/2010 Wednesday, arrived at 7:30am, no waiting, tables available for the choosing. ***3rd visit, 5/14/2013 Tuesday, arrived at 8:15am, waited about 30min for a party of six (6). My previous visit stated: "There's always room for improvement," but this visit was surely lacking customer service. Our waitress seemed perturbed that she had to serve my party. My advice to her is, "If you don't like your job...don't work there!" Surprisingly, her attitude change when the bill arrived...could it be the tip you're expecting? Not! Try again next time...that's if you're still there. Get there early if you can. I don't recommend this cafe for parties over four (4). Food: Good, large portions. Drinks: Water, Coffee, Hot Chocolate...enough to satisfy you for breakfast needs. Service: Lacking attention to detail. Atmosphere: Small and intimate. Just right. If you don't like small areas, don't go here. There'll just be more for me. Decor is simple and nothing fancy. Price: You get exactly what you pay for and more. Just how it should be. Parking: Mornings are great! Just pull right up and turn your engine off.
(3)Nat N.
This is the place to go if you're looking for a neighborhood eatery that serves homestyle cooking. The place is small so it's best to go early (before 8am on weekends) if you don't want to wait. And don't forget to grab a menu in the front before you get seated. Their Belgian Waffles are to-die-for. It's crisp and light. You can add fruit for $1.50. I like how the coffee is served in glass cups.
(4)X Y.
I've only been here twice, but the food has been great both times. The downside is the wait for breakfast. It seems like the tourists have found all the good breakfast places within a few miles of Waikiki and we waited 35 minutes for a table. If anyone else wants to open up a good breakfast place within a few miles of Waikiki, then I'm sure they'll do well.
(4)Kim M.
I went here for the first time with my girlfriends about a week ago. They were already seated when I got there, so I can't say anything about wait-time or whatever. (but this place was packed!) The four of us decided on breakfast for lunch--more specifically, omelets. Cafe Kaila's omelets come with rice or potatoes, and your choice of white, wheat, or sourdough toast. I had a zucchini, spinach, mushroom and mozzarella cheese omelet with potatoes and sourdough toast. I was totally impressed by the presentation. These omelets looked PERFECT and really how I imagine an omelet should: shiny and smooth. I'm not kidding. A picture of a Cafe Kaila omelet should replace the one currently on wikipedia (because that one is kind of shriveled looking). Not only was the omelet aesthetically pleasing, it was also really tasty. The cook definitely didn't skimp on the goods because I definitely had veggie-cheesy-goodness with every bite! Cafe Kaila = definitely in my top 5 when it comes to omelets.
(4)Kristen S.
Hearty breakfast fare in a cute ambiance - perfect for fueling up before a hike (like we did!). I ordered the Local Scramble with rice and toast. I think next time I'll try the pancakes or waffles with fruit, because my dish was just okay and nothing spectacular. We had to wait for awhile to get seated and I guess it just didn't "wow" me considering the wait. Our server also got my dad's order wrong - he ordered the exact thing I ordered (spam local scramble) but his came out with bacon instead. No biggie since he enjoyed it but things like that are worth taking note. Overall our dishes were decent, service was okay, and the coffee was great. The other stand-out item was the potatoes - they were seasoned and cooked to perfection. Would definitely recommend getting those as a side!
(3)Bradley M.
Breakfast here is always good. The food is awesome, the service is better and the atmosphere is bright and modern. Their waffles are really good, light and perfectly sweet. The fruits are fresh and the specials are delicious. Definitely eat here if you can!
(5)Dave F.
Great place to spend a Sunday morning, reading the paper and having an awesome breakfast. Had to wait approx 30 minutes for a table, but what the heck, I was in no rush! When we were finally seated we started off with our cup of coffee and water. I had the two eggs special with fried rice and the gf had the Hawaiian scrambled egg special. Now, I'm very particular when it comes to fried rice. Not too many places will get my vote in that category, but I took a chance and ordered my breakfast with it. I have to say, it was delicious . I'm glad I tried it and Cafe Kaila is now on my safe list of places that have good fried rice! We also split a Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and whipped cream which was really light and refreshing! That was one good waffle!!! Needless to say, we'll be back again. This place makes me wish we had something like that out our way!!
(4)Vicky L.
Thanks to other Yelpers recommending this over Sweet E's, I found myself downing another large breakfast - perfect after a morning of snorkeling and hiking - at Cafe Kaila. No wait (we had THE best timing this trip), and friendly service. Unlike Sweet E's, the menu had a wider variety and so I couldn't decide what I wanted because more than one thing looked delectable. I ended up with an omelette with Portuguese sausage, mushrooms and salsa, and it came with roasted potatoes (or rice). When it came out, I was shocked at HOW BIG the portion was - who eats this much at breakfast?! As a fatty, I can pack away a bunch of food at once, but even this was too much for me, and I couldn't get through my whole omelette and only ate half of my potatoes. I think the Portuguese sausage really filled me up - if I'd gotten something less greasy, I may have been able to finish. Definitely recommend this place over Sweet E's. I will most definitely be returning here when I visit Hawaii again.
(4)Agent P.
I love this place! I came here a few times and had one of their breakfast burritos and it was super! I had them put the potatoes on the side because it's not easy to eat. My husband had eggs Benedict & my son had the waffles and they both gave it a thumbs up :) you should definitely come early on the weekends because a line forms quite quickly.
(4)Jody S.
Since I had a vacation day I needed to "take or lose" I of course took the former and spent Friday with a friend. After hanging out and enjoying each other's company, the rumblings of the stomach monster set in. Hungry for a good soup and sandwich whet our appetite so we made the short journey over to Cafe Kalia. The place was semi -crowded because we arrived on the later side. The ambience was a little kitsch but perfect for what they seemed to be going for. I ordered a grilled veggie sandwich with chips and my cohort ordered a BLT with chips and a side bowl of the soup of the day, chicken tortilla. Both meals came fairly quickly and I must admit, was delicious, fresh and savory. The kettle chips were crispy and crunchy and overall the meals were excellent! The only downfall, they only accept cash and local checks.
(5)Denise K.
I can see why there is always a wait for brunch. It's the tall, hot local guy that works the counter LOL! But on a serious note, literally everything is good there. I've had their bfast burrito, french toast with fruit, waffles, pancakes, omelets, paninis - everything is good! If there's a wait, see if you can eat at the bar. This place is MONEY!
(4)P G.
What the heck are people thinking to go anywhere else for breakfast other than here?!?!?!?!?!? Soooo yummy! Everything has something special about it. When our waiter came over and asked us how it was, I said, "It was horrible, and that's why the plate's clean." Great service. Food takes a little while to come out, but that's understandable because there are so many people here. You will never in a million years be disappointed. Service is fantastic, food is fantastic...the only thing I wanted that I couldn't get was the eggs benedict (since it was only served on the weekends)... I'll be back for sure!
(5)Heather M.
The line on Saturday mornings are long. Quite a place for Breakfast. Have great waffles, Benedict and omelets. Staff is very helpful and upbeat. Its well worth the wait.
(4)Megan R.
BRUNCH TIME! (Good for breakfast, brunch, & lunch - but breakfast is served all day!) Had to think of a good place to bring my Papa and my boyfriend. I chose Cafe Kaila the night before, so my boyfriend and I made sure to go half an hour earlier to put our name on the list. There is ALMOST ALWAYS a wait - but the food is worth it! Fresh good old home cooking. Just be prepared to do something while you wait, I hit up coffee bean. There is not much seating :/ & CASH ONLY! (I wish all places took card ]: ) I always have such a hard time deciding what to order - their omelets are scrumptious! Plus they come with potatoes which are seasoned perfectly! The potatoes are normally what pulls my decision to order omelets. Hehe :] But most of the time my sweet tooth gets the best of me! Can't go wrong with BELGIAN WAFFLES TOPPED WITH FRUIT!!!! Yummmy! & Their french toast is also super dee duper delicious, not too sweet with the perfect amount of cinnamon. If you like it sweet you have the option to drench it in syrup! The staff is very friendly & attentive - always refilling coffee and water! Checking up on their customers. The interior is a bit small - but still cute, very clean & bright... making it feel more open. Always in the mood for K A I L A!
(4)Natasha L.
Went to Cafe Kaila for the first time a couple weeks ago based on the reviews I found on Yelp. Was actually looking for a good breakfast/brunch-y kinda place since I had just gotten smashed the night before and I didn't want an overly-greasy breakfast a.k.a. something other than McDonalds in the immediate area. Arrived around 11 am on a Sunday to see a crowd in front of the little cafe (about 15 people) so I expected to wait at least 30 minutes. The actual wait time was about 15-20. The second time we came here it was the same story with the same amount of people and again, we didn't have to wait too long. So props on being able to keep the flow of customers pretty good. It's small indoors, but the decor and ambiance make it very personal, not too crowded. Now for the food... Wow. I will never eat at Yogurstory again. This place beats them hands down in quality, quantity and price ten times over. Yogurstory is like, a novelty, and an overpriced one at that. You can have your $10 waffles - I'll have mine with bacon and eggs. On my first visit, I had their breakfast croissant. It was absolutely tasty. I couldn't believe how much flavor there was. The croissant wasn't too flaky either. I was worried about making a mess, but the damage was surprisingly minimal. My second visit, I had the french toast combo with scrambled eggs and bacon. YUMMY. First of all, it's sweet bread. You just can't go wrong. And the bacon is just so well-cooked to a crisp. I also had a coffee float which I'll probably order every time I go. So delicious. I look forward to eating here weekly. :3 Be aware though, this place is so good, it's a tourist hot spot.
(5)Cheri L.
Given my impatience with long wait times, the boyfriend and I woke up absurdly early to ensure that we were at Cafe Kaila before they opened (still-dark early... we spent the drive there debating whether the hunched-over pedestrians that we passed were scary mole people or just cute elderly folks trying to stay active). It was a good thing that we did, because it fills up fast as soon as they open. And they do actually open their doors about 10-15 minutes after 7. The service was slow, initially. It seemed to be just one stressed-out-looking server stuck with the entire place for the first 20 or so minutes, until two more servers appeared. I certainly can't blame the initial server for being a bit irked if her colleagues were late, leaving her with way too many tables to properly handle (anyone who has worked as a restaurant server can understand that kind of frustration), and the service was great beyond that first little stretch, so no harm done. The sweet bread french toast was outstanding, and the waffle that my boyfriend ordered was perfectly, lightly crunchy on the outside and light/fluffy in the middle. No hockey-puck waffles to be found (cue glare at Wailana's). The eggs benedict was... well, it was eggs benedict, and not nearly the best that I've had. The hollandaise needed more salt, paprika, and lemon juice to really hold its own- it wasn't unpleasant, but it was all unsalted butter without any of those key hints of flavor. However, even a "meh" eggs benedict is better than no eggs benedict, so I was content. Overall, Cafe Kaila offers a good experience. It absolutely has the best waffle and french toast that I've found on the island so far.
(4)Stefannye S.
I guess this place is hit or miss and I totally missed. My family and I went there one weekday morning around 7:30 and there was no line. I didn't get the "sign in sheet" memo so we headed in, figuring that a teeny tiny place like that, at half capacity, was sit anywhere. A server stopped us on our way in and said with way too much attitude and skepticism, "Are you here for breakfast?" Nah man, the five of us are here to look at your indoor fountain that has no water in it. People eat at restaurants? Crazy. So after explaining that we were there for food, he allowed us in to sit wherever. Our waitress, whose name I should have gotten, was phenomenal but my breakfast burrito was cold, unexceptional, and took forever. I also noticed some of the other waitstaff using the selective service I read about in other reviews. I really wish I could see what everyone is raving about but the odd decor, subpar food, and rude service (except from our waitress, she was awesome!) I just don't get it. I definitely wouldn't wait in line for this place and would probably prefer to pick up a bagel from Foodland. As the two star review indicates, meh. I've experienced better.
(2)Lauren M.
I love Cafe Kaila. The only thing I don't love is the wait time. No matter when I've gone, there's always a long line. This says a lot about the place. Once you actually get in there, though, the service is pretty quick. The food is tasty and doesn't have that oily breakfast taste. I normally get the Breakfast Quesadilla, but I've also tried the French Toast and the Belgian Waffles. Majorly delish!
(5)Crissy K.
I'm pleased to see that, though it may have taken a couple of years, Cafe Kaila has really found its groove. Yes, you will have to sign in and wait for a table, but the wait usually isn't very long, time-wise. Once you get in, service is quick, yet friendly and relaxed. They finally seem to have enough cooks in the kitchen to get the food out in a timely manner. And the owner, Chrissie, is still very visible and hands-on, both in the kitchen and at the tables. They've done away with a few things that probably took up more time than they should have, but were not worth the returns: No longer is each table decorated with a fresh flower in a vase. I haven't noticed any assorted pastries (scones, muffins) available for sale the past few times I've been there. Did I miss any of these things? Absolutely not. It's comforting to know that while things have changed ever so slightly at the restaurant, the quality of the food has not been compromised in any way: The breakfast foods, sandwiches, salads and coffee drinks are as fresh, bountiful and delicious as ever. Their cappuccino is still the best I've ever had. I'm already mentally planning my next visit!
(5)Kristi R.
Waited for 15 mins with 6 people in front o us, only one name gets called. We look inside and no one has their food yet except for about 3 tables. We decide to walk down by ben franklin. After being gone for 10 mins we go back up and everyone in front of us as well a our name was crossed off. I'm pissed off as hell, also the times we ate here the food was just okay. Nothing really special. If you plan on waiting, just don't bother leaving. I'm pretty salty, i'm sure you can tell.
(2)Kimberly O.
Super good food with big portions. It's a bit pricey and there's usually quite a wait if you don't go early, but definitely worth checking out!
(4)Jonathan P.
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet for some reason I can barely get myself up in the morning. But for some reason there was a rooster and I was up at the crack of dawn, so I figured since I'm up I should try to eat breakfast. The only problem was that I was too lazy to make anything, so I asked a friend where they eat out for breakfast and she said Cafe Kaila. So after getting to Market City on a Saturday morning I was surprised to see how crowded it was. A table for two took about half an hour but it was okay since I got extra time to figure out what I wanted from the menu. I ended up ordering the Cinnamon French Toast with Strawberries ($7.50+$1.50 for fruit) yelp.com/user_local_phot… and I tried some of my friend's Buttermilk Pancakes with Banana ($6.95+$1.50 for fruit) yelp.com/user_local_phot… My french toast had 3 big slices of toast with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla with powdered sugar on top. It was okay but the bottom was a little burnt. But I figured I could just cut it off. Thank goodness it had a cup of syrup and a cup of whipped cream on the side! I just wish there was a knife! It was hard getting that whipped cream out of the shot glass looking cup with a fork. The pancakes were definitely a lot better but there never seems to be enough syrup since the pancakes kept absorbing all of the syrup! Just as I thought everything was going alright my meal took an unexpected turn for the worse. After the one and only waitress (who was really nice) took away our plates we flagged down one of the waiters and asked him for our check. It honestly took forever for him to return and I watched him take checks to other tables that asked for their checks after me! After awhile I figured I should ask another waiter, so I asked and he went around and took plates and checks to other people. Eventually our eyes finally met it looked as if a light bulb inside his head went off and he remembered to bring the check. The food was decent nothing spectacular yet it didn't really disappoint me. It was a "cash only" place though. I think it's just because I have a slight pet peeve for customer service and besides I was forgotten! And no one likes to be forgotten in any situation, whether it be food, life, etc. Maybe I'll try Cafe Kaila again, that is if I can wake up!
(3)Jay B.
Came here before doing the Maka'pu'u Trail. We came just in time before the morning rush. We didn't need to wait at all. Sat at the counter and got our food quick. (We didn't want to wait for a table) Food was okay and the portion served was just right. The service here is AWESOME! friendly workers with great smiles :) If you need to go to the bathroom, make sure you ask for a code. There is no "in-house" restroom, so be prepared to walk the halls of terror... Walk at your own risk..
(3)Jerylyn B.
The food was delicious! Best french toast I've ever had. Service is also great and friendly. Our server was Greg, he was awesome! Only issue is the long line. It opened at 7am. We were there at 6:45am, and there was already a line! We were still able to get a seat, but I can see how it would fill up fast.
(4)Jeremy D.
Super busy and super tasty...must be doing something right! I've been eating at Cafe Kaila about once a month for the past year. Really like their french toast and omelettes, but I always end up with a breakfast wrap. They are just so dang good! I probably come here mostly because the servers are attentive and friendly. The only downside to Cafe Kaila is probably their popularity! The wait can be a bit long at times, but they bring out samples of waffles or some other item for customers who are waiting. They will even serve you coffee if you want...but maybe that was just for me? Either way, I think it is those things that put them above a lot of other breakfast places. Excellent food and great service...I'd eat here every day!
(5)Cassie T.
I really like this place but come on...POST IT SOMEWHERE THAT YOU DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS!!!! At the end of our meal we pulled out the credit card to pay only for the waiter to tell us they accept local check or cash. That would have been nice to know while we were waiting! I finally got my husband to try a breakfast place other than Yogurstory. He loves that place for the "Best juice in the world" as he describes it. Come on Café Kaila don't let me down! I had read other reviews on here that the line can be a little long on the weekends. When we found parking we noticed the line. There wasn't an employee outside only a podium with a sign on the window that said seating is first come first served but if they are busy sign in and wait to be seated. So, we added our name to the list. Cute place inside. While we waited I went in a ordered an iced coffee and a pin-orange juice for my needy husband. When I saw the employee pouring the juice I knew it would not live up to the "Best juice in the world". Crap! We only waited about 20 minutes until we were called. We were seated next to the window and against the wall. Not a bad spot considering that the restaurant was full and a table in the walk way would have meant that people would constantly be walking by. I have to say that sitting next the window is a little distracting. People who were standing outside kept putting their faces to the window to look in. Now I know what the animals in a zoo feel like. I ordered the Frittata which was 3 eggs with potatoes, choice of meat, onions, and pepper jack cheese. It is served with rice and toast. My hubby ordered the Classic Eggs Benedict served with potatoes. We also ordered one piece of French Toast since I had read such great reviews. Thanks Yelp! My Frittata was delicious! I only wish it had some sort of sauce as it was a little dry. Husband enjoyed his eggs benedict and gave this place an O-K for next time. The French toast was amazing. Light fluffy and huge! A little powdered sugar and served with syrup on the side. I will be coming back just for French toast! My tip is-be prepared to wait and order the French toast! Total: 30.79 with out drinks
(4)Roxanne H.
Came here today for my birthday brunch (my second time here) and its as delicious as I remembered it. One of my girlfriends and I came here around 1145ish and there was somewhat of a crowd outside but we were in the door within 10 minutes. I ordered the combo (frenchtoast, eggs, sausage with side order of rice) and it was bomb. The French toast is seriously super fluffy and delicious with fresh fruit on top of it, yum! Prices aren't bad at all either. Definitely recommend it if you're looking for a cute place to eat breakfast or brunch with your girls or your boyfriend/girlfriend.
(4)J L.
LONG WAIT. BE WARNED. It's a small restaurant. You sign yourself in on a sign-in sheet and wait to be called. For 2 people, we waited about 45 minutes. So plan accordingly. This isn't a restaurant you'd wanna go to if you want to get in and get out. Especially on a weekend day. Okay, anyways, the interior is nice, it looks cheerful and clean. Service was pretty quick, however he never refilled our waters, which is why I marked down a star. Food was GOOD! I really liked the food! Pancakes melted in your mouth, omelet was good and the potatoes that came with it were REALLY REALLY GOOD. I had a side of tomatoes instead of the toast that also came with the omelet. My bf had pancakes with fruit, and they really pile on the fruit. All the food came out pretty quickly, which was great since we had to wait so long. Bill came out to 29$ for 2 people. Not bad! Overall, I'd come back here again but maybe not on a weekend day.
(4)Fabian B.
One of the best breakfast places in town! Portions are huge and reasonably priced. We did have to wait about 30 min to get a table, but the wait was well worth it. Service could be a little better (a smile can't hurt). All in all, great experience
(4)K C.
Finally getting around to writing a review on this place. I used to live within walking distance to Kailas and if I could've, I would've ate breakfast and lunch everyday here. Everything I've had here is awesome. Overall, the wait isn't all that bad, it's worth it.
(5)Tai M.
Nice little breakfast place. Had pancakes with strawberries and glazed apples, which I loved. They give tons of fruit, which you don't often see. Also had a breakfast burrito which was hearty and filling. Something different and I really enjoyed it. Will definitely go back.
(4)Twinkle S.
Yes, the food is good... Would I wait in a long line to eat here, no...
(4)Heidi P.
A friend took me here for lunch and I was surprised I had not heard about this little restaurant sooner. It is nestled in the market city shopping center a few doors to the left of the fun factory. Who would have thought that this little gem was there all this time! On the day we went, we got a parking spot right away and while there was a little bit of a line (always a good sign) we really did not wait for more than 5 minutes or so. The restaurant is more like a galley in that it is longer than it is wide and you could see the diners reach all the way into the bet back by the kitchen. We got a table up front and were waited on right away. I had the warm spinach salad with onions and bacon- yum. The bacon was not the little bits you get elsewhere, they were nice little squares - no skimping here. Very good and just the right portion! The service was fast and laid back do you just had the chance to focus on enjoying your food. Get there a little early like 11:30am to avoid a longer wait - this place is definitely one I will go back to!
(4)Sierra C.
Everything about Cafe Kaila says "homey" and "comfortable". Warning: The wait can take up to 40 minutes during peak brunch hours. (No call-in reservations) SERVICE: The workers are always so bright! I've yet to come across a waiter/tress that isn't smiling and ready to chat a bit while taking orders. The food always arrives when warm and water refills are never a problem. FOOD: Ugh, delicious. Cafe Kaila is an organic based restaurant, and you can TASTE the difference. The eggs are lighter, the fruits are sweeter, etc. I absolutely love the waffles, by the way - so crispy yet fluffy! Presentation of the food is also quite cute. OVERALL: Reasonably priced for organic, breakfast food. The two eggs, toast, bacon and potato plate is only around $8 (same price as Koa Pancake House, but better food). If you're looking for a cute breakfast/brunch place that will give you that country vibe in the middle of Manoa/town, check it out.
(5)Jessica C.
I went here for the first time and I have to say I'm glad I got there early. I want to say that I got there a little after 8am. The wait was about 15 minutes at the time. By the time I sat down and ordered, around 9, the number of people waiting outside had increased dramatically. I had a create your own omelette and a side of herb roasted potatoes. Also ordred on my table was an order of meat and eggs. The food wasn't bad, but it also wasn't spectacular. I liked my omelette, but maybe not well enough to eat here again if it was SUPER busy. The herb potatoes were good for the first few seconds after you popped it into your mouth. The seasoning was rather weak for my tastes which left the center pretty bland. Portions for the herb roasted potatoes were pretty generous though as I got a whole plate full. The one big offender of the meal was my toast. I was really disappointed at my toast mainly because it wasn't toasty. It was soggy and when I think of toast, I traditionally think of something with a slight crunch. It wasn't like I had let my toast sit on my plate till last either. It was the first thing I picked up off my plate. But other than the toast, I would have to say I had an enjoyable meal.
(3)Derrick C.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day even at 12 noon. So I ordered one of the combos. Scrambled eggs with Ham and French. I didn't go extra ordinary. Just because..,the first thing delivered to the table was the sprite. It was crisp like it should be. I enjoy French toast. The sweet bread was fulfilling. The scrambled eggs not runny at all. Very good experience do to the prompt customer service.
(3)Czar F.
Not worth the wait , nor hype. If I could give nothing but a hot turd I would. Food is nothing memorable, and items forgotten. Service doesn't exist, your just a number. Order wrong, food lukewarm at best. Owner is a mental case, you'll see her frantically running back and forth from the kitchen to the floor; while bad mouthing customers. Our server Wayne was the worst we have encounter. He forgot items, tried lying through his smoke breath, and while we waited he spent his time gossiping with co-workers.
(1)Jennifer B.
This is definitely one of my favorite breakfast restaurant. My go to is always the French toast. 3 huge pieces of sweet bread with batter that has a hint of cinnamon. You can't go wrong. The wait was about 40 minutes on this visit. Which wasn't too bad. As soon as we got seated, we were helped right away. They really have their service down to get people in quickly and out. Very efficient. Like all the other reviews mention, there are a lot of Japanese tourist. And when I say a lot, I mean majority of the people waiting. However, on this particular visit I was pretty shock to see a banana stuffed French toast as a special?!?! Another really good breakfast place of ours is Sweet E's. and It was very interesting to see that they had copied one of their staples. Without a doubt kaila's never disappoints when it comes to both quality of food a great service. I just would have expected more from their creativeness. But I guess the say imitation is the highest form of flattery. If you haven't tried this place, it's for sure a must!
(4)Joy B.
Perfect little spot for some solid breakfast. I'm always tempted by the sweet breakfast treats, like french toast & pancakes, but my body always craves some good old steamed rice, sunny side up eggs & Portuguese sausage when I'm island bound. Love the aloha of the staff & the price is nice, too.
(4)Tim T.
i always love this place, i have been there 10+ times
(5)Rachel M.
Finally writing a review for this place... The only downside is that this place gets CRAZY crowded! One day my boyfriend and I both had requested a Tuesday off and decided to grab a hardy breakfast somewhere since on a usual weekday the closest to breakfast we get is coffee or a small box of cereal. We got there around 10:30am and it was PACKED! What the...? Umm does no one go to work anymore? We had been here once before on a Saturday morning (holy moly which was even MORE crazy) but we hadn't expected it to be so crowded like that on a weekday. Anyways service here is "alright." Same with the amount of time it takes the food to come out. It's way too small and way too busy to be anything else better then that though so I don't really hold it against them. HOWEVER the food here is DELISH! I don't usually take pictures of food with my phone like some of you crazy yelpers but the last time I came here I just HAD to do it! I HIGHLY recommend the Lox and Bagel with Cream Cheese AND the WAFFLES! Unfortunately waffles can't be ordered as a side but it is VERY worth it to get as a main dish. Yum yum yum, I want to go back just thinking about it! :)
(4)Wanda D.
A truly great place to go for breakfast. Clean food, good looking and tasty. It is pricey yet, delicious.
(4)Ly C.
Not sure what's all the fuss here. Food was ok, but not great to wait for more than 15. Minutes. More of a tourist trap.
(3)Terinna R.
I'm reluctant to give out four stars because the wait in line for seats was way too long (put our names down for 3 people at 11) we were seated at 11:45.. Then we waited until 12:38 until we got our food. The price they charge for their orange juice was not worth the quality or quantity. I might have as well gone to Jamba Juice and got a fresh squeezed 16oz orange juice. However, the actual entree was well worth it. Hefty servings of the starch side and huge omelette with tons of meat and cheese :) The servers were pretty quick although they never really checked on us or refilled our empty glasses of water. But were quick to clear off our empty plates and o hand us a check.. Yeah the more I think about this, the more i want to give it a three stars. But before I do that, I will go again and give them another chance. ****** UPDATE! Everytime I have been here I have been with my friends.. at least two other people.. one occasion they gave me the wrong side of toast, next time they got my cheese in my omlette mixed up, and then it happened again. And I guess after coming every other hung over weekend brunch and waiting that super long line, I was hoping they'd get it done correctly. So this time around I finally said something about it and they handled it very professionally. They immediately came over to apologize, offered to remake it (even though I had gotten 1/3 through it), and then offered deserts. I declined, I just hoped they knew so they wouldn't do it to another customer. Then after my table paid, I'm guessing the owner? (sweet local looking gal) was apologetic as to why they still made me pay for my omlette.. she reimbursed me. For all the restaurants/cafe I haven been, I've got to say, these people at Cafe Kaila means well to everyone and all their customers. They're super sweet and so friendly. Thank you! & I will definitely keep coming :)
(5)Jessie J.
I loved everything about this place! I went with a party of three and we maybe waited about 20 minutes the turn over was really quick. I was delighted when I noticed the owner coming out to the parties that were waiting checking the list and even bringing out samples of the waffles... this causing me to have to order one they are absolutely delicious. Every thing we ordered was very tasty and well presented. our table ordered the Italian omelet and asked for Italian sausage :) Yum! , a waffle, and the oven baked omelet with bacon and potatoes. Every thing came out hot and wonderful! I will definitely be going back.
(5)Jermel-Lynn Q.
This is place! I totally love. Their breakfast is amazing! The owner too, she comes from such humble beginnings as a teacher. The thing about this place is that there are long lines but you can't blame them because the food is yum. I love their waffles and their omelets. However, one thing to keep in mind is the parking. It will be hard to find some parking on the weekends. Also expect to wait a little to get your food because they have a very small kitchen. However, with the atmosphere and great people, this is a great place to start your day.
(4)Lauren A.
Went there for the first time today. After the wait was over, ordered the veggie omelet with potatoes and the waffle with strawberries and banana. Food was good. Gave it a 3 cause they ran out of fried rice (how can you run out if your serve breakfast all day?!?!), would think they'd have fresh cornbeef hash, but they don't make that. And disappointed that they serve a generic brand for green tea that you pay $3 for but didn't get refilled. Definitely full and decent size portions.
(3)Jake C.
Water was waiting at the table. Nice homey feel for the decor. The French toast was great! Large portion with fresh fruit. I got the strawberry French toast, scramble eggs, and roasted potatoes. It was so much food I didn't finish it. Barely half way. The coffee had a strong kick to it. It was alright. Nothing special. This place definitely deserves the 5 stars. It's probably even better than Kimmie's Coffee Cup (My favorite breakfast place ever). Make sure to have breakfast here if you're ever in Honolulu. You won't regret it.
(5)Nicole M.
Patience...The wait is usually no longer than 15-20 minutes and the food is worth it. I don't understand why people are in such a hurry all the time. To base the merit of a restaurant on factors (like the wait to be seated) completely unrelated to the restaurant itself is absurd. Unlike other breakfast serving restaurants the food is fresh, there is no frozen or canned fruit here. If you want a stomach orgasm, try the belgium waffles with strawberries and bananas on top, but don't forget the side of link sausage (make sure to dip them in maple syrup).
(5)Justine R.
Put your name on the podium when you get there! I'm not sure why there's a "line" but whoever signs up first gets the table first! This is my second time here and my first experience was okay. So I decided to come again and really review it since the reviews are great for this place. We ended up waiting for an hour before we got seated which was fine. Don't walk away because if you do, they only call your name once and if you don't show, they'll cross your name off. Feel bad for whoever it happened to but for the the rest of us waiting for quite a while, we were excited every time the list went down 3-4 groups at a time. Meat Omelette($10.50): This was ok. I condemn them for the lack of saltiness even though I got spam and Portuguese sausage with pepper jack cheese. However, it really isn't anything special for me to be paying that price. They do give a huge portion though I couldn't finish it. Veggie Scramble($10.50): The bf got this. I actually didn't try it because I don't really like veggies :x but according to him it was good? A good healthy choice though =) Cinnamon French Toast ($7.25): This was HEAVEN. It was so good. There was no apparent cinnamon on the toast itself but when you bite down on it, its a warm fluffy goodness mixed with a hint of cinnamon and the powder sugar on top. It was so good. Would I wait in line for the above two dishes? Probably not. Would I wait in line for this? Hell ya =) Usually I don't really talk much about service unless it's really good or really bad. However, the bf was pretty annoyed with the service we received. The guy didn't really give us water even after we ordered. He came back about 5~10 mins later after we ordered and asked us if we wanted water. I was in a pretty good mood but the the bf was being pretty sarcastic with a "no shit". He didn't even ask us if we needed anything else when the food was brought out so we didn't get a chance to ask for condiments, although you really don't need it. Very flavorful by itself.
(3)Larry O.
Sunday AM wait of about an hour, but worth it. Waffles and French Toast with fresh fruit (caramelized apples, bananas).
(4)Mark Y.
Been here a few more times over the past 2-3 months and it seems the food is hit or miss. A lot more inconsistent than the first 5 or 6 months that we've gone. On one visit, we ordered the usual steak and eggs and we were suprised when the portion of the steak was 1/2 of what it normally was. They literally took what was 1 order and cut it in half and divided it among the 2 plates...shocking. The service is also hit or miss. We're used to it being crowded since this place is a hit among the honoluluans so we often opt to sit at the bar. On one visit, we sat at the bar and were promptly told we couldn't do that and had to wait in back of the line of customers that were waiting for tables (these people were not waiting for bar seats, they were waiting for tables). Funk dat, we left. Interestingly enough, the next time we went, we were able to sit at the bar without incident even though there were people in line...go figure. Now that this place recieved a critics pick award by the Advertiser's Ilima awards, I'm sure it'll be more crowded than ever. I think I'll avoid this place for a while, the food quality to hassle ratio is just too low here. *the wait for a table can be long. *the wait for mediocre food is long (it's normal to wait upwards of 40 minutes for your order to come out). *parking situation is kinda sh*tty here. *inconsistent food and service. I will add a props to this place since it does have an open wifi connection (or used to anyway, not sure if it still does). This helps a lot since you can surf the web on your smart phone while waiting for the slowly prepared food.
(2)Eunice F.
finally.. a place where the reviews were right... this place was worth the 20 minute wait we had upon arrival... the place is pretty small.. and there's no place inside the cafe to wait... but... write your name down on the list and just sit tight... the fresh and flavorful food is worth the wait! the service is not always that great... but... i think they try... they just get swamped... just call them over and they are more then happy to grab you whatever you need! We tried the malt waffles with fresh strawberries, sweet bread french toast with fresh apple compote... and the local style omelette with Portuguese sausage and veggies... all of it was absolutely delicious! Hard to find a place that uses all fresh ingredients, nothing frozen and pre-made with all those crazy preservatives... it's refreshing to finally find a breakfast/brunch place that uses fresh ingredients and has fair prices! this place is in the market city shopping plaza where the foodland is... good amount of free parking in the lot... it's definitely worth a try! :) I'll definitely be back again! :) Happy eating!
(5)Kami L.
I love love eating at this place. If you come early, you barley have to wait for a table. The waiter are always friendly. Everything on their menu is delicious. Their potatoes, waffles and omelets are a must try whenever you decide to eat here.
(5)Anisha D.
This place is my breakfast go to. It is seriously just so good. I have taken everyone here to eat. Their French toast is heaven on earth or crack cocaine. Which ever you prefer. And their breakfast burritos are my favorite. They're so full and flavorful. I did get their oatmeal once and OMGOSH there was so much!! Pancakes are delicious and waffles are sinfully tasty. They usually have seasonal flavors which is so much fun :)
(5)Judy K.
I love this place! There is usually a pretty long line, even if you are there when the doors open, but it is worth the wait. I have yet to have a meal there that I have not enjoyed. While I have certain favorites, the strawberry topped pancakes being at the top of the list, I always have a hard time deciding what to order because everything is so good. The service is fast & friendly & you get excellent value for the price. This is probably my very favorite place for breakfast on the island.
(5)Skye W.
At first glance, The crowd waiting outside can be intimidating. Especially when you see how seemingly small the place is inside. Although, times I've eaten here, the wait wasn't long at all. We did go early and only waited about five minutes, if even that. The staff is friendly and helpful. The portions are monstrous for the reasonable prices, and the food is ono!
(5)Karyn M.
Love love love this place! The wait might be a little long depending when you go, but so worth it! Fruits are fresh, french toast are huge and tasty, benedicts are to die for, their potatoes are so tasty!! Very enjoyable meal! Can't get enough. If you are a breakie...it's a must!
(5)Kristen K.
Another favorite place of mine! Converted my parents onto it, so now even they love to come here. I just wish they sometimes opened a LITTLE later...so my friends and I can get a light lunch after heading back from the beach. But they close at 2. Only downside....no reservations...you WILL likely wait if you go at peak hours for breakfast/brunch on weekends. But people don't sit & chat there for hours....most are very considerate and they are in & out quickly so the line moves along. Oh, and the parking lot at Market City shopping center is usually packed. Don't just stand there amongst everyone else and assume you are "in line"---make sure you find the clipboard and put your name down as soon as you get there! $cash only$ too still, I believe....so plan accordingly. For breakfast/brunch: I like the veggie omelette, and their belgian waffle with strawberries is SUPER good....the benedicts are good too BUT I hardly get them because that is a total splurge. My usual pick is the breakfast burrito (add guac), which is DELICIOUS....I get mine with bacon (and they make it crispy and its all cut up into little pieces). Ohhh and their yogurt parfait is yummy too (I usually get this IN ADDITION to something else....haha...its like dessert for me)....or one of their fresh blueberry muffins....sugar and crumb topping is YUMM! Ask them to heat it up! My parents like the french toast....I'm not too much of a french toast fan though. Been here a couple times only for lunch: any one of their sandwiches is GOOD. I remember that their turkey pesto is really good (I think they have a turkey avocado one too if I am not mistaken) Plus, comes with chips and a salad I think....super good deal for around $10! On top of all that, I think they have Illy coffee.... But in any case, they can make a variety of those barista coffee drinks. I like their skinny vanilly latte. All of the staff here are so wonderful and NICE. Always friendly and welcoming.
(4)Erica K.
Cafe kaila is worth the wait! I waited for 20min for breakfast but workers brought out samples for everybody waiting in line. I suggest looking at the menu before so you're ready to order when you're seated. Amazing place for breakfast!
(5)Gayle S.
After hearing so many glowing reviews of this place and seeing so many check ins here, I decided to give Cafe Kaila a try. One of my friends works here, but since I don't know his schedule and because my luck just runs this way, he isn't working this morning. Right now there are only a few tables taken, and service is swift and friendly. Perhaps because it's only 7:15? Ok. Annihilated the following items: Meat & cheese omelette (bacon, link sausage, cheddar) - it was good, exactly what I had asked for. Not all that cheesy, tho. With those awesomely soft herbed potatoes. Nicely done. Like I would make mine at home. Short stack of pancakes, no added fruit. These mofo's were amazing. No doubt. I have few places on my list where I actually like pancakes but these were hitting it! They were lightly flavored... usually just a doughy or slightly tart buttermilk flavor, but Kaila's have a delectable cinnamon vanilla taste to them, and a nice density that didn't get rubbery as they cooled down. And they came with a dusting of powdered sugar. I didn't even use the syrup. And the strawberry garnish was enough fruit for me. I'm a big fan of these pancakes. I'll be back again, the potatoes and pancakes will definitely be part of my next order! Wow... all tables and the counter are full! I'll have to be sure to be here at 7 again! 30/31 Yelps challenge
(5)Monica A.
My usual breakfast spot when friends from Japan come to visit. They love it and I never get tired of it. Everything on their menu is delicious and I just love the atmosphere. Very at home and relaxing. :)
(5)Florence K.
Make sure you have enough money to pay for your meal here, because they "only accept cash, local check, or dishwashing." Yes. You heard me right. Dishwashing. I don't know if that's true or not, but I literally LOL'ed when I saw dishwashing on the sign outside. Makes me want to try forget my wallet one day and see if I can actually wash dishes to pay for my meal! I came here with a friend before 8, and there was already a LONG line! It was even a school day, and I was like...seriously?! We ended up waiting for about twenty minutes, but the food was definitely worth the wait. There isn't much of a selection, just the regular eggs, meats, fruit, french toast, waffles and pancakes. I ordered an omelette with bacon, spinach, mushrooms, and cheddar, and it was delicious. It comes with toast, and your choice of rice or potatoes. I saw waffles and pancakes loaded with fruits come out, and I suddenly wished I ordered that instead, but I was satisfied with my meal. The service isn't the greatest. They just came to take the order, and refilled our water once. They didn't even bother to ask if we wanted more juice or anything! Boo! Although it was busy, I felt like they had enough people to go around and provide decent service, not stellar. I will come back to try those waffles or pancakes though! Maybe I can try paying in dishwashing next time! Who wants to join me?
(4)Beatriz Q.
Fantastic smoked salmon eggs Benedict served on Sunday morning. Depending on when you arrive, you can be waiting for a while since there's limited seating inside and it's a popular cafe. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Laurie V.
Yes, there are places that in town that serve American breakfasts! Food here always seems to be on the healtier side and not so greasy which is a good mix up from all the yummy fat I've been feeding my face. It has the feel of being in someone's living room and/or kitchen. So, it feels like the food is made with love and care...something mom's would cook for the fam.
(4)May L.
Not sure what the hype is about this place. I've been there twice because my friends wanted to go. The food was okay. Nothing on the menu really caught my eye. I had their spinach salad with steak, and omellete. Both were okay. Nice decor and all but I'm here to EAT! I don't like that there's always a wait. I don't like that it's cash only. And the food was just okay and not worth the wait or the hassle to get cash.
(3)Brent K.
Breakfast is hands down my favorite meal and this place is a breakfast heaven to me. Their waffles are amazing. Light and crispy and straight up delicious. They're sneaky also, giving away free waffle samples while you wait so it made my breakfast decision much more difficult, although I ended up getting two dishes anyways. Ended up getting the waffles and the pastrami eggs benedict. The benedict was really good and was served with some home fries. Generous portion of pastrami. While the wait might be a little long due to this place's popularity and the parking somewhat difficult (we went late morning), I thought it was worth the effort. Definitely will be back here!
(5)Sherry K.
I think my expectations were too high based on the other yelp reviews. The food was solid, but the service was terrible. Our waiter was very unfriendly and never even cracked a smile.
(3)Grant T.
Perfect stop on your way out of town to explore Oahu. We got there early on Monday and Tuesday and had no wait. Staff was friendly and recommended some good restaurants on our way up the east side of Oahu. French toast is the best I've ever had. It's also near a grocery store, which is perfect for getting snacks, drinks, and supplies for the trip around the island. Convenient to the freeway. It's in a 50-year-old strip mall, but the interior is modern and clean. Would give five stars, but on the first day, our potatoes were not all the way cooked. This was certainly the best breakfast I had during my week on the island.
(4)Esther Y.
Worth the wait! (and they might feed you samples while you wait!) The service is friendly and attentive, but more importantly, the food is GREAT! Especially after your first hike up Koko Head ever (yup, that was me). =) Ordered and shared the Marinara Omelet and Scrambled Egg with Smoked Salmon...and was reminded of why breakfast foods are some of my absolute favorite foods. Mmm...looking at my pictures makes me want to go back soon...
(5)Mhia Jinky B.
One of my bff found out that Paul Walker came to eat here so that was one of the reasons why we tried out the place for the first time. Of course, we didn't see Paul Walker but it was enough just knowing he tried out this place. The first time I came here, I ordered the cinnamon french toast with bananas, blueberries and caramelized strawberries. And that was oh so good! The fresh fruits balanced out the french toast so it wasnt too sweet! The food aren't pricey being that it's big portion. Because I had a good experience from the first time, i wanted my bf to try this place out too so we decided to have breakfast here yesterday (tuesday). When we got there, already there was a long wait. There were a lot of tourist people waiting to eat here. I overheard people talking about Paul walker eating here and that they heard good things about this place. Because there were a lot of people and the place is a bit small, It took almost an hour to have a table open up for us. Luckily, while we were waiting, one of the workers came outside to have us sample their Belgian waffles. All of the staff was super nice! They really know how to make their customers happy! When we finally got our table, our server thanked us for waiting patiently and took our order. I ordered the belgian waffle with bananas and strawberries. I really enjoyed it. Waffles were hot, fruits were fresh and the food presentation was awesome! I had to take picture of it! Although it was a long wait, it was so worth it! Good food + great staff= definitely coming here again! ***Yelp Challenge 17/365 Also, breakfast is served all day! ***Yelp Challenge 17/365
(5)Charles B.
It was my first experience at this cafe. We waited for an approximately 30 minutes to be seated inside. It's not a big problem, since we understand that places like this would get crowded. When we finally got a table, my grandma told me that she started to have a stomachache. I told my grandma that she doesn't need to force herself to eat anything. But if she wants to, she can just share with me. I'm not sure of the portion of the food serving. Every restaurant or cafe differs with each other. My mom & I was planning to share one serving of an omelette. The waitress came to our table to get our order. I asked her politely how big the serving would be for an omelette & told her we just need three waters. Now this is where I had a problem. The attitude from this waitress was UNBELIEVABLY RUDE! She was complaining that we're ordering three waters & only one serving of an omelette. She talked to us like every person needs their own dish & sharing is not allowed. She kept on FORCING & PRESSURING us the whole time to order more. I just think the customers should be able to make their decisions on what they should get, not the employees. For everyone who's reading this, I highly recommend NOT going to this cafe. It's not worth the time to handle the waiting & attitude. The prices are just TOO EXPENSIVE as well! I know for a fact that there's better cafe in Oahu than this one. The prices are way cheaper & the people are so polite. The experience will be more enjoyable than dealing with this one. I've been living here for my whole life. You can always get pancakes & omelettes anywhere else. It's not just here. Just make the right choice.
(1)Lyns B.
The wait is insane! They don't cater to locals, they cater to Japanese tourists. My husband and I tried to go 3 times this past year and I was not about to wait 1+hour for breakfast. Each time we went we were there 20 min before they actually opened and there was already a huge long line of tourists. Basically there are buses that drop of the tourists off every morning! So be prepared!
(3)Chrizzle D.
I'm so dissapointed. I came here a while back and remembered enjoying it. Today was a WHOLE different experience. I get that they're busy, but customer service definitely suffered as a result of them prioritizing that instead. We waited a good while to get in (which we expected). As soon as we got through the door, the guy handed us our menus and pointed the tables out. Wow. Sat down at the table and felt remnants of the people there before us since my arm was sticking to the table. Double wow. We waited a while for anyone to come to our table. Took forever. Ended up ordering. By that point, however, our meal was pretty ruined. Ate quickly and left. I hope to come back and not have such a mediocre experience.
(2)Kate G.
My grandpa is a man of habit, so when I suggested Cafe Kaila for lunch, he was very skeptical. "Why not CPK?" he would ask. "....because we ea att CPK every week." I FINALLY got him here a couple weeks ago and we have been here two times since. GP is addicted to the croissant sandwich, which he did not put down the whole time. At some points during lunch, he had the sandwich in one hand and his coffee cup in the other, like someone was going to steal it. He was still talking about it at dinner. Being on a restricted diet, I hardly find things that make me really happy to eat and I'm pleased with the selection here. I usually order a salad (I've tried a few and all were good) or the belgian malted waffle with strawberries (SUPER). I wish I could try everything on the menu, but for now I'm living vicariously through the happy faces of my grandpa and everyone else eating here. One star taken off for service, wait, and location. The service is blah and I'm sure they can afford to hire more help. The wait really is forever, even for a late lunch on a Wednesday. And parking? Your happy pancake face will suddenly fade when you realize a ginormo SUV parked two inches from your car or when people don't realize the parking lot aisles are all one-way. ***THEY NOW TAKE CREDIT CARD. Visa or Mastercard, I think. Huge plus from the cash-only option before.
(4)Sisi S.
Food was excellent comfort breakfast food. Service was attentive and fast. Wait time was the killer factor as always. With such popularity I really wish they would expand to accommodate rush hour crowds.
(4)Lee B.
So I got that this place was highly rated, super busy, long wait, parking packed; so i went with my teenager in the middle of the week. Great atmosphere, nice enough service, but I ordered an omelete with portguese sausage and it was swimming in grease. So disgusting. LIke the portuguese sausage was dumped in the omelet with all the rendered fat. It was swimming in it. My son ordered a belgian waffle - it was burnt. Burnt as in bitter burnt. I just don't get how you can mess up breakfast. It's the simpliest meal to make. Would never return or recommend.
(2)Lora H.
So I am your classic case of better late than never!! After years of hearing about this place, I finally got to try it today! I read from other reviews that service and quality has gone down since it first opened, but hey, I have no comparison as it was my first visit, and I thought it was fantastic! The service and the food, both excellent! No complaints and I am one picky eater! I love that they serve breakfast all day!!!!!!! I love breakfast food. Got there after 1pm and I did a create your own omelet. The food was fresh! The herbed potatoes were good too and I'm not a huge potato fan! So after ordered our food, we looked over at the table next to us and they had this incredibly enticing plate of goodness - french toast with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, syrup, omg!!! So... couldn't resist.... ordered a "side" of french toast as dessert after the omelet! It was soooo good! So the parking at Market City sucks... I hate that parking lot! Park in the back... it's better than circling that front lot. And the line at Cafe Kaila can get a bit long.... just go during off hours! I am definitely going back!
(5)Kim W.
Holy moly! Pumpkin waffles topped with caramelized apples were perfect! Cinnamon french toast was nice and fluffy. No wonder the lines are ridiculously long. I can't figure out how the other restaurants in the plaza stay in business.
(5)mea f.
i love breakfast food, i can eat it for every meal!!! since i'm back home for vacation i figure i hit up new place to try and decided on cafe kaila around 9am and it was packed!!! how the hell did the japanese tourist found about this place?!?! its not even a tourist hot spot. LOL but yea the wait wasn't too bad. customer service was outstanding, very tentative, making sure the water is filled and making sure our foods were good and what not. after i ordered scramble eggs with portuguese sausages and potatoes, i looked around and saw a lot of pancakes and waffles and fruits piled on. man i felt i should of ordered that! but i love eggs and potatoes! hands down i pick carbs and protein over fruits. LOL definitely will have to go back to try that again next time. the potatoes were just oookkk... i've had waaayyy better potatoes than that. i was hoping for it be more flavorful and crunchy or crispy but it was just plain slightly pan fried and super greasy... as for the scramble its like any other scramble eggs you can order. nothing special or spectacular. sorry but it didn't live up to the hype all the yelpers were raving about.
(3)L M.
Great breakfast if you don't mind waiting for 40 minutes on the weekends. Great staff, friendly and courteous. Can't miss menu that will please everyone. Very crowded on Sundays so for a better dining experience avoid the weekends.
(4)MJ S.
...have been going to Cafe Kaila since Chrissie opened after halloween about 5 years ago... the food at cafe kaila is always superb!! a definite 10+ on flavors and the combinations she comes up with. the french toast is my favorite followed closely by the waffles. if you really enjoy the food and the fruits...order the fruits on the side--this keeps my waffles crispy to the end...and i still get to enjoy the fruits! :) the wait for a table can be ridiculously long--if you're going on a saturday or sunday, plan to stand in line for about 30-50 minutes....yes, almost an hour. the japanese tourists have 'found' this place as there's a 2nd cafe kaila in japan and they are 'crazy' for the food--so the lines are long, long, long. :( the ambiance was loud last saturday when we were seated in the small add on alcove space they have. there were 4 groups of tourist sitting in the alcove and we were added to the group and the sound echoed to the point of distraction. not a place to hang-out and read---even while you're waiting for your food to come to your table. :( the last bit of advice i have is for chrissie....while her servers are very friendly and attentive and i always enjoy my visit there b/c the food is amazing...the wait staff all do this 'one' thing that irks and bothers me to no end. when paying for my meal (with cash--b/c they don't accept cards) i'm always asked if i need change. now this might seem like a small thing--but it seems rude to me to ask. instead, maybe it's old-fashioned of me--but i like restaurants that simply bring me back my change--then let me decide if i'm going to leave a tip! now mind you--i ALWAYS leave a tip, but after such a delicious meal--this 'one' point of asking me if i WANT my change--always leaves a slightly sour taste at the end of a delicious breakfast! wish the wait staff could UNLEARN that one small thing and simply bring back my change w/out the asking!
(4)Phoebe R.
Love the breakfast wrap and French toast! Not a huge French toast person but it's absolutely delicious here! Wait can be long so FYI come early or be prepared to wait.
(4)Linda B.
This is the best breakfast place I ever been too, their staff are really nice and the food is to die for we came here for breakfast 2 times ordered the steak and eggs the potatoes are delicious and their waffles and pancakes yummy you get a lot of food little bit pricy $50 breakfast but u get what you paid for, I will definitely come back
(5)J L.
I love breakfast foods. My friend and I decided to finally make the drive to eat here. The reviews mentioned the tourist and the wait. Both are so true! Plus: - We went early so tons of parking. - Samples of waffles being passed out as we wait. - Love the different glasses being used. - Cute little place. - Ordered the lox and eggs with potatoes and rye - lox and eggs was different, I don't think I would order that again - potatoes were flavorful - rye bread with jam was good. The jam was one of those prepackaged stuff Cons: - No Benedict's on the menu! My fav breakfast! - Service was okay. I know they are busy. - Cleanliness....hmmm there was jam on the floor from prior family. Staff noticed it because one of the waitress pointed it out but nothing. Next family came in and a littler girl stepped on it! It was finally cleaned up but after the fact! - No Benedict's!
(3)robert f.
My g/f and I went there today about 10:30 thinking that since it was a Tuesday and in between breakfast and lunch that the ever present line might not be there. It was. About 8 names were signed in in front of us but we only had to wait 20 minutes. While waiting I noticed that almost everyone waiting was a tourist. - it must be listed in some tourist guides somewhere. edit: since then I've seen tourist buses dropping people off here. It was my first time actually eating there since we usually went on to other places when we would see the line. My g/f had the waffles with strawberries and bananas. That was very good. I had the Italian omelet which was also quite good but could have used more marinara sauce. What really impressed me were the roasted potatoes that came with my meal. When my plate first came out I saw them and though "oh boy, they looked under cooked as underdone as Koa Pancake House potatoes" (Koa PH potatoes are terrible) I was very surprised. Even though they were not browned they were cooked very well and spiced in a sorta heavy way that was so ono. So yes, I think there is probably always a line but that is because the wait is worth it.
(5)Radiant C.
I'd love to give this place a higher rating, but alas... It seems as if I'm always in a crud mood whenever I'm here and that is probably because of the line I usually endure. I have to keep up with the flow and learn when there isn't a line! Haha! I do love their salmon on bagels with capers, it is a good change to the usual breakfast foods. I love everything I tried. However, there are still those docked two stars... Why, you may ask? No, it is not their location... If you follow my reviews, I'm a huge fan of location! No, it is not the quality of their food - but hey it IS also pretty expensive... But it is their service. I feel as if the servers pick and choose who they want to better serve and it makes me feel a little hurt as a customer. I have been here multiple times and I (along with whoever I am with) get ignored for great moments at a time. We usually flag down someone who isn't our waiter/waitress and then it gets a bit confusing which is what I don't really want to deal with first thing in the morning. I do recognize that servers who recognize people who seem to come to Cafe Kaila on the daily hound them and serve them consistently, I just want one of the two or three people giving them attention to assist us as well. None the less, the food is good. 'Tis all.
(3)Shannon L.
Corned beef hash eggs benedict! We were lucky to come on a day she made this dish. Oh my deliciousness! Long wait but worth it, came on a Saturday morning, signed the list about 8 names down. Took about 30 minutes, friendly staff, nice place, great portions. Can't wait to come back and try the frittata!
(5)Jon L.
The point of my review: Cafe Kaila is better than Bogarts. 1. Cafe Kaila has shorter lines. 2. Cafe Kaila has more than 4 tables. 3. Cafe Kaila has a parking lot outside (not the biggest but more than bogarts can say). 4. Cafe Kaila has better and faster service. Actual bogarts doesn't really have 'service.' 5. I had a really good crab cake eggs benedict. REALLY GOOD. Bogart's pros: 1. More interesting menu 2. Amazing crab/avocado omelet. So if bogarts fixed a whole bunch of things and kept their food the same, they would be better than Cafe Kaila. End.
(4)Haein P.
What can I say, I am a complete and total sucker for places that are quaint and cozy. I mean, I'm infatuated with places that are chic and modern, but as I've once mentioned before - home is where the heart is. For me, anywhere that has a home-like feel to it seriously wins me over...especially when it includes home-cooked food. This place is not what I expected whatsoever. I remember when it first opened, I took one glance at its overly floral and colorful sign and immediately wrote it off as some fruity cafe-wannabe with more than likely abysmal food. This unbelievably inaccurate judgment of mine delayed me from having my first wonderful experience there. Forgive me. The food was distinct and incorporated the perfect amount of attention to detail. I have an immense appreciation for aesthetics especially when it comes in the form of food and its presentation, but I'm a very simple kind of girl and when food is too pretty, I don't want to eat it. That is why I say that Cafe Kaila pays the perfect amount of attention to detail. The combination of flavors within their dishes are combined perfectly and presented in a way that is very appropriate and coordinating with its atmosphere. I had a cobb salad that was gorgeous. It was a symphony of colors and flavors all within a simple salad. Yet, it wasn't so meticulously arranged where all I want to do is to stare blankly at it with eyes wide-open and mouth slightly salivating. At times like those, I find myself flustered and lost for words due to a conflict of substantial interests: the feminine desire to preserve all that is 'pretty' and 'cute' versus the inherent need to consume all that looks delicious and edible. Thank God that here, at Cafe Kaila, an unexpected oasis within an island, I don't have to worry about feeling the pressures of such stressful and life-altering decisions. They even make eating healthy easy since they opt for organic whenever possible! Only problems (well, for me, at least) are that they're extremely popular and close too early!
(4)Jacob W.
This place does breakfast right! Every seemingly normal breakfast item was taken to much higher level of culinary expertise by the chief. The service was also very attentive. A nice break from the usual mediocre service of many breakfast restaurants. I could outline every piece of food that we ordered but I'll just say that here it is hard to make a bad choice on this menu. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Every thing was fresh prepared to order and delivered sizzling. So why not five stars? They have simply overgrown their establishment. Quaint yes but four adults and a baby on a small table inches from the front door just doesn't work. Not enough room four four entrees on the table. Either their current menu service and management they could be a five star with a bigger place and a hostess.
(4)Lina F.
My Italian omelette with sausage was delish but I was eyeballing my sis-in-laws french toast. I wanted to just reach over and poke my fork in her french toast and feast but she was enjoying it too much. It looked like maybe a cinnamon swirl was going on there sprinkled with powdered sugar? Omg my stomach just growled at the thought of it! Next time - french toast!!!
(5)Annie W.
The food is plated well and most importantly tasted so damn good. It was appetizing to see my thinly sliced, perfectly toasted, foccacia bread smeared with pesto sauce. In between my bread was a roasted chicken with provolone cheese, spinach, tomatoes and just dripping with juice in every bite. Are you salivating yet? This beautiful dish came with kettle chips and carrots, but I opted for a beautiful mixed green salad. My husband ordered the rib eye steak, topped with grilled onions, egg whites on the side, red cubed potatoes with wheat toast. Both dish were decent size and I promise you won't leave hungry. The service was excellent and we were checked on at least 4 times by various waiters, busers =) This place is bright, alive and a really decent sized place for a restaurant of this caliber. The bill came out to $27 prior to tipping. My only thing is it's cash or local checks only. I'm not a fan of not being able to pay with plastic. However, this didn't affect the tastiness of the food though. We had a beautiful lunch date, with excellent quality ingredients in our food. 1ish on Saturday equals no wait time at all. We can finally see what all the YELP is about here!
(5)Richie N K.
My go to spot with my girls or my husband! Their pancakes and waffles are always a winner. I always get their warm spinach salad. So Ono and pretty healthy!!! The only down side is the long line. The wait is worth it though. If there's a long wait we usually browse around foodland, coffee bean (just make sure you drink all of your coffee before you get seated) or Ben Franklin.
(5)Tim G.
A small, nice, cozy looking place. Certainly not where I'd expect such a place to be (that being one of the emptiest and worthless shopping complexes on the island). My friend and I put our names down, and the wait was not too long. It was jam packed with people, and everyone was very lively (sometimes almost too lively). They all had very delicious looking food, so I was looking forward to being seated. Once seated, I ordered a cappuccino and the Belgian waffles with everything on top. The wait for our food was very long, but maybe that was because they were busy, so that's fine. As the food arrived, I couldn't help but notice that it all looked so picture perfect. Savory looking strawberries and blueberries, caramelized apples and bananas on a golden Belgian waffle. It all looked so good. As I dug into the food, I saw the perfect picture vanish into thin air. The waffle was terribly bland, and just tasted like air. The fruits were nowhere near perfection - too sour, not sweet enough, old tasting. The cappuccino was horrible. Much too strong, and not a good strong, just a really bland strength to the coffee. I was terribly disappointed, and so was my friend (who had ordered the French toast with everything on top). I've had much better at many other places. Maybe they don't look as awesome presentation-wise, but they certainly tasted better. Points for being relatively cheap with large portions, and the ambiance of the place itself was very homey and comfortable. Oh, and of course, food presentation was top-notch.
(2)Emi H.
Revisited Cafe Kaila this morning to have a casual breakfast date with my BF. I thought we should try and enjoy our last few weeks of alone time before the baby comes. I consider this one of my last chances to enjoy a hot meal. Those of you with children know what I mean. You're ready to eat, fork in your first bite of food and a little voice says "Mom?! Can I have..." Yes, more of this to come in the form of small little screams along with annoyed looks from fellow restaurant patrons. Yay. The weekday is definitely the best day to come in for breakfast at Cafe Kaila. No waiting and we enjoy sitting at the bar area. The two tops are a little small and my friend Pua works the counter. I ordered the Belgian waffles with strawberries and my BF got the breakfast burrito along with a cup of coffee. His coffee is poured into a clear coffee glass which is my one big pet peeve. Coffee should be served in a mug, not a glass! It's just weird. It's not a cold drink, it doesn't have whipped cream on it and he's not a chick. Sorry, I digress. Our food came out quickly and I really enjoyed my waffle. There are a ton of strawberries on it and that means a lot to me. The whipped cream and syrup are served in separate little containers and the obsessive compulsive neat freak in me is very content. Waffle bliss! I think this time around my BF got the better dish though! His breakfast burrito was beautiful! Stuffed with eggs, bacon, spinach, mushrooms, cheese, onions and perfectly wrapped up. How do they do that? It's huge and they still manage to wrap it up tightly so that it stays neat throughout the entire eating experience. I am truly amazed. I had a few bites of his burrito and I actually got a little jealous. It was scrumptious and I don't usually care for breakfast burritos. I'm definitely going to make him split with me next time. Sorry honey, I'm having your baby so you have to give me half of your breakfast burrito. I think he's getting the better end of the deal. Don't you? Service was very attentive and our bill came out to about $20 before tip. A very reasonable, tummy pleasing meal and a wonderful way to start the day! I'm ready to make it a great one!
(5)Michael S.
A great place to grab a bite to eat. The French Toast was thick and tasty, and the Italian Omelet was filled to the brim veggies, Italian sausage and mozzarella.
(5)C B.
4 out of 4 stars. Great for breakfast! Food is not too greasy, buttery, or oily like most Honolulu breakfast spots. Service is attentive, but expect a small line. Inside, the aroma of breakfast overtakes you. Very good atmosphere... bright, clean. Try: breakfast wrap, omelet, french toast, waffles *I rate all restaurants on the same scale. Some establishments, such as fast food chains have no hope of earning more than 2 stars. Others can earn up to 5, but a 5 would indicate the finest dining experiences I've ever had.
(4)D B.
Mediocre food to price ratio, rude service. Came here for the first time and realized it was within a half hour of closing and asked if they minded but they sat us anyway which we appreciated. It took a wait in the beginning to order, and again at the end to get our check when we were 1 of 3 tables seated in the place. Thats understandable since they were busy cleaning. What was inexscusable was the way they rudely made us feel instantly after my girlfriend placed her thermos on the table. "You've got to put that away NOW. We don't allow that", said another waiter in camo shorts loudly from across the place. The rest of the tables were staring at us, I felt like a criminal, and my girlfriend was extremely embarrassed. I understand restaurants have their policys, but there are polite and discrete ways of informing new customers of policy, and then there's putting people on the spot. Never mind that the guy didnt even bother asking if it was coffee like he probably assumed or hot water with flu-relief which it was. To sum up the food, it was mediocre considering the prices. I'm not one to shy away from expensive food but the quality needs to justify the price. I had an omlette with portugese sausage, spinach, and mushroom with a side of stuffed french toast. The omlette was very bland and disappointing. I have this omlette at several other breakfast places so I know it can be done better. The stuffed french toast was slimy, undercooked,and disappointing as well. It felt like it had all been rushed. The side of potatoes cooked with rosemary was delicious though. Usually I'm all about averaging experiences of a place before a review. I understand variables in cooking can change an experience from diner to diner so I'm all for second chances. However, bad service and making someone feel unwelcome is unforgivable, and I will never come back to this place.
(1)Dustin G.
No wait at all just walked in and instantly seated (came at 11am). Service was fast and we got our food within 10-15 minutes of ordering. I got the waffles and its never a let down! crispy yet so soft. also got the local scamble with potatos and toast also not a let down whatsoever!!
(5)Trish P.
i hear A LOT about this place. i have a friend who constantly calls it "Cafe Ka-li-a" which is wrong, but i still know what she's talking about. breakfast served from open to close? YES PLEASE. and not to mention a killer lunch menu! dining with 3 others, we had to wait, but it wasnt long.... luckily, we all wake up late, so we got there just in time for their lunch menu (as well as breakfast). on the table were pancakes, eggs, ham, turkey bacon, home-style potatoes, toast, waffles, Italian omelette and STEAK...... PANCAKES = FLUFFY, but ask for extra syrup EGGS = BUTTERY, and plentiful HAM/TURKEY BACON = a little scarce. i only had 2 rashers of turkey bacon, and my friend, 2 small pieces of ham :( is there some sort of breakfast meat famine i dont know about? POTATOES = seasoned nice, and delicious. a nice change from rice TOAST = its toast. what do you want? ITALIAN OMELETTE = MEATY, and good, good, good WAFFLES = crispy, but again, more syrup please.... STEAK = JUICY, even done well DRINKS? = sodas are served by the can, but do other beverages in this place have refills? i have no idea b/c my iced tea never got refilled = either the answer is no, or the waiter was super busy...... overall, a good place to get your fill, but they're kinda stingy on the breakfast meats :( p.s. - CASH ONLY!!!!
(4)Jenn H.
This place is great! For starters, they use only organic as often as possible and place your take out in compostable containers. Second, they have a great staff. Third, they have a convenient location that is simple and cute inside. Fourth, if you wait in line they come out with samples of their food for their waiting customers (when I went they had waffle samples, yum!!!) And fifth, they have GREAT food!! Yes!!! I got their French toast combo. The toast was super soft and fluffy and not heavy, the eggs were a good amount, they certainly didn't skimp on that. I love and appreciate this. I hate it when places focus on one part of the meal and skimp on the eggs or the sides, so annoying. Kaila didn't disappoint. The bacon was also perfectly cooked. Not chewy, not burnt, just perfectly crisp like it was oven cooked. I love oven cooked bacon, so nom, ahhhh!! Overall a great spot. I have yet to experience but, I also hear the breakfast BLT is bomb! Must try that next time :) Best of all (in my opinion) they serve breakfast ALL DAY LONG!! I LOVE that :)
(4)Sheena C.
I hate wait lists, but we decided to do it since I've been wanting to try this place for awhile! We went on a Saturday at around 11am and the wait actually wasn't that bad. Maybe 15 min? The interior is "fresh" and clean, which matches perfectly with their menu! I had the veggie scramble and the SO had the lox & bagel. He loved his and I... meh, it was okay. I mean, it was just eggs and veggies. For some reason, when we go to breakfast places, I always order a scramble or an omelette and always regret it. No, Cafe' Kalia, not your fault at all. I guess I just don't like omelettes or scrambles as much as I thought I did...? Also, the roasted potatoes were alright. Nicely seasoned, but maybe the pieces were too big for my liking because I felt like it wasn't firm enough and dry. Idk...? We shared a macchiato (traditional style) and it was great! Anyway, will definitely be back for the great attentive service and to try the pancakes or french toast. My son can't wait because they have a little treasure chest for kids that he can get a toy from after eating! Tip: ONLY CASH AND LOCAL (I think, local only?) CHECKS ACCEPTED!
(3)Kalani S.
This place is over rated. Waiter not friendly with robotic personality. I ordered the frittata and it came out with dried rice and bland flavored eggs. The Italian omellete tasted like fake eggs with salty potatos. Not worth coming back
(2)Bobby G.
Fantastic French toast! I was really impressed from the moment I walked in. Clean, quaint, and water was already waiting for us on the table. The French toast with bananas was easily the best French toast I have ever had. It was made on a thick and fluffy Hawaiian sweet bread that was quite filling. Equally important to me in a breakfast place is the COFFEE! It was delicious, but it sure did pack a wallop. Coffee amateurs beware. Reasonably priced and the servers weren't bad to look at either. I highly recommend.
(5)Rebecca C.
love coming here for breakfast... it's a cute and casual place... always a line but turn around is pretty fast... breakfast was: french toast w/ bananas =D meat omelette orange juice ** cash only
(4)Jessica M.
Super delish! The veggie omelet and waffles were both a huge win.
(5)Jennifer L.
We've been meaning to have breakfast here and finally did after my 8:30 AM exam! When we got there, it was packed and we had to wait for about 15 minutes for a table. I ordered the Belgian waffles and my sister ordered the french toast with a side of sausages. It was good but wasn't anything wow like people had told us. My waffles were pretty light and crispy. My sister's french toast were huge! But it was very fluffy and perfect for breakfast! I loved the display of our dishes... It made our meal look even more appetizing :) I didn't really care for the sausages. It did help to balance out the sweetness of the waffles though. It was about $10 a plate which isn't too bad! And the staff is pretty friendly. I heard their omelets are good. Hopefully we can dine here again soon!
(3)Les T.
My wife and I have been to Café Kaila four separate times now and each time has been a great experience. The food has been fresh and tasty and the service has been great. The Local Scramble is really delicious, but my favorite dish so far is the bagel breakfast sandwich. I know it's really simple, but it still tastes great! It combines the right flavors with a perfectly combined texture (crunchy, chewy, moist). The croissant breakfast sandwich has the same flavors, but the croissant does not have the "body" of the bagel, so it's not quite right. The waffles are super delicious. If you go with an eating partner, make sure someone orders waffles so you can get a few bites. We have also had the lox and cream cheese and one of the omelettes. Everything has been good to great. The service has always been awesome. Everyone seems to be happy to be working there! Our water and coffee was always topped off, and was always served with a smile. Yes, there is usually a wait for a table. If you can, try going at 8:45 or 10:00 am on a weekday for little or no wait time.
(5)Jared T.
Is it worth growing a 5 o'clock shadow for? Sure, if you're a breakfast all day kinda guy with a wad of cash (no plastic accepted). My first dining experience here was a spontaneous late lunch. We got there around 130, just at the tail end of the crowd. We ended up sitting at the bar and counted number of sheep jumping over a fictitious fence. This place isn't crowded so much as it just has a limited amount of seats available. Not a place to go with a big group. We shared a fantastic lox and bagel,scrumptious french toast w/ apple, and an italian sausage omelette sans fromage with seasoned potatoes. Every ounce of food was great and you could tell the quality of the food was above par. Especially for a breakfast place.
(4)Double K.
It's been over a year and we're back at Café Kaila's for a breakfast date. Waited about 20-25 minutes at around 9:30am on a Friday morning. Food was great as usual, I ended up going with the omelet although I was seriously debating ordering the pancakes (again, maybe next time). We also ordered the Lox & Caper scramble for the 3rd time, it's a Fave! The service was hit & miss for us again. Some of the servers are great and really friendly and others not as much. Good food, decent prices, nice atmosphere (but small), and Crazy busy!
(4)Amanda A.
So, I'm basically obsessed with this place. Every Sunday (and Saturday if at all possible) I find myself here. The vast majority of the time, they do everything right. The only draw back is the line that is always out the door, no matter the time of day, and as a reminder of what's to come they'll usually bring out waffle samples, and they do a fantastic waffle. I must confess though, a big part of coming here on the weekends is to find out what the Eggs Benedict special is. They only do the Benedict on the weekends, and thus far all of their takes on the Benedict classic have been ridiculously good. They've gone from the BLT Benedict, to Loco Moco, Kalua Pork and even Sloppy Joe (which much to my surprise has been my favorite.) Pros: Good coffee, great service, great food Cons: The wait, closes at 3pm, cash / checks only (or dish washing apparently). Needless to say, this place makes me very happy, and any Sunday feels incomplete without Cafe Kaila.
(5)Ruth P.
Awesome!! Ditto to all other comments.
(5)Vina Y.
Disclaimer - I don't usually eat breakfast/breakfast food, so take that under consideration. Review is a 3.5 star. Everyone has raved about this place and I've tried twice to eat here but the line was too long. Finally made it out last week and I was not wowed by their breakfast. I had a waffle with strawberries and my friend had an omelet with herb potatoes which I tried. They were both good but not great, not "let's wake up at the crack of dawn and wait for an hour to ear breakfast" kind of great, which is what my friends have made it out to be. No major complaints about the food or service, I just don't think it lived up to the hype. I guess I thought they would have been more creative with their dishes. Sure, they do "typical" breakfast food well but I guess I was expecting something more out of the box.
(3)Myong C.
Best breakfast in Honolulu. We got there at about 11:30am on Sunday morning and had to wait about 20 minutes, which wasn't bad at all as the waitress brought out samples of their waffles not once, but twice to those of us waiting outside. The waffle samples were nicely fluffy yet crispy and a good sign of the breakfast we were about to enjoy. Upon being seated, we ordered right away as we had browsed the menu while waiting. We ordered a meat and cheese omelette where you select 2 meats and 1 cheese (we chose bacon, Portuguese sausage, and pepperjack cheese). This dish also comes with roasted potatoes and toast. The omelette was very good, even to me (not a big omelette fan) and I found that the pepperjack cheese really gave the dish an extra oomph. I was in love, however, with the roasted potatoes. Perfectly cooked and seasoned with a bunch of herbs that made it really delicious. We also got the Combo, which comes with your choice of pancakes or waffles, 2 eggs, and a breakfast meat. I decided on the pancakes, 2 eggs over medium, and the link sausage. The pancakes were the best I've had. Very fluffy, light, and flavorful, with just a hint of crisp on the edges. Perfect. They also got my eggs perfectly over medium, with the yolk just slightly hardened. The link sausage was also ono. Since we were so hungry, we (I) ordered a bowl of minestrone as a starter. This soup was very good and chock full of beans, pasta, and vegetables. AND....it was served hot! Soups are supposed to be served hot! Overall, breakfast was a little on the pricey side ($34 with tax + tip including an iced coffee) but we did get a lot food and walked out very very happy. Will definitely be back.
(5)Kalei F.
This is a quaint diner that has all the usual local breakfast favorites.....pancakes, waffles, eggs, rice, spam, bacon, and toast. I love the variety they have on their menu and that they serve breakfast all day!! I can't wait to come back and try more of their food. We had the Belgian waffle with strawberries, and the Veggie omelette with herbed potatoes and sourdough toast. Belgian waffles did have a LOT of strawberries and it's cool how generous they were with those darn fruits!! The waffle itself was cooked to perfection, but the actual batter left something missing. It was just a little plain for me, but still good. And the veggie omelette was my FAVE!! They had a lot of spinach, zucchini, and onions and the omelette was huge and well seasoned!! The herbed potatoes were a little burnt, but yet not cooked enough, if that's possible!! It also could've been MUCH more herb flavored! And the sourdough bread wasn't anything special either....definitely had better. This place always seems really busy and there's definitely a lot of regulars! We sat at the bar and our waitress was not good! She didn't really pay attention to us and I had to ask twice to fill my water (as you all know I drink like a fish!)! So all in all, be prepared to wait especially if you have more than 2 people! Cash only. Their lunch menu also sounds very good and they start serving that at 11am. I like that they try to use natural ingredients and it is a good breakfast place to go to!
(4)Hikari D.
Great breakfast. Luv the salmon Benedict!
(5)Nikki R.
I absolutely love the food here. You can tell that all of their food is prepared fresh using fresh ingredients. The breakfast portions are REALLY big considering they give you potatoes (or rice) AND toast AND your main dish. Both the omlettes and scrambles are awesome, and the waffles and pancakes are topped with loads of fresh fruit! I recomend this place to anyone. The cafe is small, and sometimes the wait for both a seat and the food can be a while, but it's definetly worth the wait. The wait staff is friendly and the service is normally great. The only drawback to the cafe is that they do NOT accept credit cards, and that is the ONLY reason it got 4 stars from me. It makes things difficult becasue for a while they were accepting credit cards and then stopped (which caused a trip to the ATM and an extra $2.50 in ATM fees).
(4)Angel R.
We had been told by our friends about this place but were a bit apprehensive since we had it in our minds that it wasn't any good because of location. DO NOT judge this place based on location and surroundings. We came, not knowing how long it would take to be seated but even with a lot of people there we were seated pretty quick. Once inside, it is very inviting. We both ordered the Combo which included pancakes or french toast with 2 eggs of your choice and a meat. We both had the french toast and were not dissapointed! The presentation alone made the mini wait worth it and the taste was even better. The french toast was large and soft. Even better with the strawberries on top. My wife and I look forward to eating here again and hopefully soon.
(5)Julie O.
Been here numerous amounts of times, usually for lunch. Love the turkey panini with cranberry sauce and avocado ...yum! The sandwiches here are pretty big and if you don't come in super hungry, be prepared to take home leftovers. I have been here many times and the food is pretty consistent. I recently brought my mother here to have her try what I've been raving about and she really liked the food too...except for what I'll explain in a bit. So, for the sandwiches and experience I usually have here, I would give it 5 stars... However...based on my most recent experience, I need to minus a few. Some things that I was disappointed in this time was that the table was sticky and my mom had four huge cracks down the sides of her water cup. Retire the cup guys! Does not go with the standard Cafe Kaila expectation. Minus 1 star. Next, some of the greens in my salad were...how shall we say black, rotten and slimy. I pulled them out and put it next to my water cup. I wished someone came by to fill my water cup so that I could've showed them but sadly no one came. Another minus 1 star. All we got was a "do you ladies need boxes?" and the check. Oh well. And they weren't as busy as they usually are so really no excuses. I explained to my mom that this is not the experience I usually have here. Is this last experience enough to make me stop coming...probably not. I'll be back until this last experience becomes the norm. I hope they step it up and once again be the Cafe Kaila I love to rave about.
(3)Lindsay C.
Yey for another great LATE Breakfast joint! Boo for another crappy parking lot. Depending on when you come, it is tough to find a spot with all of the FoodLand and other store shoppers, and there tends to be a line, but if moves along pretty quickly. They have a nice big menu with a little bit of everything... pancakes, waffles, omelets, lox and eggs :) Service is usually A+ with friendly staff and quick to help. It also doesn't hurt that this place is located a few doors down from the Fun Factory! (I will win an iPad2, I will win an iPad2)
(4)Renee S.
Good food, if you're really hungry might mot be the place to go food took about 20 minutes to come out, and they weren't as busy (5-10 people usually waiting) I know fresh food takes awhile. Lox and eggs were delicious!
(3)Taylor W.
I'd give it 4-5 stars for the quality of the food but the service mostly sucks. It's usually okay, but this last time I went was pretty bad. My boyfriend and I were almost done with our food, we were slowing down and the waiter comes up to ask if we needed boxes, we said no. Then, he took away our food without even asking if we were done! We weren't, I regret not complaining then and there, oh well.
(3)Lisa I.
Delicious food and worth the wait. The kitchen messed up my order and the server ended up taking my meal off the bill which was completely unnecessary. Great service too. I would definitely return.
(5)Ryan C.
This place was a total surprise. It's tucked away in a random shopping mall so initially, my reaction was "Oh, well this place will be only OK." The friend I was with assured me that this was the best breakfast around and so, I followed, with fingers crossed. We first stopped over at the grocery store around the corner to pick up a bottle of champagne for mimosas: it turns out Cafe Kaila will let you bring the booze as long as they give you the juice and for just $5 extra, that's a pretty good deal. After a quick wait outside, we got right to a table, ordered and our food was out within 15 minutes. Super fast service, which was a total plus. I got the pancakes with blueberries, my friend got the eggs Benny and we split a waffle. Too much food to handle, but all of it was so delicious. The waffle was heavenly and the homefries were seasoned just right. Prices were absolutely reasonable. As far as atmosphere and ambiance, it wasn't anything special but then again, we were here for breakfast, not a fancy shmancy restaurant. Even though all of the tables were occupied, it never felt crowded or too loud. The waitstaff was friendly and just the right amount of attentive. Two enthusiastic thumbs up! If I ever find myself in Honolulu again, I will definitely be hitting Cafe Kaila up. :-)
(5)Kerry M.
Never made it there. Called on the phone to get information and prices and was told to call back later. Called back and was told the same thing by Christie, by order of the owner. Tried one more time got the same response. If the table service is as bad as the phone service i won' t bother. Looking at the reviews it seems as though the owner is the main problem. One review described her as a psycho I ate there about a year ago and the food was ok, the service was so so. Not a happy place!
(1)Joey M.
The food is above average and I will be going back. There was a 20 minute wait to get a table and the waiting area is outside which was different (and hot), but no big deal. I had pancakes and found them to be a good value and tasty. We had three different servers for some reason, but in the end the last one said our entire meal was comped because they felt like they were slow in serving us and they appreciated our patience. I thought they were fine, but who am I to disagree? Maybe they are super super fast normally, and today didn't cut it?
(5)Noel B.
this was my second visit. the first visit, i had the scramble mix. today, i had french toast. the food was great! i'm a fan. my friends had the belgian waffles and those were great. on an extra plus, the waitresses are friendly, gorgeous, and helpful. BRING CASH!
(5)Thi L.
I'm giving this 5-stars pretty much because of the belgian waffles. They are delicious and with the perfect crunch and chewiness. We just ordered it plain with butter and syrup, a veggie scramble and side of italian sausage. It was enough for 3 people to share and we all go a bit of sweet and savory. My coffee was refilled twice and everyone there seems high on life despite how busy it was on a Black Friday morning. The wait wasn't too bad and I'm glad they bribed us with a sample of the waffle first. I left feeling so happy and full and satisfied. I'll be back for waffles.
(5)Sheldon T.
Ya know the lamest waste of time is waiting in line to buy something or waiting in line to get something to eat. Buuuuuut, let me tell ya, it's pretty worth the wait. There was about 15 peeps waiting when we got there and about 30 when we finished... Huge menu so not sure about other things but I had the bacon and ham omelet and again, being a giant piggy, had the waffle with some blueberries on top. I know it doesn't sound exciting, right? I think the cooks in the back just really take pride in what they do and cook their food with love (or sometype of secret sauce, yikes!) because they just took 2 boring items at most places and made it really super! Eggs were super Weasel fluffed out and the insides of bacon and ham was fighting to get out, meaning that is was plenty stuffed, ;). I think they really use fresh ingediments, cause it was delicious and filling. As for the waffle, there's not much that you can really do to make it a super waffle, but it was just nice. Perfectly waffle brown, not over or under cooked. Topped with some little fresh blueberries made Weasel happy. I will definitely be going there again to try more of the big ole menu. Just make a note that this place only takes CASH or local checks so even if you have an Amex Black celebrity card, if you forget cash, you'll probably either be arrested or be washing dishes... :) 5 stars for you - for making a "same ole" breakfast into Weaselicious!!!!!
(5)K T.
French toast is a MUST TRY! The next must try is the Belgian waffle with fruit on top. Expect a long wait if you plan to eat here at the normal brunch time though. Skip the coffee...It wasn't anything too special.
(5)Anita C.
Even on a weekday, there was a wait - it wasn't too bad, just a few minutes, we got lucky. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, it reminded me of being back in NY; there is a certain sense of sophistication along with homey and cozy. I had the steak and eggs, potatoes, toast and a pancake. The steak was tasty, no salt needed here. I think there were about 3-4 eggs (I couldn't finish it) cooked to perfection and the potatoes were cooked just right. Super yummy! Now on to the pancake... it was tasty!! with a hint of cinnamon and just the right amount of fluffiness. This is my third favorite pancake spot! Cinnamon's being first and Liliha second. Next time, I'm going to try the ravioli, that looked really good.
(4)G E.
Extremely great (and sincere) service! Food was excellent and well portioned. Wait was not too long 10-15 minutes at about 8:00 in the morning. After having dined here, would certainly wait considerably longer to eat here (and that's big for me as I tend to get a little grouchy when I am hungry)....winning combination of great food and service- great job Kaila folks! Highly recommended.
(5)Jaimie K.
Delicious loved my banana pancakes. It reminded me of banana fosters when dipped into the syrup. I didn't realize how full I truly was till I finished off one pancake, my eggs, and bacon. I can't wait to go again! Plus the workers were sweet and pleasant. P.s. if your lucky samples of the waffles and French toast were given out.
(4)kristine f.
I recall being one of the blessed few who got to try Café Kaila when it first opened a few years ago. I thought it was the best thing since sticky rice. I recall taking all my friends, family and out of town guests there and once our meal was over they were truly grateful for the new discovery they just made. However, a few weeks ago, a close friend of mine decided to grab brunch and catch up. What better place to go than to the cute, Café Kaila. I couldn't decide what I wanted because from my recollection everything I had tried was delish! My friend ordered the Chicken Parmesan Panini. I toggled between breakfast and the Steak Panini which is delish because it comes with a good portion of steak, mushrooms and onions. I died when I took a bite of my sister's once. Anyway, back to present day, I went ahead and ordered breakfast since I was craving rice. I got me two bangers over easy, white rice, wheat toast and Portuguese sausage. Anticipating a yummy breakfast, I got served with Over Easy bangers, Wheat toast, greasy Portuguese sausage and OVERCOOKED rice. Ugh! The one thing I was craving I couldn't have. It was what my mom and I call, "dango." It was slimy, mushy and sticky. It reminded me off mochi. Working in the service industry I understand that there will be some minor glitches here and there, but what I don't get is why the cook did not notice that the rice was close to not edible. And what really kind of peeved me was that no one really came over the check on us or even notice that my rice was bad. Again, not a big deal, I really did not need all the carbs on my plate, however it would have been nice to know someone cared. Situations are never going to be perfect, but it's really how you handle those situations that separate you from all the rest. Tempted to ask for another scoop of rice, I thought to myself, "it will take a while to make a new pot of rice and why would they when they are closing is in an hour and a half." It's funny because another couple ordered the same breakfast as I did and they both did not touch their rice. I'm also kind of bummed to see that they are still a cash only business. I mean I understand the logic behind it, but sometimes it's a bit of an inconvenience.
(3)Ken G.
All in all, this place was a good choice for breakfast. We each had a scramble (3 eggs) and mine was a vegetarian, loaded with vegetables, which was pretty good. We also split an order of french toast, which was also pretty good. The service was pretty attentive and friendly. While I didn't think this was spectacular, this was a good breakfast option for the area. There were a ton of choices on the menu and probably something for everyone. It also seems very family friendly since a lot of kids were around.
(3)Robby A.
First of all, I love this place because they serve breakfast all day. Second time here and both times were great. The pancakes were awesome. First time there I had the special eggs benedict with slow braised short ribs and fried rice. On the second visit I had the frittata with Italian sausage which was also excellent. If you are a breakfast person like me, Cafe Kaila is a must try!!! Oh and bring cash as they don't accept cards.
(4)Traci H.
I love breakfast food, and I love to find places that serve breakfast past 11 am. Here at Cafe Kalia they serve breakfast all day (till 3 pm). I had the Belgian Waffle which were $6.95 and added strawberries for $1.50. I hate the previously frozen goo that other places put on your waffles. That's horrible, but here it's FRESH strawberries only! My bf had the build your own omelet. You get a choice of 2 veggies, 1 meat, and your choice of cheese. Served with rice or potatoes and toast. All for $9.95. The waffle was good. They had the whipped cream on the side which was nice. I was satisfied! My bf's omelet was a good deal. For a build your own omelet it's a good price. He had tomatoes, mushrooms, Portuguese sausage, and pepper jack cheese. Sooo good. I think I'm gonna build my own omelet next time. So for the 2 of us it's was about $20 without any extra drinks. I think that's reasonable. May not be cheap, but the it's better then Denny's. I will be back again!
(4)Sonia S.
Cafe Kaila serves great, quality food at reasonable prices! Each time I've gone..it's been busy, busy, busy...non-stop. Service is good, parking is decent, nice sized portions. I love their portuguese sausage breakfast wrap with a side order of guacamole and salsa. Eating this for breakfast is so filling...it's actually enough to fill you up until way after lunchtime. It's a flour tortilla filled with potatoes, scrambled eggs, cheese, pocho sausage, I believe onions and spinach, too? It's just YUM! Pancakes are delicious. Light and fluffy. Smoked salmon omelette with onions and capers was a nice choice. Just the right amount of salt. I asked for egg whites only, which wasn't a problem. Some places will give you "tude" if you make changes. I also like their Pesto Chicken Sandwich served with a healthy green salad on the side. Be prepared to wait on the weekend.
(4)Maria K.
My favorite thing about Cafe Kaila is the variety of menu items. I always spend way too long a time trying to decide what to order! So first I gotta decide if I'm feeling sweet or savory. There's the fantastic steak and eggs plate. Forget the rice...the herb-roasted potatoes are flavorful with the skin still on. And then of course you've got all the egg plates: frittatas, omelettes, sides. Oh, and paninis and sandwiches and salads. If I'm feeling sweet, I have to decide between pancakes, belgium waffles or to-die-for french toast. My goodness, each decision just leads to another fantastic decision...and the coolest thing is, I could basically close my eyes and pick out an item on random, and I KNOW it'd be good. On my last visit, I got a side of French toast and the chicken special plate. The French toast was fantastic, soooo filling even though it was just a fluffy side, and the bananas and strawberries were fresh. The chicken plate was also good. My only complaint would be that the chicken doesn't microwave well for the second time around -- slightly dry, even though it was juicy the first time. But then, what kind of a complaint is that? MY FAULT FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO FINISH IT ALL!!
(5)Tyra K.
Very tasty Breakfast!! I must come back and try more of their delicious dishes... There will always be a wait here, so if you have time then wait a little and enjoy, but make sure to give yourself plenty of time.. What I love about this place is no substitute eggs when making omelets, everything is fresh and organic its good to eat a healthy breakfast.. The service is so-so, I understand they are busy, but the last time I went I asked for brown sugar the server replied a bit rudely 'you already have sugar' I obviously wouldn't be asking for brown sugar if i had some on the table. They have some very tasty dishes, but I'm not a fan of some of their omelets, like for example on of their veggie omelets they put basil seasoning, they could of put real basil instead since they promote a healthy organic place, that's just my recommendation... I will return when I have more free time in the morning for breakfast..Since its really hard to kno how long you'll actually have to wait for a seat.
(4)Malia H.
First of all, I couldn't believe how many reviews there were for this place. Its a small restaurant that has breakfast all day and lunch. I woke up an decided to read some reviews and was happy to see they were open today. I decided to have my Easter breakfast here. The only thing was it was already 9:30 am and I live about a half hour away. After reading all the reviews and how long the wait can be and how busy they can get, I figured I'd drive there and chance it. Maybe everyone would be at church or Easter brunch buffets. Nope I was wrong. First of all, Cafe Kaila is located in the Market City shopping center which is notorious for having no parking available and always being packed. Good thing I chose a holiday so the parking lot was not full at all. I didn't see tons of people outside the restaurant so I hoped I lucked out. Wrong. Every table was taken an even all their counter chairs were too. I signed in, after 5 other parties or so. I was hopeful but expected to wait after reading the reviews. The staff was very friendly and apologetic. I was waiting outside with some others and after about 10 minutes, the crowd doubled. The restaurant has counter seating and about 10-12 tables, there's no space to wait inside. Good thing I didn't come later...or I'd have waited longer. What made me be even more understanding about the wait was a gesture one of the workers (she may have been an important worker or maybe even the owner. I wasn't sure) extended. She came outside, apologized and offered samples of a freshly made cut up waffle covered in maple syrup. Bonus star for customer service. I waited about 20 minutes before getting seated. Not bad at all. There were two specials today, red velvet pancakes and crab cakes eggs Benedict. Decisions, decisions. I had this indecisiveness when I dined at Cinnamon's too. Both sound delicious. I decided to ask my waitress if I could have one if each. She said that I could do that which made me happy, My bill came to $14 or so which was reasonable for me. Who says you can't have the best of both worlds? LOL First of all, it was busy. It took about another 20 minutes for my food to arrive. I didn't mind, I guess after reading all those reviews, I expected to wait which is why I wasn't so impatient, The crab cakes eggs Benedict. It was heavenly, it had real crab and the crab cake was a generous portion. The egg was poached just right and it came with potatoes. The potatoes were red with skin on. It also came with fresh fruit as a decorative touch. A piece of an orange and strawberry. The eggs Benedict was very flavorful and rich but didn't have a heavy hollandaise sauce like most eggs Benedicts do. The red velvet pancake. It was sweet bur nor overpowering. I've had red velvet pancakes at a couple places; I think I like it best here. The flavor is good but not too heavy and the whipped cream cheese frosting on top is not overwhelming. A small cup of syrup is given to you but I feel the pancake and frosting on top is just enough for the fluffy delight. I am happy I got one of each, I got to try to different things without too many leftovers or breaking my wallet. Also both dishes were yummy but very rich and a little of each was a good balance. I loved the fact that they let me modify the menu even if it wasn't listed. It showed me they really are customer oriented. The customer service here is fabulous. Everyone is so friendly and attentive but not in an overly fashion or a fake way either. The food and customer service has won me over. The negatives? Well, just understand good things come to those who wait and you'll be fine. Another thing was my pet peeve for places. Cash only. They do not accept credit or debit. Most places that do this to me usually have to be really good in order for me to go back. This place is one of them. The food did live up to the hype in the reviews to me. I can't wait to return and look at the menu I realized when I left that since I knew I wanted to order the specials, I didn't even look at the menu :/ ^_^*~
(5)Mel M.
My wife and I are new to the island and went to Cafe Kaila for breakfast this morning after reading reviews on Yelp. We intended to go to Boots and Kimo's since we were going to that side of the island but changed our minds after reading the less than glowing reviews of their service or lack thereof. We got there around 8:30 on a Sunday morning and waited for maybe less than 10 minutes...enough time to peruse the menu. Service was quick and attentive. My wife tried their Belgian waffle with caramelized apples and I went with the breakfast wrap with Portuguese sausage after conferring with the wait staff on what he would recommend between the Frittata and the Breakfast Wrap (Note: Kudos to the wait staff who actually try the food they serve and can give knowledgeable recommendations to customers). Water and coffee arrived quickly and were never in danger of running dry as the wait staff was quick to refill. Even though their menus warned of some wait for the food as they are prepared from scratch, our food came to our table quicker than what we expected. The breakfast wrap seemed smaller than I anticipated. It came with salsa and was garnished with half a strawberry and a slice of orange. It was well seasoned and was actually filling. My wife's Belgian waffle was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside...just the way it should be. The apples weren't exactly caramelized but they were tasty nonetheless. We were both pleased with what we ordered. Breakfast for 2 with two coffees came out to about $26 less tip. As posted previously, this place doesn't have a restroom and they accept cash only...which I was reminded of when I pulled out my credit card to pay for food. Bottom line, we would go back to this place and maybe sample the rest of the menu.
(4)Malia Y.
Cafe Kaila's breakfast is soo good. It is a bit of a wait to get in due to how popular it is. It is a bit overpriced, but I suppose it is because it is a huge tourist attraction. Love the waffles and fried rice! Definitely will be going back :)
(5)Nicole L.
The food very cheap and they gave large portions. The food comes with some fruit which is very refreshing. The service was good but the checkin system is on your own, you just write your name down and no one is outside to guide you. Other than to make sure that you are on time, this place was a great breakfast place!
(4)Joon K.
There are lots of great Breakfast joints across the islands, but the best ones are the hole-in-the-wall spots that aren't advertised on your average Oahu tour guide. Café Kaila epitomizes this and really makes Market City the perfect one-stop location for amazing food. I often will eat breakfast at Café Kaila with the family, pick up Poké at Foodland for the beach, and pick up dinner at Gina's Korean BBQ on the way home. But going back to Café Kaila, the Belgian Waffles and Pancakes are fresh and homemade, the potatoes are perfectly seasoned, and the fruit tastes locally grown and perfectly ripe. The bacon is always cooked to the right amount of crispiness and the Croissant Sandwich is amazing! My wife always raves about her favorite, the Eggs Benedict, and I'm always tempted to order that after she shares some with me. My favorite thing about Café Kaila is the level of service. It's always prompt and friendly, and the owner genuinely cares about her patrons and staff (she's almost always there too!). The only gripe I have is that the place has gotten outrageously popular and now it's often an hour long wait on the weekends. I guess that's a great problem to have if you're serving your customers the right way! Lastly, remember that it's supposed to be a cozy Café for breakfast/lunch and not a full fledged diner like Wailana's, so don't expect to seat a party of 5 or more very conveniently. Quick tip: Order takeout and you can waltz in and out with the same great food. Only bummer is you don't get the friendly service that makes Café Kaila 5 stars in my book. Quick tip #2: The early bird really does get the worm, as the earlier you go (they open at 7am), the more likely you'll be seated without waiting in line.
(5)Lea H.
Amazing waffles (perfectly crisp and fluffy) and pancakes! This is a great breakfast place. The food is delicious. We practically inhaled everything we ordered. The downside, as usual, is the wait. The restaurant is on the smaller side, so the wait is up to an hour, even on weekdays. It's worth it once and a while.
(4)D C.
Ate here this morning, the food is top notch, service impeccable, wait is annoying but well worth it. go with 2 people you get served way faster. i always enjoy my meal here. i had the smoked salmon Benedict, wow! it was so good i look forward to my current burps. pretty good drip coffee i have not had a disappointing item on their menu. top three places for breakfast on the island.
(4)Kristen C.
5 stars on customer service alone!!! Went here for brunch w/ my friend and we were so impressed with this cafe! Not only are the waiters friendly w/ the customers, but they're so nice to each other. The teamwork here is amazing!! It's not often you find a place where the people working inside seem like they actually love their job. It was definitely refreshing to see. Then when our food came out, it got even better! Loved the french toast here. Portions are ridiculous, there's no way you can finish an order of french toast by yourself, but you still see everyone ordering a plate for themselves because no one wants to share the delicious goodness! I was in the mood for POG (passion, orange, guava) and even though they didn't have it, our waiter was nice enough to attempt to make one for me with the individual juices they had! AWESOME! If i lived here, I would definitely become a regular.
(5)cmonk e.
Cafe Kaila is my go-to breakfast or lunch spot. I LOVE Cafe Kaila and can't get enough. It seems that Yogur-story is the new hip place for brunch but really?? The food aint got nothing on Cafe Kaila. Cafe Kaila has wonderful service. Yes, the lines are long because it's so popular (and in a small place) but the owner will come out and serve freshly made waffles to those waiting in line. Once you get in, it's soo difficult to decide on ONE thing to eat because everything on the menu sounds so good AND on top of that, everything around you LOOKS so good as well. They use all fresh ingredients. My favorite is the Belgian waffle with a heaping mound of fresh strawberries on top. YUM. Their salads and paninis are also totally delish.Salads at Cafe Kaila never have those ugly wilted pieces of lettuce either. I used to really love their totally huge and loaded omelets but being an asian..with age my stomach can no longer handle eggs like it used to :/ All in all, Cafe Kaila is a great stop for breakfast or lunch. If your hungry come early as there is often a line, especially on weekends!
(5)Crystal K.
3 stars = average, OK, mediocre, so-so, run of the mill, ordinary, standard... hopefully this gets my point across. I'll give them .5 stars for huge portions though. I recommend sharing unless you enjoy eating leftovers. If there's a wait, leave. Not worth your precious time to be waiting around for average food.
(3)Manda S.
I've decided that this is my favorite breakfast place on the island. Seriously. + Parking is EASY and the location is pretty convenient! + The decor is very homey and cozy. It makes me happy just to be in there, haha. + FOOD IS FRESH. My pancakes and eggs are also fluffy and my bacon is always crispy. I have never been dissapointed by the food. BF loves the potatoes here. + Waiter guys and gals are cool. They don't hover but they refill your glass often. - Unfortunately the wait can be...a while. ESPECIALLY the weekend. The most I've ever waited was an hour. - My friends think its kinda pricey for breakfast but I'm willing to pay, I love it here, haha. Definitely coming back. Maybe for lunch food next time?
(4)Zoe M.
Very tasty pancakes, huge order, cooked perfectly, and they do not scrimp on the fruit! Attentive waitstaff, friendly casual vibe, very clean, and obviously popular! For sure our new brunch place, yeah! :)
(5)Ryan R.
First time I've been here but had to try it out after reading all the reviews. We got here at 8am and had to wait about 30 minutes to be sat. This place is very small inside but has both table and counter service. We came on a Sunday morning so we expected the wait, no biggie. The service was really good and the constant attentiveness of refilling our water and coffee made it that much better. My girlfriend ordered the pancakes with bananas which I hope you bring your appetite because it is a big meal. I had te French toast with bananas .... awesome! I love French toast and this was by far the best thus far on the island. Definitely recommend this place for breakfast since there is an array of things to pick from, eggs, omelette, pancakes and the like. Only downside besides the wait was that they only take cash or local check so make sure you have some dinero before heading in. Don't worry if you don't ... there's an ATM right there at Foodland if you forget your cash.
(4)David J.
This is another place which was introduced to me from my Elite buddy! Been here on several occasions (usually after a hike, run, or a race) and a great place to have breakfast. Cafe Kaila is a pretty popular spot and you'll find a line out door almost every time. ( At least every time I've been to on a weekend morning) The turn-around is pretty fast so I usually have to wait only about 15 mins which is worth it to me. But, the pain of waiting is almost eliminated with the pretty gal that gives you samples of their amazing waffles. My buddy and I unanimously named her "Service with a smile" because she always has a big smile! ha ha....okay, on to more important issues as if this what I wrote above wasn't relavant at all! I've tried the following: Special Menu: Portugese Sausage Eggs Benedict - Was super good - not skimpy on the portugese sausage and hollandaise sause was delicious. I thought it was a little expensive at $15. Most of the menu items are under $10. They also had on special - Salmon Eggs Benedict and Traditional Eggs Benedict. Waffles - their waffles are melt and your mouth good! I think this is what they are famous for? I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was. There service is pretty good, food is plentiful, and satisfying. On the downside, you probably have to wait in line and its a little on the loud side. It's at the Market City Shopping Center, so you should be able to find free parking. Overall, great place for breakfast and you have to check out their melt your mouth Waffles and the Service with a smile!
(4)Jeremy L.
After a short hike at Diamond Head, my wife and I needed something to eat. We had Cafe Kaila on our list of places to try. One thing that we didn't quite appreciate was the long wait for a table. Can't argue with that if this is such a popular place to dine. Kinda sucks that our food took some time too. That negative remark aside, the Meat and Cheese omelet was pretty good. I had a choice of two meats and I went with Bacon and Spam. Can't believe that it's such a simple combination of meats that went well with each other. You get the crispy bacon and the plump spam wrapped in eggs. I had the fried rice as my side option instead of the usual hashed browns or potatoes. What a good choice! I think they fried the rice in garlic and butter and that makes for one tasty fried rice! Some slightly burnt rice added some crispiness! Overall, I thought the service was great and friendly, but the wait for the table and food were a bit of a drag... If you can overlook this, I think Cafe Kaila can be a good place to have breakfast.
(3)Denise L.
This place is so good. My boyfriend and I took my friend who came to visit from San Francisco here at 9 in the morning and there was already a waiting line outside! The servings are humongous! Everything is made as you order so the downside is that you do have to wait around 25+ minutes after you order on a busy morning. Buttttttt--- everything is also made with the freshest organic ingredients so it is definitely worth the wait. I am NOT a morning person at all but I plan on sacrificing my sleep for this place. Now that's pretty amazing. haha :)
(5)Nathan E.
Okay... We tried this place because of the four star average and I don't understand how it has so many stars. I have had some truly excellent breakfasts and this is not one of them. The food is okay and the service is okay which generally is three stars (and I think this is a three star breakfast restaurant which is pretty good). However, I discovered hair in my eggs! Ick... SO NASTY, it ruined my entire meal. Due to the sanitation issued noted ding one star which is how I arrived at two. It should be noted that while we were waiting to be seated, they distributed waffle samples which were very good...VERY GOOD! Also, keep in mind that this is a cash only establishment, and so I would have avoided this place all together if not for the great reviews.
(2)Bennie S.
This place is very average - like every other breakfast/brunch place in NY. There is still a wait, as there always is for brunch places. Food was average, nothing special. The omelets and waffles were just average. While I didn't have to go, I couldn't figure out if they had a bathroom - think you would have to go the place next door. Guess after eating at places like Eggs N Things, Ono's, Young's, Alan Wong's, I really expected this place to blow my mind. Unfortunately, it didn't. Yelp has not yet disappointed me but all these 4-star reviews upped my expectations.
(3)Christine B.
Best.pancakes.ever. Like melt in your mouth, to die for. Better than Boots and Kimo's (without the mac nut sauce), and way better than Sweet E's Cafe. While I love specialty pancakes, these are hands down the best pure buttermilk pancakes I've ever had anywhere.
(5)JoAnna G.
I crave pancakes probably 9 times outta 10 any given moment of the day. It's such a weakness of mine. The day I find a nice guy that makes me incredible pancakes and pours me a delicious cup of coffee.. Well, I'll be smitten as a kitten. :) Cafe Kaila has wonderful fluffy warm cinnamony pancakes with the most delicious fruit (tons of it too!). Crazy big serving so definitely split an order with good company. My breakfast date got tha waffles and unfortunately they were super crispy. So sad. :( he liked his omelette though. Coulda skipped on the caramel latte. Had to get my perfect coffee at my go-to coffee spot after. I was super happy but I have yet to find a breakfast moment I dislike. Cozy atmosphere too. :)
(4)Paula L.
I seriously love this place. In terms of cost, they are very reasonable. Only thing is, they only take cash. So dont forget! In regards to decor, its a huge cafe with plenty of seating and the natural sunlight shines through their main windows. Service is excellent. The owner Kaila is super nice and the staff are always refilling your water and asking how everything is. Super nice people in general. Now the food, they are flipping awesome. Great breakfast/brunch place. Plenty of options for vegetarians. The portions are huge but you dont feel quilty eating it all cuz everything is healthy :) My faves are the veggie scramble or the french toast. Wait til you order the french toast, its made with Hawaiian sweet bread and that thing is GINORMOUS! Overall, the best breakfast place in town. No one can touch 'em!
(5)Crystal L.
After an early class, my sister and I was hungry for some hearty breakfast. We wanted to try Kaila or the Cream pot but we opted for Cafe Kaila since it was closer. I usually see a long line in front of the store but it wasn't so bad today at about 10 am. We wrote our names down like they do at Gomatei and entertained ourselves with the cute little doggies next door. Before we knew it, we were hailed in by a very chill looking gentleman. He was very nice and even joked with us. I ordered the cinnamon and sugar french toast with bananas plus a side of Portuguese sausage. My sister got the Belgian waffles. My french toast came out so thick and fluffy! I think the slices were an inch and half thick and was loaded with bananas and strawberries. Most restaurants don't give a lot of fruits but I could tell Cafe Kaila is a fruit lover!! The table next to us had the fruit yogurt cup and the fruits just looked so fresh and sweet. My french toast was lightly sweetened and you could taste the cinnamon which was awesome because I cannot at most places. My sister's waffle was big! Lightly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside; perfect with syrup. The Portuguese sausage was ok, I like mine more cancerous. Both dishes were good and before you say, "But how can you mess up on breakfast food?" think about the last time you had breakfast food you enjoyed! The fountain in the dining area gave it the finishing touch and of course ample parking in market city. Next time I want some good breakfast I can count on, you'll find me at Kaila's! PS: they take dish washing as payment! And no credit cards...
(3)Bradley H.
It seems like a lot of people like this place, but i wasn't too impressed. The breakfast wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything all that special. I'll have to try it again and update later if i have time...eh, we'll see. I had the Fritata which was actually quite bland and unimpressive. I was looking forward to something that would "broke the mouth," since I had just finished hiking the Diamond Head Hike that morning with friends, but i just got something that really just filled my stomach...much like cardboard might have, if it was all i had to eat. The other three people in the breakfast party had an omlette, and no one really mentioned anything positive about the meal either. Maybe i missed something (do they have great coffee or bread or something?), but some of the other things looked pretty good...like the french toast and the belgian waffle, but i didn't really hear anyone in the restaurant praise anything they were eating either. All this being said, once the place opened at 8am, it was packed by 8:10am, so there must be something to it that i missed. The servings were generous and looked scrumptious, but in the end, well, we'll have to see next time. Happy Eating!
(2)Mel G.
Nice and friendly cafe. Clean and simple but happy atmosphere. Went for breakfast after a hike. Got the Italian omlette which was delicious and perfectly seasoned and a great blend of vegetables. Came with some deliciously crispy homestyle potatoes. Very generous portions. Staff was very attentive and everyone who worked there looked like a movie star or model in training. Definitely will return to try their pancakes! Where they are located is a bit hard to get into, but its worth it. Be prepared to wait, while we were lucky when we went, between the rush I am assuming, they are known to have a wait as its not huge place and the food is great.
(4)Porky Penguin S.
My friend and I went there for the first time. I've been wanting to go there for awhile, so we were happy we didn't have to wait for a table. We both ordered the bagels and lox, as well as coffee. Very weak coffee; great if you like see-thru coffee. Then, the bagels and lox arrived. I took a second look at the amount of lox...uh, a little measly for $11. When I asked, the waitress said they give "four strips of salmon" for each portion. Well, what does "four strips" mean? Unless it was a very skinny salmon, I wouldn't exactly call it four widths. While we were busy eating, the waitress brought our check. And, while we were still eating, the guy comes along and pointing to the check, says, "Do you need change?" We hadn't even opened the plastic thingamajig that enfolds the bill, much less put money in it. A few minutes later, as my friend was still eating, the guy comes again and opens the thingamajig to see if we put any money in it. No. You are starting to annoy me, you with the funny pseudo-Polynesian necklace dude! You are not very friendly either. And your black t-shirt is very ugly. Maybe the waffles and French toast are good there, but it may be awhile before I return to sample them.
(2)Bubba G.
This is good local place for breakfast. The prices are reasonable and the food good. I had their french toast which is made from Hawaiian sweet bread. I couldn't eat it all. It was 3 thick slices of Hawaiian sweet bread coated with a thick egg coating and powdered sugar. CARB overload in a good way. I couldn't finish it. This beats any thought of going to a Denny's or IHOP. Get there early, as there is a line. And don't forget, that you have to sign in, they don't have a host/hostess taking names.
(4)Jessie D.
I'm always on the hunt for breakfast spots, since the craving for pancakes and bacon never seems to go away. So, I decided to do one of those random searches on Yelp to find a new spot to hit up. You can only go to Anna Miller's so many times in a row... So, this place popped up and I decided to give it a shot. First things first: location is kinda meh. Right next to Gina's in Market City, this place is kinda in a weird spot for a restaurant dealing with supposedly top notch breakfast food. Secondly, the outside of the spot totally looks like one of those playhouse make pretend tea spots. Yeah, the font on the sign is quite deceiving. I went on an odd Wednesday morning and got seated quickly. Plopped down and examined the menu. I'll save you some time and just suggest the pancake combo for $10.50. 2 Pancakes, a choice of meat and eggs. Pretty win. The pancakes were fluffy but not heavy, the eggs were fluffy as well, but not spectacular. Overall, a good experience, up until the final moments. 1. the bathrooms are quite far from the restaurant and in not the most happiest of places. Can't fix that unfortunately. 2. the coffee... meh. no soy milk gets a point off and the mocha was a little too much on the sweet side. Apparently, this spot has been blowing up on Yelp, so I guess I lucked out by getting in and out so quickly, but I've heard some war stories about the wait times. So, get there early and be patient. 4/5 sounds about right, but I'm feeling generous.
(4)Matt O.
I loved it. They have the best Belgian waffles I've ever tasted. It tastes like a crunchy yet soft cake with the perfect amounts of cinnamon and sugar. They're eggs are soooo good too. That with some Portuguese sausage and you have a winner. Lunch is great too. Fresh ingredients and a very attractive serving staff. If I could, I would go there everyday.
(5)Ro S.
The goods first...the place is a nice sweet looking place. Has a fresh clean look and feel, perfect for breakfast! Kinda cramped and noisy, no big deal to me. The menu looked extensive, not too fussy but just right. The prices are great, won't break the bank. And everything is beautifully plated. Lost a star for the fact that I had to wait. I know, I know...that point alone is ridiculous. BUT the food wasn't exactly worth the wait. I ordered the Belgian Waffle with bananas . It just didn't have too much taste to it. I know it's suppose to be fluffy...blah blah blah...but the only taste came from the bananas and powdered sugar. I only used dabs of the syrup which tasted cheap and watered down, and no butter. Did not using the butter make a difference?!?!?! I don't know....I don't think it should have. Lost a second star because service wasn't exactly friendly and inviting. Hey yeah...I have eyes...I can see the place is getting slammed but could someone that works here who wants my money crack a smile? Also, I understand the concept of "turn and burn" but to make a customer feel that vibe is a no-no. And to leave uncovered cream for the coffee on the table....yuck! BUT the point that drives all this home is...the CASH ONLY POLICY. Definitely lose a star on this one. If I'm going out to eat that means I don't want to put any extra effort into this process. Making me stop at an ATM added one extra step in getting food which means I might as well go to the next place I can find that accepts my debit card instead. Conclusion: I'm sorry but the place just didn't hit a cord with me to crave anything more. The food didn't make up for the mediocre service, and the service didn't make up for the food being just ok. I'd go back again if someone else initiates an invite but not worth going out of my way for.
(2)Spidey S.
long wait. inconsistent service. mediocre food. you make the call. when this establishment first opened, i used to love it because of the convenient location, ample parking, and affordable prices. also, the coffee is decent and the food is mediocre (as stated before). since they've become more popular and started catering to the japanese tourist market, it's severely lacking. not sure if they're understaffed or have a high turnover of cooks, but as a former restaurant employee - I CANNOT AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ENJOY A GOOD BREAKFAST. if you have a car, drive out to kailua and eat the lilioki pancakes at moke's instead. i've heard they are pretty bomb.
(1)Krysten I.
I dont really get the hype about this place...why are the lines always so long? I ordered the local scramble and it was good....nothing too amazing, I could probably make it at home just as good and it would def not cot be $10. I was pretty excited to try the benedict, but it isnt offered on weekdays :( I would probably come back to try the waffles with fruit :d
(3)Rise D.
I wanted to try Cafe Kaila for a long time ever since my friends talked about how good breakfast is over there. It took my bf and I about 15 minutes to find parking, but the wait was not too long. It was pretty busy even at around 1:00. I ordered the Belgian waffle with a side of bacon and eggs. The waffle is the best one I've ever tasted. It was fluffy, sweet, just perfect. I want to come back here and try more of the items on their menu. The breakfast wrap sounded promising! They also have a lunch menu. I'd have to say that Cafe Kaila is one of the best places on the island to have breakfast. I wish I lived closer to town so I could come here for breakfast more often.
(4)Eddie K.
The pics from yelpers are a great sell for those thinking about trying this place for the first time. Finally got around to trying this place. Sad to see Blockbuster gone from this location, maybe that was why I couldn't get myself to go to Cafe Kaila. But, the food is great! Had the Belgian Waffle with blueberries and strawberries for $9.95. Lots of fresh berries! Crisp on the outside yet soft on the inside, perfect. Friends had French Toast with fruit, Country Fried Chicken (special), and Combo with 2 pc french toast, 2 eggs, & ham. All were great! Most plates were less than $11. Service is friendly and attentive, coffee and water never ran dry. Watched everyone one elses plate and there wasn't a plate with anything left. Looks like everyone cleaned their plates. This place is tiny leading to long lines. Waited about 50 mins for a table. But, Fun Factory is a couple of doors down, so you could squeeze a couple of rounds of skeeball while waiting for a table.
(4)Nalani A.
I finally decided to try this place, and although the food is good, I was so uncomfortable with the host at the door. I came with a party of 6 at about 9:45 on a Thursday, we signed up at the door and to our surprise there was only 2 people ahead of us. I work in a restaurant and I understand the way you have to put tables together. We needed a 4-top and 2-top to sit us. This unbelievably rude guy at the front door wearing a blue shirt with tattoos onhis arm came out several times and sat these couples before us. No big deal, I get it maybe the tables aren't ready yet. He then comes out and calls or party he says and I quote "are you ALL here? I can't seat you unless your all here. I can seat you guys in the back but your going to be seperated. Where's your 6th person? Are you going to order for her?" First of all, you could have clearly made a 6 top before but you sat people who signed in after us. Secondly you are practically refusing to seat us because our sixth person was on their way, Seriously you are so rude! Even if our 6th person didn't show we still would be separated because there's 5 of us and you had us on a 4top and and a 2 top. Shame on this guy, the only reason I gave it two stars is our sweet waitress Maria and the food. One thing I know working in the restaurant industry is customer service makes or breaks your atmosphere. Negative energy in the front sets the mood. Probably won't return.
(2)Naoko M.
I have been there several times but no more.... It was used to be perfect for girls breakfast or branch. But people who works there are soooooo unfriendly. They are reluctant to serve! and the portion is getting smaller as other famous breakfast places (eggn things, boots and kimos etc...) Oh well now it is getting so famous and people comes anyway (especially Japanese tourists) so maybe they don't just care. I hope they remember the days when they started. It was nice...
(1)Yvonne M.
Came here at 7:45am to avoid the crazy lines I heard of. Yes, no line! Lots of tables open. It did start picking up at around 8:15 though. Large breakfast menu. So my husband and I ordered the Combo. Which consists of your choice of pancakes or french toast, 2 eggs, and a choice of meat. I chose Banana Pancakes, over easy eggs and bacon. My husband chose the plain French toast and sausage. I must say, the presentation was beautiful! Pancakes were tasty when paired with a banana slice. Bacon was crunchy and flavorful. The french toast had a nice light cinnamon flavor. Was disappointed with the texture of the french toast though. It seemed chewy, not fluffy. It may have been sitting out or battered with too much egg. Or it may have been better if it had the apples or fruit paired with it. All in all, it's a great breakfast place with a homey feel and lots of choices. I would definitely come here again, because I already know what I'm gonna order next. I'm gonna order the lox scramble and my husband will probably order the crab cake eggs benedict or omelet. And of course a side of the belgain waffle. Buhahaah. I'll let you all know how it goes the next time. Good customer service. Located in Market City Shopping Center in Kaimuki. Also, have cash in hand, no credit cards accepted.
(4)Sarah V. M.
After a day of travel from Boston and early to bed, my husband and I were starving this morning. The guide book I ordered on HI, didn't come in the mail before flying out and our friends were already long gone at work. I needed pancakes and I needed them ASAP. Thank God for Yelp. Cafe Kaila looked perfect and perfect it was. The service was like being welcomed into my brother's home. My latte was exactly as pictured on the website and I'm telling you that foam is second to none except maybe Italy. Michael got an omelette with spinach, sausage, and avocado. I ordered pancakes with strawberries on the side. We shared and it was lovely. So lovely that i want to go back tomorrow.
(4)Phuong M.
The french toast was amazing and huge. I got the combo which comes with two big slices of french toast, 2 eggs and 2 sausage links. I was stuffed and barely ate the 2nd french toast. Imagine getting just the french toast which is what my bf got. It came with 4 big slices of french toast! He pretty much had to force down the 4th one because it was soo big and soo filling! You also get a choice of fruits or caramelized apples, but the bf got fresh blueberries which were great with the toast. There is a wait in the morning so come early! Its nice that they gave out pieces of their waffles for those who were waiting in line. =)
(4)Lindsey G.
Took only open seat at counter. Host, "sorry, you've got to sign in, even for the counter" No other parties of 1 were waiting. Host made me wait anyway. I signed in. He waited until more counter space opened then seated larger parties. Their choice. I refused to wait longer.
(1)Lindsay J.
after seeing picture after picture of fruit covered waffles, pancakes, and omelets galore, needless to say i was stoked to try cafe kaila's breakfast. what better opportunity to cure my "breakfast blues" than today for my birthday breakfast? the hubby and i found parking pretty quickly, but noticed a small line forming outside. we hurried out of the car to put our name on the waiting list. about 10 minutes later, our name was called. YES! we sat at the "bar" and our server took our drink order. a few minutes passed and she was back with coffee and waters. the only reason i could not give this place 5 stars is because of this: i reached for the cream to pour it slowly into my coffee... and a HUGE dollop of cream as thick as greek yogurt slid out. yuck. as soon as the server came back to take our order i asked if i could have some new coffee and cream, to which she apologized for and brought quickly. okay folks, onto the food. i got a strawberry and banana waffle with a side of crispy bacon. the waffle was sooo good! super crispy with a slight hint of sweet. now thats my kind of waffle... i noticed that some of the strawberries were kind of tart, so i remedied that by eating it along with some banana and whipped cream. 4 pieces of crispy-to-the-point-of-almost-burnt pieces of bacon helped to balance the ratio of sweet with some salty/savory... major NOM moment :) my hub got their 3 egg spam & cheese omelet which came with herbed red potatoes and toast, as well as a plain waffle. the only thing wrong with the omelet that he complained to me about was that the egg had a weird texture; too dense. other than that, eating the waffle made him a happy man. even a few minutes after finishing our food, all we could talk about was how much we loved their waffles. definitely a "must order" item on their menu. reasonable prices, chill atmosphere, good staff.
(4)Claudia M.
Waited about 40 minutes. Got seated with no menus and it took awhile before someone noticed we were seated without menus. Since we've been there many times before, we knew what to order. Order took longer than expected. Table seated after us got their food before us. Our waffles were cold...it seemed like the middle was frozen. The waiter brought us another order which was good, but two of us got the runs after breakfast.
(2)Aaron P.
This is definitely one of my favorite places to eat when it comes to breakfast food. I am a HUGE omelette fan, and Cafe Kaila makes one of THE BEST bacon, spinach w/ cheese 3-egg omelettes on the island, period. Not to mention the red skinned potatoes served along side and sourdough toast w/ butter--omg. The icing on top the cake was definitely the french toast. Three FAT portions of french toast drenched in butter and syrup almost put me to sleep after I left the restaurant (that's a good thing). The restaurant is always packed with people, especially the senior citizens who get up at 6AM to do crossword puzzles 'n' such. Come in around 8AM if you want a chance at a decent seating. ALOHA STATUS!
(5)Kaie F.
Amazing fresh organic food! Delicious latte And fresh juice! Staff is nice, but because it's good it's busy sometimes and they have to work fast!!
(5)Chrys W.
This review is very overdue but I wanted to share my experience here. My husband and I stayed on Oahu during a recent vacation and found ourselves in Honolulu one morning looking for a breakfast option. We came across this place on Yelp and decided to wait it out for a table. It took about 30 minutes for us to be seated at 11am on a Saturday (not too terrible). The staff seemed super friendly and took our drink order right away. After receiving our drinks we placed our food order and began what ended up being a long, long, long wait. Now, at the time I was 7 months pregnant and STARVING, so waiting while those around us got our food, then their checks was turning my usual mellow self into a beast. We asked about our food and were told there was an issue with the tag. Then when we asked again we found out they had made my dish wrong (being pregnant I can't have certain delicious sauces that use raw eggs and they had added it -- then had to remake the dish). I was, at this point fairly pissed off BUT the food did finally arrive. I don't know if it was because I was so hungry at that point or what, but breakfast was absolutely delicious. Our server and the manager apologized profusely for the delay -- which along with our food was all my husband and I needed, but they went a step further. Not only did we not get charged for my meal, but they excused the entire check, both breakfasts, the coffee AND the coffee float I had ordered. The manager came over again, said breakfast was on him and that he wanted us to come back. The fact of the matter is, in that business, sh*t happens sometimes, mistakes are made. What counts is how a business goes about correcting that mistake -- that's the make or break for the overall experience. They weren't obligated to waive the bill, nor did we expect them to, but I was incredibly impressed with their eagerness to make sure we left full and happy (and they succeeded). We'll definitely be back again, anyone that puts that much effort into quality food and quality customer service gets an A in my book!
(5)Jay T.
Great breakfast food! Go early or you will be waiting in a long line. This place is always busy. Highly recommend you try it.
(5)Mike T.
- Gets packed at typical times for a breakfast place, you've been warned - Would be nice if they got benches for people waiting - Food: really love everything on the menu: pancakes, waffles, omelettes, pastas (pesto was ono!); they use FRESH fruit, not th
(5)Jimmy T.
I LOVE IT! Probably best place in the area for breakfast. Parking is decent, in the market city shopping center. Although place is somewhat small, kinda cramped, and there's usually a waiting list its definitely worth it! My favorite great tasting 3-egg omelette's (spam / portuguese sausage) served with Red Bliss Potatoes and choice of bread, will make you very full. Must also try the french toast. Beware they only take cash at the moment.
(4)Rita L.
go early cause the line is crazy as well as the wait. i love the waffles and the pancakes! so delicious! the batter they use for the waffles are very tasty. the pancakes are perfect, soft and melts in your mouth. will be back here! i've been on a crazy breakfast hunt and this place is one of my favorites! come early because if theres a wait, u have to wait.
(5)Hunter Ash P.
Good food, OK service. I am always on the lookout for good breakfast places. So I went after I read a lot of very flowery reviews from Yelpers. I got to the place a little past noon and found a queue of 9 or so people outside. It's always encouraging to see people lining up for something. So after I put my name down on a pad of paper inside, off to the back of the queue I went. A few moments later, a server came out and called out a name. I thought the way they called out names and treated people who were queuing up were a little brash and definitely could use some improvement. One has to take into account that people waiting in line for food are most probably hungry and are a little more sensitive and irritable than people who aren't. After a justifiably long wait (considering the size of the place), my name was called and I was sat. A friendly server greeted me and took my drink order. I told her I was deciding between the french toast and pancakes and asked for her recommendation. She said the pancakes were popular and went on to recommend the combo with eggs and meat of one's choice, to which I gladly agreed. Then we got on to the business of pancake toppings. I initially said blueberry but also asked about the caramelized apples. She raved about the caramelized apples and naturally, I conceded. I asked to switch and sealed the order with a smile and a thank you. Moments later, they bring out my order and upon seeing, I thought it was very well presented. After taking pictures for this review, I started attacking the eggs. A blueberry rolled onto my egg and finally it hit me, I asked for caramelized apples. I lifted my plate up and called for a server's attention and politely informed her of the mix-up. She took my plate, apologized and offered to supply me with the apples. My server also came by to apologize. Only a few seconds later, the server who took my plate brought it back to me and told me, in a rather discouraging tone, that it was going to be a while before the caramelized apples were ready and asked if I wanted to wait or just cancel. She also pointed to the "miscommunication" again and apologized, only this time she made it sound as if I was also to blame for it despite having strongly and explicitly conceded to the server's recommendation. Still unfazed, I told her I was willing to wait and was just going to work on the eggs until the apples were ready. I was working on my first pancake (combo includes two) when they brought out the caramelized apples. And my server was right, they were good. I enjoyed them thoroughly. The pancakes themselves were excellent; fluffy but not overly so it lacks flavor. Everything was going well until I asked for my check to be dropped and voila, there it was; I was charged for the blueberries. For those of you who have been, you might think "So what? It's only $1.50. It's cheaper than a bag of peanuts." And you might be right. But really, gestures count. So simply put, I enjoyed the food. The service could've enhanced the experience. And yet, it did not. Am I ever going back? Maybe, maybe not. Thanks for taking the time to read my rant. Writing it has been very therapeutic. Happy eating! :)
(2)Pari S.
I was a little hesitant on my first visit because of the 30 minute wait on a Tuesday morning; odd... Also, the amount of small children throwing their food= not my cup of tea. But, it was well worth the wait! I had a bacon-bagel sandwich and side of oven roasted herb potatoes. My boo had an order of the french toast with fresh fruit. I could immediately tell that everything was home-made and made to order. Delicious does not describe how yum everything was. It was honestly the perfect breakfast, and the spot has decent service; I will be back!
(4)allyson o.
Went here for the first time with 5 other friends. While there was about a 30 minute wait, we knew to expect it from the other reviews here. I was running late, so it actually was no wait time for me. My friends all ordered breakfast food. I got the grilled veggie panini, and to this day have no idea why I order that sandwich anywhere, since I usually don't like it. And it was a decent grilled veggie panini sandwich, but in my mind I knew the breakfast food my friends ordered looked tastier to me. They all said their food was good, so I'm basing my review off that as well. The servers were all friendly, and my coffee was refilled two or three times. The food didn't take an unreasonable amount of time. Maybe about 20 minutes, but considering there were signs letting you know it was all made fresh, it didn't seem like a long wait to me. I was pretty stuffed after my lunch and had no room for dessert. Likewise for all in our party. I'll have to go back and try the breakfast food some time. It was an all right spot, but I think I prefer YogurStory and find myself putting the two into the same category of breakfasty/brunchy cafe-style eateries. I didn't feel like this place was one to hang out in, however, due to the amount of people waiting to be served.
(4)Jeff O.
I just realized I never reviewed this! This is by far one of the best breakfast restaurants I've ever been too. The food speaks for itself and really doesn't need a review. It's unbelievably good. Bit the staff...We usually go after a race and even though it's only been a couple of time, the waitress remembered us and asked what race was today. The waiter came a little bit after we got out food and asked, "are you happy?". What a great question! I watched the staff take care of other guests and they were 100% kind, attentive, funny and really seemed to love their job. That's what service is all about.
(5)Lester S.
One of my favorite places for breakfast. If you're going on the weekend, go early unless you want to stand outside in the morning sun while waiting for a table. There is lots of parking in the morning since most of the other establishments haven't opened yet. If you go later in the morning, the parking lot starts to fill up. Friendly wait staff. Great tasting coffee. The Belgian waffle with fresh fruit is excellent. You can't go wrong with any of the omelettes either. 3 eggs and lots of filling. The eggs are nice and fluffy. I usually order the potatoes instead of rice. I've seen others say that the potatoes are plain. Yes, but that allows you to season them to your liking with salt and pepper. And it is a generous serving.
(5)Kirk W.
Been going to Cafe Kaila since they opened. Lines just get longer every month. That shows you how good it is. It is probably worth a 1hr wait to get in. But not sure I can wait that much longer. Wait staff are great, friendly and attentive. Food is awesome. Always cooked perfectly. Hands down the best breakfast place in Honolulu.
(5)Daniel B.
Super crazy busy! Big portions! Courteous service... Only drawback is that this place is cash only... oh and parking's a challenge when it's the weekend. The Waffles with Fresh Strawberries were oh-so-ono... :)
(4)Samuel P.
The food is good. Taste and the size is perfect. The waiters is friendly and helpful. Everything is great.
(5)Mai T.
A favorite breakfast spot of my hubby and I! My husband is not a morning person, but on days that he does get up early and we have errands to head into town, it`s a lucky start of the day for me.... I get to eat breakfast at Cafe Kaila! The food is great, love the roasted potato and the waffles. I am not really a pancake or a waffle kinda girl, more like a bacon and potato with saugage kinda a girl, but i have to admit, the strawberry waffle makes me heart fluttery everytime i think about it! Its crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, the strawberry is sweet and tart at the same time which is a great combination. But i realized the key is, you have to eat it fast, or it just gets soggy. My husband once ordered the breakfast burrito.. i didnt really care for it too much, but the begal with salmon and cream cheese was to die for. I love their omlettes but dont care for the mushoom because it gets all watery. One very memorable thing about cafe kaila is their waiters n waitress.. they are all very happy people and what better way to start your morning surrounded by Happy people and a great breakfast. They do have lines that goes way way outside the door, so I did say breakfast but most of the time when we get there around 10-11am ( late breakfast) there are more seats available!
(4)Shelley K.
Had breakfast here this morning and O-M-G! the pancakes are so good!! Oh and their roasted potatoes! Goodness gracious its seasoned perfectly and cooked so tender! I'm not a fan of waffles, but there's is super good too! Crunchy on the outside but nice and soft when you bite into it...perfection! The last time I was here I had the pasta salad and that was also the best pasta salad I've had! I also stole a couple bites of their veggie omlette from my bf's plate and it was so good. Pretty much the whole menu is delish!! And affordable :)
(4)Jillian P.
I've only eaten here once and I had a plate brought home to me, so all I can really comment on is the food. I had their meat omelette and dangggg was it good. :) Well, actually, it pretty much was a kalua omelette since that's all I had in mine. (Well, Kalua and cheese.) The eggs didn't have a very strong taste so the taste of the Kalua reigned supreme. :) LOL. It was awesome. I got a lot of rice, which is always nice. It also came with toast and I had rice. The toast was really yummy. :) But, I'm sure I've had toast just as good at numerous other places. Overall, I'd definitely like to check this place out to see what else they have to offer. :) For now though, two thumbs up!
(4)Lia W.
Food is amazing (breakfast burrito = bliss), service is meh, and warning: all of the benefits are about to be blown away because the Japanese tourists have discovered this place and descent upon it in the morning. If they had a better location and bigger interior space, I'd be all about it. It's going to go the route of Eggs N Things or Boots and Kimo's.
(3)San M.
There has always been a long wait line here, so we always passed on eating here. Today there was none. We walked in got handed two menus and were told we could choose our seats. What we got: Coffee- Meh. Eggs benedict- I tasted the hollandaise sauce, it had a nice yolky flavor. Veggie omelette(tomato, spinach, zucchini and pepper jack)- It was average, nothing special. I forgot to ask for my toast to be dry, toast was good though. The potatoes were nicely cooked and lightly flavored. Belgium waffle with strawberries- The waffle was above average, and the strawberries were good. (At this point I would probably rate them a 4 out of 5) I wanted a box for what was left of my food. For some reason the server checked only on the tables around us and didn't even look our way, even though the server walked right next to our table, I was going to say excuse me, but the table on my left asked for something and he moved on quickly to another table. We got the attention of another server and asked for a box. The server we asked, didn't come back with our box. The table behind us some how asked for a box(while i was waiting on a box) and got one before we did. When the box came the Check fold was in the box. Okay, so maybe I may have Mysophobia, but really how many people touch that Check fold and do they ever clean it. E. coli and other bacteria are not jokes. I think overall I should have just used the box. Because it took a while to ask for another box. And when the box came there was water in the box. *sigh* I'm not going to eat the leftovers, which was about half of the omelette plate. No, the food is not going to waste, it will be eaten, just not by me. (I would rate the service at this point a 1 out of 5)
(2)Jackie T.
The place was nice and not too small. I was fine to just sit at the bar. No biggie. Our food did take a while to come. :-/ I had the Fritata and Buttermilk pancakes. I thought the pancakes were good! I like it with a lot of butter and just a little bit of maple syrup. Haha... I like how most of the items there's a lot of options to choose from (ex: what kind of toast: white, wheat, etc. Toppings on pancakes: blueberries, strawberries, etc, and meats in your omeletes: spam, port saugsage, ham, etc.). I wouldn't say this is my go-to place for breakfast. But, I do look forward to going back there.
(4)Grace Y.
Not sure what the fuss is about. This place is overpriced and over hyped. The food tastes a little better than the old Columbia Inn, but it's also more expensive. Service is fine, not spectacular, and the food took a long time to arrive. There is no way I would wait in line to eat here, and the line was pretty long when I saw it on Saturday morning. In the end, we paid $15 per person for our breakfasts, this price included fancy coffees. I got the combo with pancakes, eggs, and 2 tiny pieces of Portuguese sausage. I recommend the pancakes. Lots of parking at the shopping center.
(3)Colin M.
I'm not going to be able to say anything that hasn't been posted but i do have one bit of information to convey. In a society where customer service is lacking as a whole, this place has it together. From greeting to seating to serving they understand that people are lined up out the door and are ready to eat when they make it in. This is the only place on Oahu where I haven't felt the "so what's the rush" attitude as you wait 45 minutes for a glass of water. Food is delicious so if you are a tourist and have a car you should venture out one morning after hiking Diamond Head and have an awesome breakfast.
(5)Shandis C.
When my parents took our daughter on an all day outing starting early in the morning, my husband and I took the opportunity to go have a leisurely breakfast, at a place where we heard the wait to get in is long but worth it (long waits+young toddler=inevitable meltdowns). And what do you know, both is true at Cafe Kaila - long waits? Yes. Worth it? YES! We waited for about 35 minutes to get a table for two. Make sure you SIGN IN when you arrive. When we arrived, there was a very neat and orderly line outside the door, so we thought that you just stand in line and get seated. Luckily, the person in front of us must be a regular, and saw us go straight into line, so she kindly informed us that we need to sign in first. The wait wasn't so bad, as they came by with samples of waffles twice. I have to say, the waffles were pretty darn good. I wish I had ordered them! The food is simple, with a little "gourmet" twist. Hubby ordered the veggie omelet which was INCREDIBLY tasty! I don't know what else they put in there, but it was so good, I think I ate more of his dish than my own. Also, if you like breakfast potatoes, I think this was the best I've tasted. I ordered the French toast with caramelized apples, and while it was good, it wasn't great. The apples were awesome though - fresh, warm and caramely good! The French toast was a little thick for my liking, and not as crisp as I'd prefer. Also, there wasn't too much batter. It was made with sweet bread though, so it had a nice taste. I just got tired of it after a while, and like I said, started to eat my hubby's omelet instead. Poor hubby, always eating the food that I order and don't end up liking. Why is it that he always orders something better than me? I should just let him order for me since I end up eating his dish more than mine almost 80% of the time. Anyway, back to Kaila, the one other thing that I wished they offered were more "combos". Their menu seems to be purist in the sense that if you order pancakes, you get pancakes, or if you order French toast, that's all you get. I like how some breakfast joints offer a choice of pancakes instead of rice or French toast with some kind of savory dish. Here, you'd have to add on a side order of whatever else you want. No "combos" here. Other than that, Cafe Kaila is a step up from other breakfast joints, with fresh ingredients and everything made to order. I definitely want to go back - anyone willing to babysit a 2 year old early in the morning?? :o)
(4)Geezer B.
Pancakes were Luke warm and tasteless, syrup wasn't much better. I fail to see the hype on this spot. Service was mediocre.
(1)Carms K.
I'll keep this short and sweet... Awesome service, very friendly. I had breakfast here and the food was so yummy (Local scramble with the yummiest potatoes and toast). It's a little pricey for breakfast but the service, portion size, and quality make it well worth it. Will definitely be back to try waffles, pancakes, and lunch!
(5)Doris D.
Really overrated, the food is just ok brunch food, but I think it's packed because of the dearth of good American yuppie brunch places. Decor is something to be desired. Always packed, so the wait is a negative given how mediocre the food is!
(2)Donna L.
We went to Cafe Kaila's for a late weekday breakfast. The restaurant was fairly full except for one clean table so we sat ourselves right away. On the suggestion of a yelper, BF and I split two breakfasts: an omelet and pancakes with strawberries. The food was well prepared and delicious. My gripes about the service are pretty minor for a reasonably priced meal ($25 including one soda and the tip) and normally I would overlook any one of them, but because there were so many it sort of compounded the experience. Gripe 1. After sitting down, we waited for quite a while even though several wait staff walked right by and looked at us. Eventually our server brought water and menus. Apparently we were supposed to have picked up a menu as we entered, but as first timers we didn't know and we didn't read the sign on the front door (I read it on the way out). Gripe 2. The food was brought to our table with two extra plates, so actually it was good our server remembered we were sharing. But then she placed the two food plates in front of me and the two empty on the sides of the table where no one was sitting. Huh? Condiments filled the entire middle of the table so neither BF or I could start eating until we did a total rearrangement. Gripe 3. Rather than serving the little plastic butter packet and the little syrup dish on the side, they were placed right on top of my food. Ok, I'm not that picky, but half the syrup had already spilled out which made my butter packet sticky with syrup and then my fingers sticky with syrup from opening the butter packet. Ugh. The restaurant napkins are those flimsy paper ones, not particulary good for wiping syrup off fingers. So only -1 star for the friendly but inexperienced service.
(4)Michelle S.
I'd put this at or around the top of my breakfast list for one reason, the pancakes. Everything else I have had there has been decent normal breakfast fare, but it's all about the pancakes. One other hint, they have BIG portions. I keep my syrup on the side so I can enjoy my pancake leftovers later.
(5)B I.
We hit this place on a Monday morning, and although it was nearly packed, we were quickly waved over to the counter for a seating. The place was very inviting and also very clean, which is a big deal to us. Items ordered were the Belgian Waffle (w/strawberries and cream) and the French Toast. Both were delicious and filling and the coffee wasn't too shabby either. Will be bringing out of towners and relatives here when they visit the islands! Cost for the two meals, coffee, and a side of bacon came out to $25 and some change. Pretty standard for good breakfast eats.
(4)Constance J.
Very cute cafe not the most ideal location, but the food is definitely worth it. When you arrive you grab a menu and seat yourself. Italian omlette: eggplant, onions, and zucchini with a tomato sauce on top. The man said it was one of the best omlettes he ever had. You can choose between a side or rice of potatoes. Local scramble: eggs with Portuguese sausage. The portion is pretty generous and I was unable to finish it. Potatoes were a bit plain, but goes perfect with the sausage since its salty. I packed up what I didn't finish and ate it later that night when I got hungry.
(4)Kanoe K.
So I went here on the Veteran's Day holiday and it was understandably BUSY!! The wait wasn't too bad though and because there were so many people ... or the kitchen made a mistake ... they gave away free tastes of the Belgian waffle!! It was tasty, but I was excited to see what else was on the menu!! I decided to go for the All Meat Omelette ... right up my alley!! The omelette was huge and it was soooo good! I'm a BIG fan of omelette's so I have to try them at new places!! The omelette comes with roasted potatoes ... not really my favorite form of potatoes, but it was okay. The meal also comes with toast ... a breakfast must for me!! The place was cute if not a little tiny, but the staff is extremely friendly and prompt. You should note though that they only take CASH ... so make sure you hit the ATM before showing up!! FINAL VERDICT: A nice place for breakfast and a good change of pace ... but I still prefer those darn red velvet pancakes ...
(3)Kimberly B.
This was the first breakfast place we went to when we arrived on the island and it was pretty good. I ordered their strawberry malted waffle, and it tasted delicious. I don't think this cafe has a specialty though, unlike other places like Boots & Kimo or Cinnamon's. This place is small though, so I can see why there would be a wait to get seated.
(4)Kasey J.
I am definitely a breakfast person and more so a waffle person. I was oh so excited to eat at Cafe Kaila after looking at everyone's reviews and especially the pictures. We headed out and got there about 8:30. I was a little worried that would be late and that the wait would be long. There was a little wait but nothing to get in a huff about. I ordered the Belgian Waffles with strawberries of course! My hubby got the Eggs Benedict. I think it was a special maybe loco moco eggs benedict. Don't remember because I was focused on my heaping plate of fresh strawberries, whipped cream and delish waffle. I usually drench my waffles and pancakes with syrup. My friend asked me once if I wanted "some waffles with that syrup?!" I did not put one drop of syrup as it magically did not need any. I guess it's the malted waffle that makes it that way. IDK. Whatever it is I enjoyed it tremendously. I personally like my waffles a little overcooked. Their waffle hits the spot for sure and is the right balance of crispiness and chewiness. No complaints about service at all. They were attentive and prompt. Definitely go early to avoid long waits and easy parking. Fave breakfast place yet!
(5)Jiro A.
Breakfast is my favorite meal for eating out, and Cafe Kalia has been my go-to place for breakfast ever since I found it two years ago. They serve hearty breakfast. I always leave there full, satisfied and ready for a nap. Most of the time I order their Italian Omelet with zucchini, mushrooms and cheese. It comes with side potatoes that are pretty good. The last time I tried their waffles, and this morning I had smoked salmon eggs benedict. I would recommend both of these items as well. You usually have to wait 15 minutes or so to be seated, but as long as you expect it, it is not bad at all. I haven't had any trouble finding parking in the Market City lot.
(5)Steph K.
I was dragged out of bed by my parents quite early in the morning, and let me tell you..I'm definitely not a morning person. We got there at 6:45am (15mins before the cafe opened) and there was already a line of about ten people at the front of the door! Luckily we were part of the first batch of customers that got a table when they opened. Service was fast and everyone was friendly. I decided to get the eggs, portuguese sausage, and pancakes. When I got my food, I was surprised at how big the sausages were, and the pancakes were also big, round and fluffy. I took a bite into the pancake and O..M....G......my eyes widened and my jaw dropped. They were the most delicious pancakes I have ever tasted!!! If there was ever such a thing as a perfect pancake, I just found it. It was ever so slightly crisp on the outside; cooked enough so that it wasn't one of those flimsy pancakes. It's perfectly golden brown and inside is sooooo fluffy and light. It was like a bite of heaven. Their sausage was tasty too. I'm definitely coming back here for more pancakes and sausage. I think I might just turn into a morning person now thanks to Cafe Kaila.
(5)Sarah M.
This is my FAVORITE breakfast/brunch place to bring out of town guests. The ambiance of the place is wonderful. It is very bright, airy and the sun shines in just enough. Perfect place to enjoy a breakfast/brunch and start the day! The food is amazing. Each dish is prepared after you place your order, so sometimes if it's busy it can take a little while, but it is well worth the wait. The omelettes are absolutely decadent. And the french toast and waffles with the fresh fruit on top are also my favorite. Be prepared for at least a 30 min wait!!!! But you won't regret it! :)
(5)mia o.
Very disappointing. Server was so rude, not only unfriendly, but he was RUDE to the table next to ours. It was very uncomfortable just by seeing how badly the lady was being treated next to us. All other servers or whoever were there, there were 7 people working, none of them do not even smile to customer, only to each other. Very slow service. We were there while only four tables being seated. Food was just OK. I wonder what is so special about this place. I will never go back. There are much better places near by.
(1)Jeremy P.
This place lives up to the hype. From the basics like potatoes to the fancier items like smoked salmon eggs Benedict, this place does everything well. The staff is also vey friendly. Be prepared for a line outside, but it goes quick! Be sure to write your name down on the paper near the door to officially "get in line" (ie, don't wait for a hostess to take your name - I don't think this place works like that.)
(5)marissa t.
Cute place, lots to choose from, and friendly service. Of the many times I've visited, the longest I've had to wait was 5 minutes (maybe I've just been lucky ;). The breakfast burrito is the BEST. Every time we go, one of the two things we order is the breakfast burrito. The waffle and pancakes are good too since you can add all kinds of fruit toppings of your choice to them.
(4)Alex T.
(this place actually gets 4 1/2 stars from me, but i'm rounding down because of the eggs benedict.) WTF! the Waffles Taste Fantastic!! the first time i came here, a server brought out some small bites of the malted belgian waffles for us to sample while we waited for a table. they were sooo good! but alas! i had my heart set on eggs benedict. i should have gone with the waffles because the eggs benedict were just "meh." they weren't exactly bad, just not impressive. the eggs were poached well, but the hollandaise seemed kind of bland. on my second visit, my bf and i each ordered waffles, and also split a spinach, mushroom, and portuguese omelet. it was a brilliant idea because both were delicious! i inhaled everything! (okay, not everything. i just didn't have enough room for all the potatoes and the toast) i was surprised that i was able to eat all of that food, but i just couldn't let it go to waste... it's totally worth getting up early to go to breakfast at Cafe Kaila! the only trouble is actually getting up that early. (TIP: we noticed that from 7 - 7:30, you can pretty much just walk in and find a table. after that, you have to get in line, buster!)
(4)Sarah Z.
The food was pretty good (everything seemed fresh and well prepared); the portions were enormous; and the service was fast and friendly
(4)