4. Restaurants

Fresh Café

831 Queen St, Honolulu, HI, 96813
  • (808) 688-8055
  • Store is closed

Fresh Café Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Eric Robert R.

    "SLOW FOOD... ...SERVED DAILY!" That's FRESH CAFÉ'S motto and it does make you stop for a second and think... "Oh, Oh!" Then you realize... "SLOW FOOD" IS A GOOD THING! I have never, ever been to FRESH (yet, I've been invited a dozen times), but have driven-by 100 times, maybe more. Always a ton of cars parked here, there and everywhere on busy Industrial Queen's Street! I never tried stopping at FRESH... even though I LOVE the mural! Swish! I needed an incentive to... STOP. PARK. GO INSIDE! How about a generous GIFT-CARD from a lovely friend?! ALLLLLRRRRITE!!! FRESH AMBIANCE: Reminds me of those "earthy" café's in Berkeley or Greenwich Village. Y'know the organic fruit and gluten-free pastries in case and chalkboard menu. Outdoor and indoor seating. Wall art, paintings, posters, stickers decorate the inside and outside. In fact, the entire outside is energized with awesome mural art! Modern & eclectic furniture scatter the interior. It's airy and roomy, but when I went (high noon) it was jam packed. So happen I dropped in when a group of artists from Australia were there. Peace, Love, Slow Down Vibe. Sign proudly displayed, "SLOW FOOD, SERVED DAILY!" Yup, that sums it up! AMBIANCE GRADE: B+ FRESH GRUB: I've been to these "types" of cafés before, so the menu wasn't anything new to me. FRESH has a menu with a myriad of sandwiches, gluten-free pastries, fresh organic fruit (including the super-sweet "ugly" oranges), cereals, breakfast, wraps, smoothies, coffee drinks, ice teas, Italian sodas, etc., etc. On this visit I had: -TURKEY CRANBERRY SANDWICH- Turkey with Cranberry, Ciabatta Bread, Tomato, Organic Lettuce, Alfalfa Sprouts, Swiss Cheese, Red Onions, tad Mayo, tad Mustard. Really YUM, but wish more Cranberry was used. $7.95 (+ $1 Ciabatta). -HAUPIA LATTE- Iced Haupia (coconut) flavored Latte. Very rich and smooth. Top grade coffee. Bomb! $4.00. GRUB GRADE: B+ FRESH STAFF: Anytime I see employees with just as much awesome tattoos like I.. I feel that "artsy brotherhood", but I'm talking about the TATTOO'D LADY BARISTAS! So, I guess I connected with the "artsy sisterhood!" She's awesome! Server was awesome! Toss me a TBT Skateboard, circa 1990's, and find me slicing cucumbers in the back kitchen! MESSY HAIR I DON'T CARE! STAFF GRADE: B OVERALL GRADE: 4.5 STARS My expectations were neutral coming in, yes I read, yes I read my friends reviews, and yes I noticed it was mixed like a bowl of hurricane popcorn! So giving FRESH a perfect score even surprised me. I really enjoyed my "SLOW FOOD" lunch! I'll definitely be back and prob try the Acai Bowl next, or maybe a berry smoothie, or maybe a gluten-free muffin, or maybe breakfast, possibly a red velvet cupcake... Hmm. Only hints how I'm already planning my next visit here... This place is definitely FRESH! LIVE ALOHA... YELP REVIEW #193

    (5)

  • Bill C.

    Took too long for the salad and then it wasn't to go. Service has gone down hill I'm afraid. I might try this place again after a spell but now I have a negative impression of it and won't be back for a long while. Now that I had the salad it was not the full salad I paid for, and stingy with the avocado.

    (2)

  • Reid K.

    Fresh Cafe is aca-amazing! The atmosphere is North Shore meets Williamsburg (hipster paradise, y'all!). I love that they sell souvenir mustache mugs ($8), have a balanced mix of high stools and low wire chairs and that they double as a swap meet, slam poetry, zumba and flea market. Talk about a space that utilizes and has diversified to become multi-use and provide an experience, thus distinguishing it from other "just cafes" on the island. The daily specials lighten the load on your wallet, but the drink prices are generally comparable to Starbucks. I would say that the food is definitely above-par for a cafe. I've had the veggie and turkey sandwiches and loved them both. I've only ever had the ginger wasabi salad, mostly because I'm afraid the other salads won't be able to take me to the stratospheric heights that it has. The sandwich-salad combo is a good way to explore multiple sections of the menu. I like to order pikake house iced tea, and I appreciate the blueberries they add as a special touch. I'm a huge fan of mango-flavored anything, so I love the mango smoothie. I'm a sucker for locally-sourced ingredients, so Fresh Cafe really scores points with me for their environmentally-friendly mission. On the same vein, the cafe really gives off an alternative, underground vibe. Whereas Starbucks Ward Gateway is always freezing, Fresh can sometimes borderline on sticky. The parking situation isn't great, but when is there ever adequate, free parking in Hawaii? Finally, the workers at this restaurant always seem to be working hard. Their collared shirts and long pants (semi-formal serving uniforms?) juxtapose against the urban decor, faux-beachwood floors and concrete walls. Personally, from what I've seen, they're diligent and try their best to meet customers' needs. It seems as though the servers at Fresh Cafe believe in the business, whereas the baristas at Starbucks know their place of employment is popular, and thus don't feel an obligation to be courteous. That little difference means a lot to me, and I think it ultimately makes for a more personable experience for customers.

    (5)

  • Matt H.

    I've only had the coffee here (espresso and drip), and it's pretty good. It'd be nice if the drinks came in actual mugs for on-site enjoyment. No pour over coffee or latte art for those looking for such. The cafe has a nice open atmosphere and outdoor seating.

    (4)

  • Mahina C.

    Fresh Cafe, I think you're up for an update! It's been a while since my last review of this place and reading it makes me want to justify somethings that's been going on at this place. Number One. Parking still BLOWS at this place. Sorry, that unfortunately hasn't changed. Although there is parking located to the left which looks like a garage, the main parking lot still had pot holes for days and is usually, mostly, always full. Number two. They still have the same menu. now this could be a bad or good thing. So my previous review I talked about how they had the combos and the selection of combos...that has not changed. Yes, I love how fresh the food is. How i'm not waiting years on end for my food and that it now consistently comes out delicious every time, but at least throw something different? maybe a new salad? that Cobb salad they had on special was delicious, maybe that! But none the less, why fix something that isn't broken right? Number three. I'm so happy that their service has improved tremendously! No more cranky people that makes you feel like you're a nuisance. I use to come here often, and actually do more now again since the semester started. I love the vibe of this place and that they're just friendly overall. Free wifi, of course you SHOULD purchase something along with that. Good music, delicious food at a decent price for good quality. Love to study and just have coffee or lunch with friends. Also, they do have daily specials on their menu. Wahine Wednesdays, 50% off salad Mondays, although again their menu is on repeat you really can't go wrong for the deals they dish out everyday.

    (4)

  • Mike H.

    One of my favorite places to grab coffee and get some work done. Salads are awesome. Outdoor seating is abundant. Good spot.

    (4)

  • Courtney Y.

    I was debating whether to give this place 5 stars or not. It has been weighing heavily down on my mind since I visited this cafe yesterday evening. 5 stars, even when I haven't tried any of their food yet? But I am a foodie, albeit somewhat of a coffee addict, but more of a foodie. Decisions, decisions. Then, BAM, it was simple. This place is easily 5 stars. And if their food is even better like what I heard *wink wink* Eric Robert R. with his Turkey Cran recommendation, then this place will blow over the lid on the Yelp stars. First off, parking was a bit awkward, but can be easily overlooked. The inside has a feel of a trendy, hipster, yet, cute and quaint little cafe that is kind of in the boonies in Kaakaako. The cafe workers wear little black ties atop their white long sleeve shirts; so cute! What makes this place even cuter is that if you take a closer look at their menu, it's on top of a old-school wooden clipboard (this won over the teacher in me, for sure!) This place could get no cuter than it already was: FALSE! On top of the cuteness overload they already got going, if you do a "dine in" kind of option instead of take out, like what I had done, you can drink out of their bear glass cups. ERMERGERD. Cuteness. And if that wasn't all too much cuteness just yet, this next thing just made me want to visit this place ASAP: After ordering, the worker genuinely asks, "How has your day been?" to which I responded with "It's been great!" to which he then responded with, "There's no other way to have your day!" Did I ever tell you that I love nice people? That made my day. I can't believe I haven't gotten to the actual food/drink substance of my review just yet. My sister and I ended up getting lattes: raspberry for me, and haupia for my sister. The prices are comparable to that of Starbucks (around $4). The raspberry is deliciously flavored. The coffee/expresso that they put in it shines, while the raspberry is a nice underlying punch that is the first to hit your taste buds. The haupia latte is just the same and for some reason it reminds me of an almond joy candy in liquid latte form. YUMS. They have various themed days along the lines of getting a free drink with your combo, 50% off salad on Mondays, etc. Who could beat themed days named like "Go Cray Cray Saturdays"?! (See my picture for more details, hehe). Overall, if the friendly service doesn't blow you away, I can surely vouch that their lattes will. And their cute stuff, of course: Cute uniforms, beary cute bear cups (you see what I did there?), cute hipster feel, down to their cute neon-colored straws!

    (5)

  • Titus M.

    I would've given them a four stars but their food is just so delightful. My friends and I frequent Fresh Cafe mainly to catch up and enjoy each others company. The staff, though not the fastest, are some of the most unique people you'll ever meet. Having been born and raised in the state where tourism is one of our biggest trades, that means a lot. The food takes a little while but it's always quality food. This just leaves a little more time to catch up and enjoy the ambiance. The music is always tasteful and the environment is just so artistic, it's hard to be annoyed. I would recommend Fresh Cafe to anyone who really enjoys life.

    (5)

  • Misty P.

    I've always heard about this restaurant from people, but never ventured in there to try it. This time, I tagged along with friends to try it out. Upon arriving, the menu is very healthy. A bit too healthy for my tastes. It's got numerous salads, sandwiches and soups. I got the chicken Caesar salad. The salad was okay. They claim they make their own dressing but it was a bit too lemony and bland for a Caesar. Perhaps missing some anchovy as an ingredient. I liked the chicken though. You could tell it was really baked chicken and not processed meat. I also tried the club sandwich. Anyone who knows me, knows I don't really go for sandwiches. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant and my tastes might be different, but damn this sandwich was awesome. It has real baked turkey, a slice of thick ham, and bacon. I don't even like ham either, but the taste explosion in my mouth was awesome. With the mayo, crisp lettuce and toasted wheat bread, it all came together nicely. I'd definitely get this one again. Once again, I liked that all the meats were real meats that they cooked and not processed luncheon meats. My friends got the pesto pasta salad and corn chowder. It was suggested that the pesto salad would be better a little warm because it was cold. The corn chowder looked delicious and it was confirmed that it was. There is limited parking here, but if you work in the area, a short walk isn't so bad to try this place out for lunch.

    (4)

  • Kelsie K.

    Aside from finding hair in my salad once, I've never been too disappointed with the food or service from here. Their turkey pesto on croissant is probably my favorite sandwich in the world. I received an email from Fresh Cafe stating I could come in on my birthday to receive a free sandwich or salad. Simple enough, and I'm never one to pass on free food (unless given by a complete stranger in a van full of stuffed animals). So I decided to go with a couple of friends. Ordering was a little problematic, though it was nothing too bad. The entire experience after that was terrible. I had to wait about half an hour for my drink and salad to come out. One of my friend received her drink and turkey pesto soon after I got my order. But we had to wait another 45 minutes before getting my other friend's food and drink. Even after asking about it twice, the excuse we were given was, "The girl at the cash register didn't send the order in." On top of this, my friend had received a cold turkey pesto melt and an iced mocha that tasted like straight up chocolate. Nasty.

    (1)

  • Elsie F.

    Came here for the first time during lunch with one of my friends. Parking was very limited & hard to find. We parked in the garage next to the cafe & wasn't too sure if it was okay. The worker inside reassured us that it was fine. We came here on a Friday & thought & just so happened to be a special for a free drink if you order a combo! So my friend & I were so excited we both ordered a full salad with a cup of soup combo. When we went up to ordered the worker told us it was Fellas Fridays so only the guys get a free drink. My friend & I didn't catch on to that at first haha but we each ordered a flavored ice tea anyways. Here's the review for the food: Chicken & tofu salad: This dish was very light & refreshing with a sesame dressing. I loved it & surprising it was very filling as well. Tomato bisque: I love soup so this was probably my favorite. Love the croutons on it too Passion fruit ice tea: The drink was okay, nothing special. I wouldn't mind skipping this next time. My friend ordered the chicken Caesar salad with the corn chowder & the peach ice tea. I sampled a little bit & they were all delicious as well! Overall, I docked off one star for the horrible parking sitar job. Other than that, I would be returning for the great specials & food! :)

    (4)

  • Kiera V.

    I have been a fan of this restaurant for years and have introduced many of my friends to it. Unfortunately, today it has been 40 minutes since we ordered and our food has still not all arrived. This is simple soup, salad and sandwiches. I'm not sure what's happening but I'm very disappointed.

    (1)

  • J S.

    always good food ....... but today... today.... today was amazing food and an amazing playlist!!! great food and music.

    (5)

  • Dark S.

    Whenever I passed by on weekends, it always looks so busy. So while I was off on a weekday, I figured I'd give this place a try. And I'm glad I did... I ordered the Club Sandwich with a side Caesar Salad and my wife had the French Toast. Both dishes were very good. Parking can be a little tight at times, but they have ample seating, inside and out. Prices are a little high, but portion the portion size is fairly decent. Give this place a try, because I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Zena F.

    Fresh Cafe is a great place for the enlightened mind. Not only is this place designed with creativity in mind, but it's a great hangout for the starving and hungry artist. The staff is friendly and the food is fresh which warrants the name for the restaurant.

    (5)

  • Rob D.

    Very good fresh salads. Conveniently located on Queen Street but limited parking, but you should be able to find street parking. Very friendly staff. Clean restaurant and very organized.

    (5)

  • Ashley D.

    I am continuously disappointed by Fresh Cafe. I've been here for countless events but the venue gets really hot because of all the bodies in a cramped room. I don't think there is AC but I do enjoy the atmosphere. Each time I come to eat here something goes wrong. Once I was on lunch break so I stopped by to pick up a half sized pesto pasta salad. I understand that it's "slow food" but really--20 minutes for a take out salad? There's hardly any preparation that goes into that item so I'm not sure why it took that long. Another time I called in an order and the girl on the phone was really rude and did not appear friendly AT ALL.... She was very curt and sassy. Why be in the customer service industry if you hate serving customers?!? I'm working in the customer service industry too, so I have experience with talking to customers on the phone. There were so many ways she could have went about our conversation differently. And on top of that, they neglected to put tofu in my order. Ughhhh why. I live really close to Fresh Cafe. There is so much potential for this place but unless something changes I doubt I'll be coming back to eat.

    (2)

  • Daniel C.

    Parking: They have two lots that you can park in but it's always full! It does suck to look for parking when it's full but full is a good thing! It means the place is good. If you can't find a stall in their 2 lots then you can find street parking around the area. Food and Beverage: The food here is good and healthy. It comes out fast and the cashiers/servers brings it to your table which is really nice. Drinks here are very good and they have a variety that you can choose from. Service here is good and staff is always friendly. Ambiance: Noise level here is average and the space is like an open concept. There are benches outside for seating and tables outside or tables inside where you can enjoy your drink or meal. The outside does change from time to time which is nice giving the place a new look every so often.

    (4)

  • Silvia M.

    It was great!! I went there to have some breakfast. The location is good, I was able to park without issue. When I entered the atmosphere is really chill and the girls behind the counter are very attentive and patient. I ordered a regular cappuccino and the pesto croissant sandwich. It was yummy!! The pesto sauce was so good and they also add mushroom and grilled chicken. The coffee was really good and plenty of it!!

    (5)

  • So Jung S.

    The staffs are nice. The food taste good and clean. The combo is tricky. It was Friday and i was excited to get a free drink with combo but it was for fellas hahaha! And the staff said wahine free drink with combo is on wednesdays....i cant read..hahaha but overalp its good!

    (4)

  • Taylor D.

    Came to Fresh Cafe the other day for a casual lunch. Great place to meet with others, not too loud, computer friendly, etc. My friend and I ordered the Pesto Pasta Salad with tofu and a bowl of corn chowder to share. I would definately reccommend the corn chowder! Very flavorful and one of the best corn chowders i've eaten. However I wouldnt reccomment the pasta salad. Its alright, but not too special. The pasta was a bit too bland for my taste Also, make sure to read on the board what the deal of the day is! There are some pretty good deals available

    (4)

  • Maria Shea A.

    Sorry to give a mediocre review but that's just how I'm feeling about the experience. Parking - very little though we did find a tandem stall. Food - we had two sandwiches, Turkey Pesto and veg omelet on whole grain chibatta they were below average. If you're a halfway decent cook you could probably make better at home. I'd rather save a couple of bucks and go to the Safeway deli because the flavor was really lacking. Service was okay and ambiance was pretty cool. It seems like a nice place to hang out and get some studying done. They also offer free WiFi. Based on what we ordered, the food seems overpriced for the what you get. 7. sandwiches are just fine if there is some type of "wow" factor or something worth returning for. I was excited to try to see but sadly I'm disappointed. We will probably not be back.

    (2)

  • Pumehana A.

    Super chill place. Love their food, BUT DON'T BELIEVE THEIR CHECK IN OFFER. I checked in while I was waiting for my food and saw that they were offering a free iced tea if you checked in via Yelp. So I showed it to the cashier (cute girl, very bubbly and friendly). She wasn't familiar with the offer and called over the manager on duty, I guess. It was pretty obvious that he wasn't aware of the offer either. He agreed to honor the deal, but said, "It's more like a 'buy one, get one free.'" I just agreed to it cause I was too lazy to argue, but it seemed as if he made that up just because he didn't want to give away a free tea. Kinda messed up. I'm a little upset about it cause that's just not cool. If management is going to offer a deal, then the front of house people should be aware of it and not try to scam the customer because there was a lack of communication.

    (3)

  • Jackie O.

    I came here mid-morning with the intention to do some work on my computer and make a few business calls while my car was being serviced at Lexus around the corner. Unfortnuately, it was a bit noisy as one of the girls behind the counter turned up the music. I could see a table of two ladies obviously acknowledging the volume when one of them covered their ears and they both were looking in the direction of the girls at the counter. Luckily, one of them were conscientious enough to turn it down. I heard her tell the one who turned it up, "Hey, I'm gonna turn it down a bit." I looked at her and gave her a thumbs up and told her, "Thanks!" and that I was making calls so it was kind of her to turn it down. Much thanks to this girl who was being considerate! :) Now, as for the food....I had the turkey pesto melt. I love pesto, so if there is a sandwich as such on any cafe menu, that's what I'm getting! It was pretty good. The cheese and onion in it, made all the difference. If it was not for that, it would be a pretty plain turkey pesto melt as the wheat bread was nothing spectacular, not that it's supposed to be, but it resembled that of what you buy in the grocery store. I also order the soup, which comes with the sandwich in the combo. It was tomato bisque. I wasn't crazy about it, especially when you absolutely love the tomato soup at Nordstrom Cafe. Another disappointment is that they do not give refills. Thumbs down! I go to Paina Cafe all the time and order their Coconut Iced Tea, which is what i got here. I paid $4.00 here. Paina Cafe is 1/2 the price and they give free refills!

    (3)

  • Brandy W.

    Yeah I definitely live in the Burbs. I am a city girl at heart, but with that lack of productive public transit here in Honolulu, I have grown frustrated with the traffic and moved towards areas that require less brake usage. Occasionally I like to wander into the deep alleyways that I like to call the heart of the city. For me, that's Kakaako. Fresh Cafe is a great coop/cafe space that hosts events and garners tasty treats. I have not had the opportunity to check out one of their events yet, but I have tasted their treats. For breakfast I have tried their fritatta. For me, nothing can knock morning glass coffee off their pedestal for best fritattas, but Fresh Cafe's came close. I am really picky about texture with eggs, and theirs was the perfect soft and gooey egg I like in the center, but way too crispy on the outside for my taste. For lunch I have tried their acai bowl. Holy moly acai. This bowl is huge (and rightfully so, $10?!) I only ate half knowing I had a long day of food tasting planned. I love that this bowl had a greater variety of fruits than other places. I tasted bananas, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. All of my favorite fruit! Of course they added granola and some sort of honey or syrup (I thought agave). They pay a lot of attention to detail here. When asked for water, they provide you a bear shaped mason jar and a bottle of tap to get you through your meal. Yay for promoting water consumption! While you wait for your meal, many upcoming publications drop off copies of their lastest issue for you to enjoy. I had no idea we had a Hawaii sustainable living magazine! On your way out, make sure to pick up some seeds for your garden. Yay for promoting oxygen regeneration! Parking never seems to be a problem with a huge parking lot and plenty of spots that probably open up as the surrounding businesses close.

    (4)

  • Morgan C.

    Usually I love this place, but the last few times I've gone I have noticed the food quality and preparation go way down. My food looked like it was slapped together in a rush. The sandwiches would have ingredients outside of the bread and the salads would have huge lettuce pieces like it wasn't even cut. Also, the lettuce had a lot of rotten pieces that I had to pick out so I just stopped eating it. Another time, the chicken in the salad looks pinkish and tasted a little fake. This is really surprising to me because I've been going here for such a long time and have always loved the food. Hopefully it can get back to how great it used to be, for now I probably won't go back for a while.

    (3)

  • Courtnie Y.

    Overall: - too expensive - mediocre food - parking is a hassle - nice atmosphere I've only really came here for the Art+Flea events that used to take place every third Thursday of the month. Now that Art+Flea is no longer hosting their events I haven't come back here. I agree with several reviews about the food. It is extremely overpriced for the portions and quality received. I spent around $15 for a sandwich/salad combo and tea. As other people have commented the sandwiches are small for the price. Better sandwiches can be purchased at larger portions and cheaper prices. I suppose a nice thing about their sandwiches is that there are a vast selection of bread you can choose from. However, the selection of bread is not enough to make me want to purchase sandwiches from here. I've tried on several occasions to try their acai bowls. Sadly, they seem to always not have the ingredients to make one. I found that the flavored teas seem to be rather inconsistent. Sometimes it's too sweet and other times there is no flavor at all. They also place a couple blueberries inside. One big inconvenience that I've encountered about 4 times now is that the gift card machine does not work. I received a $5 gift card from an Art+Flea event and I have never been able to use it because the gift card machine doesn't work. Like many other reviews parking is a pain. They have an extremely tiny parking lot. Personally getting out of the parking lot is a big pain as well. You pretty much have to reverse all the out and sometimes it can be hard to see any oncoming speeding cars driving on Queen St. If you really want to go to this place parking at the Ward Warehouse structure is an option if you're willing to walk. I heard that parking at Ross is a bit risky and may result in a ticket or your car getting towed. I can't say that I personally have seen or experienced it. The choice is yours. For me, if I can't find parking int he Fresh Cafe parking lot I won't even eat there. I don't think the food is worth the hassle.

    (2)

  • Nalani K.

    Today is Sunday February 16th 2014, 11: 15 am just left Fresh Cafe. I left because #1 The Bad Service!!! # no Acai this day not to mention no Aloha

    (1)

  • Irene H.

    Been here a couple times. I like anything artsy. When we came in it was pretty much dead. I guess I gotta go when there's like an open mic session or art gallery event. Oh and good luck on finding parking.

    (3)

  • Ariana M.

    I love them FRESH SPECIALS! Everyday Fresh Café has amazing specials going down~! My favorite special is MONDAY~! 1/2 off a full salads (with a purchase of a drink). YUM! The staff here is really friendly. The atmosphere is artsy and hipster. Chicken Caesar Salad yelp.com/biz_photos/fres… YUM YUM !!! Home made Caesar dressing with chicken breast, cherry tomatoes, croutons, and parmesan cheese :3 Balsamic Vinegar Salad yelp.com/biz_photos/fres… This salad is LOADED with red onions, mushrooms, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado, and raspberries!! So tasty! Definitely recommend everyone to come down and check out Fresh Café.

    (5)

  • Tai C.

    Awesome place to eat! I love the food! The food takes a long time, but it's totally worth it!!

    (5)

  • Avian M.

    Yesterday I came in and explored this cafe & I love the features. It totally caught my attention compared to other buildings on the block. It was very urban and I like urban. I honestly didn't know what to order but it's great that they have menus on clipboards and all of the dishes have the ingredients included so you know what's in each dish. I got their fruit & yogurt parfait bowl $6, croissant$1, and plantation iced tea$3 +tax I guess. $12. Okay, the price may be a little hurtful to my wallet, but it was the first time I've been there. I took a sat anywhere available and they don't call up your order, the employees serve it to you!! The parfait was great, looks great too. So perfectly arranged I didn't want to eat it. It taste good as well with the fruits but it can improve on the yogurt. It was sort of thick, and I felt like it was going to come back up so I drank their plantation iced tea. I like it! It was very cute how they also added blueberries, super hype. I love their croissant most of all. It was the most flakiest croissant I've had so far. I like flaky croissant. It taste like butter too which is good. My friend didn't like his corn chowder because it was soupy. The soup was more sweet than "soup". They can improve that hopefully. And the price. But overall, the food for Me, and environment it cool! I'm coming back for an oatmeal next time :)

    (4)

  • Taylor W.

    Came here with my friend today because we were both longing to try it! First of all parking was very tedious because their parking lot is super small and narrow, but there's a garage on the side as well that only fits about 6/7 cars so it's just inconvenient to find and wait for parking. But he service was really friendly and nice. For the food: I got the chicken Caesar salad which was really filling and the dressing was the perfect amount. And I loved the fact that they have lots of cherry tomatoes because I love cherry tomatoes. I also got a cup of corn chowder for the combo and it was sooo good especially because there bacon in it! I got the peach iced tea and it was pretty refreshing but I wish there was a little more flavor. My friend got the chicken tofu sesame salad and it looked really good and tasteful! The tomato bisque didn't come hot or warm it was a little cold but the flavor was really good. And she got a passion fruit iced tea which probably tasted like mine, okay. I would definitely come back for a healthy meal!

    (4)

  • Amanda T.

    The original fresh cafe! The place everyone used to go to work from home. Last time I was there I had a Cesar salad that was average but hey it's a salad. I keep ordering the iced tea thinking I like it but when I get I remember I don't. The people working were jamming to their music and hanging out in the back. The front music was so loud that my colleague and I couldn't hear each other and it was extra annoying because it was One Direction. But!!!! That's the average of my experiences. Usually it's great energy with an artistic vibe that's great for collaborating. I love the art events that happen there and the fact that you are supporting a local business. FYI- Parking sometimes can be hard.

    (4)

  • Angela C.

    5 stars for being one of the few establishments on the island that allows dogs!!! When I have long hours of studying to do, I hate leaving my pup at home. Even though I live in Mililani, I'll make the drive out here so I can bring her, get a solid wifi connection, and tasty cold teas! Jen was super friendly, too!

    (5)

  • Jamez D.

    Went there for an event and expectations were maybe a little to high. Ordered Chicke salad and turkey pesto. After waiting 20 minutes they tell me they are out of turkey so I order it with chicken. 20 minutes later they tell me no more chicken salad so I order the Veggie. Finally, after waiting a little under an hour we get our sandwiches. Sandwiches tasted ok. I actually like foodland sandwhiches better which isnt saying much for this place.

    (2)

  • Rhea M.

    Don't get me wrong I used to LOOOOVE this place, but I've noticed that the customer service has been really slow lately and not the best. My last visit, I ordered a Cesar salad and halfway through my salad I found a small bug (assuming a super tiny spider) hidden inside the salad and I was absolutely disgusted and left. And I've noticed bugs crawling on the wall. They really need to get this place checked out because that's really unsanitary.

    (1)

  • Nicole K.

    Located on Queen Street, Fresh Cafe sits as a little oasis amid a street of auto repair shops and dilapidated buildings. With its bright colors and serene ambiance, Fresh Cafe is a great place to study, enjoy a cup of coffee, or dive into some delicious sandwiches and salads! My favorite choices at Fresh Cafe is their Pesto Pasta Salad and Turkey Pesto Sandwich. The Pesto Pasta Salad is terrific cold or hot! With such generous portions, I often find myself bringing half home to warm up for dinner. The Turkey Pesto Sandwich is amazing and can be served on bread or bagels. I love it on the Spinach Bagel! Parking at Fresh Cafe is very limited and the main reason I do not go as often as I would like. Going to pick-up lunch with co-workers requires a multi-person plan: 1 to sit in the car as it idles and 1 to run in and order. Fresh Cafe also offers catering services. I've had the pleasure of working with them for a catering event at work. The prices are very reasonable and I found the owners to be incredibly helpful and accommodating with customizing our order to fit our specific needs. The sandwiches, salads, and lemon bars were a HUGE hit with our guests! Unfortunately, delivery was not an option and we had to pick-up all the food ourselves, but everything was packed neatly and ready to go upon our arrival!

    (4)

  • Tze M.

    I only come here in passing between jobs picking up a salad on Mondays because it's half off the full size salads every Mondays! Parking is either in the angled lot next to the building or in front of the building to the left of them. The ambiance is casual hipsterish.. good place to study, hang out or work. It's nice a quiet. I believe there's wifi. The place is hot though... like room temperature hot! There's is ceiling fans, but it just circulates the hot air around. Can't help it, it's Hawaii. Service is friendly! As for the food, I've tried their chicken Cesar salad, it is so good! Lightly tossed with dressing, perfect! And their hot spinach salad with BACON!!! And add chicken. For some reason, I thought adding the chicken would be the same chicken as the Cesar... it's like chicken bits. It's still very good!! I have yet to try other items on their menu. But I adore this place!

    (4)

  • Johanna M.

    I can't believe I have not yet reviewed Fresh, because I have been here quite a few times for random events. Fresh Café is kind of a Kakaako staple and if you live in the neighborhood, you've likely checked it out. I have always received friendly service, but I will agree with some of my fellow yelpers that the food can be inconsistent. I have had sandwiches and salads here a few times. I really like their BLTA because I love bacon and I love avocado. There have been a couple of occasions, however, when they are out of ingredients and I don't get to order what I want. Their acai bowls are okay, but there are definitely better places to get your acai fix. My acai bowl has not been blended properly in the past, leaving me chewing cubes of ice that didn't make it to the blender's blades. Their salads are also pretty good and while I have not had their pesto pasta, I've seen it and it looks yummy. Perhaps I will try it when I go back. They also have baked goods to end your meal on a sweet note. The parking situation is terrible and it is on a busy road, so it is not the best place to walk to. The sidewalks on that road disappear from block to block, so I am often walking on the street. Another cool thing about this place...it is pet friendly. I have brought my dog here on several occasions and he loves it because everyone comes over to say hi to him. In addition to dining there, I have been to Fresh Café for Art and Flea and a baking competition. I really like that they host community events and it is a really cool space. They endorse local artists and vendors. That is really cool of them. Another cool thing is that they participate in Pow Wow every year, so their building has beautiful graffiti art on its exterior. In short, it is a cool space that promotes local artists, food and events. I will continue to visit from time to time because it is convenient for me to walk to and my dog enjoys it.

    (4)

  • Hannah L.

    I usually love this place, but the last two times I have come here, they have been ouT of crucial things. Like pesto. Which is in several of their dishes. Or spinach. And ciabatta bread. And turkey. It makes me want to eat somewhere else entirely because nearly everything on the menu is affected by their mismanagement of the food order. PS: They're also out of tofu. PPS. The girl behind the counter seemed quite disgruntled. I felt like an inconvenience just for breathing. Sorry you're at work, chick. She also just brought one napkin and fork despite there being two of us. TF?

    (3)

  • Angelica J.

    Awhile back during a trip to Ohio, my cousin there took me to some public market that I completely fell in love with. Loaded with tons of little eateries, it was easily one of my favorite things we did on that trip. Fresh Cafe reminded me of that very place today and for about an hour or so, I wasn't in Hawaii. I think it was the ambiance I enjoyed the most. It had that (Lord, help me) hipster feel to it without the whole crowd-intimidation-thing going on. The BF, cousin, and I took a seat on the "Last Supper" table in the middle of the room, but after our food was served, we decided to take it outside so we could sit on the cute wooden benches and tables! My BF and I ended up getting the sandwich and soup combo, mine being the Chicken Salad on bagel w/ Tomato Bique and his the Turkey Pesto on wheat w/ corn chowder. BF said DO NOT get the turkey pesto on wheat, if he had known there were bread choices he would've gotten it on a croissant. That's what he gets for leaving me while I ordered!! I do regret not trying anything off the drinks menu; instead we just got water served in a tall green bottle. Fancy. All in all, food was all right, nothing too fancy, and the place was nice and cozy. Prices were more than decent... truly a one dollar sign place. Other reviews say service is slow here, but I hardly noticed. Probably because we were the only ones in line though. Only complaint I have is the parking lot. Thanks, Fresh Café, for at least making it angled parking, but OMG. I had to completely reverse to the main street in order to get out. Dangerous! It's okay though; I'm alive and will probably end up coming back in the near future. Shout out to Jerome, my former UH classmate. He works there =) Nice seeing you, bowtie and all.

    (4)

  • Nat N.

    Their turkey pesto melt sandwich is winnas! They use real turkey meat folks, not processed deli meat. They do not skimp on the pesto sauce either! The only thing downside is that it does not come with fries or chips. :( yelp.com/user_local_phot…

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    Can't believe I used to work a block away from here and never tried it! I really enjoyed my lunch here. I had the turkey pesto melt on croissant and small spinach salad combo. Because it was Wednesday I got a free drink, I went with a plantation iced tea. probably the only thing I wouldn't order again, just tasted like watered down pineapple juice. My turkey melt was really good. I'm a sucker for sandwiches on croissants. The spinach salad was also really really good. It's topped with fried garlic and bacon! Yum! My only complaint would be that it did get a little soggy towards the end because it was overdressed for my taste but next time I'll just ask for the dressing on the side. One more downfall is that they don't have the best parking situation so I would try to come at off times. I will definitely be back

    (4)

  • Yumiko K.

    Great spot. Ginger wasabi salad is fantastic:) veggie omelette sandwich was a bit bland. Great indoor & outdoor decor;)

    (3)

  • Jean P.

    It just gets better with time. I went in with my fiance to get a bite to eat on a work day and we shared a delicious smoothie and each had our own sandwich/salad combo. Delicious, fresh and more than I could eat by myself. I love the food here. When you hear the word fresh, the sight of brightly colored vegetables comes to mind, doesn't it? No one ever thinks of the word fresh and then visualizes a can of food. At Fresh Cafe in Kaka'ako, the food is always freshly made with fresh ingredients, never stale, never old, never cold from sitting around waiting to be served. It's located smack dab in the middle of the Kaka'ako district which is known for being hip and artsy. There isn't one thing on their menu that I have not enjoyed eating. True story. I went there on a bright, sunny day with my fiancé to get a quick bite to eat on my lunch break while he and I ran errands. I went in not knowing what to get and ended up ordering a combo plate which translates to a sandwich & "half" a salad. You can see by the pictures, this isn't some skimpy side salad. The salads at Fresh Cafe are big and delicious. I had a very delicious balsamic vinaigrette salad. It was an amalgamation of different veggies with nuts. The dressing was just the right amount, perfectly balanced. Each bite created an amalgam of awesome in your mouth that words alone cannot describe. Does this look like a half salad to you? Yeah, that's quite a generous portion!! I also had a pretty basic, pretty delicious club sandwich. It was full of meat with just the right amount of mustard and I absolutely love the addition of the alfalfa sprouts in the sandwich. So yummy. I was so full after eating this that I felt absolutely stuffed. It's the perfect portion if you're hungry. If you're not that hungry, you might want to opt for either the sandwich or the salad because the two combined is just a lot of food... (not that I'm complaining at all)! Andrew had the Turkey & cranberry sandwich which was delicious (yeah I had a bite) and this Warm Spinach, Bacon and Garlic salad that I was absolutely obsessed with. It sounds weird but it is absolutely delicious!! That will be my new "must" when I'm at Fresh Cafe. I literally can't say enough good things about the food at Fresh Cafe. The price was right too. I highly suggest you check out Fresh Cafe if you're on the island of O'ahu. whatjeanlikes.com/2013/1…

    (5)

  • Amy Y.

    A mysterious place hidden around Ward and Kakaako. It would seem hard to find it if you don't know the area. But when you see American Savings Bank, you walk straight down the same street side and eventually get here. This is a medium sized restaurant, good for studying and chatting. I heard a lot about the sandwiches, salads, and drinks here. I went to try the ginger chicken salad that most yelpers go for. I thought it wasn't that special. The sauce was a little salty. I also had a taste of this tomato soup. It was like pure tomato soup. Haha

    (3)

  • Mike W.

    I usually like their sandwiches, but seriously? $6 for one cup of oatmeal with some berries sprinkled sparingly on top? And it took 45 minutes to get to me and my latte wasn't very good either. I'm disappointed. Still, it has a nice atmosphere for getting some work done. But, Fresh, you can't make money off me coming there to use your wifi. You need me to want to buy your food and drink your coffee, and today was a fail. I left hungry with a bad taste in my mouth (literally) and $10 lighter in my pocket.

    (2)

  • Britni K.

    Made another trip down to Fresh Cafe tonight after rehearsal because I was craving an acai bowl something FIERCE! Fresh Cafe has been a favorite place of mine to chow down on tomato bisque and grilled cheese (have a couple of places I frequent for that particular meal haha), but honestly their whole menu is amazing. I've had different salads and pastas, teas and lattes- it's all super tasty and as the name suggests, fresh. They've recently remodeled, and with Pow Wow having their way with them, they're all artsied up to the max. I'm totally digging it. Very nice place to relax, study (with free wifi), or catch up with friends. They also do Art and Flea every fourth Thursday I believe, and it's super fun to go in see what the vendors ares selling and what activities they have going on. Not to mention their creative themes (Super Cats vs Super Heroes? LAAAHHHV IT!) to make it even more entertaining. I do have to say that the prices are a bit high- my acai bowl was $10. But it's HUGE. And delicious. I won't spend $50 on a brand name T-shirt, but good quality food I will dish out for, and their's is worth it in quality and quantity. Not to mention the cashier, person who ran out our food, and the chef were all super, super friendly and amazing with their service. But I've never had bad service here- always happy, with suggestions, and quick to bring out the food. Very much appreciated, thank you Fresh Cafe! I'll be back to have a bowl of your corn chowder soon! :)

    (5)

  • Raych D.

    Cool spot with a cool vibe! As long as I lived on Oahu and as many times as I passed fresh cafe, I have never gone in to check it out or even eat anything from there and boy was I missing out...BIG TIME! Came here this past Saturday for the Pow wow wow event and luckily found parking right in front of the cafe. The front part is the cafe and the behind the cafe is a cool spot where a lot of art events and sometimes music events takes place. During the pow wow event, I got the iced soy chai latte and the bf got the peach iced tea since Saturdays everything is 50% off after 6pm. I loved my iced chai so much that we decided to come back here again Sunday afternoon for a post workout lunch. Parking here is tough since it's limited parking so we had to park across the street. I got the tofu salad with a iced soy chai latte and the bf got the turkey pesto melt with onion bagel (you can chose your own bagel) we also got a discount for using out ID card (even tho it's only valid on I believe Monday, Wednesday and Fridays) everything came out to only $13 for our sandwich and half salad combo and drink. Love the ambiance in here, love the friendly workers, love how clean the place is, love the portion of the food and drinks, love the price of everything, love the freshness and taste of their food and drinks! And love their daily specials! This is my new go-to spot for salads, sandwiches, acai bowls, iced teas and chai lattes! Especially since it's only down the road from my apartment and on the other block of my bf's apartment.

    (5)

  • Sophia D.

    Love the service and food here! All local grown food is used. Great bakery selection of muffins, brownies and love their mini red velvet cupcakes! My only negative thing I would have to say is parking can be tough. Not many spaces. This place is very popular so be forewarned! You will love the food here!!

    (4)

  • Kristina B.

    The food at Fresh Café is pretty darn good. I stopped by for a painting event and had time to eat an early dinner before hand. I had the turkey pesto on a croissant and decided to make it a combo with the ginger wasabi salad with chicken. I can honestly say it looked as amazing as it tasted. It's definitely worth a trip back. I ordered the peach ice tea too. I like that everything is locally grown. The staff are exceptionally sweet and friendly; I love that when I'm out at a restaurant. Pleasant atmosphere in the Kaka'ako neighborhood. I hope you get lucky like I did and park in one of their few spots in their narrow lot. Easy to pull in but use care backing out onto Queen Street. Will definitely be coming back again, bravo friendly faces at Fresh cafe!!

    (5)

  • David M.

    Simple: always great food, good service and a relaxed environment. Very reliable. Kind of refreshing. No pun intended.

    (4)

  • Charisse T.

    The portions were horrible. I ordered the warm spinach salad and I actually had to check the bag to see if they had actually put anything inside. I got the full order but I might as well have gotten the half because it was only half full. That and the salad was just drenched in the middle. Considering I paid $10 for the salad I expected a lot more.

    (2)

  • Gina M.

    Jason our bartender was awesome! Even though it was super busy, he took the time to make our group feel like we were the only group in the place. I appreciated when he would check in with us when our drinks were low and even offered the water. Good looking out and definitely going to come back!! Best bartender ever!

    (4)

  • Darby C.

    Just no. The first couple of times I went there, it was great.. no complaints! A little slow but hey- what do you expect from a place with a sign that says "slow food served here"? The food is really delicious so it was worth the wait. Today I was eating my sandwich when I looked down and there was A ROACH ON MY PLATE OF FOOD. Ugh so nasty. I took the plate up to the counter and said "I squished a roach on my plate, please take this, that's gross." and the guy just looked at me like I was weird & took it away. No apology, no money back, no manager, no "oh that's nasty".... nothing. Yuck yuck yuck. Will never come back here and I will be sure to let others know. That's really disgusting and unsanitary. If you can't even offer an apology after there's a roach found on my food, that's pretty pathetic. :( I really thought I had found a good place to eat lunch during the workweek, too.

    (1)

  • Ryan H.

    45 min to get two sandwiches and they still got the order wrong. Are you listening management? Why is there only one cook in the kitchen on a weekend during peak hours? I'm seeing a trend in your reviews. I keep giving you guys another chance but I fear this was the last straw.

    (1)

  • Kyle H.

    Fresh Cafe would never have been my first choice for brunch (or really any meal ever) but my recent experiences have skewed my perception of this place as a food destination. Seriously, this is the way Groupon should work for every business, they get you in the door and convince you to come back and pay full-retail price for the same awesomeness you got to try at half-price. I was gifted groupons for two breakfast or lunch meals and after trying both, I'm sold. One morning after a workout at a nearby gym, we tried their acai bowl and an omelet bagel sandwich. Both were hearty and filling. I love the touches of mint leaf and fruit garnish for every plate. Our next meal was brunch, wanting a variety, I had the turkey cranberry on wheat ciabatta and a half order of the tofu ginger sesame salad. Both items sound pretty basic but I was really impressed by the quality and flavor! yelp.com/biz_photos/A4zb… I'm not big on cheese so ordered the sammie sans-swiss and let me tell you, that sandwich didn't lack a thing! Fresh roasted turkey breast and flavorful cranberry sauce with veggies on a nicely toasted ciabatta was SO delicious! It was gigantic so I savored the other half for a late snack and finished off my salad. The salad dressing was so good and It was the perfect complement to my sandwich! I love the chill atmosphere here, paired with great service and food, It's definitely a spot for the regular rotation.

    (4)

  • Kimo S.

    Came by on a Friday for lunch with Lauren V. and found out to our surprise that the deal of the day was a free drink with the purchase of a combo. Score! My go to deal/meal is the Sandwich + Salad combination, I don't think I would leave here feeling full by having just a Sandwich. Considering that they can squeeze an entire "sandwich" onto a bagel tells you how big the sandwiches are. If you're like me and need a satisfying meal that won't leave you feeling hungry a few hours later, order the combo. I should have gone with the Pesto Pasta Salad this time but I tried their Ginger Wasabi Salad this time. For some reason this salad just didn't sit quite right with me. Lettuce seemed a little bitter for some reason and it just didn't wow me. My sandwich on the other hand? Loved it! Turkey Pesto Melt is the Bomb Dotcom! I will get this every time and now I know, don't deviate from my Pesto fetish and get my Pesto Pasta Salad next time. I'm fine with having a go to dish, considering I don't eat here often I'll stick with what I know. Very pleased with the free drink too, so I'll be back on either Wednesday or Friday's to take advantage. Only downside, the Plantation Iced Tea is $3.95 for a regular size cup and if it wasn't free I would feel a bit stiffed. That seems awfully expensive, plus it was overly pineapple for me. If I was SpongeBob Squarepants I might have enjoyed it a bit more.

    (4)

  • Devon C.

    Haven't been here in a while, but decided to write a review since it's changed so much since I last came. Anyway, I used to come here for Art & Flea before the venue change; and occasionally for a salad/drink and to study on weekdays. Everything was always pretty nice and "fresh." Nice atmosphere. And I've always liked that there was a lot of natural light. I'm in here right now, and though it's more spacious on the inside, it just doesn't feel quite as cozy as before. Additionally, the speaker is quite loud for a small crowd, and the speaker quality isn't very good (not very good acoustics, kinda muffled sound). I hate to bag on the music even more, but they're playing a lot of late 90s/early 2000s alternative (right now they're playing boulevard of broken dreams), which I guess might be popular with the target hipster demographic? Not sure about that. I prefer some nice jazz or acoustic for my cafe study experience, but to each his own. Next up, the service was okay. Not great, not bad. The guy brought us our drinks, which was nice. My coffee-based drink was pretty good and strong. Prices were very reasonable too taking into consideration that this is a smaller cafe (not starbucks/the like). Overall, not bad, but the overpowering, muffled speakers and music genre might stop me from coming in for anything other than take out.

    (3)

  • Rebecca F.

    This place is simply amazing. The Food is delicious, they serve fair portions with good quality and it is not pricey at all. This place is by far my favorite breakfast place on the island. The waiters are very friendly and they have nice daily specials. I recommend the Fresh Yogurt Parfait, Turkey Cranberry Sandwich and the Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad ONO!!!

    (5)

  • Tab S.

    This place is awesome for events parties music occasionally. Otherwise if you're here during the day expect lackluster experience and quality of food and drink. I mean the name says fresh cafe. But I think the ingredients might be all from Costco aside from some fresh fruits and what not. BUT that just goes for the queen street location. The new location is in downtown Chinatown. Pretty fun night scene. But seriously queen street step up your game. Coffee shouldn't take 30 plus minutes to make.

    (3)

  • Brianna M.

    I hate to give Fresh Cafe only 2 stars because the food is quite decent, BUT the service is horrible. We were greeted by a rude cashier who seemed annoyed as soon as we walked in the door. She rolled her eyes as she answered the two very simple questions we politely asked her: (1) What are the bread choices for the sandwiches? (2) Can we get glasses for water? It was our first visit to Fresh Cafe, so excuse us for not knowing the variety of breads or that the glass bear jars (which were shelved by the entrance) were cups for water. While we waited for our food, the same cashier was serving food to other tables and continued to get orders wrong. She was completely unprofessional as she brought the food back to the kitchen and loudly complained to a co-worker about how he made her look stupid... Both began to blame each other for the mistakes. Thankfully, our food didn't take too long to come out and we got what we ordered. I ended up ordering the Turkey Pesto Melt on wheat ciabatta and a bowl of their Tomato Bisque. The Turkey Pesto Melt was awesome. I love how they use real turkey breast instead of deli slices. That made the sandwich much more savory and enjoyable. The Tomato Bisque was good too, but it wasn't warm by the time it got to our table. The restaurant itself is cute, modern, and artsy. It reminds me of places I've been to in LA's Artist District. We didn't have a problem with parking, but I could see how it could be a hassle when it's busy. If you're looking for good food and great customer service, don't come here. I prefer a soup and sandwich minus the 'tude, please.

    (2)

  • Baseem M.

    Food was okay. I didn't get any cutlery, so I had to look for my own. I love the deco. Outdoor seating is plus. The barista was welcoming and funny. Coffee was great. The food didn't have a this is fresh! Taste or feeling, but maybe I got unlucky. Anyways great place for big groups, long tables.

    (3)

  • Christina T.

    This place is easily my favorite place to eat on the island. I used to work a few blocks from here and so I frequented it often. Yes, the parking is terrible and generally it can be super crowded. But, the food and atmosphere make it all up. This place makes the most amazing wasabi ginger dressing. I always got the sandwich/salad combo. Obviously you know the salad but their cranberry turkey sandwich was SO great. Plantation tea, so good. The staff were always really great and even when the café was at its busiest, at lunch, they seemed relaxed and happy. Water is free and there is always seating outside. Each day has some kind of special. The only one I can remember right now is Wahine Wednesday, because it was the only on I cared about, made it so that women got a drink for free with their meal.

    (5)

  • Lawton M.

    Ok first off I have to say that I really really wanted to like this place. The food pics on Yelp looked very tasty and fresh. They serve you water in the cutest bear shaped jars. The atmosphere is bright and artsy. And don't get me wrong, the food was actually good... from the three bites that I managed to have. But here is my experience on this day: Parking was horrible but that was no surprise. It's just something you accept and deal with if you want to eat here, so I won't ding them for that. The cashier person was perhaps too lackadaisical for me. How long could it possibly take you to empty one roll of pennies into your till? And when he was finally ready to take my order, he promptly forgot it literally 10 seconds later. But here is the worst offense... when my friend got her food, she moved her plate and we were mortified to see two tiny roaches crawling out from under her plate. And I'm thinking thank goodness it wasn't in her food... but lo and behold, a THIRD baby roach crawling ON her plate. YIKES. So, needless to say, lunch over. The manager did comp her meal and gave her a voucher for a return visit but honestly I don't think we'll be taking them up on that offer. Normally I like giving places a second chance but there are some things that are burned in your memory forever and three little roaches on your meal are one of them.

    (1)

  • Kris A.

    Stopped by here with a friend who was visiting from out of town--we were looking for a light lunch (a nice break from all of the normal plate lunch monstrosities found around here) and Fresh Cafe was the perfect place! The turkey pesto was delicious :) My friend texted me the next morning to say that he was back again with his cousin, getting a salad. Its a cute place--if I wasn't just home for the break, I'd probably be here more often. It seems like it would be a great place to study!

    (4)

  • Kimmy A.

    There food was pretty good,I got the avocado omelette sandwich, although I said no onions, there still were some but I was at least able to pick them out. I had the haupia latte and orange ginseng tea and those were both very delicious

    (4)

  • Ha N.

    If Starbucks baristas are "art majors," then the guys here are also highly deficient in math. I came in today and realized he forgot to give me 50% off my salad. The bill was $24.97 for the following: - FULL SALAD -- $4.50ISH - TURKEY PESTO SANDWICH -- $7.95 - WAIOLA COCONUT WATER -- NO LABEL - ICE CARBONATED WATER -- NO LABEL Oh, and there was no receipt. If an establishment is trying to go green and not give out receipts unless they're upon request, then they should really enforce a math test upon hiring. The math involved was so basic and he honestly held up the line for over five minutes trying to figure everything out -- all the while using the touch screen register. Seriously, what are you typing in? He could've (A) ring up everything again for the total, (B) use a calculator, (C) tell ME how much the drinks are so I could do it. Instead, he asked/said the following, multiple times: What did you order? Where is your receipt? What were the drinks? What was your number? How much were you charged? Oh, that drink is pretty expensive. Yes, I did give you half off. Did you eat your food already? ALL THE WHILE TYPING GOD KNOWS WHAT. I feel like only two of the questions were really even relevant at all. I was in the uncomfortable place of simultaneously being unsure as if risking embarrassment for being wrong and annoyed at his incompetence. But I said, "I'm sorry about this, but last time the guy forgot as well...." -- y'know, to make him feel a little less stupid and a little more willing to come to terms with his mistake. after a while... Me: "Ok, so how much were the drinks? Him: "Oh, you want to know how much the drinks are?" THE FCK?? CLEARLY I PAID $13 FOR THE FOOD, ARE YOU SAYING IT'S $10-11 FOR THE TWO DRINKS? Him: "Well the drink is pretty expensive." Me: "Okay, so how much is it??" I honestly wouldn't be able to say who thought the other was dumber. Him: "Oh, okay then, the drinks are $6.00." Me: "Yeah, so combined with the $13 for food, that's $19-20 which sounds about right. You didn't give me half off." Him: "Ok so do you want to bring your card here?" (he was soo snotty, gosh) Me: "I PAID IN CASH." Muthaaafugga. Sorry, bro, you DIDN'T give me half off. But I hope at the very least you felt dumb enough to make sure you didn't make that same mistake to the end of your shift (2PM). I made sure he remembered by tipping the difference. ---- P.S. OH, and the bean sprouts that came with my salad, you can't even buy bean sprouts that old from the store. P.P.S. We went to Costco after to order, well whaddyaknow, the salad and turkey pesto sandwich. WIth one gelato each for $12. P.P.P.S. If he worked at Costco, he would've gotten fired within the hour. Reading other reviews, one can conclude that these guys at Fresh need to be micromanaged.

    (1)

  • Vince H.

    Nice place to go to study. They have many tables inside and outside. The tables outside are all bench picnic style, also at night they have some out door lights so your not left in the dark. The style of the cafe is definitely hipster. You won't find any old Hawaii here. Food is pretty solid, good bold flavors. After a few days in Hawaii we needed some thing fresh after eating lots of fried foods. So a salad and sandwich was needed for us. We got the chicken tofu salad, 50% off on Monday on all salads, pretty solid but a bit salty for our mainland taste buds. And also the pesto panini, also made and presented well. When it looks good it will taste even better.

    (4)

  • Natalie J.

    A pretty big FAIL. 1 star for making me wait MORE than an hour for absolutely NOTHING. I know they consider themselves "slow food" but I did not think it would be as slow as my recent experience. I only ordered 2 pesto pasta salads, half size and sat on one of the tables inside with my friend. We were waiting pretty patiently and about 20 minutes later our other friend joined us. Still no food. I said to my friend, "It's taking kinda long, huh?" My friend ordered her food and we went about on our business and realized I was getting hungry...because we still had no food. Looked behind me and saw a sign that said "slow food served daily." So I thought, "Ok, they're known for being slow...now I know." My friend brought up that her cousin once waited for an hour for her salad! What were they doing? Waiting for the lettuce to grow? How hard is it to make a salad? Then, my friend, who arrived and ordered AFTER me, got her salad! I looked around and people who came after us got their food too. What the... HORRIBLE customer service. No other employee came up to us wondering where our food was despite us sitting there for an hour with our order number.. Checked up on my order number at the front and the dude said "Oh, it will be out shortly." So, I politely said okay. I went outside to make a phone call thinking that when I come back in, the food will be there...and it wasn't. I mean, what kind of idiot would wait more than an hour for a salad? Well, I've never been here before for the food, only the events, and I wanted to try it out and review the food. Plus, I had good company so I was okay with waiting...but not for more than an hour! For a SALAD! I'm a pretty patient person who does not like complaining. I'll take what I can get. I'm appreciative of small businesses and I want to support them, but this was a pretty disappointing situation. So at that point we realized we waited more than an hour so I went back to the counter and said I wanted a refund because we had to leave and were waiting forever for the food. This other dude politely apologized and agreed to refund me. Then I asked, "Does that salad take THAT long to make?" And he said "No actually, the guy who took your order is new, and he didn't submit it." WTF. Even after checking if my order was coming, it would have never come, because it wasn't even submitted. So, I complained and explained how my friend got her food before us and that so many others did too. He apologized again, gave me my refund, and offered a free drink so that I wouldn't leave with a bad taste in my mouth. I took his offer and asked for another one for my friend who was also waiting. Didn't care what drink at that point because I wanted to leave. The drinks were made quick, I thanked him and we left. I don't know what kind of drink it was but it was like a really sweet iced coffee...that I shouldn't have been drinking because I shouldn't have dairy. Fail. But whatever, it was free. I give you the 1 star for the polite apology and free drink offer. So, we left feeling hungry and irritated. Went to Paina Cafe and saw some other friends and told them our experience. They were like "Good thing, because we were gonna go there!" Never coming back. Parking sucks by the way.

    (1)

  • Chelsea L.

    I like to come here several times a semester because it is close to places I frequent (school and work). It is a great place to study because they have a good amount of tables and free wifi. They even have glass bear jars that you can use for water! I give this place sadly 3 stars. Honestly, the times I have gotten food here, it wasn't that memorable. The cashier was extremely nice and approachable, but he did mix up my order by switching the proportion sizes. I never get a combo but that day I gave it a try. I was fine with the mix up because I didn't have to get a huge bowl of tomato bisque. I am a lover of the Nordstrom tomato soup and this one was just painful to drink. It was luke warm and seemed like it came from a can (maybe?). And they just add this whole basil leaf on the top...I think it would be better it it was cut into smaller pieces for flavor. Then my enormous pesto pasta salad was quite bland. I already asked for extra parmaesan cheese, but sadly this salad was not yummy at all. I even attempted to add some of my soup into a portion of my pasta to hopefully add a kick. Meh. After this dissatisfied meal, I decided to spend more money and get a latte, which was really good! I asked if they made those coffee art designs, but the cashier said only one person did that and he worked at night. Bummer :( Overall, I will still come here to study because of its great location but I want to try more of their foods. I haven't given up on them yet!

    (3)

  • Matt K.

    Normally a great place to grab lunch. But it seems to have gone down hill since the China Town location opened. And today was the day. I ordered a pesto turkey melt. She charged us, then told me they were out of bread. OK. No biggie. I'll take it on the ciabatta. "We're out of that too." There were three of them in the case next to the register. "Those are for display only." WTF? Display? Poor service. It was 11:20. How are you out of bread, croissants and ciabatta? I ended up having the sandwich on a bagel. Meh.

    (3)

  • Victoria C.

    I'm a coffee shop/cafe type of girl and Fresh Cafe is one of my fav cafe spots to have brunch with a friend or just some quiet time drinking coffee and reading a book. The atmosphere is very relaxing and comforting. The food is pretty good although it's kind of on the pricier side. I usually get the ultimate omelette on honey oat bagel and my fav haupia latte!! Salads are also pretty good and huge! The half size is actually a pretty good portion. Parking is limited but they also have a garage area you can park in or you have to find st parking!

    (4)

  • Jamie L.

    The place looks really cool and it's healthy and it's a good hangout, but the service is really slow. The girl was cleaning the counters and tables instead of servicing the people at the counter. Not cool.

    (2)

  • Rakhi D.

    What's wrong with these people. Newsflash to staff: a crappy attitude and making people wait while you shoot the sh**t with your friend who stopped don't make you cool. And, your coffee blows.

    (1)

  • Sean C.

    parking: very confusing but they have a small private lot that holds a strip of cars as well as various street parking areas that people seem to randomly park at reservations: no cost: $10 per person the food: - don't know So let's start with the positives. This place has pretty interesting decor with funky paintings, furniture and reminds me of cafes in San Francisco or Monterey. BUT, this is the lowest review that I have ever given to a place because of the customer service. We went on a Sunday at 12:45PM and stood in line for 10 minutes trying to figure out what we wanted to eat. We let several people go ahead of us during this time. When we got up there to order, the server told us that they were closed and no longer serving. Just wow. I have never been to a place that has completely lost all sense of basic customer service. You'd think that they would at least serve the people already there or at the very least notify individuals standing in line that they were done. I will admit that I cannot comment on their food but if a place has such a misunderstanding of how to treat their customers then I don't even care to know. Overall, horrible customer service.

    (1)

  • Nikki V.

    From inception, Fresh Cafe has been an evolutionary wunderkind. The drink and food menus have greatly improved and there are specials every day. The place has become a hangout for the creative industry, students, and those of us needing respite from downtown's corporate vibe. Most recently the Waiola cappuccino blew my mind.

    (5)

  • Pualena P.

    I should have seen the signs. I kept seeing and hearing about Fresh Cafe everywhere I went. I heard about their food, I read about concerts and poetry slams there, I saw photos of their awesome murals, the whimsical spirit Fresh Cafe was following me! Then, as if I was a victim of divine intervention, I saw a special on Fresh Cafe as I watched the evening news. (and I NEVER watch the news!) I then understood that it was time. It had to be done, I had to go try fresh cafe immediately! ...and the rest was history. HOW DID I MISS THIS PLACE?! The open feel of the restaurant, the trendy (but not overly trendy) atmosphere, the healthy menu...it was all so wonderful! It took me a while to decide on my meal. I ended up getting the turkey pesto sandwich and a half warm spinach, mushroom, and garlic salad. The sandwich was made with REAL turkey! (Yes, because I consider luncheon meat to be fake meat. It's processed. *wrinkles nose*) The bread was lightly toasted to perfection and it was served with oranges. The salad was actually WARM...which was odd at first, but it quickly grew on me. It was a huge plate of spinach with lots of huge pieces of bacon, mushrooms, and huge slices of garlic with an oil-based dressing. Who knew a plate of spinach could be SO tasty!? Aside from the great food and atmostphere, what really made me love this place was the small vase of gardenias at each table. These are my absolute FAVORITE flower and I sat and ate my food with the vase right under my nose. They even let me take a flower home. :) I can't wait to go back!!!

    (5)

  • Kaili A.

    Normally I really love this place. The music and atmosphere is very laid back and chill. I used to love going when Khahlil worked, he was one cashier that always had a very unique way of making the customer feel important. But when I decided to have dinner there this past Saturday at about 6ishh they had NOTHING! I was going to order my usual "pesto pasta w/ chicken" and they were out of noodles. I did give them the benefit of the doubt and considered since it is toward the later end of the day. So I decided to try and order something else, the cereal or perhaps a fruit bowl. But they were out of bananas and strawberries. Then I tried to just order a coffee and the espresso machine was down! After about 10 minutes of standing in the front of the line I purchased a turkey pesto (with the suggestion from the other employee behind the register). When the cashier was processing my transaction I had noticed a slip of paper containing about 12 items on the menu that they were out of. Considering they have a rather small menu it was a bit upsetting. Then about 10-15min later she delivered my sandwich ...With a hair in it. It makes me sad to say that I was a normal customer here. But now I think I'm better off spending $10 on a sandwich else where..

    (2)

  • Jocelyn C.

    Finally had the chance to come out here. It was Saturday between 6-7:30pm so they had every thing 50% off. The girl at the cashier didn't give me the discount but good thing I noticed later so I asked for a 50% refund. I got the veggie sandwich with corn chowder. It was pretty good for the price. I think the concept of the place is nice but some staff there could have been more attentive to details.

    (4)

  • Sheetal R.

    I just attended the art & flea event held here and before the event my friend and I decided to grab some lunch here. Neighborhood: a little sketchy Parking: the parking lot closes off during an event and street parking is hard to find, I suggest parking near Ross and walking over. Food: the food is decent and their half size salads actually seem full size. I ordered the fresh pesto pasta salad and it was nothing out of the ordinary. I've had better pesto. I also ordered their mini red velvet cupcakes (only 75 cents/each), which was just like any other cupcake. Ambiance: a little hipsterish Service: the staff is amazing and really friendly. Everyone enjoys their food a little bit better when the service is impeccable. Discounts: if you have an ID card they give you 20% off. My salad and 2 cupcakes were only $5!

    (3)

  • David U.

    I really like the food here but they definitely need more help in the back. I know it was a moderately crowded time and I did see the sign saying "we serve slow food" but I still don't feel like I should have to wait over 20 mins in line just to order my food and another 35 to get my food, which was a half salad and egg salad sandwich.

    (3)

  • Deanne D.

    I went to Fresh Cafe this afternoon for lunch and received terrible service. I have been to Fresh Cafe before for food and other events, but I have NEVER experienced such awful service. At 12:06, I called to place a phone order for a bowl of corn chowder and a half caesar salad combo. I ran my errand and arrived at Fresh Cafe at about 12:25 to pick up my food and enjoy it at my downtown office before the ending of my lunch period at 1pm. There was no line so I walked up to the nice girl running the register and asked if my soup and salad order was ready. She first informed me that it would be 30 more minutes, then backtracked when I questioned why so long for soup and salad and said 15 more minutes. I agreed, paid, and sat down. 20 minutes go by. At 12:55, I go up to the counter because I notice a plastic bag shaped like salad and soup sitting on the counter below the kitchen window and ask for it. These are things no customer should have to go through in order to get food. From the time my order was placed, which according to the cashier is the order in which they are made, to the time I left Fresh Cafe with my food, it took your kitchen workers nearly 50 minutes to work down the list to fill my order. For soup, which should already be made and a simple salad. Normally, I am an understanding customer, but this is just ridiculous. Nothing on the menu suggests long cooking or prep time. There is absolutely no reason for waits to be 50 minutes long between ordering and serving. As I said, this isn't my first time to Fresh Cafe, I've experience waits during lunch hour rushes, thus why I called my order in. But 50 minutes stretches even my patience, and that "Slow Food Served Daily" sign gets more and more irritating the longer you wait for the food you ordered 20 minutes ago. I also was not the only customer feeling this way this afternoon. I was sitting at table with a man who received his salad first, and then had to repeatedly go to the counter to check on the sandwich he ordered, which also took about 20 minutes from when he received his salad. His anger and annoyance was palpable. On top of all of this, I am extremely unsatisfied with the food I received. The salad barely covers the bottom of the container and there's 3 small pieces of chicken. Normally, the chowder is amazing, but the chowder I received is very very thick, close to being gelatinous. There's also a weird sour taste to it. All in all, my $10 for a meal would have been better spent at McDonald's and that's saying something. If I could give zero stars I would.

    (1)

  • Lise V.

    Came here for breakfast one morning and they were out of almost everything to complete dish on their menu, no bacon, no berries it was very armature. I'm sorry but we left very very disappointed. We will not be back

    (1)

  • Brenda L.

    I go here every now and them but I don't think it's anything special... But at least it's not Starbucks or coffee bean franchise!

    (3)

  • Donna M.

    The last time I came here was over a year ago. I was so turned off by the entire experience, I was convinced I would never come back here again. I didn't even want to write a review because the experience was so terrible, I couldn't figure out how to word it without it sounding like a complete rant. Fast forward over a year later, and the boyfriend traps me into coming back here. "I'm hungryyyyyyyyyy", he says. Oh jeez. I was definitely iffy about coming here, but I'm pretty glad I decided to give this place another try. I must say, I really LOVE the interior. I don't know when they did the renovations, since I hadn't come here in a long time, but it's actually very very nice inside. The space is very bright, and pretty clean. Definite turnaround from the stuffy place I visited before. Plus points for the fresh flowers! We ordered a bowl of corn chowder and a chicken salad sandwich to share. The sandwich was good, very pretty presentation, but also very small! It was very good as a snack, but I would probably have to eat 3 of them if I were hungry. On the other hand, the corn chowder is FANTASMIC! I'm a definitely sucker for corn chowder, and this is one of the best I've had in a while. So good. I think the only thing really missing was the bread bowl. I ordered this the first time I was here, and was utterly disappointing... but this time around, Fresh Cafe, I am a true believer in your chowder making abilities. The only real downside of this place... and the true reason I'm on the fence, is because of the service. Although they were helpful to my boyfriend and I, overall, I think the service here is very inconsistent. The girls at the counter are great... if they aren't on the phone or texting. Plus points for having specials that change every day! There are certain days that are good for ordering salad, or sandwiches and so on. Time your cravings for savings, people! Just a thought :)

    (3)

  • Frances B.

    I was really excited to try this place out. It seemed like a great eatery and a cool hang out. I'm not sure how it's like during any other time of day, but I was really disappointed when I went there for lunch. When I got there, the two guys at the counter were busy talking story with their friends (who weren't ready to order), and did not acknowledge that there was another customer there. While I was ordering my food, the guy who took my order was staring out into space and I had to repeat myself to make sure he took it down. I ordered the veggie omelet sandwich and an iced Thai. I got my veggie omelet sandwich, and it was pretty good. Nothing out of the ordinary. I thought they were still making my iced thai, so I sat patiently waiting for it. It took much longer than expected, so I went up to the counter. Apparently, it was already made and just sitting there. I dined in. My food was served at the table, so I expected the drinks to be as well. There was no announcement made about my drink being ready. Maybe it was an off day for the staff, but customer service was VERY poor.

    (1)

  • Jake M.

    The food and drinks here are mostly so-so and slightly overpriced IMO. Service can be pretty bad and rude to boot. The ambience is fairly cool though, and there's plenty of space, so I'll occasionally stop by to do work on the computer if I have time to kill, even though the metal and hardwood chairs aren't very comfortable. The one thing this place has going for it is its connection to the art community. Fresh Cafe hosts the First Thursday poetry slams, a monthly bazaar called Art and Flea, and a variety of other events. The ever changing graffiti mural outside is pretty fun to look at too.

    (3)

  • Jessica P.

    Used to really like this place, but ever since they've added their sign that states "slow food served here," the customer service all around has gone down. Freshly made food does take time, and I don't mind waiting, but please don't give me attitude upfront, while I'm trying to order, on how it takes 30 minutes to cook the pasta because it's a big pot. Needless to say, I declined to wait and left. It's unfortunate because there's one guy who works here who is so nice and friendly, I would look forward to coming here. I was even willing to overlook the bitter tea and badly made coffee drinks because his customer service was so good. Hopefully the rest of the staff will take note of how to provide good customer service before you lose any more loyal customers.

    (1)

  • Caron L.

    I rank service a ZERO and food a FOUR. I loved their food up until today. The food is not SO good that I'd come here again after my experience. I've been to this restaurant about 10 times in the last three months and frequent it because of it's location and kitschy atmosphere. However, today, thought I could get a quick lunch with my boyfriend, but I was oh so wrong. I had to keep apologizing for my "bad call." I had been so excited for him to try one of my favorite restaurants. The line was unusually long at 1pm, which is fine. They always take a long time to take orders, not a big deal. We ordered and it was the Wahine Special, which does not indicate that a woman has to be there to order other than the word wahine. They didn't give us the special of one free drink if you order a combo. Whatever. That wasn't even the worst part. We waited 45 minutes just to get our food, and we only got one half of our combo. I could see that there were two bowls of soup up in the kitchen and I mentioned to our curly haired waiter/cashier that we did order the combo and are the soups on the way? He nodded like he heard me. Then he grabbed two salads and one of the soups and proceeded in a different direction than my table. I asked him on the way if we would be getting our soups, he said yes and had a puzzled look on his face. He brings the two salads and the soups to the kitchen and seems to be discombobulated with everything and trying to figure things out. Finally, the soups are being brought to us, all after ten minutes of these shenanigans. I ask him, "Really? That soup has been sitting there for ten minutes and you're bringing it to us now?" He looks puzzled yet again, and said they were still warm. Seriously. No joke. That was the response. With that response, I am never going back to Fresh Cafe again, nor the Downtown spot. I've just about had it with their disregard for health, decency and customer service. I don't mind okay or lukewarm service. But severe disregard for the customer or their perception? I might as well have been served rat. Thank you Fresh Cafe, I will take my business elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Afton D.

    Horrible customer service as usual this morning. Went to get a coffee and stood for ten mins with no acknowledgment from the counter girl while she stood with her back to me looking for things. A simple hi, good morning I'll be with you in one moment would seriously increase your chances of keeping your business afloat and making money. Good luck fresh cafe!

    (1)

  • Monte K.

    Their food is nicely presented & taste just as good as it looks. The prices are somewhat reasonable. Overall, pretty good place to eat & the environment is inviting.

    (4)

  • Krysten I.

    I'm glad I stumbled upon fresh cafe. Their sandwich/salad combos are huge!! I took home leftovers! I'm tempted now to just camp out there and study all day at one of their long tables.....hmmmmm. So tempting! I tried the BLAT lol or whatever acronym it is. Bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado. For $3 you get half a salad too, but don't t expect a mini salad, it was actually pretty big. I got the balsamic vinaigrette salad. Raspberries? In salad? GENIUS. I loved it. I'm not a fan of flavored water. Yes, the oranges look really pretty in the water dispenser, but it's distracting to have things floating around in my water.... While I was there, a guy with beautiful mangoes came in. He put them on a shelf near the door, I guess on display for people to buy. But I didn't know for sure if they were for sale or how much they were. There was also a sign saying that you can print your yelp review and bring it in for 10% off!! SCORE!

    (4)

  • Winnie W.

    I love fresh cafe, it's such a nice go to spot when you're wanting like a sandwich with soup and the ambience is very artsy. I've been coming here for a while and everytime the food is very good except today... When I come here with my boyfriend we always get the combos which is a sandwich and a cup of soup but we tried to be adventurous and tried something new. One of the combos we got was a sandwich with a salad and then the usual sandwich with a soup. I ordered the turkey pesto sandwich but by like 12pm they had already ran out of turkey and she only suggested chicken but I'm not much of a chicken eater so then she said "how about mushrooms?" But the sandwich already came with mushrooms so I wanted something different..I asked if I could get avacado but she said I could pay and add it on (which is weird because I'm trying to just substitute for an item which I'm not getting) and then I said "well what could I substitute with turkey?" And she told me a tomato....like one piece of tomato I don't think so...then finally she asked her chef and I just got ham with it instead. The sign that says "slow food" literally means sloooow food takes them so long to make food and lack of customer service because we waited at least 20 minutes for our food. Finally when it was sitting on the counter all ready there was No server to be seen to deliver it because the girl had to he stuck behind the register to take peoples orders and a few minutes later a different girl comes back in from outside with her cell phone (not a good idea esp when the foods waiting to be delivered) we finally got our food and the ham in my sandwich is overloaded with too much ham, I think I had about 5 thick slices in it and the soup that we got (corn chowder) was extremely watery with barely any corn bits in it. The salad however was even worse, lack of taste completely. I asked another guy behind the counter for some black pepper and he came back with a bottle of salt so I had to ask him again. I'm not much of a sodium fan but the salad did need a touch of salt, it was just too bland no hint of a pesto taste. Hopefully the next visit will be better than this one. Another star knocked would definitely be for their parking. Extremely small with probably about 7 stalls and only a one way you need to reverse backwards to get out.

    (2)

  • John C.

    I stopped by for the first time today. I was lucky to find parking. It is angled parking in a one way lot and you'll most likely have to back out the same way you came. It definitely had the hipster vibe like everyone else has mentioned. I ordered a cup of corn chowder, a turkey cranberry sandwich, and a half size of the warm spinach bacon and garlic salad. It was enough to feed my girlfriend and I. The chowder and sandwich were excellent but the salad was too salty so I won't be getting that anymore. The clerk was very friendly and helpful in helping us decide what to order and he delivered it to us within 10 to 15 minutes which I was ok with. Instead of using a regular glass cup for water, used bear shaped honey jars are used, which is kind of neat. The free unlimited wi-fi was a plus too considering how many places now give you a voucher to use that is good for only one hour. A lot of people were there with their laptops and tablets but it is a little loud for me to do anything that requires a lot of focus. I don't like the metal chairs that they have so I chose to sit in one of the plastic chairs by the window. Overall, I enjoyed the food very much and it wasn't too expensive for me. I'd come back to eat but not to study.

    (4)

  • Ashley M.

    Miso salmon, spritzers, garlic spinach salad.....really, what is not good here? Great food, ambiance and vibes. Definitely try it out!

    (5)

  • Russ T.

    Arrived at 1:10. Well after the lunch rush. Ordered the tuna melt. Had to wait 30 min to get it. How hard can it be to make a sandwich?

    (1)

  • Karen W.

    Don't waste your money! Staff members at the counter were apathetic towards customers and seemed bothered to do their jobs. Food was mediocre and overpriced for the quality and portions offered. Even our overpriced drink was wrong... how do you mess up iced tea? Restaurant only had a few customers there but all the tables were dirty, so we opted for outdoor seating. The lanai was covered with cigarette butts and trash.

    (1)

  • Tommy C.

    Had a balsamic vinegar salad and a chicken salad sandwich on toasted ciabatta. All were good. The salad was very fresh (no wilted lettuce) and the tomatoes, cucumbers, and red raspberries were equally fresh! Very good sized salad. The chicken salad sandwich was equally good with fresh apple slices in the mix. Finally, the service, although not the fastest, was friendly and helpful. Everything was great including the background music. So why not a 5-star rating. It's me. I don't give away too many food 5-stars ratings. For me, a 5-star rating not only has to have great tasting food but it also has to be really unique. That said, I highly recommend the Fresh Cafe. Would I come again? Absolutely!

    (4)

  • Kayo S.

    Good place to hangout and do some studies. Lots of cool artwork to look at and get ideas if your and artist and the food and drinks are reasonable in price and taste.

    (3)

  • Tash M.

    Its a shame that its a Hit or miss in regards to service, because I really like their food. *FYI, it would be extremely HELPFUL not only to you, but your customers, if you were A) Friendly B) Notifiy your customers what you are out of. My friend and I came here this past week for lunch and my friend was craving the warm spinach salad. Alas, they were out of spinach. Ok, no problem, we'll order something else. How about a tuna pesto melt. Out of pesto too? Shall we play a guessing game of what else you're out of? lol Anyway, other than that and the odd arrangement of seating/lack thereof, everything tasted great as usual! Parking is a bummer, still. Check around the corner for meter parking, if need be.

    (3)

  • Joe A.

    I found this place when I first moved here and I got to say it my favorite place to criuse. Good salads...good ice teas and coffee and good vibe music..make a stop you wont regret it...

    (5)

  • Rosemarie C.

    Customer service = thumbs down The staff seemed like it was just a casual "I'll make your food when I want to" sort of feel to it and didn't seem to be listening to my order as I was saying it. Just had a negative vibe here, and with all the reviews I read I was expecting something higher than ordinary.

    (1)

  • Crystal N.

    They give specials based on gender.. free drink with any combo for females on Wednesday and same deal for males on Friday. I unfortunately came on a Friday...

    (4)

  • Ashley W.

    Food an atmosphere is amazing. However I will tell you that customer service will make or break your establishment. I'm a regular here and for the first time the young lady ringing me up insisted on charging me extra for things never before charged. I shouldn't have to pay extra for bread when I ordered a sandwich. And since you're out of turkey and have to substitute it with chicken, doesn't mean I should have to pay for that as well. I'm with a friend and didn't want to make an even bigger scene and so I begrudgingly paid and say down. Needless to say I'm unhappy at the extra $3 that I had to pay for what was supposed to be a delicious and cheap lunch.

    (1)

  • Kristen G.

    Decided to try out this place for lunch with a friend of mine. The location is unique and parking is interesting (one way in, have to reverse out). The decor is unique. Very eclectic. We both got sandwiches - my friend ordered a bacon egg and cheese sandwich -- honestly -- it was just a normal sandwich you'd make in your kitchen. So for $8, I don't think it was worth it. I however got the veggie sandwich on ciabatta bread and I thought it was very tasty! Fresh veggies and guacamole spread! Overall it was a fun place to hang out. I'm sure I'll stop back again :)

    (3)

  • Jenifer G.

    The Breakfast BLT on cibatta was a-ok, the flavors weren't anything special and the bread was a little rubbery and hard to chew through. I didn't get to eat my breakfast until 1-1/2 hours after ordering it, so this isn't the most accurate review, but still, fresh bread should be good for at least a couple of days just sitting there. With that said, next time I'll try eating in and will rewrite my review. I loved the iced water dispenser.. they gave me a large shot glass for it, probably because I ordered take-out; I was tickled when I was handed the glass. I also liked their small "library" area inside, where you're free to donate books or read any books on the shelves. Great idea to encourage literature and share. I have books at home I haven't touched in years so they would probably have a good home here. While waiting for my food, I noticed a kind of empty old glass case in the front, which looked like maybe something that held cold canned/bottled beverages, or cold salads/desserts at some point. It threw me aback because here you have a cute spot with a kind of ugly old glass case right in front of everything -- they should make use of this or just move it out. If it doesn't work anymore and can't keep food or beverages cold, they could even use it to hold other food items or cute knick knacks. Parking can be hard...you drive on in (maybe 6 stalls in there?) but need to reverse back out! Kind of dangerous having to back out of there, so I suggest parking right along Queen Street if you can. They also need to improve their service..when I first walked in, the girl at the counter saw me and knew I was trying to figure out the menu and make up my mind.. she was sort of hiding behind the capuccino machine and when I peeked over to get her attention so I could order, then saw she was texting or doing something on her smartphone...ugh. Although the worker needs to step it up, I'll definitely come back. The cafe is in a convenient area and has potential to be great. I'll make it a point to eat in so I can give a more accurate review. There are also tables outside so you can enjoy the fresh air..maybe will sit out there next time.

    (3)

  • Sam F.

    I understand the whole slow food served daily thing, yeah it's good and stuff but explain to me why I have to wait 45+ minutes for a bowl of soup and my soup was.... Surprise surprise cold. I've forgiven them a couple of times because this has happen more then once, but I seriously need to stop giving them the benefit of the doubt. Oh don't get the bakery items, just don't or you'll be scarred. On the plus side while you wait for you slow slow slow slow slow slow food you have free wifi and don't expect the people there to make you feel welcome either, they take your order and that's about it.

    (1)

  • Gio N.

    Tuna sandwich.... Took fifteen minutes to get to my table. Nothing special I couldn't make at home or get at subway. I had iced tea with ginger. That was good. Anyway the daily specials looks like a good deal

    (3)

  • Jonathan V.

    Environment: 5/5 Event: 3/5 People Traffic: 4/5 Food: N/A Didn't eat here, but saw the food. Cost of Entrance: 3/5 Cost of Items: 4/5 Variety of goods: 5/5 Total: 24/30 Synopsis: My sister and I decided that it was important to come to artsy street shopping to support the fourth Thursday is Fresh Cafe's:Vintage. After eating dinner at Rock'N'Roll Sushi for happy hour (Divine by the way), it was time to meet up with Travis and get this party started! I do recommend eating before hand because the food there is absurdly priced, or you can find yourself eating hotdogs (vomit!). The atmosphere is very artsy as expected with live music from KTUH. There are vendors outside and inside the area selling vintage/contemporary items of various sorts. Inside, is a different vibe of homely beachiness that puts you at ease with a grandiose rich lining of white. Two floors, bar on the first floor. YES! No drinks ordered though. Environment: I think this was the greatest feature of the entire thing. On the outside it reminded me of swap meet due to the vendors being on the street with metal fencing. The variety vendors that presented pieces of the collection designed the inside. If you looked how things were built, you will see that the walls are plain and classy beachy like. Or that is what I thought. They have a second floor with more goods, although my friend Travis felt claustrophobic. Oh well... Event: I think the concept of having art sold is important for local artists and the community to get together. It promotes local businesses and offers people of Hawai'i "something else to do." Although, it will never beat the fashion items sold at "THE LOFT" when they had it during First Friday! I would say this is working progress. People Traffic: We went early so nothing was unbearable. Plus, you should go early anyway, before you miss all the "best stuff." Food: We ate before coming here, and there was a hotdog stand. However, connected to Fresh Cafe was a kind of a lounge-like food with "organic" feeling to it. The price was seriously ridiculous, but Travis was starvation central. I did not have a bit, but it looked delicious, and he stated so. Cost of Entrance: $5...ehhh, I guess. But honestly, I will not come again. Been there, done that attitude. Cost of items: There were definitely things that were dirt, dirt, dirt, cheap for like a dollar that I can see people purchasing. However, there were other things that were gawful and trying to be sold for a PRETTY penny! But a place like this, it is definitely a hit or miss...necessary to find diamond in the rough..LITERALLY! Variety of items: I saw jewelry, old cameras, necklaces, clothes, art pieces, painted jeans, hats. There were shoes and clothes that I wanted sooo bad! It was dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt cheap vintage. Unfortunately Asians cannot get their way. I am not a size 12. Wah! I am not a large! WAH! Old Members Only Jacket should not be 50 bucks. Or am I that cheap? An example of something that was most dreadful was these small sculptures. They were painted without even having a finish! Okay, I am not an expert, but I definitely have some beginner knowledge enough to know that was A BAD CALL! Tsk tsk and it was selling for an arm and leg. Ridiculous.

    (4)

  • Courtney N.

    The ambiance of this place is one of a kind. The colors, the art, and the vibe that they give off is super cool! They consider themselves "slow food", which isn't a bad thing, but I ordered the tofu ginger wasabi salad, and it took 40+ minutes to get out to me. Seemed a little too long since they weren't particularly busy. My friend had ordered a salad and a soup, and no surprise here, the soup was cold. Also, the salads and the soup did not look complex at all. I feel ripped off, I could have made it at home. My salad was just a simple ginger dressing plus wasabi paste, greens, tofu, onions and baby tomatoes. Very simple. I guess I was expecting the same amount of pizazz for the food like the ambience presented. One amazing thing I love about this place is their drink selection!! All the teas!! I'm in tea heaven!!!! The flavors they offer are so unique and so good! In a nutshell: the venue is amazing and offers some really cool stuff, but the food is lacking the same amount of pizazz.

    (3)

  • Claire P.

    I love fresh cafe! i come here all the time especially during midterms and finals i spend aroumd 4hours here at the picnic tables getting sunburned/tanned and studdying my butt off. I love all the graffiti work and how they always have somthing going on. its a real community gathering place:)

    (5)

  • Margie N.

    Best chicken sandwich ever on croissant!

    (5)

  • Sue Lynn S.

    great quality food for good prices. i like the daily deals they offer. weds are free drink with a combo. & i like how u can get a salad to go in a wrap! their service was pretty fast for our takeout order, considering how long the wait in line was. portion sizes are perfect to finish everything without feeling bloated after. havent been here in a while but im diggin their new look. next i need to go check out their new location in china town :)

    (4)

  • Lina P.

    I've been on a coffee hunt, and unfortunately this is not the place for that. Ordered a couple coffees, and both were watered down. Don't know if it was an off day, or they were low on coffee, but I basically got mildly flavored hot milk. On a good note, the cranberry turkey sandwich was good. It wasn't after I had ordered that I had noticed they have 1/2 off on salads on Monday. I would have ordered that. I will make it back for a salad. Also, don't get the tomato soup. The corn chowder looked good though. Only other mild annoyance was that the fans were going pretty hard, and it was a rainy day. It felt like I was sticking my head out of the car window. Its those little things that can affect your experience. Vibes- graffiti artists, hipsters, and scenesters.

    (3)

  • Loosey B.

    Let me preface this review by saying that the food here is actually quite delicious (the coffee as well). The service has always been pretty spot on as well. The one star is for the three different times that I've eaten here and seen roaches either on the counter, floor or table that I was eating on (yes, in the middle of my meal). Okay, we all know that every restaurant and food establishments has roaches but you shouldn't be seeing them crawling around the dining area during business hours.

    (1)

  • Amy K.

    Fresh Cafe, you are like Peace Cafe for the vegetarian and vegan inclined, but give us bacon to keep our bellies content. I'm a wannabe vegetarian, but still need meats, poultry and seafood from time to time. My review is for their lunch and breakfast. About a year ago, I came for lunch. I can't remember what I had, but I remember that I wanted to come back again. Just this past weekend I returned again. They did a whole new interior design. It looks a lot better now, more lunch cafe style with more sunlight. The first time I went last year, I remember it being a little dark on the opposite end of the entrance. They moved the cashier table to the other side and now have a long row of breads, snacks, etc behind the glass counter. We arrived and there was one parking spot left. Not a big parking lot at all...maybe 6-8 stalls? The menus were up on the chalkboard. We ordered the berry french toast and the breakfast blt. When I ordered my BBLT, I asked if they had the bread in a wheat version. She said yes. I ended up with a piece of whole wheat sliced bread, not the one that it was supposed to come with. I wish she would have told me that it was an entirely different bread if I wanted it in whole wheat. But it still tasted yummy. I would order again. I was able to get a bite of the berry french toast. It was beautifly displayed on the plate, thick slices of french toast and a generous amount of the freshest looking strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. It looked too good to eat, but of course we did since it tasted even better than it looked. We noticed that the people behind us who ordered breakfast also got their food a couple minutes before we got ours. How does that even work out? All in all, it was a nice and quiet Saturday morning breakfast together. The place had almost all of their inside tables taken, but it still seemed uncrowded, which was nice. Not much to say about the workers there. They did their job, but nothing spectacular about their service or attempt to friendliness. I guess I'm neutral about it. They have outdoor seating also. I'm not sure about wifi if its free or is free if you purchase a beverage/food item. They have a cool website, so check that out for happenings. It seems they are really into the arts, as I always hear and see promotions about things like a poetry slam, gallery or flea/craft sale going on.

    (4)

  • Jay C.

    Tip: Addtl parking immediately past it in the garage next to the kakaako kool ice cream shop next door. +free wifi This is a great little coffee shop/limited restaurant with indoor and (plenty) outdoor seating. The decor has such individual personality--from walking on the grayish stain on the hardwood flooring, to the seating. This place definitely steps outside the cookie cutter starbucks mold. Coffee portion was generous, and although I didn't order myself, there were a few patrons who came here just to eat lunch. I would definitely come back here to grab something to eat, enjoy a cup of coffee with friends, or study for a short while. I"ve also heard that they do poetry readings here. There's a back room area which they seem to also use for yoga, zumba, and other activities. Servers are friendly, laid back.

    (5)

  • Shohei I.

    Recently had a smoothie. It was grainy i.e. ice wasn't crushed all the way. It was half off so I felt okay but it's not a very good deal at its regular price of 6 dollars. The yoga sessions on Sundays is awesome. Donation based. Very skilled instructor.

    (4)

  • Natalie P.

    This is my FAVORITE coffee shop! I've been to many coffee shops and I have to say this one has the best coffee around. It has plenty of tables/chairs and I love the lighting in here. Every time I come, I order the MOCHA LATTE and my gf orders the HAUPIA LATTE. They are both great but the Haupia Latte is supper good!!! I've also had their blueberry ice tea which is also very good. The +'s: -Great ambiance -Free Wi-Fi -Parking available -Bathroom -The place is kind of hidden so it doesn't get too crowded! -Working A/C -Great Music -Water station -They bring your order over to your table The -'s: -some of their benches are kind of loose so they feel as if they are about to break :/ -sometimes aren't very punctual with opening on time maybe off by 10 minutes. I love Fresh Cafe!

    (5)

  • Spense T.

    This is one place you can always count for some fresh, healthy options. Top this off with some consistently well-made teas and their weekly deals (i.e. Fella Fridays with where guys get a free drink with a combo), and you have a low-key but fairly popular cafe. My only issue is that there is very limited parking here, and I've had to park on the street to walk over. It hurts the accessibility for such a great place, hence I don't tend to come by as often as I'd like. It's a great place to come and chill, surf the wifi, and grab a bite, especially if you're visiting one of the many auto-shops in the area.

    (4)

  • Gloria T.

    Waited an hour and a half for my soup and sandwich...asked how much longer...about 15-20 more minutes with a hesitant response.....I was getting hypoglycemic and was upset so I canceled my order.

    (1)

  • Jason D.

    So I seriously thought that I already wrote a review of this place - I guess not, so here it goes! Fresh Cafe is definitely one of those places I would hang out at a lot if I were in town more often. I really the the hip vibe I get when I walk in and it's so refreshing to see a place that's not a large coffee chain. They recently renovated and the place is nice! It's bright and there's a lot of space. What there isn't a lot of, however, is parking. You can park in their lot or in the lot next door, but that's limited as well. Honestly there have been a few times where I've driven by and the lot was full. Determined, however, I drove around the block a few times until a spot opened up. Yes for perseverance! I could've also parked on the street, but I'm lazy like that. The food and drinks here cost a little more, so be prepared. If you order their sandwiches, it usually comes on a bagel. If you want it on a croissant, it costs a dollar more. I've averaged about $13-14 for food and drink. A little pricey, but its supporting a local business.

    (4)

  • Kyle S.

    Been here twice now, twice been told out of ingredients. Second time truly disappointing -- a prominent "Waiola @ Fresh Cafe" menu board advertises some great sounding drinks, 6 in total, 3 with various blends of juices with rum, and an awesome acai bowl with Haupia pudding and Mac nuts....but all for not, as staff told us that none of the rum drinks were available or the bowl. That's 4 of 7 items on that submenu of Waiola drinks, not available. The staff said they're usually not available (?!) and told us best thing to was "call ahead" (?!) in future to see they'd be available. Why prominently advertise items that you don't carry? However, the espresso was good and the atmosphere is nice.

    (3)

  • Allison D.

    I've only been here for breakfast and coffee but "Yay! I'm a fan." The bagel sandwiches are always tasty as is the coffee. They have wifi, so students and people who need to work - bring your laptop and post up! They have monthly events which make them more than just a local coffee shop. They also recently started serving beer. They have convenient bike parking, which is a plus for me since I usually ride my bike there. Service is good, can be slow if they are busy but its a coffee shop, the whole point is to sit and chill for a while. :)

    (4)

  • Norris P.

    Surprising find by accident since it's in a non-tourist part of town. But great food and local rather than touristy pricing. Owners and employees take a lot of pride in the service. We went back a couple of times in spite of not being Waikiki. Will go there on our next visit!!!

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    This place is my new favorite spot! My friend was a big fan of this place before me so I finally had her take me one day to see what the hype is all about! I can't speak for everyone else, but I came here twice in one week, both on a sunny afternoon eating my meal in the beautiful outdoors... Okay, there is no "view" besides buildings, but just bring good company and enjoy your meal in the fresh air. You can sit inside, but every time I go there, it's quite crowded and loud. I prefer sitting outside in the peace and quiet. Overall, the two meals I've eaten were great. I don't know why, but I love egg salad sandwiches and I have trouble coming across them so I'm really glad this place makes them and does a good job at them! If you're craving a simple soup + salad or sandwich combo with great taste and looking for something slightly more elevated, this is the place! Happy eating!

    (5)

  • T. C.

    Great place to study with lots of space and free wifi. The breakfast is good, coffee also good, smoothies are amazing and the bacon spinach salad is my current favorite salad on the island. The sandwiches all sound great, with fun combinations of ingredients, but they all taste just a bit lackluster. There are posted signs warning patrons "slow food served here" and they mean it, it takes awhile to get fed. The staff are friendly, even early on a Sunday, and the few times they've made a mistake on the order they've fixed it right away. Hip decor and an even hipper crowd, great people watching.

    (4)

  • Thomas O.

    Fresh Cafe knows how to keep it just how I like it, FRESH! They recently revamped their menus which are no longer awkwardly placed to the right of the register, but above the kitchen's pass-thru. In keeping with the FRESH theme, they added a ton of new items and renamed a whole bunch. I have to say that Fresh Cafe has really made itself a destination out here in the middle of East Jesus Kakaako. Its industrial nature shows well throughout in a tres chic kind of way. Fixies out front. Hipstas in da back. You know. My friends and I like coming here as a meeting area, to work, catch up, grind, shop, party, everything! And especially now that they've expanded their total dining area, more people can come here to enjoy it without having to be bummed about no tables/seats. Parking is normally not an issue, however, I do remember that someone with a Vespa took one of the car stalls when they could have easily parked at the rack. I guess they thought they was in Italy to they could do whatevers they wanted. My regular order would be the pesto penne pasta (which has a new name and now has the option for tofu) and a plantation or pikake iced tea. The italian sodas are a little over carbonated and give me gas like it was its job.

    (5)

  • Abunai P.

    NUMBER 1 helpful tip.......(Saturday's it was 50% the whole menu...the best time to eat so you don't bust your wallet) My friend had asked me to to go with him to try this place, so I said SURE why not.....So we got there.........we walked in....and we ordered...well excuse me...he ordered....I guess his stunning good looks and smooth voice just blew the counter girls mind cause she just took his order and skipped me! (SO BUTT HURT ABOUT THAT!) But regardless.......Handsome ordered Pest Turkey Sandwich, Corn Chowder and a Plantation Iced Tea......Ugly (me) ordered this Asian Chicken Salad..forgive me I forget what it's called...but it was delicious! The sandwich looked delicious if i wasn't on this diet (HCG DIET) I would have taste tested his food......although he stated that it wasn't something you couldn't make successfully at home.....he ate it all and said the bagel was good....The Plantation Iced Tea was pineapple good ness.....the corn cowder....he said nothing, but it looked and smelled good.....The salad was extremely fresh and the dressing was very good, a little salty toward the end. The chicken was fresh and the best i liked about the turkey sandwich was that it was fresh pieces of turkey it wasn't that over counter deli compressed turkey..... I would def come back here once I'm on off this diet...but the place was very clean and the service was friendly.....even if you're not as attractive as your date! :-P PLUS the meal was 50% off so what can i say...our bill was suppose to be around $22 ish but came out to $11.50 :-) I was happy...WHY? cause i had to pay..boo...but thumbs up!

    (4)

  • Gloria S.

    I like the peach iced tea and corn soup!! The indoor dining area was small. However, there were lots of tables outside. The parking is limited to about 10 cars max. It was hot out today so I was lucky to grab one of their indoor tables. Their menu selection is limited mainly coffee, soda, salads, soup, cupcakes and bagels are the ones that come to mind at this time. I would definitely try them out again. Since the prices were decent, and the corn soup was delicious! :-)

    (3)

  • Kelly M.

    Love the location. Like the food. But seems like a little pricey and heavy on the breakfast foods. Parking can be tough.

    (4)

  • Krista D.

    I used to absolutely love Fresh Cafe, but I have been striking out the last few times in. I always order the turkey pesto melt on ciabatta bread. For the longest time I would order it and be told they were out of turkey. If you never have turkey, why is it on the menu? So I would sub chicken, which was still delicious. Then they got turkey in, but no ciabatta. It's not nearly as good on anything else. Today I ordered it again and was happy to hear that they had both turkey and ciabatta, but as I started eating it I realized that rather than chunks of turkey breast (which is how it is usually served) they used like 2 pieces of turkey lunch meat. With the size of bread, and the amount of pesto, cheese, and mushrooms, the meat was almost impossible to find. It's just really frustrating to find a sandwich I really love, only to have such difficulty ever being able to get it made right!

    (2)

  • Gee Gee M.

    Service has gone from bad to worse to say the least - put up with it the past several months but today was it - I left after trying to place my order and the way I feel right now, I don't plan to return there.

    (1)

  • Go Bear S.

    Food is decent, but the drinks are really hit or miss, depending on who is making them. I've tried most of their drinks, and they're always different - this inconsistency is true for other friends I've gone with as well. Beware they only use whole milk unless otherwise specified. So my chai was just a few pumps of store-bought chai in a glass of whole milk. Only infants should drink whole milk straight. They were nice enough to switch it to non-fat, but it still just tasted like milk and cinnamon, which could be nice, but is not what I paid $4 for.

    (3)

  • Melissa K.

    What a fabulous coffee shop!! I quickly found parking in their lot and as I walked towards the front door, one of the staff members rushed to graciously open the door for me with a huge smile. I went to order coffee and the front counter employee was super nice, friendly, courteous, and genuine. Wow! The coffee was delicious, one of the best I've had, and I was even given the option of almond milk! What joy! I can't wait to try the salads and sandwiches and have more coffee!

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    I'm a regular, as I do work close by, and I'll say the food is absolutely AMAZING, but it has quite possibly the worst customer service I have ever had to experience in my life (no exaggeration). Sometimes I wonder if rudeness is simply their motif.. The staff has "forgotten to place my order" causing me to be late to work, will often look at me for a few minutes before taking my order, not smile or be polite as they simply hand me my order and expect me to get out... it's almost as if they DON'T want you to be there or bother them. I've been to Fresh Cafe SEVERAL times, and I have to say that only ONCE there was a young man (long hair) who smiled, made friendly conversation and took my order. That was the only time I tipped generously. Go for the food, and the trendy atmosphere, don't expect anything else aside from that.

    (3)

  • Jeffery A.

    Let me tell you a little something...damn that was good eaten. Five star, welllll? If you are down with the Bohemia look and life style, this has got to be your place. You walk in and the joint is just super full of loafers, stragglers, hipsters, or their wanta be ken. If you offer free Internet no telling who will show up. You walk up to place your order ( we had already decided on ours: wasabi chicken salad; spinach, bacon, garlic, mushroom salad; blt+avocado sand on croissant, coffee for me, yes even for lunch, so what they got beer? and water for beautiful wife) and I'm thinking that I got my shit tight (ST, I don't like to swear much), right, but when Salvador Dali's much younger brother ask me if I wanted chicken or tofu with the wasabi salad, just that, threw me off my game. You see, you take a clean cut, country boy and mix him with a little Bohemia rapacity and I fell to shit (guess I do like to swear?) Not to mention there was a line, and as much as a performer as I think I am, in real time, any bump in the road... 'Hey... I said no heckling here, damn, a little respect. (beautiful wife and equally beautiful twin sister giving me hard time!) 'Now quite please! I trying to hunt and peck!' Sal's little brother had better be running the show, my guess, yes, cause even with me trying to have my ST, I know he has his. He let this o'l horse (see Salvador Dali for horse reference, keep up) to water and I made it through. Melted like 'Persistence of Memory'? Changed bread (should have stuck with croissant,) went with tofu not chicken, and half portions on salads. Coffee, ground and ready before I was. Split it on myself while exiting, and after beautiful wife saw it, cause it did look o so frothy, even dripping down side of cup and all over saucer, she says, 'Oh, thank you Pa!' what happened to 'just water'? So, back I go for my own, and made it ice coffee. Good to ice burns quickly. Food was tasty and almost all fresh, as advertised. Bacon, well, way over done, how can it be that crispy and still fresh? How? Also, they should invest in more than one bottle of Tabasco, that way you won't have to come take it off my table, and force me to go back and get it again when I want more! Black is the color of choice. We sat on the picnic tables and my gray shorts had black ass! Windy? Yes! Industrial area, okay. Pants still filthy, but that's cool little Spray-and-Wash fixem right up. Avant Guard, yes, little things, sadly, no.

    (4)

  • Alexandra T.

    This place is a hidden gem! Very laid back and a great place to grab coffee and relax. They have really great sandwiches. I got the Turkey pesto sandwich and my husband got the tuna melt. We both loved ours!

    (5)

  • Davin-Jay C.

    Food may be good, but it's all about the SERVICE! Female at the counter wasn't only using a dirty as heck uniform but she was also rude and kept rolling her eyes. When we asked for a cup of water, she looked at us like we were stupid and we needed to know off the back that the cups by the door was for water and that they give water in a bottle. If the owner cares about his business he would read our comments about the service and do something about this. If she doesn't like what she does then she really needs a new job or just an attitude check.

    (1)

  • Loryn G.

    I LOVE FRESH! This place is freaking awesome, day and night. Must try their salad mondays- every salad is 50% off. I love the ginger chicken salad...so fresh and yummy. Large portions too. But the best part of Fresh Cafe is that it is poised in the center of Kakaako-- a neighborhood that has begun thriving with art and night life. Fresh Cafe is part of it. with events like poetry slam and Art and Flea, this place is just plain chill. Kind of a hipster hang out-- but I must admit I sway hipster at times. Cool art, cool people, awesome events, and good food. Outside there is some dope street art....I love walking around the block after I am done eating to check out the murals and street art. Only wish? More parking!!!

    (5)

  • Caroline F.

    Everytime I go to Fresh Cafe, I always find myself ordering their Turkey Pesto Melt - Fresh Turkey, Mushroom, Red Onion, Homemade Pesto, Swiss Cheese!!! Yum! It's such a great tasting sandwich. It's pretty affordable too! I've also had their peach ice tea, which is decently made - a little sweet for my liking though. What I'm bummed about is that they don't serve taro chips anymore - which was an additional dollar if you ordered it along with your meal. Taro chips are my favorite - I want them to bring it back!!! I love that their cafe is surrounded by artwork. It fascinates me everytime! It's very trendy and welcoming to all the artsy fartsy and those who are curious as well. I still have yet to go to an event there, which I heard gets pretty busy and crowded and parking isn't that great - they need to have a lot designated to them! But the food makes up for it ;) Overall, it's a great place to sit down, grab a bite and chat with friends!

    (4)

  • Debbie R.

    The name just says it all. Everything is fresh and healthy. I've tried and like the turkey/cranberry sandwich and the pesto pasta salad is a winner. My only gripe is they don't give you enough. The portions are adequate, but its so tasty, leaves me wanting more . . . . The atmosphere/ambiance is a little campy, but at least they have free wifi, which would explain the college kids chillaxing outside. I'd say this is a good place to stop by and pick up something to go.

    (3)

  • Chris N.

    Good food. I love the half off everything Saturdays from 6pm-730pm. Acai bowls are ono. The pesto pasta is always a guarantee. They make good plantation iced tea,but it depends on which worker makes it. I like the ginger wasabi salad.

    (5)

  • El-Jay B.

    Disappointed!!! I haven't been here in a while and don't think I'll miss it. I'd rather go to other cafes like Kissaten or Glazers. I walk in and the place is filled with smoke from charred food on the cook top. Already a bad sign. I order my latte, no problem. I decide to get a paper. The "barista" has a little difficulty making change from the $5 I give her. Let me help you, honey! $4.13 for the latte...$0.87 change. I get $0.77 back instead. I add a $0.75 newspaper + tax!!!! Seriously? You don't add tax for a paper. Where was I? Oh yeah, so she charged me $0.78 (remember she added tax to the cost of a paper). Well she looked like she didn't know what was going on. I didn't want to fight it so I go to my car and get a penny. Well it took her a while to figure it out, but she realized her mistake eventually. I didn't get an apology or anything for her mistake. No big deal, it's a matter of cents. I give her a $1.00 tip anyway. I've had blonde moments myself. But I've never given bad service for MY mistake. She takes another order and proceeds to make their order. 10+ minutes later I am still waiting on my latte. I politely remind her about my latte. She pauses for a second and smirks. "Your drink will be ready shortly," as she plays with her hair...her hair in a FOOD establishment! Gross! I ask for my money back. With another smirk on her face, "Are you sure?" Yes, after 10-minutes of waiting and no sincere apology. Yes I want my money back so I can give it to Kissaten. BTW much better service. I even bought another paper. They didn't add tax to it. Aloha Fresh!

    (1)

  • Brittney W.

    First time I've ate here & I love their salads! The dressing isn't super overwhelming and the greens seem really fresh. I had the warm spinach bacon mushroom salad with the balsamic dressing while a friend of mine had the ginger chicken wasabi salad. Both were delicious & I would recommend going! The only thing is that parking isn't always the easiest especially in that neighborhood.

    (4)

  • Nimai W.

    I'd really like to give Fresh Cafe a better review, a lot of my friends seem to really dig this place. But I gotta be real. Food and drinks. The bagel sandwiches are good. But I've never walked out of here saying to my friends, "Oh man, we gotta come back." as I have with all 5 star and most of my 4 star places. If I remember right, the iced tea had a nice tropical flavor (unsweetened, of course). The service and atmosphere is what ruins it. The feel of the place is pretty cold and uncomfortable. The employees are no help. I am ALWAYS cool to people who handle my food. I'm no fool. Yet, of the three times I've come here, not once have I experienced someone friendly behind the counter. Mr./Ms. Manager, please find some people who know how to work the muscles required to smile. The prices. Not overpriced, not cheap. Location. Yeah, Queen Street is prime, but then you have to face the parking. The lot is like a cramped closet. I've only been lucky enough to get a spot in the Fresh Cafe lot once. I wouldn't dare schedule a meeting here, only carpool situations. Other factors? There is one big positive, they host Art & Flea and other events. I haven't been to one yet, but I intend to check it out one of these days. I guess it's smart they have valet for Art & Flea, though I don't think many young people are willing to dish $4 for that. I realize this is a pretty harsh review. But the attitudes-with-eye-makeup behind the counter are ridiculous. I actually brought my dad here and the girl that took our order was short with us and gave us stink eye. I was PISSED. No respect. I haven't been back since. Friendly service would easily bump Fresh Cafe a star or two. Hoping for some improvement, I'll give it a few months and check back. Or not.

    (2)

  • Jamila J.

    I love this place. Simple as that. I began my addiction this April when a friend wanted to hang out and have a quick bite. I was concerned as we drove through warehouses and such, not knowing the awesomeness that was hidden inside. Upon getting there I decided to get a soup and salad combo. On the moderate side, not cheap, but not expensive; just right. I was satisfied and full. The atmosphere is so laid back you could seriously just chill and pass the time by yourself or with friends. The staff is awesome, they're always super helpful. After my first adventure I have gone so many more times. Introduced to plenty of friends. I've never been there and had something bad. Nor have any of my companions. Also, a great spot for community gathering, shows, backyard BBQs! Really this place is a gem in the middle of town!

    (5)

  • Diane K.

    My family and I enjoy the service and delicious food that is served at this amazing place. We wish they'd open up a location in Manoa.

    (5)

  • Marcus S.

    What ever you choose make sure you put it on a bagel! Had the club on an everything bagel with the peach ice tea....winnning! I'll admit it's not the BEST sandwich but it is frickin good man. Also loved the cookis that were for sale, 4 for a dollar? I'll take 50 please.

    (4)

  • Malin M.

    The food was really good, but it was too expensive for a café. The cookies and cakes was not that good either. However, it's a good hang out place and the jasmine ice tea was good, I just had to ask a couple of time to get the liquid sugar (got a sweet tooth).

    (3)

  • Cynthia K.

    ive been coming to fresh cafe since it opened, and frequently too because it was right next to my house. i was in the mainland for school so when i was home during breaks i always liked to drop by to grab a quick bite with my friends or just on my own. over the years theyve remodeled the place quite a bit and lets just say, for the better too. There are a lot of new staffs now, still getting used to the tasks so it may be a bit twitchy in terms of service & flow but overall theyre very nice and friendly. The items on the menu are reasonably priced and pretty flexible in terms of adding or subtracting ingredients in the dish to fit your taste (just ask the cashier). They also have awesome events stirring up the street (i can see it from my apt lol) every now and then, like the Art&Flea and Slam Poetry Night as well as Art show openings and small scale concerts. I just gave 4 stars for this great place (theres no 1/2 star option?) because i honestly think that theres room for improvement but its still my fav. cafe to go.

    (4)

  • Tamra P.

    FINALLY tried Fresh Cafe today and glad I found a new little spot to grab some food and work while in-between meetings in town. Pros: free wifi, healthy food options freshly made, local establishment, great vibe, music isn't blaring so you can totally work/study/converse/make phone calls, etc. Great artsy vibe too. Parking at first looks like it's impossible but I was able to easily find a stall at lunch. Portions were enough to satisfy without getting "kanak attack". Cons: service was a little slow however knowing that each dish was made to order and fresh compared to some other coffee shops it was not a big deal. Went here between appointments and the fiancee joined me on his lunch break. I had a tofu chicken salad which was yummy! It was light yet filling. He had a pesto chicken salad which he also enjoyed. The absolute highlight was the watermelon ice cream pie....OH MY GOSH DIVINE! Granted, they don't make them and I didn't see them anywhere on a menu but WOW. Watermelon sorbet that almost tasted like guri guri...I don't know what the white middle was...and then a melona-flavored bottom layer with an oreo cookie crust. Chocolate and condensed milk drizzle. A-MAZING. Will definitely be back to try some of the yummy bagel sandwiches I was surrounded by...and to have more watermelon pie!

    (4)

  • Jermel-Lynn Q.

    This place has become very popular! From hip-hop concerts to vintage sale events, this place is versatile. I mean the food is great ehre and the back space that hey have at this place is the perfect space for anything. I've come to this place for concerts, their Art & Flea event, to study, etc. I love how this place can really tend to the needs that you may have. The food here is also great. Again, they support local produce and local companies. They a lot of healthy alternatives which is a great! Parking may be a little tight but all in all, you have to try and go to a wide range of their events because its amazing to see how the place transforms and the different types of people that walk throught that place.

    (5)

  • Daniel G.

    Fresh Cafe has a lot of potential, but just doesn't execute on the basics. Here's the short version of the review: The food is good. The coffee is good. The wait is long, and the service is non-existent. Improving the service is essential for this place being successful in the long term, and would have made my review so much better. Here are the details... We passed the location the first time we drove down the street. Bolder, more noticeable signage would be a huge help. We walked in, and noticed that the prices are decent. Not cheap, but not horrible either. We went pretty early (around 8:30 am) but were very frustrated to find that they didn't have some of their main menu items (french toast in this case). We asked. No explanation. No apology. The girl behind the counter just said "we don't have it" with a somber look on her face, and then sat there silently. Instead, I got the breakfast BLT on ciabatta, and my partner got a bacon egg and cheese bagel. He politely asked what types of bagels were available. Her response? "They're down there" and pointed down to a stack of bagels behind glass. Mind you, the bagels aren't labeled. They're stacked up, wrapped in plastic. And so, using his psychic powers of intuition, he picked a bagel type for his sandwich. We also ordered two coffees (a vanilla latte and a caramel macchiato). We paid for our food. No smile. No thank you. No estimate on time for the food to come out. She just handed me my change and then turned to complete a different task. The place was not busy. There were a total of about 4 customers in the restaurant at the time, most of them already sitting and drinking/eating. I then turned around, noticed a cockroach on the floor, and killed it with my shoe. We sat down and waited.... and waited... and waited... about 5 minutes later (according to my cell phone) we got our coffees. Again, no smile. Simply a "this one is vanilla, this is caramel" and she walked away. We then waited.... and waited... and waited... 15 minutes into it she came out with our sandwiches, and said "Here you go." The breakfast sandwiches were good, and definitely better than anything you'd get through a drive through. Were they exceptional? No, but worth the price we paid. I'm not sure, however, with so little business, why it took 15 minutes to prepare them. Cool venue. Contemporary. I can picture it being great on an evening with live music or a book club, etc. Parking is limited, but hey, parking is limited most places, so I can't fault them for that. To the owner(s) or manager(s). Please. Please. Please. Fix the service, both in the friendliness and speed of service. Friendly customer service can cover a multitude of sins, but the somber, no-smile, "I could not care less that you are here" service we received absolutely turned us off. Your food is good, but no matter how good the food is, your bad service is going to eventually drive customers away and put you out of business.

    (2)

  • Ululani C.

    I actually came to Fresh Cafe for one those after-restaurant events. I attended the Queen Supreme event couple weeks ago. I have to say...first impression... was the WTF. I felt like I was at a swap meet. There was vendors selling things and was pretty pricey. The scene was like one of those mainland underground stuff. When we finally went inside the place to get a drink. It fricken expensive!!! OMG. But then again, it did cost $40 to get in (thank god I knew the bouncer!) The main event was held inside...which reminds me of a warehouse. There was only one restroom...which is not good because everybody is drinking and HELLO PEOPLE GOTTA PEE!! Overall the event was ok..

    (3)

  • Tiffany A.

    So I'm officially in love with this place. Probably no more than two weeks ago, I always passed it on Queen street and just thought to myself "look at that funky place!" But one Saturday night, I decided to drop in and give it a look. One step in and you get a feel of a small cafe especially since most of the occupants were there clicking away on their laptops and the place is sort of shared. The menu is easy items and quite a number of them. With probing, the lady behind the counter encouraged everything. The first thing that caught my eye was the soup, namely the tomato bisque. So what goes with the soup I asked? I ended up with the Ginger Wasabi Chicken salad to complement my soup. No more than 5 minutes later I was served at my table. The presentation was delectable! Cute little bowls with everything looking fresh and so good. I took a bite out of my salad with Nalo greens and was blown away by the ginger wasabi dressing. It had a tang to it, with a ginger kick, but it was just salty enough. The chicken, served like chinese cold ginger chicken, was cooked just right and went so well with the greens and the cherry tomatoes. Next up, my soup... and I was not disappointed one bit! The creamy soup was piping hot with a good amount of croutons and cheese layered on top. One scoop in my mouth, this too had a spice to it. The perfect item for a cold winter's day. So fast forward two weeks later and I was back in the house. And what do you know... I already have favorites because I ordered the same thing. Only this time I got a "bowl" of soup versus the cup. I swear one day I'll try something else. Like the cupcakes. For now, I'll happily devour my soup and salad. Oh and to show my devotion, the cc machine was down so I went to my bank and got me money to come back. Not often do I do that for businesses but I was in need of tomato bisque. So that's that. Find some cash on a rainy day before you go just in case. Why only 4 stars? Parking is a bummer. So if it's packed, like during lunch time on a rainy afternoon, it's hard to get in.

    (4)

  • Mark M.

    Okay so today we were able to try the corn chowder that everyone raves about and here's the verdict: it's damn good. Just the right amount of seasoning and the corn was oh so crunchy. I can honestly see myself going back for the bagel/soup combo from here many times. Great stuff!

    (4)

  • Mariko K.

    +yummy food +organic & eco-friendly +good vibe/atmoshphere +internets ~some of the staff were friendly, some were not -very limited parking -they were out of the two things i wanted to eat -no decaf coffee, limited decaf tea selection -there was a water j

    (3)

  • Stina L.

    First Thursday poetry slam

    (4)

  • Megan T.

    Great Ambiance. SLOW and really mediocre service...if you get any service at all. Okay food. I've given this place a couple of chances and each time I get the same kind of service. You walk up to the counter with a barista just blankly staring at you w/o a greeting or anything. You order from the uninspired menu, then you wait FOREVER to get your food. On one occasion I started to wonder if we were supposed to get our food from the counter ourselves. Many of my friends have had their orders forgotten. Also, on an occasion I ordered take-out, I ordered a small salad and got maybe 1/3 of what the portion for the dine-in dish would have. I only gave them a second star because the ambiance is really great.

    (2)

  • Curt C.

    First off, if you are horrible with directions like myself and you have Google Maps bookmarked on your internet browser, you won't "find" the café. If you search the address listed, the search result is only of a green building with a "coming soon" sign. However, this is the building, don't be like me and pull a U turn because you pass by it haha. On one side of the building there are maybe ten to twelve stalls, two to three cars can fit in front of the restaurant, and you are able to park next to the café with the sign "we sell things 4 u". The stalls in the "we sell things 4 u" building are tandem parking spots, so you may be blocking someone in, but that person will most likely be in the café. Do not park across the street, as I was told you may be towed... The restaurant is very quaint. The first thing you notice is that most people are studying. I believe they have free wifi for as long as you want, so there were many people with their books and cups of coffee pounding away at their Macbooks. However, I was there with a couple of friends who weren't there to study so we just talked on the side. Because everyone is practically studying you sometimes get "looks" if you're too loud. So if you sit inside, be prepared to talk more on the quiet side, if not there are seats on the outside as well. The sandwich was pretty good (club sandwich), a little on the expensive side for the portion, but it was very tasty. It comes on a bagel which I thought was a nice touch. The corn chowder was also very good. It had a very nice flavor and was lighter than expected. It was perfect as part of the sandwich/soup combo. They also have fruit, salads, and coffee and tea. I did not get any of the cold teas, but my friend said it was really good so I will definitely get one the next time. Would I go back? If I were still in school and still had to "study", this would be a good alternative to the usual Starbucks. I will be back as it is a great little place to come for lunch to have a simple conversation or to catch up with friends.

    (4)

  • E W.

    Went for an early lunch on a weekday when it wasn't crowded. I figure there was about 8-10 people in the cafe either eating, ordering or waiting for their food order. I ordered a turkey cranberry sandwich and that's it. Nothing else. Wish I could tell you whether it was tasty or not because I never got the order. I waited for about 20 minutes then I asked the cashier when she thought the sandwich would come out. She looked confused and then muttered that they lost the order and once she found it, she would let me know when it would come out. I thought it should be fast because there seemed to be 3 employees who looked as though they were searching for it. I waited 10 more minutes with no notification of when it would come out and no offer of a drink (not even water) while I waited. Couldn't wait any longer. Watching everyone before and after me get their food while I sat there waiting for my lunch that seems to have gotten lost in a sandwich matrix was pretty pathetic on my part. I can see if there was a line out the door and rave reviews about this place, the waiting would have been worth my time but with luke warm reviews, why wait for someone to care enough about a customer to fulfill a simple order? 30 minutes for a cold sandwich order...hmmm...I wonder how long hot food takes? I requested my money back but I will never come back for fear I might end up like my sandwich order and get lost in a Fresh Cafe matrix. I drove all the way to Kailua Whole Foods instead and got a great meal with absolutely no wait and no matrix in sight.

    (1)

  • Ruthie F.

    The first time I went in I was so,so,so impressed. I do not know what the worker's name was, but he was so nice and I felt like I had known him forever. I loved my food, drink, and service the first time. I went to fresh cafe again today and was a little disappointed. All I ordered was a veggie sandwich and a bowl of soup. I waited almost 30 minutes for my food, but the person I was with had his omelette sandwich and soup well before me. They said they were training In the kitchen, which is absolutely fine, but I felt the wait for that small of an order was slightly excessive. I won't hold Today against them, though. I will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • aaron y.

    Delicious bagel sandwiches. I recommend the bacon and cheese bagel. good coffee, Great ambiance, free wifi, stays open till 130 on week nights and 230 on weekends for all you night owls. And it even has 99% less obnoxious "I'm here to look hot while I'm writing my term paper" vibes than Starburnt. A great place to chill with friends, study, read, and generally geek out. Nice decor, ample outdoor seating, comfortable. A healthy balance between indie coffee shop / chic SoHo style, without the dreadlock wearing hippie acoustic guitar feel. A true gem hidden in urban Honolulu.

    (5)

  • Brian O.

    I would probably give this place a 2.5 but since they don't have 1/2 ratings, i'm going to give it two because IMO the cons out weighed the pros. Pros: - fresh food - originality Cons: - SLOW service and when I say slow i mean I ordered a bagel and a tomato bisque, I finished the bagel, ordered another bagel to go (because I had another Groupon and didn't want to have to go back later) and I didn't get my soup until my SECOND bagel was done. - Now normally I give places the benefit of the doubt, but this was the second time we received snail like service. It wasn't even busy! we went before noon. - Employees didn't seem like they wanted to be there either - If it weren't for the Groupon, bagel sandwiches cost $7.95! Again, IMO I think that is waaaay too expensive. If they had another Groupon come out, I wouldn't bother to buy it.

    (2)

  • Ryan T.

    A little confused when there was a guy waiting to open the door for me, thought maybe I had the wrong place. Definitely seems out of place for this industrial area. Anyhow, felt good vibe as soon as I walked in. Good music, tastefully decorated. They must have free wi-fi, lots of people hanging out on laptops, seems like good place to study or have a business meeting. On to the food, forget which salad I got but it was good and had a large variety of vegetables. Tomato bisque soup was definitely good and turkey sandwich was not bad after paying a little extra for avocado and specialtiy bread. I'd go back.

    (4)

  • Bill T.

    Not sure what all the hype is about. New paint, industrial building, industrial area. Eclectic vibe. I had the Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad. It was good. Maybe it was the fact that we had three kids in tow and were a little surprised at the limited menu. We walked in and there was a recent edition of Maxim on the table...maybe we're a little out of our element here. Okay, I'm old and not into the "scene" anymore. I'll try it again when I'm between meetings and need to stay near downtown or the Kakaako area.

    (3)

  • Darin H.

    It's a Thursday night, and you're looking to go to anyplace besides the typical excessively-crowded and yuppie-filled corporate-themed coffeehouses that polkadot the island. Enter Fresh Cafe on Queen Street to fit your needs. Once you've found parking (believe me, it's a little bit of a challenge in the neighborhood, you'll want to know how to parallel park well) you'll find this tucked-away little cafe is super chill and way indie. By far, of all the little local places that I've visited on O'ahu, Fresh Cafe is the one whose vibes most remind me of all the indie coffee places and cafes back home. The atmosphere here just oozes 'cool.' Great decor, unique location, and open until way past your bedtime. Staff here kick up the cool factor to a level that would compete with North Shore scenery. Add in a venue for shows in the back, and you've got your self one hell of a kickass venue to cruise the internet, grab some grinds, and get some caffeine running through your bloodstream. And the speed of their WiFi just simply can't be beat. Now for the best part: the food. The place has got a pretty decent menu as far as cafes go, nothing too complicated, all simple and easy food. I tried their soup of the day (not an adventurous decision at all, but trusty) which turned out to be a Tomato Bisque. This definitely ain't your mama's Campbell's soup in a can, son. Hand's down, the best tomato soup I've ever had. Ever. It just so happens that all their food is made from scratch, and it shows. Seriously. I can't even tell you how bomb that soup was. Creamy, rich flavorful. It's a must try, and I certainly hope this joint keeps it on the menu. Next time you're looking to try something different, do yourself a favor and check out Fresh Cafe. Your taste buds and your wallet will thank you for it!

    (5)

  • Michelle Q.

    I really don't get what all the hype is about. The food is pretty good, but it's over priced and I could probably make the same sandwich in my own kitchen with fresh ingredients and a panini press. My major complaint about fresh cafe is definitely they staff - they're not friendly, even snooty at times, and definitely dish out attitude on a regular basis. I've been a couple times and received snotty remarks from at least 3 different employees! It's fricking hot inside because there's no AC, the lighting is so bad that it's not a feasible place to study, and the parking is terrible! I was really bummed since I live in the area and was hoping to make this my new neighborhood coffee shop. Unfortunately I'll just have to keep looking since I will definitely NOT be going back to fresh cafe!

    (1)

  • Dan F.

    Points for local sourcing and atmosphere, but expensive. Twelve fifty for fratata hippie omelet and a cup of coffee with no refill. Good place to kill an hour while waiting for new tires a block down, but I wouldn't come here intentionally. Too hip for me.

    (3)

  • Kim S.

    Still a fan of the tomato bisque & The Ultimate Omelet bagel sammie. Save $3 by ordering the combo. =) Too bad they have shorter hours & close @ 11p Mon-Sat.

    (4)

  • Krystin P.

    Very satisfied customer :) I visited Fresh Cafe a few weeks ago shortly after what has been reported to be the very busy, long line waiting lunch rush. I picked 1:30 hoping the crowd would be a little calmer and it absolutely was. Time in and out with my To Go order was about 20 min. Not the shortest, but I have certainly waited longer for To Go. I ordered the Pesto Pasta (large) with chicken based off of other Yelper's photos and boy was I surprised. The portion was absolutely HEAPING-- a great bang for your buck. I would have to disagree with other previous reviews about the amount of pesto...at least that day. The serving of pesto was right on point. I would, however advise interested parties that because the portion is so generous it could most likely be shared by two. I even had enough to eat for dinner! Locating the cafe & parking were a bit challenging, but not enough to impact my enthusiastic review. Just a few words for the wise who like to feel prepared--Fresh Cafe is quite a tucked away spot. If I hadn't read reviews about it being a little hard to spot I am sure I would have missed it all together. Parking is a little challenging, as there aren't many spaces or anywhere really close to safely park without taking the chance of ticketing/towing. I will be going back to try out more of their appetizing menu items... maybe even today, perhaps!

    (5)

  • Jordann A.

    Long wait and poor customer service didn't outweigh the decent tasting food and modern cafe ambiance. I asked the girl taking orders at the counter what assortment of bagels they have and the girl replied, "they're down here" and proceeded to point at the bagels in the case...riiight, because I'm a bagel connoisseur and know bagel flavors by sight. She then forgot our order was to go and had to repack it after I had to remind her we weren't staying. The clincher was that we had to wait 25 minutes for two bagel sandwiches, which is way too long, especially because the place wasn't that busy. The turkey pesto bagel was good -- nice flavor with pesto, red onion, shredded turkey and mushrooms. BUT, it wasn't good enough to make me want to go back and deal with the service again. I wanted it to be a good experience but there's no way around me concluding that this was a fresh fail.

    (1)

  • Dana B.

    Ok, true what everyone says about the counter service. However, the guy(rat tail, bow tie, Mohawk) they have working the door, helping with parking, and picking up dishes ROCKS! Wow, polite and service oriented guy - just fabulous. Food was great - had the half Caesar salad for $4.95 and couldn't even finish it! Tomatoes were perfect and the salad was gorgeous. Vanilla soy latte? Perfect! Place was super cute, clean, and food was great. Could get a better cashier/barista.

    (4)

  • Chris R.

    So I've heard a lot about this place so I took my day off to go and find it. After circling around Queen Street for about 10mins I finally found parking. Inside the place was nicely laid out and the menu and a varity of delicious looking dishes on it. I opt to order the Turkey Pesto on a croissant. Service seemed slow for such a simple sandwich, but I guess that's what you get when you order it "fresh." Even though the sandwich was small it was tasty, but for $9, I would expect it to be slightly bigger (but that could have been my fault for ordering it on a croissant bun. Overall, I will be going back again!

    (3)

  • Tellia W.

    I've gone here a few times, but probably won't go again. Fresh Cafe is a great concept in the ambiance, locale and menu. However, that's all it seems to be - a great concept. Even the menu seems to be just a concept. Unfortunately, you can't eat a concept. It's a nice concept that they have nice things like acai bowls on the menu. I had the opportunity long ago to have a couple things here, and they were pretty good. However, the last few times that I went in, they didn't have the ingredients. Also, they didn't have the food in stock that my friends ordered either. Man, if we could just eat ideas, you'd get full of them at this place, but nothing else, as they don't ever seem to have actual food. On top of that, I get the real feeling that this place is for the owner's and staff's close friends only. Like it's some kind of exclusive club - that if you aren't in it, NO FOOD FOR YOU! The last few times we went in, the lady at the counter acted like "What the hell do you want? Can't you see I'm busy updating my neo-artsy-urban iTunes playlist here!" When I ordered something (the last four times I went in) she was like "Nope". I was like "What do you mean, nope?". Then she was like "Awwww, did you really want that?... well we don't have any... Wanna crappy bagel instead?". I was like "No, I don't want a crappy bagel... BF (bye forever.)" I think this place started strong, and had some great stuff. However they've just gone down the tubes. If you want to still try it, good luck to you. You're gonna need it, cause getting good food here - or any food at all has worse odds than a crap shoot.

    (1)

  • Vincent Q.

    I was on the hunt for a decent place nearby Ward which I haven't been to before, and I happened upon Fresh Cafe. Hidden off the main streets, I wouldn't normally have found this artsy little place. It had been raining and the entrance was covered by a huge puddle, yet all but one stall was taken--enough for me and my friend. Ultimate Omelet on Spinach Wheat bagel- 3-stars- I've said it before, but I've been all over trying omelets and I have yet to find one that satisfies me. Egg alone has such variety, used in baking, batter, and served with bacon. It is not a tasteless morsel, yet seems to hard to pair perfectly as the main ingredient. This omelet looked to include cheddar, Portuguese sausage, bacon and spinach. (There's perhaps more than this, but my friend and I split our dishes.) I noted the fact bites with sausage or bacon added an explosion of meaty flavor, to which he said, "I didn't get much meat on my side!" Yet again, flavor was begging to be found. As the most expensive of the sandwiches, you would hope for the most explosions to be found in every bite. Turkey Pesto Melt on the Everything bagel- 3.5-stars- A staple of many cafes and sandwich hubs, the combination of pesto and turkey is always a flavorful mix. Here we have a thick lathering of pesto, heavy on the green basil. A layer of cheese, I told myself it was mozzarella. Slices of fresh mushroom and red onion follow. Lastly, you have the turkey, which interestingly enough was mostly brown. Of course, this means a little less healthy, but more flavor and juice, as white meat is generally said to have less of both. I don't think the bagel makes a huge difference, unless you're dealing with the blueberry. The flavor was more spot on, not difficult to find. Corn Chowder- 2-stars- My friend had the corn chowder, and honestly seems to be some chowder expert, since he always gets it when we eat out. He was a bit disappointed because the soup seemed like the corn was thrown in at the end, because it was too crunchy and not very cooked. There is a little precision in adding corn, because its flavor adds to the final chowder slowly over time. Especially as a main ingredient, the corn makes a final impact. Tomato Bisque- 2-stars- I had to make sure and recheck my recipes, but it definitely says tomato bisque is creamy. It looked a little suspicious when it arrived in front of me, the coloring was a bit too vibrant. Stirred, the texture was not usual. The flavor reminded me of Campbell's tomato soup, not a bisque slowly prepared with cream added. The tomato was absolutely strong in this mixture. The curious part was we did wait a while for our meals to be made, but with the portions small, and theoretically the soups prepared ahead of time, I was a bit surprised. Atmosphere- The look is almost a mixture of three things. First, you have the cafe, with the register--whose set-up is a little like a high-wall which may give people that separation of service. You can see into the kitchen, which is comforting. The seating area is picnic tables, which is cute, along with small circular tables. I didn't check where the electric plugs were, but I assume they were spread throughout. Lastly, there was one large television screen pointing at one spot on one picnic table. It made it seem useless, unless you're sitting there to watch what's on--and I didn't catch what was on since my angle was bad. There is a restroom on the premises. Service- My friend and I were worried about the service, since they got many bad reviews for this. Overall, the experience was good. At the register, they were patient. They came to take our plates, just as I was going to eat more of my soup, which was a little jarring. Otherwise, pleasant. Conclusion- I checked-in, stating people stare--because the table next to us stopped talking randomly and stared at us, for reasons unknown to me. Right after I checked-in, a staff member came out and looked around, and my friend said, "They do stare here!" I'm not entirely sure they check updates so quickly. Food wasn't necessarily fast, considering the size of the plates wasn't that massive, and there wasn't a huge crowd ordering piles of food. The clientele was interesting, because people actually made an effort to dress up to go out, even if it's just to a cafe to study--if you know what I mean, then you know what I mean, you know? My friend seemed to appreciate the look of the clientele, and some of the people working there, too. There was also a cute, large dog outside laying behind our car. He came to greet us, then politely moved aside as we backed out to leave. This would be a good ending to an interesting experience.

    (3)

  • Jack C.

    Heeeeeelllllloooooooooo!!!! It's your friendly island hopping Mr. Smidgens here. On one of my trips back to the gathering place I was taken to Fresh Cafe' by an associate. I love this place. It reminded me of a little bit of Austin, TX right in the heart of Honolulu. I ordered a large chicken pesto penne pasta. Mmmmm...mmmm...mmmm with the fresh tomatoes on top this dish is awesome!! I washed it all down with a guava Italian soda. I suggest you go there now!!! Run, hurry, as fast as you can!!

    (4)

  • Russel M.

    Really good Cappuccino. Tried the Turkey Pesto Bagel today, needs more Turkey inside. Two thin slices doesn't do it and I'm not a big eater. Overall the atmosphere was great and free Wifi was a bonus. There is a special Holiday offer available right now. $50- will get you a $100- gift certificate.

    (4)

  • H. K.

    So there I was looking at the small counter with two girls behind the counter. I would say girls, because certainly they didn't act like customer service women. I ordered a salad and tomato bisque. The food was sub-par and so was the service. What's the deal? Do they NOT smile and show courtesy? Perhaps because i'm not a hipster, my service was lousy. Maybe I should use a hipster quote and say, "I was in to customer service before customer service was cool."

    (2)

  • Heather J.

    Very decent bagel sandwiches and great looking salads. They also have some fresh cookies that I did not get a chance to try but they looked yummy. I am working at a office close by and this was recommended for it's proximity and quality. I love to see free wifi as well. Definitely a good lunch spot that gets pretty busy.

    (3)

  • Marjorie C.

    Ambiance, decor, and good food and drinks is what makes Fresh Cafe stand out from other run-of-the-mill coffee shops and cafes. I haven't been in in awhile and was pleasantly surprised to see that they expanded the inside of the cafe. There is more seating, long tables and benches, a lender's library and a piano in the corner making the atmosphere a little bit more quirky, nerdy, trendy and hip all at the same time! Service is okay (I'll expand more on this in the end), it gets busy in the evenings, I haven't had any mistakes with my orders and the portions are worth the price (especially for the corn chowder!) What is really intriguing though is what Fresh Cafe has been trying to do for the community. The back part is called "Loft in Space" and hosts art exhibitions and is the location of ART AND FLEA (a gathering of local artists and vendors selling exciting vintage jewelry, cameras, clothing as well as artisan pieces...from feathered flowers to steampunk inspired wear). Fresh Cafe has taken on the challenge of creating a cultural and art community that may be contenders with cities like Paris, Hong Kong and New York (I hope!) Local artists as well as guest artists from the Mainland and abroad have already created artwork on the wall facing the parking lot. Fresh Cafe has done what many other new, kitschy cafes haven't accomplished...create a clientele that doesn't alienate new patrons. Hopefully, Fresh Cafe can keep it grounded and not feel like they want to gravitate towards being elitists...I give Fresh Cafe 5 stars because the food is good, the premise of what it stands for is "fresh" and what the Hawaii community needs is an outlet for art and culture which Fresh Cafe has helped create. I can see that it is evolving and changing and areas of improvement would be service from the staff. It gets very busy at times and the service becomes almost painfully slow and not very efficient (I don't need a doorman opening the door, maybe he can clean tables or help with making drinks). I look forward to coming back to Fresh Cafe time and time again for all their events!

    (5)

  • J M.

    If there's more than three people in line, just walk out. ..otherwise, four and a half stars!

    (2)

  • Christa Lei S.

    This is just for the warehouse alone. I went to a party here-- and I actually really love the venue. It's very small and intimate. However, maybe it was just me-- but how do you run out of WATER at a party?! You could fill up pitchers at the tap, but really? That probably isn't Fresh Cafe's fault, since the party was sponsored by Red Bull. They also have a nice, intimate upstairs section. However, it is REALLY small for a warehouse type party, I'd say throwing a smaller dance party, it'd be good. I also went to an art show here, and the warehouse section can accommodate that sort of thing too. I have yet to try the food. :) But I will probably go again. I wish they had a bigger parking spot, because finding parking around the area (the lot was closed by the time the party started) is such a pain!

    (4)

  • Murray B.

    Now that I have visited a couple of times, I got to say: I like the vibe here. Well run, clean and funky enough to feel different (in a good way) than some of the other cookie cutter style coffeehouses. I dropped in for an early dinner and had a turkey pesto melt as well as an italian soda. They were both excellent. After attending a holiday party here in December, I'm also looking forward to seeing another event in the cool attached space in the back. There are a couple things to know before getting here. While there is parking right next to the cafe, it is relatively limited. You might need to give yourself some extra time to find street parking. I sat outside on the patio and the subdued lighting there makes it challenging to read at night. If the rumor is true about more indoor seating being added, this becomes much less of an issue. I'm definitely coming back to discover more good food here!

    (4)

  • Debra V.

    First time eating at Fresh Cafe' yesterday, and while I've always been impressed with everything else (the atmosphere, decor, location, etc.) I'm now a fan of the food! All of the employees were incredibly sweet, being patient with me while I looked over the extensive menu. It was close to 11am, so while I wasn't hungry for breakfast, there were still those options if I wanted them. I chose a sandwich and soup combo, with a plantation iced tea. I picked the egg salad, and asked if I could get some of the items left off--one of which was the mustard. The cook was kind enough to mention there was mustard already in the egg salad, and was that still okay? I mentioned it was, I just didn't want all the extra that would've come with it. I also ordered the tomato bisque, just a cup. I chose to sit at one of the picnic tables inside--love the funky seating. I could see how it might get a little hard to find seating if it's super-busy. But I had no problem saying yes to the gentleman that asked if he could sit at the other end of the table while waiting for his food. I was probably the only one -not- on a computer, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying their food and internet access. Again, a definite plus. I didn't have to wait at all for my plantation iced tea, it was brought out right away. For a "small" size, it was very large, not overly filled with ice, and a nice mix of pineapple and tea. Not super-tart, and very refreshing! My soup got brought out next, and while it was a little too hot to dig in to right away, I couldn't help munching on a few of the croutons--delicious. They weren't the typically dry pieces of bread, nor the greasy, oil-soaked type. They were still crispy (even on the soup!) and had some nice herbs on them. I let me soup cool down a little, and started in on my sandwich. Egg salad, on wheat (they offered a variety of bread choices), with lettuce, tomato and mayo. The egg salad was delicious! I'm not a big fan of adding in all the "extra" stuff to egg salad, it should be simple. This was perfect! It wasn't mayonaisse-y-drippy, and there was enough of it to make the sandwich filling. The lettuce and tomato were incredibly fresh, both looking like they came right out of the garden. The soup was equally delicious. It had a small sprinkling of cheese, and with the herbs from the croutons, it was a rich, but not cloying, tomato flavor. I would've licked the bowl if I didn't think it would be inappropriate! Altogether, the total was about $12, not bad for a meal that I found very filling. They're going to always have problems with their parking, but that's about the only downside. Otherwise, Fresh Cafe' is definitely my new "go-to" restaurant for a fulfilling lunch!

    (4)

  • Kristen M.

    This place is a big mix of pros and cons for me, so I'm giving it a right down the middle rating of 3 stars. Pros first: 1. Contrary to lots of reviews, the girl with the pink hair was very helpful. Not friendly really, but courteous and informative. The person who brought our sandwiches out was super nice. So, good service IMO. 2. The food DID taste really fresh. We had our sandwiches on french bread, and it was soft and perfect. The avocado was just right ripe, and everything else was crisp and tasty. 3. The drinks are yummy! I had Ginger Peach Iced tea, on the pink haired girl's recommendation, and it was delicious. The Hubster Ginger Iced Tea, and it was good too. We got coffee before leaving - a Soy Caramel Machiatto and a Soy Haupia Latte. Soooo sweet, but so good. And nice foam on the top. Neutral: 1. I've heard they are vegan/vegetarian friendly. But really, the only vegan options are a plain garden salad, or a veggie sandwich with no cheese or mayo. So, pretty much the same as every other sandwich place. Cons: 1. Like everyone says, parking is a problem. We circled around several times to no avail. We finally parked on Ward and walked back. 2. It's a little on the pricey side. I get that it will cost more for local grown produce, and to support a local business. But two teas and two relatively small sandwiches for about $28 is kind of excessive. (The coffees were a separate bill, just under $10 for both.) 3. Tuna melts are cold, like the cheese is barely melted cold. And that's kind of a bummer. Summary: If you are in the area, especially if you are already parking nearby, I'd say it's worth it. But I don't think it's worth a trip JUST for Fresh Cafe.

    (3)

  • Robb T.

    Visited the Fresh Cafe twice in early June, tried the following menu items: BLAT on croissant Turkey pesto melt on bagel Veggie sandwich on ciabatta All were good. The roasted turkey in the melt was a little bit dry, but there was enough sauce to balance out. Servers were friendly. Nice, chill vibe. Space is still looking a bit rough, but hopefully will improve with time.

    (3)

  • Nakoa T.

    Fresh Cafe is great! I come here quite often to visit friends and eat. I LOVE LOVE LOVE there turkey pesto melt on ciabatta bread, its also really good with chicken I order it every time with a sweet plantation ICE tea its really yummy and refreshingly FRESH! Its a really trendy hip spot where not only can you eat but its a relaxing place to study or do work. I love all the artwork inside and out Pow Wow Hawaii did an excellent job! I say go check it out you wont be disappointed.

    (4)

  • lindsey m.

    I really like this place!! The atmosphere is really great. The teas are good with mango. My favorite things to eat are the peanut butter puffs and chicken pesto penne. I could eat those things all day long and be happy. They also have free wifi! So it's a good place to study =)

    (4)

  • Steven R.

    This was tough. I like fresh cafe... A lot! They always give great service and great food but it's not the Honolulu coffee company here. Sometimes they might be out of paper towels in the bathroom which is a little annoying but that's just me maybe. Aside from that ... Drink Tip: Make sure you order the Mango Ice Tea. If u like mango... U've just found your other half. It's heavenly!! It even comes with blueberries!! Like... Dang! :D

    (5)

  • Emi M.

    Where should I start... Right, let's start with parking. The parking lot for this cafe is structured in a very weird way. Once you drive it, the only way to get out of the parking lot is to back up. Yup...driving backwards till you hit the exit/entrance of the parking lot. The food was good and tasted healthy. No complains about that. The wait for the food to come was .....geez, more than 40 mins. We only ordered 2 regular sized sandwiches. Nothing fancy. Guess we were full from drinking water and their lemonade when the sandwiches arrived at our table. Advice: Better not go there with an empty stomach or super hungry mood, cause you will get so irritated by the wait. If you don't mind waiting, then you should try.

    (3)

  • Jerry L.

    Went here twice. I ordered the Egg Fatada. Both times it was great. Seems like a little but light and fluffy and has a nice side of salad. I plan to go again and order this breakfast. P

    (4)

  • Liz L.

    The few times I've been here recently have been much improved! Nice remodeling too. previous review: Ok, I just downgraded Fresh Cafe from 3 to 2 stars. What is it with places that operate on the premise that people will come in, chat, hang out, do some work on their laptops but then that same place plays music so loud that I can't have a conversation hear myself think or taste my food, much less get any work done. It's so frustrating. I wonder if the owners/staff know that loud music makes you eat faster and taste less? Or maybe that's the point. Here's the review I wrote previously: The food is pretty good. The coffee is good. The wifi is free. This is one of the few coffee shops in Honolulu that is open late. But the service is abysmal. I went in once and no one was at the counter and the three people in the kitchen (you can see into the kitchen from the front) saw me but ignored me for 5 straight minutes. Finally I asked for some help, and then the girl who was supposed to be at the counter finally showed up and took my order. Then she turned around and told it to the staff in the kitchen. This isn't a one-time thing either - they are always pretty slow. For that they get only 3 stars.

    (4)

  • Emily L.

    WOW! I can't believe I've never been here before! It's a bit hidden in the backroads of Ward so it can be easy to miss. I haven't heard much about this place until my friend took me here to eat one day for a late lunch/early dinner. The place is very nicely decorated. Long picnic-ish tables fill up one side of the room and more intimate, private tables filled up the other. A wide variety of people from students studying to business men having meetings to just anyone looking for a place to chill were there to eat and mooch off the free wi-fi they provide. My friend took me here one day and I ordered the Chicken Salad croissant along with a Jasmine+Mango tea. Sandwiches come in a bread of your choice ie: Bagel or Croissant, etc . Food was good and the tea was great. Very classy. My drink came with mint leaves (i think they were mint), and blueberries floating around inside. Wasn't too sweet and felt fantastically refreshing after having to lug around boxes of random stuff from the nearby storage unit. The lady who owns the restaurant who also took my order was so friendly. Big smile. She was very polite in talking to customers and seemed to really love her business. I do think it was a little bit on the pricier side for what they give you, but it's a nice place to check out and visit once in a while.

    (4)

  • Meg D.

    Sadly, Fresh Cafe is hit or miss. I mean REALLY hit or miss. One day, the service will be fast and friendly, the food spot on and delicious. And then two days later the experience will be awful. I want so badly to continue supporting this place and I probably will since it's close to my office, but sometimes they make it darn hard. Like other reviewers, I've experience the extreme rudeness and/or apathy of the staff. For my most recent not-great experience I ordered from a very friendly counter staff, but waited over 10 minutes for a cup of coffee. There were only two other people in line *after* me and I still had to wait for the coffee, which was wretched, by the way. Additionally, I ordered the coffee to go and the lids they provide don't actually fit onto the cups. After walking for three blocks with hot coffee spilling down my arm, I just gave up and tossed it. A waste of money and my time. Oh and the haupia "donut" I ordered was not actually a donut, but a haupia dinner roll with some goopy coconut gel squirted inside of. Nice try.

    (2)

  • Judith H.

    You are on your own for service ( clean your own table, water,etc.) and the food is okay but skimpy.

    (3)

  • Richard T.

    Great environmental ambiance, but I'd love to see the service match it. Lured here by a Groupon deal, I was excited to see what all the fuss was about. Upon reaching its location and finding that the parking lot was full, there was a worker who greeted me at my car, apologized that the lot was full, and redirected me to an open stall parallel with the street only 20 feet away. Wow.. great start! After parking and walking over, the worker once again greeted me and opened the door for me. This was honestly the most satisfactory part of my visit and I will be sure to get that worker's name IF I ever visit again. Once I entered, the workers inside were a little different. While not entirely rude, I could sense that customer service wasn't at the top of their list. Being a first-timer, I attempted to learn what the cafe was all about and get some suggestions for ordering from the cashier. I don't remember what he said exactly because it pretty much implied "Come on, man.. just order." After deciding on a BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, and Tomato) sandwich on a croissant with a side of corn chowder, I presented my Groupon to which he grunted and said "Dammit." Wow, man.. seriously? After waiting a fair 10min or so, I got my food. Portions were slightly small, though the quality of taste and "freshness" were there. I was a little disappointed that I had just paid $11 for all of it, but I can understand that it comes with the local support and fresh aspect of the food. All-in-all, it's not food that I would crave constantly. If you're in the area, it's a place you should visit as a first experience. Maybe you may be blessed with better service, but for the service I received, it's a good probability that I won't feel too much need to return.

    (2)

  • Kimberly L.

    As the only customers for Sunday 12=1 besides a woman working on her laptop, we felt rather lonely at Fresh Cafe. Couldn't decide between the salads or sandwiches, so Guy selected an Avocado Veggie Omlette on Blueberry Bagel and cup of Tomato Bisque ($10.50) with seasonal mixed berry smoothie ($5.95). Tomato bisque came loaded with big croutons and punching with flavor. if you've had the tomato basil soup from costco you'll love Fresh Cafe's tomato bisque. The omlette cooking method gets admirability points for having the egg done all the way through with no burnt parts, and the avocado still chunky and intact. It was just weird to eat it on a blueberry bagel (not Fresh Cafe's fault). It also lacked much taste. Attribute this to the healthy nature of the item. I wanted something with bacon, meat, cheese, crispy, and melting. I got a vegetarian vegetable dish. Smoothie came with a fresh strawberry sliced into it and on top of it. Sweet. Guy's breakfast parfait was yogurt with fresh fruits and a little sprinkle of granola and honey. Fresh. Nice. Nothing to complain about. The cappucino came in a wide-mouthed white mug with lots of foam. I have nothing to complain about with Fresh Cafe, but it came out to over $30 for breakfast where you order at the counter, so a-ok food aside, I'll stick with complimenting the Key-Guy-green paint, surprisingly modern interior in the industrial part of Queen St/Kakaako, and sick graffiti on the parking lot wall. Oh, and I approve of the outdoor picnic tables being dog-friendly!

    (3)

  • Sara H.

    fresh cafe is my new obsession! i don't know why but i loveeee studying at picnic tables! :) so fun! i also like that there is a lot of space to spread your stuff out! there are also a lot of outlets if you need to plug in. i've tried the pikake iced tea, the fresh yogurt bowl, the green tea and the acai bowl. all were delicious but i think a little over-priced. my biggest issue is that my large green tea costed $2.75 and there was no discount on refills! what the heck! the acai bowl was pretty good and at $8.95, the pricing was pretty standard. i was a little irritated because the bowl did not come as advertised! it had all the standard components (granola, honey, banana and strawberry) but the description of it said there would be bee pollen and fresh mint! i loveee bee pollen so i was sorely disappointed by its absence. the other food looks / smells really good too but prices are pretty steep given the proportions. other than that, i love the atmosphere, esp for catching up with a friend or studying. i really like the music they play! :)

    (4)

  • Charue P.

    Fresher than fresh sandwiches n salads. Turkey pesto melt was phenomenal! Ginger wasabi salad had a nice bite to it. The atmosphere is cozy n hip with a relaxed feel. Awesome art up on the walls make for the perfect urban photo op. Will definitely be back here to shoot some photos!!!

    (5)

  • Maika Y.

    it's alright. I think their sandwiches are overpriced, but it'a clean and has free wi-fi. I believe you get 25 cents off your drink if you bring your own cup. (environmentally friendly! yay!) I had their vinaigrette salad. I asked for olive oil and they said they didn't have any........what?!?!?!? It's 4-5 dollars which isn't too bad.

    (3)

  • Julie H.

    Came here a few times now and, so far, the food has always been spot on. Food: 5 stars Eco-friendly take out containers: 5 stars Free wifi: 5 stars Parking: 3 stars Friendliness: 3.5 Total: 4.3 stars (rounded down to 4 stars)!

    (4)

  • raechelle v.

    Finally got to check this place out. I was super excited after reading all the fab reviews. Went to check out a friend's art show and so the whole family came along. First of all, they gated off the parking lot for the event. Anyone with toddlers and babies know how scoring a good parking spot is crucial. It was also raining. We got turned away from the parking lot and the husband said that you have to be super careful where you park in this area because they are quick to tow your car. We parked pretty far and had to walk in the rain with the kids. When we finally arrived, I was a little shocked by how small the cafe was. Me and the kids were super hungry so I ordered a sandwich and soup combo for $10.25. I decided to get the sandwich on a bagel. We got ourselves seated on the bench and it was super hot in the dining area. I guess the air conditioner was broken. The cashiers there were super friendly and I liked how they brought the food to your table. When I took a sip of my corn chowder, it was cold. It had a strange taste to it and I would have preferred if the soup was a little more thick and creamy. But, the saving grace of Fresh Cafe.....the Club Sandwich was a winner! The onion bagel was warm and soft. I took a bite into the sandwich and breathed a sigh of relief. My husband wasn't too pleased though. He was hungry for some kanak attack status meals. He felt that the prices were a little steep so he chose not to eat anything. Then, we went to the back to the loft/stage area. I really liked the chill vibe of the place. There was a little bar where drinks were served. I like the atmosphere of this place and it has real potential. Maybe I'll come back here another day without the kids for some mommy alone time.

    (3)

  • Shine F.

    This place should probably be closer to UH, but even in the heart of the Ward area warehouses, it seems like a decent place to study or read. I went around 3pm expecting the place to be empty, but there were around a dozen customers spread out, almost all of them were by themselves, milking a cup of tea or coffee and using the free wi-fi. I'm pretty sure most of them had been there for hours. I got the last parking spot - yay! If I hadn't I would probably have had to leave because there's not much street parking in the area during the work week. The atmosphere was too quiet for a normal restaurant (If I had been there with friends, I would have felt like I was interrupting the study sessions). I ordered take-out, and the wait time was not too bad - I think less than 10 minutes, and my drink was brought over when it was finished instead of waiting until my sandwich was ready. Pesto Turkey Melt - $8 on choice of bread (bagel). Tasty, and made with thanksgiving style turkey meat (not deli style) but I thought it was a little odd that it was made with dark meat. Mango flavored Jasmine iced tea - not pre-sweetened, so you can choose how sweet you want to make it. $4. I would come back if I need to study, but the atmosphere and the location will keep me away otherwise. It was hard to decide between 3 & 4 stars. I went with 4 because I've been to one art & flea and really enjoyed that experience.

    (4)

  • Deanna P.

    One of the best acai bowls on Oahu and also they have hands down the best Strawberry iced tea that I have ever had.

    (5)

  • Natasha H.

    Came here for lunch as I have driven by it many times. The cashier at the front was TERRIBLE! Good God! Sorry that it's my first time coming here and I don't know what type of bread you use! Jeez, she made you feel like you were an idiot. She simply pointed down and then, as the customer, you look down at the top of the counter where most places list out the breads they have, then see nothing, only to problem solve and realize she meant to look at the case for the variety. WHY NOT JUST SAY - we have all the breads in the case ... I recommend blah blah blah. SIMPLE SERVICE. I bothered her again - to order - the chicken salad sandwhich. This chicken salad sandwhich tasted like they used canned chicken - I might be mistaken but I have had plenty of delicious chicken salad sandwiches elsewhere. I do love bagels though and I had picked the bagel for my bread choice and it was tasty. My sister ordered the tomato soup, it wasn't bad but it tasted really sweet - not my taste. I am in no rush to get back here, but suppose is someone wanted to go there I might go try something new - or at least get a plain bagel with creamcheese. Sure hope I don't get that terrible cashier lady again. Wow - she ruined my experience from the start.

    (2)

  • Michael S.

    Since I am the DUKE(yes...you read it!), I guess it's only right that I write a review about my Dukedom. Fresh...Fresh...Fresh ta' def! They don't call it fresh fo' nuttin'! I guess going to an awesome, funky, hipster, artistic, creative venue/coffee shop and had a slight effect on my spelling. FRESH. Bagel Sandwiches and Pineapple Lilikoi Italian Soda? Fresh. FREE wi-fi? Fresh. Poetry Slams once a month? Fresh. Artistic flea market? Fresh. Farmers Market supporting local business? Fresh. Amazing venue for musicians and artists? Fresh. Bar for me to get my sip on? Fresh...Why thank you fresh, for being so diverse, spontaneous and always being FRESH. This place is stashed away in the industrial area of Kakaako, where the owner has converted a large warehouse to what is now the "place to be" during the day. You'll see everyone from business people to students to fixie bike riders to the grandma who has been know to "break-a-hip" on the dance floor. So if you have a FRESH bone in your body or maybe not so fresh, you should come down here for the day and get your FRESHness replenished. Oh....and support local business! Mikey-Fresh

    (5)

  • Radiant C.

    I really love this place, the food is amazing, the drinks are amazing, especially the iced tea and cappuccino. My favorite dish has to be the pesto. There was one occurrence when my food took forever, I waited for so long that I had to go back to the cashier, and when I asked for my food, they apologized and said they completely forgot about it. Of course, I was hoping for a few bucks off for my meal, or even a free meal, but, that surely wasn't the case. Ah, well, I must realize not all food places do that. Nonetheless, I enjoy oming here with my laptop or my study materials and during the day I would sit outside and just study. At night, I just stick to being inside and enjoy the vibe in the venue. The place is good for a concert venue, but, honestly, I think the stage should be a bit higher so that people in the back would be able to see the artist on stage, just a suggestion.

    (5)

  • Ron C.

    Cool, clean, and open. Like the look and feel. Really good espresso and san's.

    (4)

  • Lofa L.

    I don't drink coffee but I'm addicted to the pesto pasta salad. No joke. Strawberry ice tea is winners too! I want some....I'm hungry......grrrrrrrrr

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    Just recently found this place because I heard they carry dessert from Fairycakes. Nice place with friendly staff and fresh local food. Love that they use local produce and support other local vendors. Excellent place to meet up with friends or just to grab a quick bite to eat. Free wi-fi and free parking is a plus. Will keep going back and hope to see more local baked goods fill their display case.

    (5)

  • Alex R.

    Rating is for lunch. I got robbed there, 25 minutes and 25 dollars gone forever. The wait for 2 soups a salad and a bagel was 25 minutes FOR TAKE OUT. They also forgot my salad. When I confronted the girl at the register and said its a ridiculously long wait for such a basic meal and there were only a couple other people there. She didn't even say sorry or make up some excuse she just looked at me like I took a crap on her vegan cupcake, no words all expression. Looks like a cool place to hang out but if you want a quick meal this is not the place.

    (1)

  • Kelly T.

    SHORT REVIEW: Because I've only been to Fresh Cafe a couple of times I can only comment on a few things that I appreciate about this spot. My first visit was at a recent Yelp event, but I'd been reading reviews posted by my Yelper friends since last February...I have no idea why it took me so long to try it out. I bookmarked it at some point, but never really made the effort to go there...better late than never, right? FIRST TIME: I've driven past FC so many times but had never actually stopped to visit it in person. The location is super convenient, but you can easily miss it if you're not paying attention. It's for sure not SBUX, but that's what I like about it. The atmosphere is definitely low-key during the day and it makes for a fun and comfortable venue at night. Too bad I had to leave early...it was a school nite. :0( It's also a nice spot to meet up with friends who work in the area or grab an espresso on your way to the mall. NEXT TIME: I'll definitely keep this place bookmarked on my favorites...it's a keeper. :0)

    (4)

  • Angel H.

    Just got back from lunch at Fresh Cafe. That BLTA (bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado on an Everything bagel) was the BESSST! And their vanilla latte is super yummy, too. On previous visits, I've had their Spinach Bacon Salad--see a theme?--and that's also pretty amazing. Lots of seating. Chill place. There are about seven or so parking spots, so it's hit or miss, but somehow I always seem to get one.

    (5)

  • Teri Y.

    This is a great little place to relax & have some good eats. Tiffany & Ramsey are very friendly & make you feel right at home. We had some Italian sodas, a turkey pesto bagel, chicken tofu sesame seed salad and the corn chowder. It was all awesome, parking is great, and they play great music, too. I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    Love it. Such a cute little place to go hang out and enjoy some good food and good coffee. I'm never disappointed. I usually get a bagel sandwich and corn chowder. Love it! Usually a younger crowd. BEWARE OF PARKING! There are all of 4 spots. So your SOL, or you have to park at Sports Authority and hoof it.

    (5)

  • Su-Lynn T.

    Pretty chill cafe. We had a groupon and me and the hubs split a snack: chicken salad sandwich on an everything bagel and an iced Thai coffee (coffe with condensed milk). Service was friendly and brisk. I'm from NY, and NY has the best bagels hands down, so I was surprised that this bagel was actually pretty decent. Best one I've had in the pacific so far ;) The sandwich was pretty yummy, I liked the ingredients in it and they were also very fresh. The Thai coffee was also good and the large size is generous. the space is very laid-back, modernized, and still maintains a rough around the edges feel. I recommend it for a place to grab a quick bite if you're driving around Honolulu yet still want a quality healthy meal. Parking spaces are limited and very cramped though, so maybe finding street parking would be better.

    (3)

  • Peety P.

    As so many people have said, service here is plain bad. Hopefully management takes a cue from the reviews and makes some changes. Food was...meh. $8 for a bland, greasy bagel sandwich?? No thank you. I'll spend my money elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Art T.

    My first experience with Fresh Cafe was quite positive in terms of the service and food there. I had the corn chowder my friends recommended and the coffee. The corn chowder was very tasty. My friends said that normally it seemed to be thicker than what we had today. Nonetheless it was delicious. I like to crunchiness of the fresh corn in the chowder. The only negative experience I had there was from the smokers sitting two tables down. The wind was blowing their cigarette smoke towards us. I wish Fresh Cafe would have no smoking sign on their outdoor seatings like Satura Cake Shop at Ward. It would have been much better experience especially the weather is nice this afternoon.

    (4)

  • Winnie C L.

    I really like Fresh Cafe, menu is awesome, good price and good size. Parking is terriable. It is a really nice place to hang out, way better than "Coffee with the Star". Bunch of us always enjoy sittting out side, enjoying our lunch, day off and chatting story. Love their salad and soup. Will def go back again.

    (4)

  • Tawny A.

    reasons that Fresh Cafe makes me happy: it is clean. they carry vegan cupcakes. nalo green. strawberry bagel with cream cheese. egg salad. havianas. ginger wasabi dressing. haupia latte. low-key. friendliness. chip selection (thats a big one for me) their willing to tweak an order around to make it just right for you.

    (5)

  • Wayne T.

    Went here with my Boopkins and ordered the soup (Corn Chowdah) and sandwich (Pesto Turkey) combo. The Chowdah was decent, but the Pesto Turkey sandwich was served on a ghetto rock-hard bagel with a glob of pesto just slapped right on top of it. How in the hell did this take 10 min's to make? The next time I want to spend $10 on a soup and sandwich combo I'll go to Subway, where at least I know I'll get my money's worth. BELOW AVERAGE!

    (2)

  • Lauren B.

    Corn chowder is to DIE for! Awesome hippie vibe to the place. Parking is a pain though!

    (4)

  • Claudia M.

    Came here for their poetry night. Had some of their awesome food and watched their poetry night they had available in the other room.

    (4)

  • Mayo C.

    I thought the raspberry latte would be awesome but they put waaay too much syrup in it. Even though the server said it was popular, but 'twas not berry good at all. He said he had never tried yet, so is that what employees are supposed to say just to push a product? I cant imagine such a nasty drink being so popular..

    (2)

  • Leah M.

    I was so excited to go to Fresh Cafe, but was a bit disappointed with the menu and the ambiance. It was ok, definitely has potential and worth checking out, but nothing spectacular. Will go back, but with slightly lowered expectations.

    (3)

  • Clarissa M.

    We tried this place out based on the reviews Yelp. We were not fans - we tried the corn chowder, bagel and cream cheese, yogurt parfait, and two jasmine iced teas. They did not have any glasses for the water because they were still doing dishes at 3:30ish in the afternoon. The single cashier was apologetic for the delay with our foods and drinks. I saw our food sitting at the counter so I asked the cook if I could just grab it myself so the soup would not get cold, etc. The place has the word FRESH in it - but there were dirty dishes in sight, bread/bagels on the floor behind the cashier. They were in its bag, but I would hope there was a better place to store such items. The bathroom was also not clean. It looked like a joint for people to use their Internet and have "fresh cafe" items to eat while inside.

    (2)

  • Teresa M.

    Sandwiches & soup are delicious. The service is slow, which is what stops me from going here more often...

    (3)

  • Lea K.

    The ginger wasbi salad with sandwhich combo was great but service was tad bit slow.

    (3)

  • David H.

    i always go there and get the kona fresh toast, never disappointed me. parking spot maybe be difficult to find since it's crowded

    (4)

  • Darcie I.

    Used an old groupon here, and was pleasantly surprised. Tucked in the middle of auto repair shops, stopped by to grab a quick breakfast. They use local, organic foods. I ordered the blt breakfast which was served on a toasted everything bagel. Yumola! Bf had the vegetarian avocado omelet, also on a toasted bagel. Iced coffee was perfect, and it was a very chillaxing vibe. They have a little section of books you can read while you're enjoying your food. Looking forward to starting another day off with my pea there. They have these cool air plants hanging outside, and maybe one of the workers will be kind enough to let me take a tiny plant home. *cough cough*

    (4)

  • C. K.

    I was pretty excited to eat here. I've heard really great things about their food. First off, the parking here is terrible. There are maybe 6 or 7 stalls and its one way. So that means when you're leaving you need to REVERSE out onto the street. Weird. When I got there I ordered the pesto melt bagel. The barista at the counter told me it was one of the most popular dishes. Not only did it take close to 15 minutes to make my bagel it costed almost $8! The bagel wasn't even toasted!!! I really wanted the cupcake too so I got the red velvet. That was $3+. I know what you're wondering and the answer is no, it was just a normal size cupcake, not anything bigger than you could get at Hokulani for $2.50 or $2.75 Finally, the last thing that bothered me was the heat. It was crazy. Maybe its a "green" thing but I think that they just placed the ac in a weird spot. Right next to the door so all the cold air goes right outside when someone walks in. It would probably be "greener" to put it in the back of the restaurant. On a brighter note, the bagel was pretty good and the cupcake was yummy. I will definitely go back to try one of the pesto pastas. I saw it come out when I was waiting and it looked really delicious. Of course, I'll go with someone else in case we can't find parking or I need someone to kill the time with while we wait! I took one star off for parking, one star off for the ridiculous wait and one star off for the heat!

    (2)

  • Mahea V.

    This place is going on my "Been there, tried that, and don't need to go back..." list. We had good customer service, that's all the good I can say. I was looking for the chicken pesto penne pasta, because that's what I wanted to try. But was kinda rushing and didn't order it since I couldn't find it on the menu. Only if I knew it was listed under "salads". Then my review may have been very different. But now I guess I'll never know. I ordered the turkey pesto bagel on an onion bagel. Bleh... For $8, I was expecting flavor. The corn chowder had very little flavor, however, my husband could taste the can flavor from the canned corn. It was also very watery. When I think "chowder", I think of a soup that is thickened some how, and Wikipedia agrees. (really, google it...) Ordered the kalua pig nachos for my son. The tomatoes and pineapple were salty. There was hardly any cheese in it. And the kalua pig was stringy. My husband ordered the bbq'd kalua pig sandwich on the everything bagel. He was somewhat pleased with his food. My son and I had the guava Italian soda. Couldn't taste any guava at all. And the mango iced tea was very watery, not much tea nor mango taste. The good thing was that it made us feel green because we were drinking out of nice clear plastic cups made of corn. All in all, I was very disappointed. Ugh, the worst $40 I've spent in I don't know how long. Sorry to all those who disagree. Maybe I just went in on a bad day.

    (1)

  • Jason G.

    This place was great !!! I had an awesome time deejaying over here, and their selection of different food and drinks as well as taro chips was something you dont see every day.. They have a lot of different events over here. A lot of benefit events for the needy. the only problem i have with this venue is the parking... If you want good parking you need to get there early. other then that fresh cafe receives 4 stars from me :) -Tron

    (4)

  • Cory S.

    After reading all the positive things about Fresh Cafe, a friend and I decided to try it out. First thing we noticed, parking was the pits. Every stall was taken but we got lucky and scored a space right beside the telephone pole out in front. Talk about good timing! The decor inside was ok, a little dark but we didn't mind that. She ordered the tuna melt on the onion bagel and I got the club sandwich on a croissant. I was going to order the chicken pesto pasta salad, but was told that they had run out of pesto. On a Saturday morning. Whatever, I can deal. We also ordered a cup of corn chowder, a guava iced tea and a mango iced tea. The teas came out first. There was a hint of a floral flavor to the teas despite the liquid flavoring added to it. Rose? Hibiscus? We couldn't place it but in the end decided that it couldn't be hibiscus because my friend is terribly allergic to the stuff. What we weren't ready for was the extremely long wait. It wasn't that crowded, we had been the only ones to order food. How hard could it be to make a tuna melt? After about 25 minutes, our food came out. But they'd forgotten the soup. So we had to wait another 15 minutes for the chowder to arrive and then had to ask for an extra spoon as we were sharing the bowl. Not sure what people are talking about when they say it has no potatoes in it. Our cup was loaded with potatoes, making it more of a potato corn chowder than anything else. Bacon? Virtually non existent in our soup. Maybe we came on the wrong day? Flavor was weak, could have used a bit more salt but it was better than most overall. The sandwiches were nothing spectacular, not something I couldn't have made at home for less. I think I just really wanted that pasta salad. Probably won't go back as we both felt it wasn't quite worth the 25 dollar price tag.

    (2)

  • Sara I.

    First time there and I'll be back. i parked all the way in and was very pleased to see their little aquaponic setup in the back. The staff was nice and helpful. They recommended the ultimate omelette (sandwich) and the avo veggie omelette (sandwich). i went with the avo veggie on whole grain ciabatta. YUM! first of all, you get to choose your bread from a variety of bagles, croissant, ciabatta, etc. second, the omelette was great. very tasty. i envisioned sliced avocado with the veggie omelette, but it seemed the avocado was actually incorporated into the omelette. the only thing i was a little bummed to see was the tray of mini red velvet cupcakes from sam's club in their fridge. would have loved it if they baked their own. oh well, that won't stop me from coming back, just from ordering the red velvet.

    (5)

  • Melanie B.

    I always make it a point to make a stop here when I come to visit. Super chill spot with good food and coffee. I always pick up a bag of their Kona coffee before heading back to the Mainland and I get super bummed as soon as I run out. I love Fresh Cafe!

    (5)

  • Jermy D.

    Cliff Notes: Good food, decent drinks, and chill ambiance with free wi-fi! Limited parking that is usually filled when school is in session. Food Food is pretty delish and reasonably priced. Their soups and salads are some of my favorites. Try the tomato bisque soup in a cup (portions are huge!). Or, if you feel like a salad, I recommend the chicken tofu salad or the wasabi chicken salad. Both delicious and delightful. They also have a nice assortment of sandwiches served on a bagel. Noms indeed! Drinks/Booze They don't serve booze unless the back space is open for an event. BUT, do try their pikake iced tea. It's tasty, pretty, and always garnished with some sort of fruit. Service They're always friendly and accommodating!

    (4)

  • Mike O.

    my wife absolutely loves this place. We go every week for lunch at least once. She eats the Vege bagel and I eat the club. with a cup of chawda and an italian soda. Perfect.

    (5)

  • Dee C.

    I ordered the veggie sandwich with the ciabatta bread: avocado, alfalfa sprouts, Swiss cheese, shredded carrots, tomato, cucumber, red onion, mushroom, lettuce, mayo, and dijon mustard. The sandwich was superb. The sandwich was fresh and absolutely yummy. I also had the passion fruit iced tea which came with a few blue berries and mint leaves in it and it tasted so refreshing. My friend had half portion of chicken Ginger salad and he said it was "alright". He had the turkey cranberry sandwich with ciabatta bread; fresh turkey, cranberry, red onion, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, alfalfa sprouts, mayo, and yellow mustard. He said the sandwich was amazing. He also ordered the tomato bisque soup and the strawberry Italian soda but I liked my drink better. Overall a great sandwich place because the ingredients tasted fresh. The drinks were good and a nice cafe!

    (5)

  • Lee-Ann W.

    Cute place. I asked for their veggie omelette with egg whites, but since the egg mixture was pre-mixed; they could not meet that request. The sandwich with eggs, veggies and avocado was good and I chose a whole wheat bread as the crust. I went in on a Thursday around 9:15 am and there was one cook, one coffee barista and one order taker and it took about 10 minutes to get the order. I can say I love the vibe; the chill atmosphere especially if you are not between appointments or in a rush AND the COFFEE WAS DELICIOUS and worth the wait. I had an Americano with steamed soy and there is something to be said for coffee that isn't pumped out to the masses in an attempt to meet the time-strapped demands of the early morning off-to-work crowd. If I am in the area and have time between appointments and need a coffee fix, I will definitely be back to visit. I had hoped to get a pic of their cutesy rainbow laden bike frame for bicycles, but I was in a rush! Hey what you think - I'm not one of those rushed morning people? LOL ;-)

    (4)

  • Chris O.

    I have been coming here pretty frequently the last few weeks to study. I haven't ordered anything other than black coffee so I cannot make give a review based off of their menu. However, I do enjoy Fresh's indoor and outdoor seating areas. Indoors, it's nice and cool with a good amount of wall outlets for people's laptops. Outside, if you're fortunate enough to grab a table against the wall, you'll have easy access to a wall outlet (try to avoid sitting near or under the A/C because it drips water). Fresh's location is known for tight parking, but they do offer a private lot that' will accommodate roughly 8 cars (I think?). There are also 2-3 stalls on the left of the building where the owners park. You are allowed to double park behind them, just make sure you let them know. TIPS Free wifi (just ask an employee for the password) Try to arrive before 6:30pm because parking after that is nonexistent Open late! Not good for groups larger than 4-5 people (you'll end up hogging all the tables)

    (4)

  • Douglas M.

    I wish Management would take a serious look at their customer service here. I have been to Fresh Cafe 4 times due to the group I belong to meeting there on a fairly regular basis mostly at 6-7 pm. on weekday nights. On 3 out of the 4 occasions, they have either forgotten to make a portion of the order (pre-paid!) or have not made it all due to them being out of ingredients. On all of those occasions, I have not found this out until, after a wait of 20 minutes, I have gone up to the counter to check on it. At that time, both the chef as well as the counter girl's attitude could be best described as cavalier and/or indifferent to the situation which would be inexcusable in any other establishment. These two people seem to lack any kind of managerial oversight, probably resulting in this kind of come see- come saw indifference. I would like to continue Fresh Cafe and its owners in their mission as there is a place for it, but at the same time, they do owe it to their customers to provide a better level of customer service and attention. Food is ok, but not great. Would not patronize if only because of poor customer service and attitude.

    (2)

  • Charli T.

    At first, I was kinda like "oh boy, another place where all the trendy douchebags go to get their 'artsy' hard-on" but now I feel bad for initially thinking that since they're way better than that. The atmosphere is extremely comfortable there. The workers are all super nice. Coffee's really good... Free Wi-Fi. I can go on and on. Also, they tend to be the only place I can go to late at night to have fresh salads for dinner instead of fattening choices that late night food places tend to offer. (They're open till 1 am). I love their wasabi Ginger salad. So refreshing when eaten really late at night.

    (5)

  • Jeff G.

    A great place for friendly atmosphere, fresh sandwiches, soups, salads or light and healthy breakfasts. Great to hang out and use the free wi-fi BEST OF ALL; the art gallery Loft in Space is a hidden gem! Contemporary artists come from the mainland or around the globe to support Hawaiis growing art scene which the cafe/gallery space is fostering... exhibitions change around once a month so its great to stop by and see whats new.

    (5)

  • M M.

    This place ROCKS! I went here today for the first time after Art & Flea (which, btw, is a must-see...great little market where young local artists sell their wares). I went around 9:00 and they were packed from the event. A sign posted said their hours changed and they now close at midnight. My drink was an iced americano. Not as strong a coffee flavor as some places, but they listened to me when I said light on the ice, which many coffee joints ignore. The barista girls were a bit busy so I'll forgive them for not making conversation. I had a delicious red velvet cupcake that they didn't make, but I give them props for serving it on a cute little leaf plate at a perfect temperature. It's nice that they sell fruit on the side, and I was told by a regular that their sandwiches are delicious. The vibe is awesome...it's a small place but a good seating arrangement. The walls are not cluttered with a bunch of postings, just very light and...fresh. I don't know what reviewer "a.c" is talking about...this place is a gem. Sorry it's not Starbucks...actually, I'm not sorry. There was another reviewer who was too hard on the tea...it's tea, many of them are floral based so...yeah. Perhaps the sandwiches aren't a bargain, the service can be slow and parking does suck, but it is the middle of the city. Lighten up and give this place an honest chance!

    (4)

  • Cecily C.

    I love: - a nice respite from the bustle of downtown - corn chowder, though as one poster mentioned, "no potatoes", flavor, creaminess and thickness are still exceptional, with bacon-y goodness and lots of chunky corn and onions - veggie sandwich, but I have it on croissant. Lettuce, cucumber, avocado, red onion, tomato, mushrooms, cheese, mustard, mayo. Simple and good! - taro chip side order - free wi-fi - ask an employee for log-in info. - restrooms available in the eatery. No borrowing of a key with a huge key ring object so you will remember to not walk off with it, and having to find a restroom "upstairs, down the hall to the right, catch the elevator to the loft and then hail a taxi back" kind of thing. could be better: - parking, and it's only one way in, one way out, watch your exit onto Queen St & if you get the inside stall you have to back all the way out onto Queen. I've changed my mind and gone elsewhere many times, if the lot is full. - atmosphere - had an enclosed garage feel, kind of dark, hollow tile walls. Eclectic, artsy, abstract, and alternative music to match. Didn't recognize a single song I could start singing along to. Customers spared! Space recently expanded to accommodate more people. - serve yourself water, and once you're served your order, it's pretty much do it yourself...

    (4)

  • Tara C.

    Like everyone else, I am a fan of Fresh Cafe. Partially because its locally owned, partially because I can hide out there all day with free wi-fi and almost totally because the food is fresh and tasty. My new fave isn't actually on the menu, but it should be. I wanted to order Chicken Pesto Pasta - but they were out of pasta, so they suggested that I have it with spinach. The spinach was fresh and the pesto was amazing (I make my own, so I like to *think* I know pesto). I also really appreciated that they recommended a substitute, sounds like a no-brainer, but I appreciated it anyway. And ever notice..everyone there, staff and guests, are smiling? I mean, how can you beat a place like that? If you go: leave your attitude at home and get the spinach with pesto.

    (5)

  • Mari V.

    I have never tried on of their drinks so this rating refers to the food. CORN CHOWDER...... is the Best! Thats all i can say about this place for the positive note. We ordered food (corn chowder, penne pesto salad and the spinach bacon salad) and i kid you not, it took 30+ minutes to make. The corn chowder is already made so I guess it takes a very long time to make the salads. Not really any taste to either of the salads. The spinach bacon salad was oily and the penne pesto was bland. I will probably go back here only for the corn chowder and to try their drinks.

    (3)

  • Paul T.

    I was excited about this place -- a cool-looking, presumably healthy restaurant in an area of Kaka'ako lacking such options -- but it let me down. Went there for lunch during the work day, hoping to get in and out without too much delay. There was no line -- a positive sign. The food, however, took about 25 minutes to arrive, and all we ordered was a bagel sandwich and a simple salad. Not a great start. The food itself was okay, but certainly not worth the price. The salad, although called "large," was fairly small and contained only lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a few small pieces of chicken. The turkey pesto bagel sandwich had generous amount of turkey but was a bit rich and also too expensive for what you get. On the upside, the environs are neat, the outdoor seating is fairly pleasant, and the fact it's open late is cool. If service can be accelerated and portions brought more in line with price (or vice versa), we'll have a winner.

    (2)

  • Jennie L.

    Whenever I have a craving for a light and healthy meal or want to chill with a friend over drinks while sitting outdoors on a quiet, sunny afternoon.. I think about coming to Fresh Cafe!! I'm just in love with their salad and soup combo.. The ginger wasabi chicken and tofu sesame seed salads are my favorites, and you can't go wrong with either the corn chowder or tomato bisque.. both very hearty and delicious!! They give huge portions too, so if you're not sharing with someone, opt for a half order or cup-sized soup. As for drinks, I'm usually a coffee addict, but I always end up getting the iced tea here. The pikake is very nice, but the jungle is phenomenal!! Very, very refreshing. I wish it was more consistent though.. At times, it's dense with flavor and even has fresh fruit inside, while at others it's watered down. Fresh Cafe definitely has a hipster vibe going for it.. It's decorated with eclectic fixtures and I've seen art featured inside. They also sell locally-made desserts (although they look intriguing, such as green tea or s'more cupcakes, I've found them overpriced and not very tasty..) and are eco-friendly as well (the cold drink cups are made of corn). The worst thing here is the parking.. And don't even think about parking in the adjacent lots because they won't hesitate to tow you, and FAST. That, and not the friendliest customer service keeps me from giving a 5-star rating.. but it seems my inner hipster can't stay away from this place.

    (4)

  • Shandis C.

    This little cafe is hidden which makes you feel like you've found this amazing secret spot, but really, it's no secret since it's gained a large loyal following and rightfully so. Fresh Cafe sells fresh salads, bagel sandwiches, soups, desserts, smoothies, coffees and specialty drinks. Oh! And cupcakes! How could I forget the cupcakes. I've had the tofu chicken salad, and the ginger chicken salad which were both very good. They pile on the tofu and the grilled chicken, and the dressing is very tasty. Also, you GOTTA try the corn chowder. It is SO. GOOD. Salads will run you around $5 - $8, depending on the salad and the size. You can also get combos (soup/salad, sandwich/salad, etc) that will cost around $10. I'm not a bagel fan, so I always substitute a croissant for a bagel when I order a sandwich and it is oh-so-butter-ly fabulous! It's not noted on the menu that you can sub croissants so just ask when ordering. And don't forget to save room for their vegan cupcake after your healthy salad...you've eaten a salad so you can spare a few calories for a cupcake!! A vegan one at that, so bonus health star! It's a small space but I always find a seat (they have both indoor and outdoor seating). My husband comes here to study later in the evening. They have free wi-fi. They are also open till 1am or 2am, something which is good since the "other" coffee establishment is only open till 11pm. Parking can be a little tricky, so be prepared to scour the street for some parking. Fresh also hosts a variety of events on certain evenings, such as poetry slams, concerts, etc, which admittedly I have never been to, but I have gone to "Art and Flea" (usually happens 1x/month) which is a super playground for those who love all things vintage, handmade or unique! Love it! Overall, Fresh Cafe has a unique, modern, homey feel to it, with great healthy food, and it's a place that I find myself gravitating to more often these days!

    (4)

  • Teresita S.

    Why did it take sooo long for me to find this place! I first knew about Fresh Cafe after driving by it one afternoon. The structure is very attractive and hard to miss. Parking can be a little bit of an issue on occasions, but most of the time is fine. They have a nice variety of sandwiches, breads and bagels. My favorite: BLAT on an everything bagel. I've tried this sandwich in other places, but no one has lived up to Fresh Cafe's taste. The chicken salad and turkey cranberry sandwiches are also delicious. Salads are unique. I'm always debating between Ginger Wasabi and Warm Spinach, Bacon & Garlic Salads. They're both sooo delicious. The latter is very garlicky, which I totally love. I've also had the Chicken Tofu Sesame, and I highly recommend it. I was not impressed by their Corn Chowder. It was a little watered down, so I've never ordered soup again. Great variety of flavored teas. My favorite: Ginger Iced Tea. Order a combo... I think that's the way to go, as lunch can get pricey otherwise.

    (5)

  • Brent S.

    Great place to work outside of the office. Just a few blocks outside of downtown, the atmosphere is comfortable and the free wi-fi makes it very convenient. The food and coffee is great, which of course makes it a great place to take a break. I love the bacon and eggs bagel. Just a perfectly balanced dish. The pesto pasta is a great light lunch.

    (4)

  • a c.

    Today was my first time at Fresh Cafe. It's a hole in the wall, with challenging parking & a low-key atmosphere. The interior looks slapped together with a mix-match theme of 'yeah, i guess this will work' style. The menu consists mainly of sandwiches, salads & coffee drinks. I hesitated a moment to order any food here as the row of whole papayas lined below the menu were all bruised and in some form of molding. "Are these the ingredients used in the dishes?" It didn't really give me a good impression. Especially since there was a fly in the muffin glass case showing off his flying skills. Anyways, we ordered a veggie bagel on honey oat, a wasabi chicken salad & a mango italian ice soda. I wasn't expecting much since the atmosphere already carried that impression for me. However, I must say I liked the veggie bagel very much. It was filled with cucumber, avocado, red oceans, cheese & assorted goodies. The Wasabi Chicken Salad we could have done without. The mango italian soda was really watered down. All in all, if I must & there's parking... I'll come here for the veggie bagel again. Word has it, Fresh Cafe is the product of We Sell Things 4U.

    (3)

  • Brian A.

    My first initiation in the Fresh Cafe phenomenon was at Honolulu's first ever Elite Yelp event. We had a great time and were introduced to their really good chicken pesto pasta salad. Since I was just passing through, I thought I'd stop by and quickly pick some up for a snack. When I got there it wasn't busy at all. There were a few people sitting outside and one guy in front of me ordering. After placing my order for a small $4.95 chicken pesto pasta salad, I waited. The wait was long, upwards of at least 20 minutes to get my order. Not too sure what the deal was with that, but that was a pretty long wait. Especially for a cafe with few people in it. Usually I don't harp on wait time, but I expected a speedy entrance and exit based on what I ordered. The salad was good though. It's exactly what I encountered the first time and I ate it all up. It is penne rigate pasta and little cubes of potatoes and chicken covered in pesto sauce. It was excellent and filling! The portion was also a lot larger than I was expecting. I was thinking it would come in one of those small little plastic boxes like at the grocery store, but got a whole plate lunch sized salad. For the money, it was a great value. The ambiance, I would describe as almost "scrapbook trendy." There was a lot of thought and creativity that went into the creation of the place. There are little notes everywhere, but it's nice, clean, and organic feeling. I like it. The inside is small, but cozy and they do have plenty of tables outside to take advantage of the Pacific breeze. The kitchen is small and if you go over to watch, you'll see their monthly activity calendar written right on the window. Since I walked over, parking wasn't an issue for me, but they do have a small lot. Something to keep in mind if you are heading over here for lunch or any event.

    (4)

  • Esteban W.

    You can't really FU*K up a coffee house. The concept is freakin simple provide a few easy components, sprinkle in HIPNESS and you'll get every caffeined-cracked-out college student spending more time sipping coffee at your place than hitting up Wailana for mid-morning munchies. First, have awesome coffee... although for many dim-witted undergrads and pretentious grad students think they know coffee, many can't tell the difference between Pike's Place at Starbucks and sludge from the Ala Wai - I can... the sludge tastes better. Fresh Cafe, or simply, "Fresh" has got some great tasting beans here. Not only that, they manage to have a decent size UNDER $2, like a whole quarter less - unheard of - NO WAY - I KNOW!! Right?!? Second, have free Wi-Fi. I know I've said it before, but, Wi-Fi and Coffee go together like rum and coke (cola), gin and juice, or at&t and no bars. Fresh's Wi-Fi though is on crack, its super awesome fast, why can't Starbucks do that... oh wait - they use at&t... :-/ Third, supply your Wi-Fi-junkies with outlets for their laptops. Nothing like walking into a coffee shop and seeing 18 laptops, but only 16 customers - sometimes the radiation from laptops in coffee houses lowers a guys sperm count... but it also makes breast bigger ;-) Fourth, add some hip style. Fresh is so hip with style is should call itself PHRESH CAPHE. They have the wood panel floors, industrious marble table, leather - like a college kid's dream dorm, too bad its just a coffee shop. Not to mention Fresh is a venue, on the verge of blowing up and being a band-bumpin-bungalow. I'm psyched to see some good events soon - besides a yelp one. Fifth, Good Eats. It isn't tough to make good food, especially since PHRESH is dedicated to freshness, they got the good eats down! Also, an edible happy hour - half off bagel sandwiches in the morning (7-8:30) and late night (11p-1a), so fresh, its SWEET. Fresh has got it all, and it's obviously growing, and is going to be a definite diamond is the proverbial rough. Although the location is uncanny and off the beat and path, I'm sure Fresh is something that only the worthy will know about and enjoy - keeping the tourists in Waiks and in the Starbucks. This is undoubtedly the beginning of a beautiful patronage. All the aspects are perfect for success. First look at the menu food is between $6 to $11 + drinks between $2 to $5, so you're looking at about $8 to $16 depending on how hungry you are, but if you come for just coffee, you're looking at the best deal for a cup of Kona. Looking forward for some good times, good drinks and good eats... and if the owners of Fresh are reading this... the dim lights are hip, but... why so dim? I feel like I am at the Outback Steakhouse - either way, I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Rise D.

    Fresh Cafe has the best mango iced tea I've ever had. It was $3.75 for a large, but totally worth it. Their corn chowder is really good. You can tell that it's homemade, not from a can. Their tomato bisque soup is also delicious. I've also had their chicken pesto pasta salad, which was also really yummy. Their portions are pretty decent too. I had the small portion of the chicken pesto pasta salad and it was pretty filling. I also love that they are open late, so if I'm still in town late, I can stop by Fresh Cafe and order a mango iced tea for the drive home. Inside the cafe is really clean and quaint, a nice place to sit and have lunch with a friend. There are also a few tables outside as well. I would give this place more stars if parking was better, if the food came out faster, and if some of the staff was more personable. They have a really small parking lot so if you come when it's busy, you might have to find street parking...but there's lots of tow away signs everywhere so be careful.

    (3)

  • Jake B.

    I went to Fresh Cafe for a Social Media Club Hawaii meeting (they have a great facility for hosting events in the back), and got there early and was able to sample a wee bit of their cuisine. The menu isn't huge, but I'll take quality over quantity any day. I had the Ginger Wasabi Chicken Salad... and in my opinion it is hard to make a salad that is amazing. Salad is just salad, right? Well, they did it! The salad was superb. I also had something like a Peach & Lilikoi Ice Tea... I don't remember exactly but it was awesome as well. My Dad accompanied me to the meeting and said his food and coffee was fantastic as well. I'll look forward to going there again the next time I am in Honolulu!

    (4)

  • Lisa S.

    I fall into the same pool with the other few reviewers who didn't understand all the hype about this place. I'm sure it's cool for events, but based on my experience with my girls recently, I'd rather go elsewhere. 1. Food: I knocked star off because their food wasn't anything special to me. I had tried their turkey pesto, but I think I might as well have made my own if I was going to pay $8 for it. The better deal would be to opt for the soup/salad + sandwich combo for just under $11. 2. Service: I took off two stars because their customer service SUCKS! Me and my girls had our orders to us within about 10min or so, however one of the four of us had to wait nearly 1/2 hr. (or maybe longer) for her soup and salad to come...Yes, that's right soup and salad. When my friend had checked on the status of her order, all they could tell her was that they're running slow because of an event that was going on that day...I thought "So what? That's not our problem to deal with. That's yours." We were the first group to order before a rush of other people started to pour in and it wasn't cool they got their orders before she did. To add more fuel to the flame, other people who had came well after us had received their meals AND they were actually being checked on. So probably 40-45min's later, my friend's food FINALLY came with a soft apologetic "Sorry about that" from one of the cook guys. Oh, and the parking? If you're lucky you can find a spot nearby, but other than that GOOD LUCK since the other areas close by are for the neighboring businesses.

    (2)

  • Tracy M.

    My husband and I went here a couple months ago for his birthday. We came around brunch time. They have a great selection of bagel and bagel type sandwiches. I love how everything is made right there on the spot! They have small water cups, but they have fresh fruit in their water, so gives it more of a flavored type approach. When we came, they were setting up for some sort of show that night. Lots of seating outside. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Chi-Hye M.

    First of all....i wish they had better lighting here...i go there to study and sometimes (depending on where i sit) my eyes start to hurt... but anyways....I have been craving chocolate... ^_^ so i wanted a hot chocolate...but they were all out of chocolate :( how sad. No Chocolate for my hot chocolate!!!! bummer :( but that was a good thing! because I was introduced to a "Hot White Chocolate!" it was heavenly. i think this might be my new favorite drink at Fresh . I go to Fresh almost 2-3 times a week to study and order food, but never get a chance to take a picture of it cause i always eat it before i get a chance to take a picture... They have a HUGE acai bowl, its a bit pricey but its big enough for 2-3 people. It comes with granola, bananas, kiwi, blue berries, strawberries, black berries? and honey. It was really good and fresh. My boy friend thought it was too sweet but i liked it a lot. We also got a wasabi chicken salad, and club sandwich on a cheese bagel. Salad was crisp and chicken was nice and moist. The sandwich was awesome. . . So far we have tried. . . Tomato bisque - Yummy! BLT - Yummy! Club - Yummy! Coffee - Always good! Hot Chocolate - Chocolaty n oh so good! Hot White Chocolate - Heavenly! Yummy Tummy cookie - so~so...kinda dry 3 for $1.00 cookes - great deal and good. Everything begal - best and toasted to perfection! Acai bowl - Fresh and sweet, big enough for 2-3 people. Wasabi Chicken salad - Fresh and good. *Happy hour for 1/2 off begal sandwiches is 7:30 - 8:30 am and 11:30 pm - 1:00 am....i think ** $1.00 small coffee after 8:00 pm

    (5)

  • June H.

    This is the only café in Honolulu that I've been to that has an 'indie' feel to it. Which makes me love it more. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't hate the 'island' or the 'hiphop' culture of Hawaii. I love where I grew up! ...But sometimes, you just need some alternative music playing through the speakers, while sipping on an espresso or eating manapua. :P I came here during the daytime, and it's got great outdoor seating with a shaded patio area. At night, I came back, and there was an artsy music show going on with free wine-tasting behind the café. Me likey!

    (5)

  • Sherri F.

    My bf is moving from Kailua to the University area. One of the things he really enjoyed was going to Morning Brew to work or just to meet up for a light meal. So I checked on yelp to find a new place closer to home. After three weeks of reading yelp reviews, we finally made it to Fresh Cafe. The Fresh Cafe is a sweet little place. They have so many flavors of syrup that you could have a different coffee or tea each day of the month. The soy latte was good; the espresso was smooth and didn't have a bitter bite. The lemon iced tea was sweet. So if you like the taste of tea ask for less pumps of syrup. I really wanted the corn chowder but they were making it when we got there. We went there to work so the hour wait was well worth it. It wasn't quite as thick as other chowder I've had but it was so good. Each spoonful had at least one piece of bacon in it! I'm firm believer that bacon makes everything better. My bf needed to get his own bowl because I wasn't going to share mine. Fresh Cafe is a great place for hanging out with friends or a meeting place. It's now going to be my late night coffee and dessert place. They have Otto Cheesecakes and RB's Ice Cream pies (mmm Mauna Kea Deelite) available too! The free wi-fi is awesome but there is limited seating inside and no outlets on the outside patio. So I'm still up in air about it being someplace I go to work. Guess I need to have more bowls of chowder and cups of pikake iced tea to make that decision. Can't wait!

    (4)

  • First Name L.

    Nice place, great concept, and great execution. Stopped by today to send off an email and try their coffee. Internet was fast, lots of outdoor seating, some indoor seating, and good ambience. Coffee was watered down for my tastes, next time I'll try their espresso or ask for stronger coffee. Caeser Salad was pretty good and the rest of the menu looked appealing. I'll definitely have to come back for more. Overall, it's a good place to go if you need to get some work done out of the office, a meeting, homework, me-time, coffee/desert, lunch, etc. It's a much better option than Starbucks any day. I'm just tired of the SB culture. Oh... service... it was excellent and the prices were fair.

    (4)

  • Ruth B.

    My club sandwich was so dry, I was excited to see the fresh turkey and ham. What a disappointment :-/ I can see why you charge so much. Parking sucks, if you can find any.

    (2)

  • Jaynie K.

    Kinda hard to find, especially if you're navigationally challenged like I am. But the interior is nice and mellow, and nice for chatting and catching up. The turkey pesto bagel sandwich was good, but the corn chowder was a little watery for my taste. Red velvet cake was served up really pretty, but the cake itself was kinda dry.

    (3)

  • Teresa G.

    I really like the food here. It is fresh and delicious. The service is good and the prices are right. The only problem I have with this place is finding parking can be difficult. Love the food though.

    (3)

  • HItoLA d.

    I went to Fresh Cafe early in the morning on 12/31/13. The cashier/waitress was so uninterested in her work. Maybe she was mad that she had to work on NYE? I ordered the banana French toast. The crust was very hard to chew, it may have been made with stale bread. It was so cold in there that I decided to order a cup of black tea. They have a whole assortment of flavored black teas but no plain black tea, weird. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed.

    (2)

  • Joseph M.

    I see Hipster People! Well, this is a pretty nice little cafe that I was exposed to because they are a pickup for a Farmers Market vegetable delivery company. They have the fresh vegetables behind the counter in reusable bags and I come in and pick up them up every other Wednesday. I normally order dinner when I come in there because hey why not? I have ordered the egg salad sandwich on the everything bagel a few times and am quite enamored with it. Tasty and just enough salt and pepper to enjoy myself and with a piece of white cheese to taste. It has a nice, fresh taste and I will go back to get that every now and then even if I wasn't picking up vegetables. The bad part is that they serve mostly coffee. I am not a night coffee drinker so I usually do not buy a drink with my meal. I wish they expanded their line of smoothies so I can get some Jamba Juice like thing to wash down my egg salad sandwich. They seem to have some stuff but their menu is very confusing so I am not sure what they offer. (Upon going to their website I see that they have 6 smoothies one of which is the hated Mango.) Finally, this place has a very hipster vibe to it. The words "So Cray Cray" has been written in various places. There are also handlebar mustaches on mugs and things. It seems like the kind of place for a poetry slam or a one man show to break out at any time. The first time I went there I saw a group of what I think were actors getting ready to do something in the Performance space next door. It has a very Greenpoint, Brooklyn vibe to it (which I have no problem with) but some people might not like. In any case come for the vegetable pickup and stay for the tasty egg salad sandwich.

    (4)

  • Kit W.

    There is a drink here that I am absolutely in love with. It goes by the name of Orange Ginseng Tea and boy, is it good!!! For some reason, I taste yuzu in the drink and if you know me, you know I can't resist anything yuzu. If you like refreshing and darn tasty drinks, you have got to give Orange Ginseng a try. In terms of actual food, I have gotten their Warm Spinach, Bacon, & Garlic Salad and Tomato Bisque combo. The salad was warm and delicious but a tad bit too salty. The tomato bisque was bursting with flavor, so much so that a friend of mine suspects it's from a can. If that's really the case, it would be disappointing--given the name of this establishment. As for the service, I did not experience the best customer service the last time I was here. Small things aside, I almost didn't get my order (not okay!). The person who took my order had apparently written down the wrong table number so my food was denied by the other table and almost disappeared into the abyss. Good thing our waiter was fast on his feet and saved my food in time! Overall, I really like the Orange Ginseng and the overall concept of this place, so it gets four stars from me despite a few flaws. I would totally come back here to study/work and hang with friends!

    (4)

  • Brittney L.

    GOOD FOOD! Even though I have had two bad service experiences at this place, the food is always always ALWAYS on point and pretty much makes me forget what just happened. I have pretty much tried all of their sandwiches and their salads and I can confidently say that ANYTHING you choose to eat from here, will be awesome. My favorite would have to be the turkey pesto melt sandwich and the ginger wasabi salad. I also like the down to earth feel of this cafe! You can choose to eat inside or outside on the tables. Parking is limited, but it's only a real problem when it's during peak lunch hours.

    (4)

  • Kathy F.

    I went to Fresh Cafe for the first time today, and will never go back. I ordered a turkey pesto sandwich for my daughter and an avocado omelet for myself. We placed the order, and then found a seat outside. My omelet came, and the server acknowledged that we were still waiting for the turkey pesto sandwich. We ended up just sharing the omelet, since the sandwich never came. I went in to check on it, and they said we ordered it but never paid for it. I said, "So I paid $18.00 for that omelet?" He made me come up with a receipt, and also asked the cashier if I had ordered it, which didn't make any sense, since I had a receipt. It took another 10 minutes, so I went back in, and they said it would be another few minutes (even though everyone was just standing around and there were no customers). Food was not very good, and service STINKS!!!! Don't even bother going there.

    (1)

  • Shannon C.

    Love the food here! Very fresh and healthy! Service is kind of slow, well I understand due to the fact that they have only 1 cashier but, the food is worth it. My go to meal: half pesto pasta salad with bacon on top, turkey pesto sandwich with a banana Nutella Shake yummy!

    (4)

  • Joey T.

    I went to Fresh Cafe upon the recommendation of a couple friends. There were lots of items that looked quite delectable on the menu. When I finally decided, I was greeted by a rude cashier who acted like I should be groveling at her feet for taking my order. When my order of Chicken Tofu Sesame Salad came, it tasted like someone dumped half a shaker of salt in it. The server who brought the salad to my table had no personality. Not a HI, Hello, smile or Thank You. Sorry Fresh Cafe, major fail...

    (2)

  • Shauna S.

    I've revisited this cafe a number of times since my last review and have been meaning to give an update for quite some time. I love Kaka'ako. Seriously, it's such a fun area with great new stores popping up all over the place. If you're in the area, I definitely recommend that you stop by Fresh. This cafe has become one of my favorite spots to grab an iced soy latte and I've become quite addicted to their veggie sandwich on an everything bagel. Yum, so good. Just try it. Fresh has also updated their decor a little bit since my last review, and it's awesome. I especially love the great big common table in the middle of the room, which is the perfect spot to convene with friends, coworkers, or classmates. However, it's often booked up, so you'll definitely want to come early if you're planning a large group pow-wow. Downfalls are that the service can be petty slow and parking is horrible. There have been several times that I've tried to come here but given up due to the lack of parking. If you can find a spot, make sure you give Fresh a try!

    (4)

  • Isa R.

    My first, First Thursdays Poetry Slam event and I had a blast.. Mainly because a friend of mine was performing. First off, location. Kind of off the beaten path, yet it still seems to be a busy place. It's located on Queen St., really close to the part of Ward with Sports Authority and Ross. I personally just park by Ross and walk over. It's not that far. They had to announce half an hour into the event that someone had just gotten towed across the street. I do not want to be that person! They do have limited parking there, but you have to back out all the way onto the street to get out. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen. The Poetry Slam event starts at 8:30, but I would really recommend getting there by at least 8 if you want to be able to get decent seats/not have to stand up way in the back. There are actually couches right by the stage, but I'm guessing you have to come really early to score those seats. It really is a mixed bag of performances. Many of them were up there for the first time, and many of them were veterans to the stage. Even if some of them weren't really all that good, I admire them for going up there and performing! Especially when your score gets announced at the end by the judges. (By the way, what qualifies one to be a judge? Some of those scores were questionable). There was also live art being done which was amazing! It's crazy to me how the artist was able to finish pieces so quickly... If you get hungry you can walk over to the "cafe" side. The turkey pesto melt is pretty good, but not the best I've tried. There's also a bar set up, which honestly was a bit distracting from the performances. I would recommend not sitting by the bar, unless you like to order lots of drinks. The bathroom is decent. There's only one toilet for the entire place, and it can get packed during the event, so hope you don't have to go while you're there! The main reason it's 4 stars instead of 5 is because they tried to charge me $12 for a PBR. It should have been only $4. I kind of just signed off on the bill, which was charged to my debit, thinking why the hell is PBR $12??? I know it's a hipster beer, but come on! I let it sink in for a minute, then waited for the waitress to come back so I could question it. I ended up getting a cash refund for the $8 they overchaged me, but still. It made me wonder if they were trying to play me for a fool or if it was a genuine mistake.

    (4)

  • Paola R.

    Fresh Cafe is one of my new favorite spots since moving here. The food, drinks, service, & events that they hold here are all top-notch. Any of their sandwiches are good, but the tuna melt is my favorite. Their granola bowl is simply delicious as well. They have daily specials, such as $1 off smoothies on Sundays. Oh yeah, and their smoothies are yummm... try their mixed berry smoothie.

    (5)

  • Courtney O.

    Love! I have driven by Fresh Cafe many times and always wanted to go in. The atmosphere itself is so fun and... well... fresh! I had a Groupon for it so I decided to finally go yesterday! For starters, all the staff are so friendly! I wanted decaf tea and asked the girl behind the counter if they had and she pulled out the entire tea collection for me to look at and went through it with me to find a decaf one I liked! How nice! I had the BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) on a plain bagel. Yum!! My husband had the half pesto salad with chicken. The half was HUGE! We had to take half of the half home! I decided on the lemon decaf tea and it was good too. The menu isn't overwhelming and they do what they do well. There is an assortment of sandwiches, soups, and salads. I definitely want to go back and try their breakfast! The staff repeatedly checked on us (not in an annoying way) to see if everything was okay and if we needed anything. Very attentive! I love the lay out inside. There are different large benches or small tables to sit on depending on the amount of people in your party. There is even a small library where you can read books people have left or leave your own books! Cute! The only bad is the parking. Most times when I drive by it is full (about 6 stalls?) and I'm not sure about parking on the street... Queen street doesn't really have curbs to park by... and could be a little sketchy? I would recommend everyone to come here and I will definitely be back to try more teas and snacks!

    (4)

  • Mari K.

    Been here twice - once for lunch with a friend and once to take out dinner. I really enjoy this cafe, very cute and food is decent. The first time I ordered the ginger wasabi salad with tofu - very fresh salad with such a unique dressing! Will definitely get this again. The second time I ordered the pesto pasta salad and a tuna melt on wheat. The pesto pasta salad was average, but the tomatoes that topped the salad were delicious! The tuna melt was also good - I just wish they toasted the bread more so it had a little crunch to it rather than it just being warm and soft. The strawberry tea is SO GOOD! Next time I'll definitely try a different flavor, hopefully its as good as the strawberry :) Also, I'm not sure what the other yelpers are complaining about when they say customer service here sucks.... because I've had great customer service every time I came! The first time the girl at the cashier was nice while we ordered and she even brought our food to our table. The second time, the cook was standing outside by the door and opened it for me greeting me when I went in. The lady at the register was very nice and brought my drink to me while I was waiting for my take out order to be completed. Once my order was ready, she brought that to me as well. I'm thinking that I will be a weekly regular here now that I started to work down the street....!

    (5)

  • Paige C.

    The food is great. And the deals are even better! My first time wasn't so great because of the line! 30 minutes for a sandwich? But I've came back 2 days after and it was much better :)

    (5)

  • Janice H.

    The food, customer service, and atmosphere here are about as inconsistent as my menstrual cycle is when I'm off my birth control pills. I don't say this as a first-time customer. I don't say this out of spite. I say it as a customer who has eaten, studied, and hung out here AT LEAST 21 times in the last 6 months. I've come on weekdays, weeknights, weekends, and weekend nights from 8 AM to 12 PM and 8 PM. All kine, any kine hours and days, and have managed to get a good feel for the joint. I do enjoy coming here, bu have a few caveats ... SERVICE WITH A SMILE? Sometimes the employee(s) will be available in front to take your order. Sometimes they're not there, but if you wait a few minutes or more, then they'll reappear again. Depending on who's working that day/night, customer service might be met with competence and a smile, or just semi-competence and no smile. MUSIKA. The background music might be bumpin' loud country one night, dubstep the next, and some techno/house crap the night after. The volume is usually set at an ambient volume, but sometimes, it can be a little too loud for comfort. I could care less about the hipster/emo/whatevers vibe; I'd just like to be able to hear what the person across from me is saying without having to yell back like a geriatric who didn't bring their hearing aid. GRINDAGE. My favorite thing to order: full order of the Fresh Pesto Pasta w/Chicken ($8.95 + tax). Consists of homemade pesto, Cobb dressing, penne pasta, Parmesan cheese, Ho Farm cherry tomatoes + diced chicken. When I first tried it, it was a HUGE serving! It had 6-7 Ho Farm cherry tomatoes (buggahs are juicy + sweet!), fat pieces of chicken, a generous sprinkling of shredded Parmesan cheese, and da combo of Cobb + pesto was enough to provide me with immaculate conception. Since then, I've ordered it AT LEAST half a dozen times or more ... nowadays, it comes with about 4-5 tomatoes, a pinch or two of Parmesan cheese, I can barely spot da manini (tiny) chicken pieces + da pesto/Cobb dressing usually tastes funky. It's not usually up to par with my first taste of it. And, I've been told, it depends on who mixed/made the Cobb dressing and pesto earlier in the day. Bf ordered their corn chowder several weeks ago, and it tasted like canned corn that was dumped into some cream and served l'dat. Not too appetizing. Portions are pretty chang for what they charge, so that's why I stick with my full order of pesto penne pasta. MENOPAUSE, ANYONE? Indoor temperature can range from unbearably warm to just right. I was there last week Friday at 8:30 AM, and needed to step outside after a few minutes because I was getting some warm flashes. I'm nowhere near menopaus yet. Mostly OK when I go at night to study. ENOUGH BEING A DEBBIE DOWNER! Enough bitching as this place does have a number of wonderful perks: + free, unlimited wi-fi access WITH a purchase from the cafe (wi-fi is reliable + does the job; it certainly BEATS Kissaten's 1 or 2-hour wi-fi limit + their interwebz is slowwwwwww) + CHOKE seating options: inside has 7-8 unpainted wooden picnic tables + outside has several picnic tables + tables w/seats + CHOKE electrical outlets available inside/outside! Inside, da outlets are mostly located on opposite ends wea da picnic tables are situated. Plugged into these outlets are a few power strips, so a dozen people don't have to fight over, like, 2 outlets to plug their laptops into. Outside, geff 'em on da walls. + convenient late night hours (open till 11 PM most days, except on Sundays when they close at 6 PM) that beats Starbucks and Coffee Bean + Tea Leaf + they purchase produce from number of local farmers/vendors + parking is typically available in the lot to the right of the cafe (watch out for the bombucha pothole near the entrance!) OR fronting da old wesellthings4u store (tandem parking) REVIEW #205

    (3)

  • Doris D.

    This is a pleasant place for a sandwich, and I liked the outdoor seating. I had a groupon for a meal for 2 (each person can order a sandwich). For some reason, it's not exactly stated on the voucher but your redemption was to meet the value of the coupon, $17.90. So since our 2 sandwiches were about 1 dollar short of the value, they asked us to order more. I thought that was weird. So I ordered an iced coffee which put us over by 2 bucks or something. When I tried redeeming the coupon, they scanned it but it showed up marked as "used." We told them we'd never been to Fresh Cafe before! The two cashiers seemed to waffle a bit, and looked as if they were going to turn us down. But the woman said "that's ok" and rang us up, then deducted only $17 (as opposed to the full value 17.90). I didn't want to make a fuss so I let it go and we wound up just paying for the extra coffee that they made us order. Anyway. I waited for like 20 minutes for 2 sandwiches which is like really long for assembling two freaking regular sandwiches. My husband watched the kitchen as I sat outside and he said the kitchen people were not in any rush at all (even though there were many people at the cafe) and were standing around chatting like nothing. We got an apology for the wait from the server but it wasn't like they were completely slammed or anything. I got the Turkey Cranberry with Fresh Turkey, Cranberry, Red Onions, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Sprouts, Mayo, Yellow Mustard ($8) on wheat bread. It was just ok. My husband got the Turkey Pesto Melt with fresh Turkey, Mushroom, Red Onion, Homemade Pesto, Swiss Cheese ($8) on a toasted sesame bagel. He said it was just ok. I mean, it was nice that they used real turkey (shredded) but the sandwiches (and service) aren't worth it for me to return.

    (3)

  • Traci H.

    I've been to fresh cafe a while back when Yelp had their birthday bash and it was a great venue. Since then they have changed the artwork decorating their building and it looks great! Recently I've purchased a groupon from them for lunch for two. My experience was alright. I love the feel of the place, very artsy, and the staff is friendly. However, the food is ok. I had the pesto pene salad, and my bf had the turkey pesto melt. If you didn't notice by our orders already we like pesto. We also shared a corn chowder. The corn chowder was okay, I would have liked it to be a little hotter. The pesto sandwich was also okay, maybe don't go with regular bread, it's a little lack luster that way. Also the pesto was very faint. As for the pesto salad, again okay. Also again, there needed to be a stronger pesto taste, and I like aldente pasta, but this was a little more than I'd like. I wish I had chose something else, but both were recommendations from the girl working there. I really wanted to like it, but you can't trick those taste buds. I love that this place is big into reducing waste, and recycling. If you bring your own cup then you get $0.25 off your drink! This place looks like a great place to study, I'll try another go in due time.

    (3)

  • Yuko A.

    I was craving a sandwich and around the Ward area and Fresh Cafe was on the top of the list for sandwiches on yelp so I decided to check it out... As I walked in I was immediately brought back to the East Coast and the cool chill cafes that I used to like to frequent in Burlington and Northampton. There were people sitting at the tables doing work, hanging out as the sun shined through the big windows. I had read that the tomato bisque was good but just soup for lunch? nahhhh, I gotta get a sandwich, so I ordered the Turkey Pesto on white bread (which i think was from Watanabes). You also have the choice to get in on a bagel or for a $1 more, on ciabatta/croissant. The sandwich hit the spot, but it was a little lacking on fillings for the price - $8. Usually for an $8 sandwich I will eat half and then save the rest for later. I finished the sandwich and drank most of the soup in one sitting. The turkey was fresh which is always a plus in my book, but unfortunately not enough to give them 5 stars. The tomato bisque gives Nordstrom cafe a run for its money. It had croutons and cheese in it and was bursting with flavors from the herbs and had a nice creaminess to it without being too overwhelming. The ladies working were super friendly and patient as I stared at the menu for a good 7 minutes. They were all smiles when they brought me my food in a neatly folded paper bag. The guy next to me was eating a pesto salad and although I tried hard not to stare, I definitely was watching him eat his big bowl of green pasta. It looked so good, I'm definitely getting that next time. Now, for the best part. For all you Yelpers, 50% your order if you bring them your Yelp review....Yup, HALF OFF. Thats a hell of a deal, so don't worry I'll definitely be back! YELP 365: 142/365

    (4)

  • Carmen B.

    Don't come here for lunch! They simply cannot accommodate more than 5 people in the line up. The last two times I came for lunch, I waited an hour and received awful customer service. Not to mention they forgot to make my coffee both times. I could have at least been waiting and sipping on my coffee!

    (2)

  • Ashley M.

    When i was living in town, Fresh Cafe was one of my fave places to treat myself to. Now that I dont live in town anymore, i dont go here as often but felt a need to leave a really positive review because I always have a great experience. Yes, the food comes out slow but they do have a sign that reads "slow food served daily" or something like that, so im always sure that I have all the time in the world when i stop by for a meal. i love the ambiance, the positive vibes in the air, and the great customer service. Everything ive ever had here has been COMPLETELY worth the wait and money. I usually get the ultimate omelette on an everything bagel with a side of the basil and sun dried tomato pasta salad with a plantation iced tea (yuuuuuuuuuummmm!!!). Ive also had a few other sandwiches and salads but that ultimate omelette is a home run. Ive heard their coffee is good and every time someone orders an acai bowl, it makes me drool. Kudos to the cool kid at the register with long hair who ALWAYS has a smile on his face and spreads some good vibes throughout Fresh Cafe. I appreciate you bro! the one major downside is that their parking lot is SO tiny and since its in a more industrial area of kakaako, parking is scarce. I either block someone in and wait inside for someone to pull out of their stall or illegally park across the street and keep an eye on car. either way works. So if you havent been here, its def an experience you wont regret, just be patient and soak it all in.

    (4)

  • Ashley F.

    I've been here about 5 times and finally ready to give my review. Location: A couple of blocks off of Ward Ave and cannot be missed with the art work on the wall. Definitely "fresh" to the eye, given that this place is in the heart of auto repair shops and warehouses. Parking isn't the greatest and definitely can get tight around the meal hours. I've been lucky to always find a spot (there's maybe about 8 stalls), but I bet I just jinxed myself and now I will have to find street parking. Ambiance: Lots of natural lighting from windows surrounding the cafe. Lots of outlets near every table, making this an ideal place to get some work done on the computer. This place is always full of people either studying, holding a meeting, or those coming in and out for takeout. Don't study here if you get easily distracted. Oh and since they sell fresh fruit (i.e. bananas), there are lots of fruit flies. I feel like I'm in biology lab again cross breading them. Food + Drink: I've tried their combo meals that usually consist of the pesto pasta salad and a cup of soup. The last time that I got the salad I was VERY disappointed. The noodles were way overcooked and I basically had a pile of mush on my plate. Told the wait staff, but they didn't do anything to fix it. On the other hand, the soup is very good. Tomato bisque had a cute heart-shaped decoration with parmesan cheese for V-day. The corn chowder is very good - lots of sweet corn! Try the mango iced tea - the blueberries and mint give it a nice fresh flavor. Being fresh: I was really shocked that this place does not recycle their plastic cups when it states on the cups that it is made from recycled materials. I'm not an avid recycler, but if you are a place that applauds sustainability then maybe find out how to recycle your cups.

    (3)

  • Chad A.

    2.3 stars Ordered a turkey Pesto sandwich, and my wife has the ginger wasabi chicken salad. While the vegetables and sauces were fresh, the meat tasted as though it was going to spoil soon. The place was also rather messey and disorganized. I hate to say this to put my review in total perspective, but Subway would have made a fresher sandwich. They need to step up their game.

    (2)

  • Kimo C.

    Weekly Specials: Monday: 50% off all salads Tuesday: $1 off Tuna Melts Wednesday: Wahine Wednesdays free drink with any combo Thursday: Buy 2 Ice Teas get 1 FREE Friday: Fella Fridays free drink with combo Saturday: 50% off anything Sunday: 50% off all smoothies

    (5)

  • Dharalyn L.

    Went to Fresh Cafe for the first time yesterday. I've been wanting to try their Haupia Latte for a long time, but avoid going there because parking is terrible. Got there and it wasn't very busy. Ordered 2 iced coffees. It took nearly 20 minutes for us to get our order. Apparently, the server's were too busy dilly dallying and chatting with each other to be bothered with our order. After waiting that long for 2 iced coffees, it was disgusting. The coffee was burnt to the point where my boyfriend's Americano was practically inedible, so we ended up just tossing it. The only plus is the artwork there. Aside from that, this place is terrible. If the quality of service is worked on, this place may have some potential.

    (1)

  • Jennee G.

    I'm only giving this place 3 stars because they have good food(when menu options are even available). I come here often because I like their salads and soup. You can get a combo of soup and salad and it comes with a free drink. Either the soup or salad in the combo are half size in order to get the free drink. Like I said, good is good. They lack inventory ALWAYS! I don't know why a busy business would not have inventory to prepare good that is offered on their menu. It's like a why don't you tell me what you do have since you don't have A LOT. Anyways I'm writing a review in hopes that an owner or management reads this review. The girl that works the front register is SO RUDE! She rolled her eyes at a co-worker while taking my order. Never said hello or thank you. And walks around with a shit attitude! (Pardon my language) I love to support local businesses and spend a lot of money on food. This is the second time I've been here this week and her shit attitude was shitty both times! Get new help! Also I think it's necessary to have bread for sandwiches offered on the menu.

    (3)

  • Michael W.

    I've been here multiple times - mostly at night to study, and occasionally for a quick lunch. Never been to the warehouse side of Fresh Café, so *this review does NOT cover the warehouse events* ... just the Café side of things. I've got exams to take for my profession, and I'm one of those studiers you'd normally catch outside of Starbucks, earphones plugged in, staring down at a book, occasionally glancing up when you hear a drink being called or checking every so often to see if someone you know walked in. Lately, though ... looks like everyone on the island got the same idea, so I've been shut out of spots to sit more often. Decided one night to head over to Fresh Café to check it out and try and hammer some studying out. The experience was great. There aren't very many seats, but there were still seats available. The workers are awesome - always friendly, more than willing to explain any item they happen to have on their menu, and are great about bringing your food/drinks to you, checking to see if you need anything else. The food is great - most of the time I'll stick with a bagel, but the last time I went, I had the corn chowder and the balsamic vinegar salad. They were both delicious - I was surprised how well strawberries and blackberries went with a salad that had onions, avocado and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Also got to sample a friend's tomato bisque and tofu pesto penne - both were good! (I liked mine better, though.) The coffee is good as well - better than Starbucks, for sure. I normally get an Americano, no add-ins, so all I really have to go on is the taste of the coffee itself, and I enjoy the coffee here. All in all, I enjoy every experience at Fresh Café. The only real drawbacks (potentially) in my eyes are: 1) the limited number of seats (which get filled VERY quickly on nights that Fresh Café hosts an event in the warehouse) 2) lack of parking (though I don't mind walking in from Coral Street - it's a nice way to walk off a little bit of what you just ate!) But these are far outweighed by the positives: - great service - great food, and a good selection at that - great coffee - comfortable seating (if available) - perfect noise level for conversation and/or studying So, really, I'd rate Fresh a 4.5 stars here, though I'm leaning towards a 5-star rating. I saw an Acai bowl item on the menu on my way out and I'm looking forward to heading back there to try it soon. I am also looking forward to checking out an event down there one of these days, just to see what it's like ... and to not be burdened by the responsibility of studying.

    (4)

  • Annizzle D.

    Right. So if there were only some way I could enjoy the perks of studying and eating here but not have go through the wait staff, I would totally come here almost everyday. It's not that the service is always bad, it's actually pretty decent sometimes. I remember a time when it used to be great and everybody remembered my order and greeted me cheerfully. But not anymore. When the service is bad, holy cow do I just wanna beam myself over to any other cafe in the world than this one right now. The limited and dilapidated state of the parking lot I can forgive. The food being inconsistent at time doesn't bother me that much either. But the service... I sort of wonder what goes on through an employee's head when their service is that bad. Seriously, what goes on through one's head when there's a line waiting to place an order and you're casually wasting time telling the story of your life? Are the hot keys for putting in orders as half as difficult as the cashier makes them out to be? Just a few of the several millions thoughts I had time to ponder while waiting to place my order. I'll give Fresh Cafe points for the following though... -the cook in the back is busting ass tryna make some good food -interior decorating is fabulous -wi-fi and ambience make it a great place to chill/study -it's local, fresh niche is a pretty cool one -the combos and deals are a great selling point

    (3)

  • Christina S.

    I like this place, food and drinks are tasty. The price is a little on the high end. I'm assuming it's because of all the fresh produce they use. I had the turkey pesto melt but that day they had to substitute the turkey for chicken. Which was fine with me. I had it on wheat toast but wished I tried it on a bagel. I was trying to be healthy that day...haha. Although I did have a plantation iced tea. Which I loved with the fresh blueberries in there. I dined in with my laptop on hand. They have free wifi. This place was a little hipster for me with all the cool kids hanging out. I actually stopped by for their free wifi in between meetings and I didn't want to hang out at starbucks. I like how they serve water in a bottle and your cups are actual recycled honey "bear" jars. Little cute glass bear jars that you can drink water out of. I guess after they use all the honey inside they save them. Which I think is smart and totally cute. Parking is weird, one way in then you need to reverse out. I did try their haupia latte awhile back as a take out. That is yummmmmyyy!!

    (4)

  • Kelsey U.

    I was here for the AJ Rafael Beautiful Escape concert - the sound in the loft is great, but the place could really use some ventilation! When I was here for the David Choi concert, the side entrance was open, allowing at least a little air into the place... not this time! It felt like I was in a sauna! I will definitely be back for the food and drinks on the other hand! The fresh fruit flavored iced teas are delicious!

    (3)

  • Mari R.

    This is our go-to study spot. Any school project, paper, group work that needs to be done, "Let's meet at Fresh," is what is always determined. However I also love to go to Fresh Cafe for lunch with the hubby or even just to meet up with friends. Love the vibe, the food, the bear mason jars for water, basically everything about Fresh Cafe! My favorites here are the vegetarian bagel sandwich and corn chowder; affordable and delicious! Besides sandwiches and soups, they also offer great coffee, flavored iced teas, and pastries. Additionally, we just attended an Art & Flea event and took home some very unique and one of a kind locally made items. Also looking forward to the new Fresh Cafe opening up at the old Indigo! We need more Fresh Cafes in the world!

    (5)

  • Kris O.

    Art & Flea: Short Circuit Robot Party I say this about EVERY Art & Flea, but this was my favorite event so far! Seriously, what's not to love? A short circuit robot theme + amazing finds located in one place & great music? There's nothing that compares to this fun-filled event, especially on a week day! This was my favorite Art & Flea for two reasons: 1) I unexpectedly participated in the "Dance Your Bot Off" contest (Thanks Nicole & Aly for the "push" :) & won a gift certificate from my favorite hair salon: ryanjacobie. (Thank you for my fabulous bangs!). 2) I met a real life philanthropist who officially earned, "The Woman With The Heart of Gold" title. I'm so in "like" with her that I've decided she's one of the people that will be featured in my upcoming one year anniversary special blog posts! Honestly, if you've never checked out any Art & Flea events, you're depriving yourself of all this fun! In case you missed it: Art & Flea was voted BEST event in the March 2011 issue of Honolulu Magazine + SuperCW voted it as the BEST event of 2010. Make sure you stalk their Facebook page & dress up for April's theme (trust me, you're gonna LOVE it).

    (5)

  • Breanna G.

    Such a sick little spot in downtown Chinatown. Awesome vibes with great food. Come during happy hour! Lots of great deals. Their fried avocados are amazeballs!

    (5)

  • Noeru N.

    3 stars A hipster driven place to be seen. Its a Tuesday Morning. Just looking for a cup of coffee and a place to sit with a/c. Sat in the corner table with my husband and watched a non stop flow of people -- which is quite impressive for the lack of parking and type of businesses in the area. There were dolled up modelesque girls, grungy tatted kids, indie yoga huggers and a few surfer kids. We ordered a couple cups of brewed Kona coffee, 1/2 chicken caesar salad and a banana french toast. Kona coffee was fresh -- not burnt like other places we've been to. Both dishes were delicious for coffee house standards. I think next time I'll try one of their sandwiches or pesto pasta salad. I can definitely see how people like to hang out here as they are a popular venue for many art shows and yoga meet ups. The parking and seating area is limited. The large tables give study groups ample space to spread out their projects. Probably not a place we'll venture to too often as it's kind of out of the way.

    (3)

  • Coco L.

    This place is so cool! I first went sometime last year thinking that it was just a cafe, but Fresh Cafe is so much more. Not only is the vibe chill and welcoming, the food is great quality, the staff is all friendly and helpful, the venue is always clean, and they have awesome events like Art and Flee every last Thursday of the month, Sunday morning yoga, etc. If your going to grab a something to eat I definitely have some recommendations. They have this garlic spinach salad that was much better than I expected. The flavors all went together so nicely. I have also had the omelette sandwich on a toasted bagel which was filling and flavorful. The last time I went I decided to try something different and get the acai bowl. For $10 you get a huge bowl filled with this acai that just tasted so refreshing and sweet. They add strawberries, blueberries, tons of granola, bee pollen, and honey on top. Definitely hit the spot while I was studying there recently on a hot weekday.

    (5)

  • Marie W.

    Very disappointing. I usually like coming to this place, but this past two days I've been disappointed. On my lunch break I decided to eat here. I noticed they were busy so I opted to order something fast and wouldn't take long to make. I only ordered a croissant, a side Nutella, and a caramel macchiato drink. The waiter came to me 30 minutes after to only then tell me that they didn't have a croissant. Very disappointing. I had wasted 30 minutes of my lunch break. The cashier though was kind enough to still give me my drink and offer me to order something else. I was just too hungry and disappointed to wait again and took my money back instead.

    (1)

  • Chris W.

    Decent food--actually pretty good for the immediate area. But... Slowest. Service. Ever.

    (3)

  • Aidett S.

    Cannot speak to their food but only their slow, rude service. After reading Yelp reviews about this place, beforehand, I made sure to come here well AFTER the lunch rush. It did not make a difference. Not that the place was busy, but that they function at a snails pace with crappy attitudes. Yes, life is slower paced here but this was beyond the Hawaiian pace. To start, I got in a short line in front of the cashier, about 3 people ahead of me. It took so long to get down the orders of the people in front of me that I and another guy sat down and returned some time later to get out order in. Not entirely the fault of the cashier, but she definitely did not have any sense or urgency or give a crap that we had to wait so long. Finally ordered my 2 drinks... iced tea and an iced coffee.. pretty simple. I was there for a meeting, about 45 minutes, and by the time I had to go, I had received neither drink. I asked the cashier and she responded with an attitude to give her a minute. I sit down and more time goes by. I decide to give up on the drinks but then a customer at the counter (also upset and waiting for his drink) points out that she just left my drinks on the counter without saying a word about it. I was at the table right in front of her! A simple "excuse me your drinks are ready" would have been sufficient enough for me to turn away from my meeting to grab them. I am all for businesses blooming in Kaka'ako but this place doesn't deserve patrons if they continue to provide slow service and attitude.

    (1)

  • Tori S.

    I love this cafe. Great baked goods/desserts, sandwiches, salads, & smoothies. A great neighborhood find!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth N.

    This review is for them as a night club venue. I attended the Lei Over on 3-3-2012. Coz I haven't tried their food here or have even been here when its daytime. It's a really cool space actually: indoor and outdoor areas are ample and easily woven together, so you could just go in and out as you pleased and it wasn't so crowded that people were bumping into each other etc. The only bummer is that the police came at 7:30p saying the outdoor music was too loud. Uh..okay but did they have to come with full sirens blaring? Anyways....back to this venue.... I like the high ceilings and upstairs loft area in the main building. And of course all the artwork in the place and the graffiti wall outside was super cool, too. The bar areas were well placed and the bartenders were efficient and amicable. Sound system was decent too. Space and ambiance wise, it worked for this type of party. My only and biggest gripe are the bathrooms (or lack thereof) they had 2 unisex toilets and 1 unisex porta potty placed right there in the dance floor area...without a visible sink area to wash up etc. To me, this is the achilles heel from what could make it a great established event venue to it being an A-Okay one...lack of bathrooms. They HAVE to put at least one more commode in there, or outside (think Bar 35 in the back area) coz the fact that they had a porta potty inside, is evidence of that. I'm *cough *cough years old, so maybe my expectations of restrooms are higher than the average college kid, but again, my views only reflect what I think would bump up the venue another star. I'm sure for their day time/cafe crowd their toilets are enough, but that night, the lines were super long and a porta-potty on the dance floor is rather suspect. I would come back here to try the food etc and for another event, I'll just make sure I don't have to use the loo.

    (3)

  • Laura F.

    Came here today for my second time with a friend for lunch. I ordered the tuna melt sandwich and half chicken caesar salad combo and the food was good! The thing that kind of bothered me was the service i was given. It took a little while for anyone to even notice i was waiting to order, they were all chit chatting. The food didnt take too long i will say. But i did notice that it sat in the window for a good 5 or so minutes while the employees were on their phones. From what ive read in previous reviews and from my own experience today customer service needs to be worked on. The ambiance and food is great though!

    (3)

  • Kanya G.

    This place pretty much has everything I want in a cafe (and because I am a student and health fanatic, I look for the following things): - LOTS OF OUTLETS! There is at least one at every table and even outlets outside. - Fresh, healthy SLOW FOOD. This is my favorite part. There are hardly any cafes I know of that also sell smoothies, salads, soup, and sandwiches made to order. They also have specials specific for each day of the week (e.g., Wahine Wednesdays: Free drink with combo or Salad Madness Mondays: 50% off full salads... and their salads are so good here). There is also complementary mint/fruit-infused water for everyone. - GREAT ATMOSPHERE, music. It's not too overbearing here. The area is very open and bright, and has an earthy/hipster vibe, which I really like. - LOTS OF TABLES, both inside and outside. Only negative thing is the very limited parking. There is parking on the left side of the building, which probably fits 5-6 cars, but you risk being trapped if you park further in. I've done this a few times and had to look for the owner blocking my car and had to bother one of the workers to help me, too. It was no fun at all! lol On the right side of the building there are time restricted parking stalls as well. I come here pretty early to avoid rush hour and study here pretty much all day, so it works out for me on most days. If there were more parking areas, I would definitely come by here more often. Nonetheless, Fresh Cafe is definitely my favorite place to study.

    (4)

  • Attila P.

    BLACK SCORCHED BAGELS for breakfast TAKE OUT is very upsetting! It could have been a lovely Sunday morning with usually tasty breakfast bagels, but the ones I got for takeout were BLACK. Like scorched CANCER BLACK to the core. When something like this happens at the restaurant you can just return the order, but after waiting for your takeout order, driving back home, just to find out that your breakfast was deliberately ruined was a bit hard to take. Because there is no way that the people in the kitchen somehow missed that the bagels had turned smoking black in the toaster. I'm not talking crispy golden brown, I mean dark charcoal black to the core. I am posting PICTURES as well. So I emailed the manger and she offered to send a refund and coupon by mail, which I never received (it's been a few months). Also, I just wasn't in the mood to drive there again in my starved condition to pick it up myself. So, no - I couldn't even eat what was inside the bagel because it was covered in black ash! Otherwise a wonderful place, great ambiance, in a great neighborhood, with lots of space for arts and great people, but needs a bit fine-tuning. Pricy, but generally worth it.

    (1)

  • Alan L.

    The reviews for this place are very mixed, some good and some bad. I went here a few times after they first opened, mostly for coffee, and was just not impressed. Against my better judgment, I decided to give them another try today for lunch. Now, I'm definitely impressed but not in a good way. First of all, dispelling the hipster warnings, the counter help was courteous and helpful. And despite the warnings about super slow service, my food came out quickly. Unfortunately, that's where things went downhill fast, more like off the cliff! I got a $14 salad and wrap combo with a free drink - not the best bargain in town but I figured OK, I'll help out a local biz trying to survive. I got the mint tea while at the counter and there were a few blueberries in it - how cool is that? It was refreshing, which was good because the AC, if they have it, wasn't working and it was hot in there. The ginger wasabi salad came out first but it didn't live up to my expectations. The dressing was some kind of mixed watery/creamy sauce with green dollops which I guess were the wasabi part. It didn't taste as bad as it looked but it wasn't good by any stretch. The tofu was extra soft and just fell apart when I tried to pick any up. I was expecting firm tofu, but maybe that's just me . And they missed cutting up some of the lettuce leaves which were about as big as my hand. Maybe not a big deal, but just to give you an idea of what you get here... The pesto turkey wrap came out next. It looked OK but when I tried it, the wrap was old and dry and there was way too much pesto packed in there. And this was some kind of weird, super oily pesto paste just slathered on. Now, I love pesto, but this was like, can I have a little basil with my olive oil please. The turkey was moist, chunk not sliced, house-made and it was actually OK. Until I got a bone about the size of a fork tine. I thought, OK, it's house-made, accidents happen, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. So then in the next bite I got another bone, this one a sharp, clear little shard, like glass! Off to the side, I discreetly pointed them out the server to warn them that they might want to check what they were serving to people and she was appropriately concerned and took it back to the kitchen. She came out a minute later and told me that the turkey is house-made and that's why it has small bones in it. She said she could exchange it but the new one could have bones as well and she didn't know what else she could do. She clearly was just a worker, without much direction and I told her it was OK, not to worry about it. But I wouldn't feed that turkey to my dog. Seriously, he could choke on it! At that point, my appetite was gone so I abandoned the rest of the salad and the wrap and left. If you're trying to weigh the reviews for this place, let me tell you, I definitely will not go back or recommend Fresh Café to anyone.

    (1)

  • Lehua C.

    This was my 2nd time at Fresh Cafe. I liked it the first time better than today. Today service was slow, they ran out of at least 5 items, lettuce in wasabi ginger salad was bruised had to pick it all out, tuna melt had dry layers tuna instead of tuna mix that I had the 1st time. When combo is ordered it should come together, not 13 minutes apart. Oriental girl came to cash register from kitchen putting her long hair up in a bun, that is a no no with Dept of Health. Caucasian gal got knife and fork when delivering my salad and she touch tops with her fingers instead of grabbing from handles or with napkin. Sorry but this time I was not impressed and I had a first timer guest with me. I had to apologize!!!! Oh music too loud too!!!

    (2)

  • Robin W.

    I like their food...it IS fresh! Plus they have locally grown avocadoes or mangoes for $1-2 each! I like the turkey/cranberry sandwich, the veggie sandwich, the corn chowder...I had the chicken salad sandwich, and was disappointed to find yellow mustard on the bread. The chicken salad itself was a little too mayonnaise-y too. They have breakfast options, but I've never tried them. Pretty large area inside to sit, with a few outside tables. Has a youthful energy, with college kids hanging out at lunchtime, people on their laptops, and interesting artwork.

    (4)

  • Inga S.

    This place brings the freshness of a farmer's market, the intimacy of a cafe, and the ease of a deli. Starting my vegetarian kick was so easy with the deliciousness of their vegetarian bagel. Literally, it makes me not miss meat. I also liked that they have a self-served water station with reuseable cups. It's really nice to see environmentally conscious places. Would definitely come back! Oh and my soy Carmel macchiato is better than Starbucks :-)

    (5)

  • Jasmind T.

    New found fan of Fresh Cafe. So hipster chic so its right up my alley. Been here a couple times for lunch and while its not the least expensive the food is always good. Love the Ginger Wasabi salad and the BLAT sandwich on a wheat ciabatta and the cute green tumbler they give you for the free water. The playlist over the sound system is always on point and the art gives the eyes a nice break from the alley-like view of Queen St. Lots of room and free wi-fi and its a nice place to relax (and revise movie scripts as there was a writing team when I went in one day for lunch. They were setting up to film a movie later). The only downside is that the food doesn't come out super quick, so if you're in a big rush might not be the best place, but if I wanted fast food I'd go to Jack in the Box!

    (4)

  • Chris A.

    Hungry for breakfast, in need of caffeine, and tired of the typical commercial coffee places, we decided to check out Fresh Cafe. Hidden in a side street near Ward, we only heard of this place from online reviews. With the black and green decor, it wasn't too difficult to find. They also have their own private lot making it extremely convenient for their customers. When we arrived, there were already a few people sitting outdoors on the tables and couches, enjoying their coffee and food. Upon entering, we immediately admired their interior design. It had a modern, hip, retro feel to it that was comfortable enough to study in or just to sit and enjoy a break from a daily busy routine. Their menu consisted mostly of coffees, bagels, and salads, which didn't seem to call for much variety, but as we ordered, the friendly staff asked us which type of bagel we wanted (whole wheat, onion, croissant, all) making much more combinations than we thought. They also have side pastries such as pineapple buns, manapuas, and cupcakes for around $1. To get our coffee fix, we ordered the large iced coffee for roughly $2. It came with complimentary cream and sugar and just in case it wasn't enough coffee, refills are only 50 cents. We also got the small soup and bagel combination, which consisted of their soup of the day and your choice of any bagel for ~$10. The day we went, their soup was corn chowder. It came in a pretty decent sized bowl so it wasn't really "small". The corn chowder itself was brimming with corn, potato chunks, and even some cut slices of bacon. When it was served to us, there was even a nice dash of black pepper. For the bagel, we got the ultimate omelet on onion bagel. The onion bagel itself was toasted for a crisp, crunchy texture and it was stuffed with an omelet of spinach, cheddar cheese, bacon, and Portuguese sausage, which was then layered with fresh mushrooms, and red onions. It also came with two slices of orange to finish the meal. We also ordered a turkey pesto melt bagel on croissant bread. This is probably the best bread to get here because they toast it so that the croissant is extra flaky and buttery. They also provided a generous portion of turkey and a nice layer of pesto with red onion, swiss cheese and mushrooms. And again, the orange slices made another appearance. Although the bagels sound relatively simple, it actually kept us full until dinner time. It is easy to tell that everything that they serve is made to order with the freshest ingredients possible. They really live up to their name of Fresh Cafe.

    (4)

  • Kalei F.

    I'll have to come here again to try it because they were OUT of chicken!! Hello!! It was lunch time and how could you be out of food!! The staff didn't seem very professional and the service could've definitely been better....aside from all that.... The Watermelon Delight!!! SO GOOD!! It really did taste like a fresh watermelon 10x better!! It was sweet, flavorful, not only looked like a slice of watermelon, but tasted like one too!! Next time I come, I'll definitely try some real lunch!! They have free wi-fi, good iced teas, and a super relaxing atmosphere to get some work done!! I'll be back!

    (4)

  • titus n.

    A true diamond in the rough...... Fresh Cafe is one of the hidden gems of Honolulu. As a traveling salesman I consistently find this my office outside of the "office." The staff is friendly and the good they serve are even better. Fresh supports local farmers in their menu even growing the basil for their pesto in a hydroponic garden in the parking lot. LEGIT! Fresh, makes it Fresh! For food, I'd recommend the chicken pesto pasta, chicken tofu salad, and the turkey pesto sandwich on a jalepeno cheddar bagel. For drinks, they've recently started serving "Adult Beverages" at all hours of the day so this coffee shop easily transforms into an amazing happy hour spot to wash down the day.

    (5)

  • Lindley B.

    The exterior is very colorful, exciting, and inviting. The interior has a cool vibe. The cafe even has someone who opens the door for each customer. However, the food is just bad, bad, bad! The kind of bad that thinking about it makes you stick your tongue out and say "Blah-yuck". And expensive to boot! I ordered the veggie sandwich and corn chowder. The sandwich was okay- decent- but nothing special and I could have definitely made it at home and for a lot less (and I probably could have done a better job). The chowder was AWFUL!!! It tasted like they had opened up a can of corn, added some bacon, and some milk. It was watery, tasted like a can of corn, and was just plain inedible. My boyfriend ordered the chicken Cesar salad. They forgot to make it (we could hear them discussing their mistake in the kitchen). When it did arrive it was also inedible and disgusting. The dressing was made with anchovies (which isn't a bad thing) but it was not subtle at all! It was salty and fishy. I don't mind salty and fishy but even for me this was bad. The chicken pieces were sub-par too. They weren't as fresh as the name of the cafe boasts. I wish we could have gotten our money back!!!! We just felt too ashamed to ask though- like it was our fault for them serving us horrible food. We probably took two bites of everything and just dumped the rest in their dump bins. Waste of money!!!!

    (1)

  • Sam O.

    I came here after hearing a lot about how great this place is. It's okay. I don't think the AC works inside though, it was really hot. I really liked my mom's bagel with pesto that she ordered. She also really liked the mango tea I got. I ordered a salad with avocado, but there was way too much dressing. Next time I think I'll order it separate.

    (3)

  • Eric A.

    This review is from a perspective of a musician instead of a consumer trying their java or food products, which I've heard was excellent. Their store front is really nice. Though small, very clean and modern looking, as opposed to heir back room, which is quite big and dark. It's the size of an auditorium (which is basically what it is) and their stage is set in the corner. For the most part, its a nice play to play, despite the acoustics in a room. Then again, it also depends on whether or not you like to crank your amp up or not. Their PA system is can bump, which is always a good thing. I was here last night to perform at a show put on by Hawaiian Express Records. It was the Pettyfords 10 year reunion show and the turn out was great. I got to see many friends I haven't got to in years. Everything from mohawks, playing tag with my friend's kids and even a whole army of fixed gear cyclists who were hanging outside. It was pretty neat, actually. Two bathrooms, security opening the door everytime you enter and exit and even an upstairs section (in the auditorium) for the beer garden. The only thing that sucks is parking at these type of events. In fact, there was some guy getting his car towed right in front the cafe during the show. Also, the shindig ended early to follow through with Fresh Cafe's curfew hours, which last night was at exactly 11pm. Their owner and her boyfriend are really two cool, young and hip people. Perhaps I can work with them promoting a show there sometime. Also, maybe next time I can finally write them a food or coffee review, cause their bagel sandwiches look good! 4 stars Fresh Cafe on Queen Street.

    (4)

  • Marcia L.

    Came here on a Saturday morning after doing an intense workout. I wanted an acai bowl but they were out of acai :( So I had a smoothie instead with mixed berries and soy milk and papaya in it. It was pretty good. The people are friendly and the place is artsy and clean.

    (4)

  • Sajili B.

    Seriously, I only come here for special events: hip hop/ bboy events, Art & Flea, etc. Let me tell you though Art & Flea has some very beautiful people there. Haha, wow the recent reviews will seem like I'm always trying to pick-up girls but really, I'll put it out on the yelp universe to help some brothers out. Come if you want to check out some cool things, they have some hip vintage stuff and really a lot of hipster gear. Alot of the sellers and the following, you'd probably see them more as amateur or actual models. Yea, eye candy. Well, the last real event aside from Art & Fleas I go to was a B-Boy battle sometime in January, Trilogy. They had local emcees spit on the mike, bboy crews battle it out, and a custom bike show outside (two-pedal, not motor). The ambiance was real hip so if you want to stay away from that go to boring Starbucks.

    (4)

  • Paige E.

    Had a groupon for here and wanted to try it out. Seemed like a cool atmosphere, but we waited almost an hour for our food which was just two sandwiches and when we finally got it my turkey melt (melts are definitely supposed to be warm) was cold! The Sandwiches were still good, but definitely not worth the wait or even the 8 bucks for a groupon.

    (1)

  • Crissy K.

    Fresh Cafe's food is decent -- my chicken/tofu/sesame seed salad was pretty tasty, even with just a drizzle of vinaigrette -- but they automatically get docked two stars for two major issues: 1. Parking: As in, there is very, very little during the day. You have to be lucky enough to score one of the half-dozen or so spaces, as there is absolutely zero street parking, and all other surrounding spaces are reserved for neighboring businesses. 2. Dirt: That's right, dirt. If you're lucky enough to score a table inside (there are very few), fine. If you're doing takeout, fine. But if you're dining al fresco, you're . . . let's just say not in luck. This actually happened: I opened my mouth to fork in some salad. At that moment, the wind blew. Dirt from (very poorly paved -- you know how it is) Queen Street flew into my mouth. This happened at TWICE. It's kinda like how sand flies in your mouth if you have a beach picnic on a windy day . . . except that it's dirt, not sand. And it's Queen Street, so it's particularly gross. In sum: OK food, yucky ambiance. I wouldn't go out of my way to dine there again.

    (3)

  • Min K.

    When I have nothing to do and don't feel like going into Waikiki, my new "it" spot is Fresh Cafe. It's quaint and cozy with a rustic touch. The past week I've been to Fresh twice; and have not been disappointed. Today was no exception. Since it was lunch, I was starved and saw that the chicken pesto pasta was a hit with fellow Yelpers. I agree, it's good. Big chunks of chicken, generous amount of pasta, and some color and sweetness with the tomato, it was good. The bagel sandwiches were good too. Service wise, they are efficient and fast. The only downside is being a local business, the prices are a bit steep compared to other cafes. If only inflation didn't pose a problem, I'd be at Fresh Cafe for my morning coffee!

    (4)

  • Eric Y.

    Just finished taping a segment of "Cheap Eats" w/ Guy Hagi for KFVE. Wow! I'm impressed. From the cool grafitti outside to the bowtie wearing door/parking attendant, it was a great experience. kudos to Tiffany and Leland for welcoming us in and feeding us! Inside was a nice relaxed vibe and the lunch crowd line did not stop! We had the Ginger wasabi salad, fresh pesto penne pasta ( my fav) , club sanwich on chibata and a huge Acai bowl w/ crazy assortment of fresh fruits. Did I mention beer? Yup, adult beverages are also available. I will be back to try the breakfast fare. A definite " must-go" gathering place w/ great fresh food in the heart if Kaka'ako.

    (5)

  • Jonathan F.

    Very happy with Fresh Cafe, my favorite is the pesto pasta salad with chicken. The half order at $4.95 fill me plenty most days and if I'm hungry Ill get the combo meal with the bacon and egg on a croissant and have food to take home. Very cool atmosphere, parking can be tight and tough to back out of, but the usually have an attendant to help out . The got me started with Groupons and kept me coming back to pay full price!

    (4)

  • Ka'ili H.

    Fresh Cafe was the restaurant of choice for the five of us gal-friends this Veteran's day Holiday. It was the first time we have gotten together for lunch and most of us hardly to never see each other so we were excited to eat and catch up. All of us arrived about 1245pm and almost all of the limited number of parking stalls were taken. However, we were fortunate to find parking in the parking lot and right in front of Fresh Cafe. We stood in line to order & studied the menu on the board against the wall. The cashier seemed like she was in training because she was on the slow side and made mistakes when punching in our orders. BUT, being our patient selves we were understanding because of having experience in retail and all. Slowly each of us ordered and went to an outside table fronting the restaurant. The waitress was friendly, but didn't smile much, she seemed to be a little stressed with the cashier and making sure us customers were satisfied. Lunch orders:: 1)I had the soup & salad combo of tomato bisque & the chicken tofu salad with sesame dressing. I didn't know it came with a large salad! It was perfect. I ordered it with the Nalu greens (extra $1) and a large guava iced tea, total: $15.70. Pricey lunch, but well worth it! The salad was big, we commented that maybe it should have been in a bigger bowl! The salad comes with lots of bean sprouts, tofu, and chicken thinly sliced with furikake on it. Yumm yumm and flavorful!! The dressing was a bit much for me towards the bottom but still great. The tomato soup was pretty large too (even though it was a "small") it came with what looked like freshly grated Parmesan cheese and also croutons. It was creamy & delicious. Paired with the Guava Iced tea: WINNER 2) the salad & bagel combo: of the small chicken tofu salad and the turkey pesto bagel. (minus the bean sprouts) She finished every bite and each of her taro & sweet potato chips. Paired with the Pikake Iced tea: she loved it! 3) Chicken Salad bagel sandwich: Delicious she also liked the sweet potato chips, a better choice than the regular potato chips. Paired with the blueberry iced tea: she liked the guava iced tea better. In fact she was sipping from mine after she finished hers. =o) 4) Another soup and salad combo of: the Corn Chowder & the Ginger Wasabi Chicken. She liked her corn chowder, a friend commented that it was better than some other restaurant's corn chowder. This teeny little girl, though enjoyed every bite of her meal, could not finish her large salad. It was pretty big. Paired with the strawberry iced tea: thoroughly enjoyed each sip! 5) Katrina D. ordered the Ginger wasabi Chicken salad. She loved it as well. paired with the raspberry iced tea: she liked it but preferred the Guava. We ended up staying at Fresh cafe for an hour and a half laughing hysterically and sharing stories about what's going on with each of us. My good friend told us all about her trip to japan, which we now want to visit flying Hawaiian airlines! (since they JUST started flying to Haneda) We had such a good time and LOVED that they didn't try to shoo us away. What we DIDN'T like was the guy sitting at the far table who was SMOKING! That really bothered us, mainly because it's the law NOT to be smoking! *Fresh Cafe you're THE ONE for us =o) *

    (5)

  • Chelle S.

    My bf and i met up with friends at Fresh Cafe on a Saturday night around 9:45pm. The place was fairly empty with an individual and a few small groups. We ordered 2 sandwiches and 2 drinks. The food itself was good but nothing great; nothing that I'd HAVE TO have again. The service itself was a whole 'nother experience though. The girl at the front was patient with me since I wasn't familiar with the ordering process. Although that part was nice of her, she forgot to put our drinks order in! We were nearly done with our food before we saw our drinks (a thai latte and a chai latte). To make things a bit worse, after receiving our food everyone at the front disappeared. My bf had to stand there for a bit to flag someone down for help with our missing drinks. Really?? And THAT's why this place gets 2/5 stars; I would've given them 3 stars for being average but the service knocked off a star. Oh and like everyone's mentioned, the parking stuation sucks. We got lucky and found a stall right in front of the establishment. Had we not lucked out, we would've been stuck parking down the street.

    (2)

  • Tyra K.

    Why is it 3 stars the questions is.... Well unfortunately I feel like they are a bit of a rip off.. No offense I love the vibe of this place and actually LOVE all their events especially 'The Art Flee' held every 3rd thursday of the month.. But the prices of the food for the quality we get... Come on seriously?! I would understand if they at least made their balsamic vinaigrette dressing from scratch, but hello what they make here I can also make at home, so what's the point of paying so much for something you can do an even better job on?! I really don't mean on being a b*tch... Cuz I really don't mind paying more for good quality of food, that's why I'm suggesting they should adjust either the quality of food or the price... Idk I prolly won't be back to eat here, eventho I wish something would change cuz I love how it has a seating area inside and out, reminds me a bit on a european atmosphere, cozy and relaxing... Well no matter what tho I'll defiantly be returning to their events..

    (3)

  • Stan R.

    Ordered take out the BLAT and Club both over priced sandwiches. I make better at home. Never again.

    (2)

  • Andrey Y.

    Well, after reading all of the mixed reviews on the site I had to check out this place. So I didn't even see any parking in the front of this place at all, and there was cones and a barrier in the area. I echo one other review about parking near Ross and walking. The servers were actually very nice, despite the negative comments I read on here. The tuna melt was actually really tasty, and even had mushrooms :) Now for the downsides, the price is not reasonable for the area, it took like 20 minutes to get the sandwich and the place was pretty empty, and my chai latte was 98% milk. I'm not exaggerating. Even after stirring it completely, it was as white as the paper you are reading this on. I like milk but doesn't help with staying awake. That's the whole reason for getting coffee/tea. Also, my laptop would not connect to their internet (did not prompt me for a password, just unable to connect), which is odd since I've never had issues with this sort of thing. 365 Challenge: #14/365

    (2)

  • Janice L.

    The POETRY SLAM room USED to be a FIVE stars environment! Last night, I was so bummed :( What happened to the cool, hip, well lit stage with ambient lighting?? No art displays anymore? Everything is stark white and without the once mysterious, comfortable vibe. What makes it worse is that the whole room is brightly lit so it hurts my eyes. What happened to the air-con? Without air circulating, the cigarette smoke from the exit door streams into the room. Poor air quality for the rest of the night. Felt faint and ready to pass out a few times. Pass us a paper fan and water for our scorched throats please! Now that they have waitresses to push alcohol, the feel just isn't the same:(. The bar makes so much noise, that the nuances of poetry get lost.....even the poets were distracted! The place lost the mana of art for art's sake. I miss what it used to be. :(. Will I be back? Only if I hear that it went back to how it used to be.

    (1)

  • Alice C.

    What I like best about this place is the atmosphere. They have a real friendly staff that'll greet you and answer any questions you have with a smile on their face. Today was the second time I've been there. I tried their tomato bisque. It came with croutons and some cheddar. I don't think I care for croutons in my soup but I'm sure that could be modified next time. They've extended the place from the last time I've been there. All the clothes and the back section that used to be closed off is cleared off. Now theres two long benches so theres technically more seats. Its interesting. I like the art on the walls outside. Actually i like the whole cafe. Its just artsy period. The drinks and food are pretty reasonable if not cheap. I have yet to try their food! They have free wifi and I think its unlimited so thats awesome. Another thing Ive noticed since I've last been here is that their hours of operation has extended. They now open till 1:30 AM. AWESOME! So I guess if I wanna switch it up to different study spots, Fresh Cafe is definitely an option. I also love the fact that it is not FREEZING cold in here like how starbucks is. I can't concentrate when I'm freezing. I'm too busy thinking warm. Anyways, Fresh Cafe, I will be back. Probably be hitting up this place after school and before work! :)

    (4)

  • Erol C.

    Great staff, wonderful salads and the best corn chowder! Tiffany is a gem, and their events in the back are progressive for the island. Keep it up!

    (5)

  • Misha U.

    I used to love this place. I would come here everyday with my friends to study and hang out. The coffee is by far some of the best I've had on the island. The baristas used to be really friendly, but now it has definitely gone down the tubes. The day workers are super rude and service is mad slow. They charge for everything, from a cup of water to a bit of creamer for coffee. It's a shame that this place has gone so sour because the coffee is the best and the venue is great. The best time to go is late evening, the girl who works at night is super friendly. All in all, just know that when you come here: BIG RIP OFF.

    (2)

  • michelle a.

    fresh has some really awesome events such as art shows, poetry slams, fashion shows and club nights . The adult drinks are priced good and you have to try the haupia latte from the cafe! It is the most amazing thing ever. Also the food tastes healthy and the ambiance is very cute. Lots of plants and art.

    (5)

  • Joshua C.

    I have this fear that one day I'll return to Honolulu and find it completely devoid of all that is unique, cool, artistic, and eclectic. That soulless corporate chains will dominate the landscape making it difficult to distinguish one neighborhood from the next. Each time I come back this apocalypse seems ever closer, but sitting in Fresh Cafe I felt a glimmer of hope. For starters it's not in another ubiquitous one story off white strip mall with eye-sore parking out front. And while nearby, it's not in the Ward Village of shops that can be found in almost any American suburb. I immediately liked the black and green funkiness, the industrial setting, and the little design flourishes that give the space a modern chill vibe. Walking in with the extraordinary Edwina K. ( edwina.yelp.com ), my initial thoughts were "Should life ever bring me back to the islands, I could see myself hanging here." Wi-Fi. Open early, open late. And Blackalicious, nodding my head to the Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel made me thankful I wasn't stuck at some burnt bean Fivebucks. From a culinary standpoint I found the menu lacking some of the risk taking and creativity that the cafe exudes as a whole. I saw little that couldn't be easily prepared at home or that really intrigued me (but then again I'm sort of jaded by access to places like this blog.littleredbikecafe.c… ). Deciding to share we (in this case three), went with a Ginger Wasabi Chicken Salad, Egg Salad Bagel Sandwich, Chicken Pesto Penne Pasta. Additionally I had an ice tea, my friend a caramel macchiato, and a slice of melon ice cream pie. While nothing extraordinary I enjoyed the clean flavors, the beautiful presentation, and the generous portions. It's nice not to feel like you took a shot out of someone's frialator, especially after lunch and here, even after putting down a a decent amount, I left feeling refreshed. Potatoes added some nice crunch to the Chicken Pesto Penne and I thought the Ginger Wasabi dressing on the other salad demonstrated nice balance. The Egg Salad Sandwich, was well made, but not particularly memorable. Cold, sweet, creamy, and fruity, the melon ice cream pie thing turned out to be the perfect end to the meal. Overall I enjoyed the experience at Fresh Cafe. Is it a foodie destination? Not really, but a great a place to grab lunch with amazing friends? A wi-fi enabled oasis of culture? An anytime locally owned place to chill? Absolutely. Like a silent, but violent passing of gas the anti-culture armageddon has enveloped the city, it's stench leaving behind "available for lease" signs or worse another franchise. But, all is not lost. Along with its attached multi-use concert-fashion show-poetry slam-party venue I'm crossing my fingers that more Fresh-Cafe-like spots will proliferate, pervade, and thrive. Hopefully this place is more a glimpse of Honolulu's creative future than a last stand before a banal end.

    (4)

  • Jennifer O.

    came to pick up dinner to take home after my dog's vet appointment next door on a Monday night. the place was empty except for one guy working on his computer. so service was fast and parking was easy. got the soup and salad combo (tomato bisque and warm spinach salad). everything was a bit salty, but palatable. i'd come again to try the sandwiches, since my dad liked his club sandwich (filled him up).

    (4)

  • Chad Y.

    Fresh Cafe has become my go-to spot when I just want to find a quiet spot to work that has wi-fi available! They offer healthy cafe fare, good coffee/tea, and a very comfortable atmosphere. This hidden gem is in the middle of the industrial area and isn't something you would expect to find amidst the car repair shops and the storage warehouses. However it is a comfortable reprieve from urban living as you step inside or as you sip your latte on the patio. Did I mention it has free wi-fi and is open late? The menu features some great salads, including the wasabi chicken which is my personal favorite. Also a weekly soup and the corn chowder which was quite lovely. The sandwiches are made on bagels and are good, but bagels? I wish they had whole wheat bread or wraps and is the one area that bugs me and prevents me from giving 5 stars. The service is good and the staff that work here are really friendly and helpful. They take pride in their cafe and in the food/drinks they prepare. Really awesome place, so avoid it at all costs, because I am being selfish and don't want to see it crowded....ok, that was me being selfish, who am I kidding, even if it were full to the brim (which it is often) it is still very comfortable and an awesome place!

    (4)

  • Nixxie P.

    Adorable cafe, great and yummy REFRESHING food! the servers seem friendly but the dining area (inside) was dirty.... maybe next time i'll try the outdoor seating, and see if thats a cleaner area. Also, they were out of a few key ingredients when we ordered on a saturday. It a while to figgure out what we wanted to eat, since we couldn't order what we originally wanted.

    (4)

  • Rayna H.

    Used to study here Love the location it's by my house, but the latte's are nasty Open 24 hours though gotta love it

    (3)

  • Anita C.

    I went on a Sunday and made sure I was there after noon since that's when they open. I got a club bagel sandwich and a guava tea with fresh mango and I am coming back! The sandwich was tasty, the bagel was toasted just right and reminded me of the bagels back in NY; not too doughy, not dry, light crisp on the outside and just the right amount of softness on the inside, yum! The iced tea reminded me of summer; it was light, refreshing and the touch of mango was really delightful! Oh, I also added taro and sweet potato chips for an additional dollar - what a deal! since a small bag at Longs is like $4 and they give you about half of one of those bags. The decor is airy; gives a fresh and friendly feeling/vibe. I'm going to try the chowder next time since everyone raves about it.

    (4)

  • Rachel S.

    Why Fresh is better than Ward Starbucks: They do not blast the A/C !!!! I Music selection is nice. I feel cooler when I study here. There's always somewhere to sit. The tea selection makes me happy. mmMMMm Jungle Tea. Salads, sandwiches available so ppl can avoid dumb things like cake pops. I'm sorry for dissing cake pops. Its just that cake pops are a disgrace. There's a cool art gallery in the back. Fresh promotes shows, stuff coming up, concerts, etc. They have First Thursdays, Art & Flea. There's always pretty bikes outside that I can stare at. Pretty graffiti makes for good profile pictures. They sell Taro chips nom nom. There's a little library book swap thing. Why Fresh is not better than Ward Starbucks: Parking.

    (5)

  • Mandy C.

    As a rating for a cafe, it's a three star. I haven't been to an event here but the back room for bands and poetry slams is spacious and appears to be pretty rad. I like that they offer plenty of tables, free wifi with no time restriction, numerous electrical outlets, a pretty large menu, and strong espresso, which is very conducive for a studying environment. The americano is so strong and it tastes way better than starbucks. 5 stars. The acai bowl is large. It consists watery acai covered in some granola and banana...not on the top of my list of acai bowls to try. I think you can save your $8.95 on something else. Lunch is slow since there's not enough hands in the kitchen but sometimes, it's worth the wait. The tofu chicken salad is good, the shoyu sesame dressing accompanying it worked well with the bean sprouts and mini tofu cubes. The prices are okay, most food items range $8 to $10. One huge thing that factored into this 3 star, PARKING. It's horrific.

    (3)

  • Stevie K.

    Fresh Cafe is smart. It picked a demographic (up-and-comers/creative types/scenesters) and gave them what they needed: Free wi-fi. Late hours of operation. Trendy cafe food. Locally made and organic sweets. And more recently, a large back area for shows, parties, and even community garage sales. And all right in the middle of the growing area of Kakaako. It's no wonder that although this place has only been open for under a year that it already has so many (largely positive) Yelp reviews. What I personally like about Fresh Cafe is that, unlike freaking Ward Starbucks, I can always get a table...and its big enough for both your and your friend's laptops! Hallelujah! The ice cream pies aren't so bad either ;) (Try the watermelon one. Lots of jealous facebook comments after posting that baby :P) The one thing I don't get is the denim shop that is accessible by appointment only. Was that necessary? Clothing might have worked, but it's my understanding that the stuff they sell there is pretty expensive. In closing, I will write that you had me at "free wi-fi"...but you gave me so much more, and that's why I'm sticking with you, Fresh Cafe. xoxo, Stevie

    (4)

  • Bernard N.

    Been here several times on the weekends with my dog since it's only footsteps from my condo. It's a great place for relaxing and enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee, salad, or bagel sandwich. All the food that I've tried has been great -- tuna bagel, chicken pasta salad, bacon/egg/cheese croissant. It's a 2-man show so if you're in a rush, this is not the place for you. Pets are welcome on the outside patio and indoor seating also available with free wi-fi. Parking is limited (maybe 6 stalls?) but not an issue for me since I walked over. Have not been to any of their evening events (backroom available). Overall great experience and I will be back!

    (4)

  • Bethany N.

    So I was all excited to try their coffee and hopeful that Fresh Cafe will suffice as a replacement for Morning Brew if I can't find a house in Kailua soon and order a peanut butter puff and an iced latte... Only to dig in my purse and realize my wallet is at work, on the desk. It was something like $6 and all I could find in my purse was a five, so I am just giving up, going to get my wallet and try over but the guy was like don't worry about it! So so so embarassing but so nice he was understanding. My pb puff was dericious and the coffee beats the pants off Starbucks. I shall return!! With a big fat tip for YOU..

    (4)

  • Esther Y.

    I'd been hearing about Fresh Cafe so much that when my friend and I were trying to pick a place to meet up, it was one of the first that popped into my mind, and we both lived within walking distance! That is good, because parking here is pretty difficult. Make that nearly impossible. I tried to come here once already with another friend a few weeks ago, and we tried to get the acai bowl, but they were out of acai, so we didn't get anything. This time, it was my last night in Hawaii, and they had acai! Well, the ordering process went something like this... Me: [looking at the menu] "Oooh look they have pineapple buns!" Staff: "Actually, we don't...and we also don't have peanut butter puffs or ____ or _____... [seeing my face falling] we don't really have anything except the bagels right now...and we're working on re-doing the menu" Me: "Oh...well...do you have the acai bowl still?" Staff: [pauses] "Yeah, we do have the acai bowl actually!" Me: "WHEW. Let's get one of that please!" So that's how I came to have my last acai bowl in Hawaii before moving back to the mainland. I'm glad I had my last acai bowl here, because it definitely rose quickly near the top of my "Best Acai Bowls" list. In fact, if I had it one more time...I might just give it the number one spot. It's a big bowl with plenty of acai and plenty of apple bananas, raspberries, and granola. I think it might be bigger than the bowls at most other places I've been! It's also a pretty cute and organic-looking little cafe. I hear the wifi is no longer free though.

    (4)

  • Zulma A.

    The art events happening there are awesome. We need more. The secret two story huge loft in the back is amazing when you see it for the first time. Ask for the "loft in space" tour. Aloha

    (5)

  • Alviesan T.

    Awesome foods if you're into eating healthy! Sandwiches, soups, and salads. Not the simple kinds too! Google queens cafe Honolulu to see full menu. My favorite is chicken pesto sandwich! And all the tons of flavors of tea! I love the mango tea

    (5)

  • N C.

    Amazing Place! I always go there to do computer work and enjoy their acai bowls. Also, the sandwhiches awesome. Fresh, quality ingredients and good service. The workers are fairly young but they work well and have great attitudes. Hat's off to the management Lelan and Tiffany. Highly recommend. They have a lot of cool events too so I'd check the website.

    (5)

  • Beth I.

    I LOVE starbucks coffee... but sometimes you cannot find a seat at the Ward location if your life depended on it. For this reason I Love that this cute place is open late (2AM) most day's 'cept for Sunday and Monday I believe (check the operation times!). I love doing homework here while sipping a tasty iced tea. The vibe is definitely "fresh" and different. Great turkey pesto bagel sandwich and there are different soup's everyday. They also have salads and basic baked goods like cookies and brownies. Been studying here a couple of times until closing and noticed that the business is a steady throughout the night - a mix of college students and young people looking for a tasty alternative to fast food.

    (4)

  • Gspot H.

    Has wireless. Great Soups. the Art and Flea Event is always busy and fun.

    (5)

  • K T.

    I would actually like to take my initial review down from 4 stars to 2.5 stars. I went to Fresh Cafe on Sunday for lunch and there were a few problems and my main reasoning for lowering my rating is for service and business practices. I had purchased a Groupon for "Cafe Meal for 2" and here's where things went askew. My friend and I ordered and we were told that the Groupon does not include the combos (soup and sandwich, etc.) Okay, so we ordered a la carte sandwiches. Then when I asked about what kind of drinks they had I was told that the Groupon does not include drinks and that it was for food items only. I was also told that the value of the Groupon was for $17 worth. What we ordered came out to around $16 so I don't understand why I couldn't have gotten a drink and then just paid for the difference. And so here's the fine print on the Groupon: Limit 1 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Limit 1 per table. Limit 1 cup per visit for coffee option. Valid only for option purchased. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Dine-in only. It excludes alcohol but does not note any other kind of beverage. Nor does it exclude meal combos. I'm just saying... On top of that they told us they were short-staffed and that the food would take a while, which it did. A long while. The only reason that I clicked on 3 stars instead of 2 was that the food was still good.

    (3)

  • Michael R.

    Had the absolute best tuna melt I have ever had in my entire life at the Fresh Café! I only wish I were a poet, as my words do no justice for the plethora of goodness they served! The staff is extremely helpful, the service was prompt and to top it all off the food was to die for! With every bite into my tuna melt, it was like slipping into an ecstasy of warm, cheesy, tuna filled goodness. Tuna melt on a croissant, lightly toasted... an absolute must for anyone and everyone!

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    The service was pretty slow and unorganized- small place gets busy fast. it took me a while to get my americano- and people after me got their coffee before my order. not too happening. yes- the coffee was great. got to sit at a table next to the glass wall that was some kind of clothing store by appt only. what a waste of space. its so cramped inside already. I'm sure all the food and drink is good and great- however, parking sucks everywhere on that street at any given time.

    (3)

  • Nicole K.

    Went here for the first time tonight. Well, it was to study, but I got to enjoy their Jungle Tea and Chicken Pesto Pasta. I ordered a small portion, but it was pretty filling. The pesto was really creamy, and I loved it. The jungle tea was amazing. I love the little blackberries ^_^ My friend got the Italian soda with rootbeer. It was light, yet really refreshing, so I enjoyed it. She said the bathroom was cute, but sadly I didn't have to go tonight. Maybe next time I'll check it out. They were having some sort of balloon making get together in the back. Free Wi-Fi is always a plus :)

    (5)

  • Danielle Y.

    Fresh Cafe! I love you so much, I cannot write a clever review. Filling bagel sandwiches (6-8 dollars), italian sodas (2-3), fun-dressed salad (about 5), free wifi, outside seating, friendly folks, cute decor... *sigh* I want to go there RIGHT NOW

    (4)

  • Tammy T.

    Okay, so I went to check this place out because of all the high reviews and the fact that First Thursdays are held there. I guess with all the hype, it was, OK. Reason being: -There is only about 8 stalls and then you gotta find street parking. I got there around 8 or 9 PM. Being a female, and arriving alone to meet a friend, I tried to find the closest parking I could, but still had to walk about a block or so under the dark (street lite) sky. - It was SO QUITE when I got in there you could hear a pin drop. If your normal voice isn't library style ,or if you're talking about something personal, I suggest sitting outside. When I went there, EVERYONE other then my friend and I were doing homework, and I felt the need to whisper to her, as not to bother the people around us. We would have moved outside had it not look like windy chaos and rain out the window. -The food was okay. Yes, I agree with others that the Corn Chowder was watery. The Wasabi Salad was delicious though. - The guy at the counter seem very...I don't know the word. Aloof maybe? Didn't smile, monotoned (not hate'n on that, I'm just stating) soft speaking. You know? I think that just lead to me feeling more like I had to be quite. Yes, it does have an "indie" feel to it; from the interior to the staff. It's cute and nice, and I can appreciate a local coffee shop. Not to mention open late. AWESOME! Oh and I have a thing for clear coffee mugs, which they have, which I do love:)

    (3)

  • David G.

    Overall, I liked Fresh Café and thought it was a nice change of pace. I thought the menu was both ample and creative albeit too pricey! Their portions were decent and the café looked very clean. Very Friendly Service! On a side note: I really liked their Iced Pikake Green tea as well as their cupcakes. I know they don't make their cupcakes, but they were very impressive!!!! If anyone knows who makes them, please let me know so I can buy them in bulk, lol.

    (3)

  • Albert L.

    I would give this place a solid 4 Stars if I averaged in the awesome Yelp First Burstday event, but based on my food experience alone I have to kinda ding it. I went with JUST a breakfast mood in mind, no desserts, no studying/WiFi needs/etc. My friends and I had various versions of their breakfast bagels. I had their turkey pesto one I think, it was okay but nothing to scream home about. And once again, I have to ding them for basically just using store-bought bagels...but I'm a bagel snob like that. Also, the space inside seemed a bit cramped just for eating, and the outside patio (although cool at night and when filled up like it was with the Yelp event) doesn't have the nicest atmosphere/vibe during the day. It feels like you are just eating in a parking lot, which you kind of are. Maybe I'll give it another try someday...but if I wanted great coffee with WiFi I'd rather go to Glazer's Coffee on King Street. Just saying...maybe the other aspects like their desserts or performance space would make it better, but not as far as just food. Plus I forgot to mention that somehow it took them about 30 minutes - 45 minutes plus to bring out my friends breakfast bagel, after my friend and I had basically finished our meals already!

    (3)

  • Emiliana H.

    Dope People Dope Food, What more can you ask for... Dope Music too.

    (5)

  • Liz C.

    If you got that extra dough, splurge it on chicken and pesto penne salad and a bagel sandwich. That's what's ~fresh~ at this cafe ;)

    (4)

  • Badger J.

    Holy crap in a pita, this is good stuff. I had the corn chowder there on three separate occasions, just to see if it would stay consistent. I also got a turkey-pesto sandwich on bagel, and Italian soda. For those of you in a rush, here's the meat & potatoes of it all: The Good: Food is, price-wise, cheaper or equal to Starbucks (SB), but it is made fresh. The Turkey-pesto was made with deli slices, sure, but the mushrooms and onions were fresh-cut. The chowder has never tasted "bottom of the pot". The Italian soda varies, depending on the flavor-- apple is light, peach is sweeter. There are two bathrooms here, and it isn't as crowded as SB. In fact, I came here today because there were no seats inside SB at Ward. Interesting daily specials (wish I saw the Korean kal-bi tacos before I got the soup & sandwich combo!). The Bad: Parking is limited, esp. when slam poetry is in session (no worries, I bike it). For the same reasons as above, it can get loud in here, esp. when people are opening the back door to access the restrooms. Although rarely crowded, there's only about five tables and a counter for three inside; outside has twice as many tables, and the plus here is that the building overshadows most of them (outside SB in summer feels like you're an ant under a giant magnifying glass). All in all, I'll be back-- esp. since Chowder House isn't around anymore (bread bowls for the chowder would have been nice!). Great place to study if you're tired of the creepy older guys who seem to frequent SB in hopes of scoring a seat next to a young college student...

    (5)

  • Akiko T.

    I have yet to explore the whole cafe, but for now, I am a fan already. WiFi is key. Outside seating for nice sunny days. Lots of variations of drinks, meals, cookies, and desserts! Plus, they have event spaces that people can rent. This area, I still need to see, but my aerial teacher did a performance couple weeks ago at Cafe's event area in the "back." I don't know where that "back" area is, but will find out! What I love about this cafe is that it doesn't look like it exists on Queen Street. I had to pass by it so many times before I realized that it was a Cafe and not one of those car repair shops (which is very likely on Queen St.). Plus, when you go past the cafe in the evening, it has a purple-ish glow to it...nice. And they are open till VERY late at night. I'm not a party girl or anything like that, but nice to know that there is a non-alcoholic location I can go to when I have visitors from Japan that are having trouble adjusting to Hawaiian time due to jet lag!

    (4)

  • Amanda Z.

    Just stopped by Fresh Cafe for lunch today, didn't try the coffee, but had a yummy chicken tofu sesame seed salad for $5, good portion size. My friend had the veggie bagel sandwich that looked good too. The location is kind of random but it was pretty busy. The girl behind the register had to also bring the food out so it was a little slow, but she was apologetic so it was fine. The inside has a nice, simple decor. The connecting clothes store was closed so I'll have to come back to check it out!

    (4)

  • Tessa t.

    yelp 365 challenge #24/365 this is based on their customer service and common sense skills... i walked in and to the counter... i saw that the brunette barista was making a drink... so i don't expect her to stop what she's doing and take my order... i know better... but it would be nice of you to acknowledge me since i was standing there for about 4-6 minutes... but you didn't... you continued to ignore me... fine. whatever. another blonde haired girl comes up to take my order... nice girl. thank you. i ordered a iced thai latte, lite ice... the blonde proceeds to tell the brunette my order... the brunette asks me, "so do you want it hot or iced?" i say, "lite ice..." she says, "soooo...?" i say, "lite ice." really? what do you think? i also ordered a bagel. friend ordered the tuna melt. went outside to wait for our food. it comes out... i get a bagel with cream cheese... that's it... how do they expect me to put the cream cheese on my bagel?? no knife? wtf? oh wait! i do see a very distinct fingerprint on my cream cheese block... perhaps that is what they wanted... me to use my finger and spread it... uh...no thank you. tuna melt was good. my very "complicated" order of iced thai latte, lite ice was good... common sense and service...bleh.

    (2)

  • Renee G.

    Didn't get a chance to try the coffee or food. Service was so bad we walked out before we even ordered. 5 people behind counter, not one person greeted us. They were far to busy stuffing their faces with samples. When we asked the guy how he was doing he just complained about being at work. I'm sure the coffee is good but I guess I'll never know.

    (1)

  • Dana F.

    Recently came here to visit my new friend Emi!! Since I am from Kailua I did not expect this! As I was driving toward I saw the windows and thought, "Its too cute!" then as I'm turning and gawking at the cafe I turn with out looking at any oncoming traffic and BANG!!! lol jk; No but literally the car was an inch from hitting me, then they called me "stupid" but I did not feel stupid, I felt great from this great discovery! I got some iced coffee and biscotti for 3.90 and was pretty stoked! great/clean atmosphere. cutest cafe yet, even cuter than morning brew in kailua shopping center! For another bonus there were NO bums! :) lol, I know I know bums need love too but NOT at all coffee shops! what's up with that??

    (4)

  • Christopher C.

    The atmosphere here reminds me of the Bay, and the mix of great music and a good work area is very appreciated. Such a good utility of a venue also, I think the first time I set foot in this spot was to see Rocky Rivera and Bambu perform on my friend Alisa's birthday. id love to catch some other shows when I get a chance to take a break! I really like this spot a lot, great spot to study with a friendly staff and amazing menu. I think they have the menu just right, its simple not complex but executed wonderfully. Their dishes seem healthy, tasty, and not too bad on the wallet either. The only thing I have trouble with sometimes is finding a good parking spot once their lot is full. Fresh does get crackin some nights so any suggestions on alternative parking would be great!

    (4)

  • Christa W.

    I think I'm like the only person on this island that is always early for things. Hy guys, I work WAIPIO side... I need to pre-plan for any weird accidents or stalls or rock slides if I have a meeting in town. Thank GOD for Fresh Cafe, holy crap. It's totally smack dab in the middle of where every friggin meeting in town takes place, slightly off the beaten path so you won't have to wait in a seven mile long car line to turn. Tiffany is always there playing rad movies on her giant flat screen and I can gobble a cup of corn chowder or drink her special marshmellow latte (you gotta ask for it special), or pick from any of her baked goodie jars while I wait for my meeting to start or for my man to get off work. This is the perfect place to meet someone that doesn't have an office, btw. Wi-fi!

    (5)

  • Jessica A.

    Looking for a place to study can be difficult sometimes. During finals week, I decided to yelp some coffee shops and my search led me to Fresh Cafe at around 8P on a Tuesday night. The parking lot was full when I arrived because of the event they were having in one of the back rooms but one of the workers at Fresh Cafe told me I could park in front of some of the businesses nearby so it wasn't so hard to find parking. I ordered a salad and some iced tea. Both were pretty yummy. I like how they provide free wifi w/ purchase and how the place didn't have music blasting. Sometimes when I go to Starbucks it's hard to concentrate with the music so loud. There are a lot of seats outside but not too many inside. I can imagine it getting very difficult to find a seat when it gets really busy. I would definitely visit this place again for studying.

    (3)

  • Lee A.

    love the vibe here. wooden picnic benches, some mod looking chairs. tons of reading material, and additional outdoor seating. 100% kona coffee. awesome. wish I brought my own cup so I can enjoy my coffee in my favorite cup. food is wonderful. service is fast and friendly. they do run out of food. i have yet to taste their corn chowder. it was out when i was there at 5. Their tomato basil soup had some thickness to it, with cheese and croutons on top.

    (5)

  • Lena H.

    Fresh cafe is the bomb! All I have to say is: Ginger wasabi chicken salad and mango iced tea. Maybe throw in some penne pasta as well. You'll love it!

    (5)

  • Ingrid M.

    I love the food but the service is so inconsistent. When who I believe the owner is there the service is up to par but when otherwise service is slow and not very friendly. Love the mango iced tea and the chicken salad sandwich.

    (3)

  • David K.

    Off the beaten path from tourist-town waikiki...the fresh cafe is the place to go for some good coffee and snacks..(bagels, scones, soup, sandwiches, etc...) The best thing...for me...late night! open until 230am on the weekends, 1am on weekdays... free wifi! and if you get bored, there is a music scene in the back...nice!

    (5)

  • Gary T.

    Ended the night with a meeting here. Always a supporter for independent cafe. Atmosphere is so comforting. Great place to hang out late. Just watch out that you don't park across the street or you could get towed. The goods: their mango pikake iced tea hits the spot.

    (5)

  • Aaron S.

    This place is a nice alternative to your standard cafe franchise. It isn't located in your typical commercial district, but rather along a road lined with what looked like auto body shops, warehouses, and industrial businesses. This may not sound like a normal place to run a coffee shop, but that's the cool thing about Fresh Cafe- it's different. The whole place gives off this organic / indie vibe, making it a nice place to come chill with friends. I ordered their turkey pesto melt (which was basically a bagel with turkey, red onions, mushrooms, and pesto) and an iced tea for ~$10. Seemed kind of pricey, but was well worth it in the end. My sandwich was served on actual plate-ware with what looked like vegetable chips in the shape of french fries. The pesto sauce was tasty and brought out the flavor of the other ingredients. After lunch I ended up getting a lemon cupcake with cream cheese icing - really really good, but not worth the price they charge for it. Overall, a cool place, but has limited parking and very few indoor seats. If you decide to come here, try to come during slower hours (i.e. after the lunch rush). Pros - indie atmosphere, good food, great service, nice presentation, free wi-fi, open late Cons - limited parking, limited indoor seating, menu items tend to be on the pricier side

    (3)

  • Marisa O.

    Okay, so Fresh Cafe. Food is good. That is the truth. Although nothing outstanding. Sadly, the service leaves a lot to be desired, and I unfortunately did not appreciate the 45 minute wait for our food. We almost requested our money back (which I have actually only done once in my life before). However, the girl who helped us was apologetic and courteous. So much so that I would be willing to give this place another try before I close the book.

    (3)

  • Jill Y.

    Fresh Chamber @ Fresh Cafe is, like, so awesome! I went this past week Monday (2/1/10) and saw four Honolulu Symphony musicians play. The stand out was concertmaster Iggy Jang. It was a wonderful setting except for the occasional squeaky chair and refrigerator hum, but I felt those sounds only added to the music--in a way it reminded me that I was not in a typical setting for "high" music. A few things I noticed: 1. An adorable dog / puppy that seemed to be running around in the showroom. 2. You can buy coffee at the cafe and bring it into the back stage area. 3. The bathroom is really nice. It's nicer than my bathroom at home! 4. The workers are very friendly and exude this great energy that makes you feel at home.

    (5)

  • C L.

    We're done with this place. Tried two more times and they were out of acai twice and out of soup. Bye Bye Fresh Cafe. We will NEVER stop by again!!

    (1)

  • Derek M.

    I'm sitting outside right now enjoying my iced tea and flying at fast speeds on line. Can't beat it. Had a great lunch, the staff is friendly, quick and professional. Don't miss this place if you need some coffee and some bandwidth.

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    I really wanted to like this place. It's comfortable looking and clean. However, as I ordered my $8 bagel sandwich and Mango (oops! not Mango-they were all out of Mango) Tea, I was warned by the cashier that it might be 20 minutes or so. No problem, I said, I had the time. As I sat there, the group that ordered in front of me waited their 20 minutes, ate, and left. I kept waiting. After 40 minutes, I asked the cashier about my sandwich. I was assured mine was the next one up. I waited another 5 minutes and she brought me my sandwich. It was average at best, not bad but nothing special. From the other reviews I've seen here, I think this place has a problem with getting orders out in a timely fashion. I think they flat out forgot my order and then did nothing to try to make up for it. I think you can do better in this area...especially if you're in a rush.

    (2)

  • Kevin E.

    My wife and I have been wanting to come here for a long time. We finally got the chance today on the way to an appointment. We figured we'd be good on time since it was just after 2pm on a Tuesday. I was very wrong. It took us 5 minutes just to order our food (only three people in front of us); the staff seemed amazingly slow. Our food finally came out after 20 minutes and looked pretty good. Unfortunately, they screwed up both of our sandwiches and we didn't have time to wait for new ones to be made. One star for politely refunding our money.

    (1)

  • Moy H.

    the day we dined, it was NOT SO Fresh Cafe...a bit over priced for what we ordered. I sampled the Tofu Chicken Salad, full size as the smaller order seemed manini for my lunch time appetite. Some of my lettuce leaves have markings of SPOILAGE (dark green slimy tips) and rust coloring---sure signs of old, not fresh produce. Tofu bits were super small bit size, they were dwarfed by the lettuce pieces. Salad sauce was palatable. My partner ordered the BLAM (bacon, lettuce, avocado, mayonnaise) sandwich....small portions, almost missed the tiny piece of bacon. I would've priced it at $4 tops...I think it was over $7. I'm all for reuse but 50 cents to use one of their cups for water? Really? The iced chai tea had more sweetened condense milk than tea....overall: a sad disappointment........should have stopped at Karen's Kitchen a block over.

    (1)

  • Lai X.

    Worst customer service ever! Workers and their friends don't let u eat outside food even in the parking lot. My friend was snacking on a manapua outside waiting for us while we were ordering food inside. Service was horrible workers had attitude the whole time.

    (1)

  • Ronne P.

    I love their food and the atmosphere of this little cafe. It's vegan so it might not be for everyone but the food is yummy.

    (4)

  • Sheryl G.

    what: a hidden oasis with an eclectic mix of people~ something good: i love the atmosphere of the place. it's cool that it's in a warehouse and you don't even feel like you're sitting in a warehouse. they have a cafe and a boutique and they also do little events at night~ the setting is super cool, i could totally see myself hanging out here :) something not so good: the food wasn't knock your socks of great, but it was good~ !! something to try: peach iced tea

    (5)

  • Troy N.

    Thank you Fresh Cafe. Fresh Cafe is perfectly situated for those of you who are having your cars worked on at Lex Brodie's on Queen Street. I heard about Fresh Cafe from a friend who is a regular there. I walked from Lex's and got to Fresh Cafe in about five minutes. I brought along my laptop and was happy to see that they offer free wi-fi. The crowd was chill and seemed to be friendly. I purchased a jungle tea, Parmesan chicken pasta bowl, and a pumpkin cream cheese cupcake. The cashier was friendly and fast. She told me that I could take a seat and that she would bring my order to me. I found a nice seat outside under the covered patio area. Was nice to be outside in the fresh air. There were also many open seats inside but I always prefer to sit outside. There are outdoor seats in front of the cafe and along the side. The cashier promptly found me and brought me my order. Everything was delicious. The tea was refreshing and not too sweet, the chicken pasta was creamy and tender, and the pumpkin cupcake was a great way to end the meal. (On my second visit, I also tried a red velvet cupcake ~ if you see my smiling face you would know how scrumptious it is) I sat around for about an hour and finished up some work on my laptop. It was fun to see the customers coming and going. Interesting mix of artsy people along with relaxed business people. There were several tables that filled up around me ~ it seemed that some people were having informal business meetings. I had a relaxing and stomach-satisfying experience at Fresh Cafe. After I was done, I made the short walk back to Lex Brodie's where I picked up my car. Fresh Cafe gave me an excellent alternative to sitting and waiting in the stuffy Lex Brodie customer waiting lounge. Will definitely be back for more regular visits - even when my car is not being worked on.

    (4)

  • J D.

    Fresh Cafe is kind of limping along. I've eaten and studied here about 20 times, and I live nearby, so I keep coming back, but otherwise I would have moved on to better options. A few thoughts: As i write, I'm sitting in Fresh, and we are listening to...the radio. It feels cheap, the station sucks, and the ads are annoying. At an independent cafe, you hope to hear something interesting, not FM 100.3. Bring your headphones when you're heading to Fresh. Little dislikes like the above tend to pile up. $4 is a lot for a sweetened tea. It's hot in here. It just doesn't run tight. Who started this place? Had they managed a cafe before? That all said, the food can be good and the tables are good for studying. Keep pushing or cut bait, Fresh Owner. It's certainly better to have this place than not, but right now you're hanging in mediocre land.

    (2)

  • James R.

    I really love the improved menu and the great drink selection. They offer a variety of bagel sandwiches, soups, salads and pastas, all delicious. The interior has been enlarged since they have opened to provide more seating area and there is seating in front and to the side near the parking area. Parking is very limited here but you are provided a great look at some spectacular art from artists local and international. From time to time the back opens into a great little venue where musicians and artists perform or the monthly swap meet style art n' flea happens. Wi-Fi is free providing a great place to work or relax and enjoy yourself.

    (4)

  • Jamie A.

    Really Fresh Café??? Your lackluster service and so-so food left a stale aftertaste for this first timer! After learning that Good Eats was closed today (also July 4 btw) my sister and I went in search of a nearby establishment to get some lunch. After passing by Panya and Queens BBQ we decided to try out Fresh Café. It's a shame that the café's façade is much more exciting than what awaits you inside. The menu is lengthy but the hot turkey pesto sandwich quickly caught my eye. After we placed our order for the sandwiches and ice tea the counter staff girl, Anne, asked us what bagels we wanted. Um, okay, we didn't realize that the sandwiches were bagels...the menu doesn't mention a stitch about bagels except as a "fresh snacks" option. Even though we spied some croissants and ciabatta in the glass case, neither the menu nor Anne mentioned them as an option. As we waited for our food I was highly entertained by the following events that transpired: 1. A young man of say, 10 years, bounced through the doors and announced loudly, "Where's my club up in this club?" Translation: Is my club sandwich ready now? 2. A lady asked Anne for some ketchup. Anne: We ran out of ketchup. Lady: Do you have any salsa? Anne yells back to kitchen staff...No salsa. Lady: Can I have a napkin? BINGO, yes, THAT they DO have! 3. I asked my sister, is it hazy in here? Yes, it's the smoke coming from the kitchen. I thought this was an eating establishment and not the inside of the Wilson Tunnel! Ventilation please? 4. I noticed water leaking from the self serve glass jar of water and I mention it to the girl nearby. She says no it's not leaking; she just opened the spout to get some water. She wipes it up and sits down. Ok, it's still leaking and it just so happens there are a bunch of plugs and wires nearby. I would have mentioned it to her again except my eyes were slightly burning from the smoke filled room. 5. The staff calls out the food or drinks that are ready to be picked up. I watched as Anne filled her orders, stacking 5 ice teas of varying flavors on the counter. I don't know if the other customers just didn't hear her or if the system of handing out orders is flawed. I think it's a little bit of both. I saw Anne come out with a salad and ask a girl if the salad belonged to her, nope! Anne put it back on the counter and eventually some confused lady retrieved it for herself. So finally after a 30 min wait our bagelwiches were done! I had to run back to work and gobble down my lunch. The best part of the bagelwich was the turkey, moist and tasty; however the food could not make up for the poor customer service, non-informative menu and long wait. I choose to not visit this place again and will let my coworkers, friends and family know that they can find better options elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Michiko H.

    The food is alright, nothing to fancy other than the ginger wasabi salad. It gets pricey when you add in food, drinks etc..but the vibe of the place is cool. You get free wifi and the seating arrangement is different than what you would expect at most cafes. Parking is limited with only 6 stalls available, so good luck! Other than that every 3rd Thursday of the month they have the art & flea event so check it out! Support your local business:)

    (3)

  • Joe O.

    Been to Fresh Cafe a half dozen times in the past. This Sunday morning it was relatively busy and apparently the new staff could not handle the crowd. After ordering had to head back to the register to remind them about the food order. Upon receiving the food, french toast was burnt and cold; wife's frittata was only burnt - but at least it was warm. Probably go back for coffee only.

    (1)

  • Devyn D.

    I just discovered that Fresh Cafe is a short walk from my walk, so I'll definitely be revisiting this place. I was very excited to learn they had free wi-fi! The food was fantastic. I got a sandwich + 1/2 salad combo. This is no combo portion though.. SO MUCH FOOD! I even took most of the pasta salad home to eat as left overs. So delicious! The only disadvantage of the tasty food is that you wait awhile for it. I probably waited 15 minutes after ordering for my food to arrive. Definitely check out Fresh Cafe! It's such a cool, chill environment, and the outdoor seating is very nice.

    (4)

  • AsianRunningDiva S.

    I came here once, and still had a $10 PlayHawaii coupon to redeem so decided to go there for lunch on Saturday. I cannot be any madder...first off, parking SUCKS--room for about 8 cars? The inside looked anything but FRESH...wooden picnic tables all lined up? Are you trying to cram more people in here? Ordered 2 bagel sandwiches and tried to use the coupon. The girl behind the counter took the coupon, tried to redeem it using the computer, and then came back with "Well, the PlayHawaii website has been giving us problems. It says that it's been already redeemed!" I KNOW that I didn't redeem it because I printed out 2-$10 coupons. And the ONLY reason I came here was to use the $10! Well, I was here, and hungry, so decided to pay for it. While I was waiting, I checked my PlayHawaii account on my phone and it read "redeemed on 4/9/2011"! The coupon DID go through, the girl didn't know what she was doing, and I paid regular price! So I showed the girl behind the counter my phone that said that it was just redeemed! All flustered, she said that she would let her manager know and have him/her sign off on the now UNredeemed coupon so that I can use it again so that I HAVE to come back..why not give me $10 BACK! So NOW I have to GO BACK there one more time to use the darn coupon! AFTER THIS NEXT TIME I USE THE COUPON, I AM NEVER GOING BACK! The food isn't that great, nothing special, and the staff are incompetent! UGH! How do places like this stay afloat? What is so special about this place? Nope, not buying it! :)

    (1)

  • Kate F.

    Found a dead roach in my salad last time I went and was only reimbursed for the cost of the salad. At other places I would expect much more compensation. It's been better other times, but other than for the wifi and usual available seating I am finding increasingly fewer reasons to go.

    (2)

  • Jasper W.

    Love this place! It has a "Cheers" vibe and everyone is there to put a smile on your face.

    (5)

  • Shawn B.

    I personally love Fresh Cafe'; in fact, I frequent the place several times a week. Before we go into the particulars I will set my bias towards supporting the local business first. We have all been drinking the SB burnt coffee for years out of convenience and the adhoc meeting spot. FreshCafe covers those needs quite well and it is a locally owned business. They are friendly and when i voiced some of my suggestions the owners welcomed my suggestions and assured me they would address them as soon as they can. I look forward to their progression and a great creative place to work and eat. In defense of one of the commenters above, I have been to many a Starbucks here in Hawaii and they do not let people plug their laptops in outside due to shopping center policy. Maybe SF is different. Come to Fresh Cafe and enjoy. I'll be there #Aloha

    (5)

  • Kimm C.

    My husband has been wanting to try this place since he's heard many people rave about tasty sandwiches with a great concept and awesome wall decor. Food: My husband ordered the turkey pesto sandwich -- nothing great. Turkey was dry, sandwich had no taste and he was struggling to finish what looked more appetizing to the eye than the taste buds. I ordered the breakfast sandwich (I believe it was called) with applewood smoked bacon, egg, tomato, and cucumber mix. This sandwich was tasty and full of bursting flavors. I would probably order it again however. . . . I won't be a returning customer due to a number of things: - Customer service is severely lacking!!! I don't understand how you can CHOSE to work with the general public and give such a bitchy attitude. A smile, thank you, or even a "hello" greeting would be nice. We had to thank the girl working and when I asked if it was possible for egg whites in the sandwich she said that was not possible......why not??? Who knows. - A worker came outside and walked all the way to the end table and began smoking. Not a big deal IF..... The entire smell did not travel from him to the customers. If you want to smoke, be professional and go around the corner or something?! AND I'm clearly very pregnant. How rude!! - Parking sucks. A man nearly hit the entire wood bar holding the metal roof up as he reversed and hit their green plant pot as well. A few of us ladies moved as he maneuver out of the stall. Granted, he was a bad driver, but the parking option still sucks. This place has a cute concept and cute drawings but it seems to be run by young kids who don't appreciate local customers or real money. FYI--they offer a 50% deal off their sandwiches if you print and bring in your HONEST review on yelp! Hmm....I should try it!

    (2)

  • Aldora K.

    I love the bagel sandwhichs whether is is warm or cold. I especially love the corn chowder since it tastes fresh and good.

    (4)

  • Lucy B.

    From a true supporter of eating local and SPENDING local I am thoroughly disappointed! I received apathetic service and my chai latte was watered down and flavorless.... I really wanted this to be my new chill out place.... but I will not be returning.

    (1)

  • Evan R.

    I stopped in at Fresh Cafe for lunch today after having driven by it a number of times. The atmosphere, despite being in a warehouse district sandwiched between Ward and Downtown, is actually pretty incredible. A little oasis amongst the chaos. But, I've gotta say that I was a bit disappointed by the menu options. Nothing that inspiring. Basic bagel sandwiches and salads. My roast beef sandwich on an everything bagel was definitely good, but I really had my hopes up for something more creative after seeing how nice the place is designed. I'm sure I'll go back, but I guess I'd had high hopes that the "fresh" in the name would be more indicative of the menu than of the decor.

    (3)

  • Barbara B.

    I always pass by this place and wondered about it! Today I stopped in and ordered a salad,I thought it was very good and well priced,$7:00 for a chicken, raspberry,avocado,cucumber,mushroom,tomato,romaine lettuce salad with vinaigrette dressing..... And the people that work here are also very nice, I will definitely go back, and also tell my friends about it. The 4 star is only because of the parking situation, a little sketchy:( however the up side to that was the nice gentleman who opened the door for the customers, and also helps to guide us out of the parking lot!!!

    (4)

  • pirateninja a.

    Horrible customer service this time. Food was bland. Half of the time the girl was either talking story,looking at her phone, looking bored/annoyed when spoken to(given attitude).

    (2)

  • Ruth F.

    A cafe featuring light aqua colored walls anchored by cool black furnishings and big picture windows to let the sunlight in make this place feel breezy and cool all in one. It's an oasis in the warehouse area of Kakaako. I've had the ginger wasabi chicken salad, the turkey pesto melt and their corn chowder - all thumbs up! The indoor seating is rather limited, but lots of seating in the shaded outdoor patio. They have free wireless, so you will see the connected, young and hip crowd on their laptops here. At lunch, a lot of well-heeled business types wander in. A plus for this cafe is that they open till early morning, which is perfect for me because I'm often looking for places that feed my need for a late-night place to unwind and gather with friends. I met Tiffany a few weeks back - and she's is as akamai as she is stylish and full of positive energy. She plans to open a denim boutique next door. Please support these indie little coffee shops. They are so few and far between, and it would be shame if Honolulu can't sustain them. I give the owners credit for being creative and brave.

    (5)

  • Kiva Y.

    Went here due to the Groupon deal, paid $4 to get $8...how was it? Had the turkey cranberry sandwich on a bagel (they charge an extra dollar for croissant or ciabatta bread...why?) The sandwich was good (4 stars), but was pricey ($7.95) for a small sandwich. Service was slow (20 minutes for the sandwich), and not so friendly. You would think with the Groupon deal, they would try to be upbeat to get you to come back. I won't be back, unless I need a cup of coffee. Summary - slow & not so friendly staff; sandwich was good, but pricey; seems they are geared more to a younger crowd.

    (2)

  • Leah Y.

    Cute place to have a quick and (somewhat) healthy lunch with girlfriends. Their tomato soup is so good, especially with one of their freshly made sandwiches to go alongside. Don't forget about their tasty iced teas and coffee. If you need to study, it's nice and quiet inside and there's free wifi.

    (4)

  • Trav15t ..

    My bagel sandwich was a 5 star, but my iced coffee tasted like watered-down yuban or folgers. 1 star for that. I will be coming back for another sandwich, and I will order another iced coffee to see if they can redeem themselves. My advice to Fresh is to keep making awesome sandwiches. But if you can't make a good iced coffee, serve a triple iced americano instead, or research how to really do iced coffee. Good atmosphere, location and friendly staff.

    (3)

  • Ryan S.

    Great service at the coffee counter. I enjoyed Art & Flea, the monthly art and craft fair which features local artists involved in crafting as well as music.

    (4)

  • Sean K.

    Why "Fresh" Cafe, because it's Fresh. The island is in need of "fresh" cafes and coffee shops. Enough of the chains. Fresh Cafe is one of a handful of "mom and pop", creative thinking coffee shops, well, actually it's a cafe, bitches! Consistently serving a decent array of food; breakfast style bagels, sandwiches, salads and some killer homemade cupcakes. Oh, yeah, they serve tea and coffee related drinks, too. So, go get ur caffein and get ur shakes on! Beyond the grub and liquid, Fresh Cafe offers a once a month poetry slam ("1st Thursdays). Oh, did I mention the HUGE back o' the building venue and the available loft. Even with so much space, Fresh Cafe fills up on poetry slam night...even to hear young bleeding hearts groan about prepubescent issues like hating parents, hating school, hating the government, hating war,hating cupcakes, and of course hating hate. Who doesn't like hating on hateful hate haters, right?! Anyway, at least the speedy tempo of every poet, with the "surprising" drag out of a particular word like, ohhh "haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate" will you keep engaged. In all seriousness it's fun and people get creative or at least try. Yay for effort! Donation Yoga on Saturday mornings, too. Especially, good after a poetry slam filled with teen anxst... GO to Fresh Cafe. They have a lot going on. Be there or be dumb!

    (4)

  • Jen H.

    I love the atmosphere here. We walked here and took our dog (boxer) and were able to eat outside and enjoy the afternoon. We had the BLT with avocado, it was pretty good. I had the mango smoothie that was excellent! My husband had a chai coffee that was a little too strong on the chai syrup, so we probably won't get it again. But overall we love the place!

    (4)

  • Arbine V.

    First experience at Fresh Cafe was a good one. Was there for a meeting. Had the BLT (everything) bagel and an iced tea. Really enjoyed the BLT but thought the iced tea was okay. Guess I'm used to having really sugary iced tea. Parking isn't the greatest. The staff was really friendly and I like the artsy atmosphere. Would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Sunny B.

    Should be called bland cafe! I was excited to try this place but vastly disappointed. We ordered the pesto salad with tofu (the 1/2 plate - the full plate would be ridiculously huge!), a veggie sandwich, and the plantation ice tea (pineapple juice and jasmine ice tea). What was weird is that the bread was actually wrapped up in little plastic wrap sets in the front of the store for use (and it is just Love's bread - nothing special). Individually wrapping the bread seems very wasteful. Anyway the pasta salad arrived 10 minutes before the sandwich. Neither had any flavors whatsoever. The ice tea tasted like water with a tiny amount of pineapple juice mixed in. For the prices they charge ($4 for the watery juice!), it was a little ridiculous. Another weird things was that they gave us the tiniest cup ever (double the size of a shot glass) for the free water. Seriously - it was about 1 mouthful. Why not give people a normal glass? It is just water! They did seem to have free wi-fi, so sadly I would only recommend this place if you need to get online.

    (2)

  • Cheryl L.

    a must go to spot!! hubs and I went for breakfast and it was SO.GOOD! I had the banana french toast--super light and satisfying. hubs had ultimate omelet on jalapeño cheddar bagel -- he said it was the best breakfast sandwich he's ever had! Coffee and plantation tea was delicious! check this place out!

    (5)

  • Darryl T.

    After hearing about how this place hosts b-boy battles often, I had to check it out. On my first visit, I was thoroughly surprised at the feel. With the main cafe/study spots being Starbucks and Borders, it's great that places like Fresh Cafe that offer a different ambiance and vibe are popping up. The main reason I come here is to do work or study and for the reasons below, I continue to keep coming back: 1. Open late - they close around 1AM but keep the lights on outside so you can go outside and continue to work while sitting at their tables or benches outside. 2. THE PICNIC BENCHES (inside) - for those of you who always struggle with a laptop, mouse, and possibly a textbook of some sort, these picnic benches are golden. They make a great workspace for anyone who requires more than a small table. 3. Lots of outlets - don't worry about not being able to find one for your laptop if you're by the picnic benches (I haven't sat at one of the normal tables yet) as there's a power strip with 6+ outlets and another one on the back wall. 4. Always space - I don't know if this is a bad thing or good thing, but I've never had a problem getting a place to sit. Compare that to Starbucks at Ward...eek. As far as the food goes, I can't say anything since I've never eaten here. All I've had is different types of teas (I'm not a coffee person) and I don't know anything about that either so I won't say anything. Tastes fine to me...and the servers are friendly and helpful. The atmosphere has a sort of intimate (dim-lighting with soft music), modern (white/black color scheme), and dingy feel to it. I'm not too picky when it comes to where I work/study as the above 4 points satisfy me more than enough but in my opinion, it's a good change-up from your chain cafes like Starbucks. The other reason why this place is great is that they're always hosting great events. As mentioned at the top, they host a good amount of breakdance events (there's an area in the back for events). They also have some art sales (or something) and just tonight, a high school was having a poetry event. Last month, they hosted an international art show (on my first time there, the artists were all there preparing their stuff - awesome) and they also have a farmer's market (I think first Sundays in the afternoon but check for yourself). The major negative that everyone else has mentioned - the parking - is indeed true. You can park in their lot or in front of the eBay place, but other than that, parking's tough. I ride a motorcycle so it's not hard for me, but I'd imagine it'd be hard finding parking otherwise. Bottom line: check it out!

    (4)

  • Marion W.

    Haven't been here in over two years, but decided it was time for a healthy lunch to start off the new year. I found the menu to have many salads and sandwiches that I would love to try, but decided on the chicken sandwich. I had it on the whole wheat ciabatta bread. It was delicious. I am definitely not going to wait another two years before returning and can't wait to try one of their salads which looked so good on the table across from me.

    (4)

  • Justine S.

    I used to really love fresh cafe bc they do have good sandwiches and a cute atmostphere and best of all, they are close to my house. But that declined slightly as their popularity has lead to a difficult parking situation. Most of all the bummer for me is that they no longer serve acai bowls and I thought the ones here were really good as they used a light, crispy granola. Oh well.

    (3)

  • chris t.

    3rd time this week. Gonna try Ginger wasabi chicken salad and corn chowder.

    (5)

  • Corey L.

    Great little place tucked down a street you'd never expect to find a good café. My wife had the pesto pasta salad and loved that it was chilled without being really cold. I had the bacon and spinach salad and really enjoyed the toasted garlic slices sprinkled in. Portions were generous for the price, especially for Honolulu. A great find.

    (5)

  • Brandon B.

    Plenty caffeine here. Yup. I like this place because if you need something fresh, there's a bunch of event flyers and postings you can check out and see how you can entertain your muse. A place that screams as a bastion of the hipster crowd definitely.

    (5)

  • Vanessa Z.

    My FAVORITE coffee shop in Honolulu! Free internet, good vybes, art space, shows, art exhibits, poetry slames, murals, indoor & outdoor seating, cool staff!!! Awesome place to go study, chill, grab a quick bite! Thank god they stopped fryin the bacon cuz it would get soooo smokey, no more of that! Their tomato soup is awesome!!!!! This place reminds me of the Bay Area!!!

    (5)

  • Brandon N.

    I brought my laptop, did my internet marketing thing on the free wi-fi, sipped tasty mango iced teas, and rocked out to the indie music playing in the background. Stayed for several hours. Much better than a day in the office.

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    My friends and I were out on a Monday night and didn't really have anything to do after dinner. So someone suggested Fresh Cafe. There was no nearby parking so all of the girls were dropped off in the front while the guys went to the park their cars. Trying to kill time, we went into Fresh Cafe and bought a caramel macchiato and chocolate peanut butter cupcake which came out to about $6.20. The caramel macchiato was way toooo sweet!! It tasted like I was drinking pure sugar mixed with water. The chocolate peanut butter cupcake wasn't enjoyable either :( It was very mushy and the peanut butter taste was too strong that we barely tasted the chocolate part. We were disappointed because the cupcake looked delicious and we were very excited to try it. Sadly, it took four people to finish half of the cupcake and the rest was thrown away :(

    (2)

  • Becky T.

    This is the sort of hip study spot/lunch meet up that I was looking for! Plenty of outlets for laptops, free wifi, and lots of lighting that is perfect for getting work done. Prices are really good here too where I can get a medium hot chocolate for $2.50 and lunch for $10 that is enough for two meals. The portion sizes are ample and the salads were really fresh and fantastic with lots of protein. I also really enjoyed my chicken salad bagel sandwich. I will be returning to this spot a lot!

    (5)

  • Cassie C.

    Just moved to Hawaii and stumbled upon this fantastic gem!! I was driving down Queen St. one day and saw Fresh Cafe's cool graffiti and bright colored walls and thought "that's a place I need to go!". BOY AM I GLAD I DID!!!! This cafe is a thriving hive of creative energy, hip people and conscientious go getters who rock! The food is delicious (I absolutely CRAVE the Pesto Turkey sandwich on Wheat Bagel - get extra pesto!!) and their selection of teas drive me wild! I'm not sure what the other Yelper's are complaining about with the staff, but I've heard they did some new hiring and the girls and guys behind the counter are fantastic!! They always greet me with a huge smile, a high five, and on the occasion, a warm hug. As if the great food, friendly atmosphere and good energy weren't good enough, then there is Loft In Space!!!! Loft In Space is a huge warehouse attached to Fresh Cafe that is the hub of all things wonderful about this establishment! There are so many wonderful events going on almost weekly that I have to race to keep up. Art-N-Flea is perhaps the most glorious event I've ever attended, housing over 100 vintage and flea market vendors. I have scored some of the most amazing steals there! Then, there's the last Thursday of the month that welcomes the most awesome poetry readers I've ever witnessed... couple that with their revolving street art exhibits and I can comfortably die and go to heaven!! Point is: If you're even a little bit fresh, hip, funky or cool - consider Fresh Cafe your home away from home! Just wait until they get their liquor license and I'm moving in!!

    (5)

  • Alan T.

    cool events. wi-fi. ginger wasabi chicken salad. pikake ice tea. cafe culture. we need more places like this....

    (5)

  • Nicole F.

    This is a great little local cafe. Casual, comfortable, and free Wi-fi is always a plus. 4 stars for the food, 3 for the ambience, 2.5 for the service. I went for breakfast and enjoyed the food so much, I went back again two days later. Both times I had the same thing - what can I say, I stick with what I like! I couldn't decide between salty and sweet so ended up splitting the avocado veggie omelet sandwich (plus bacon) with a side of fruit and the banana french toast with my friend. I could have done without the side of fruit - an extra $2.50 for literally 6 little berries and a slice of banana. However, nothing else disappointed. The sandwich was flavorful and ingredients were very fresh - sooo yummy! And sugar lovers, be prepared cuz the banana french toast can tame ANY sweet tooth. Thick pieces of bread drenched in syrup with bananas and glazed pecans...this breakfast puts most desserts to shame! As far as the service goes, meh. Not much interaction with the girl at the front other than taking orders. When the food is done, it's unceremoniously dumped on your table without so much as a, "here you go." But then again, it's not exactly a fine dining establishment so I guess you can't expect much. Location is a bit hard to find, it's in the back alley/streets near Ward Center. But it's a great little cafe to check out if you're looking for some down time or a place to get work done - OR just a great breakfast bagel.

    (3)

  • Honey Girl K.

    Went there, first thing i noticed, good vibe, mixed crowd. Cashier was somewhat helpful, giving basic information about the food. Ordered the ginger wasabi chicken salad and a banana and nutella shake. $9 for the salad and $6 for the shake. Salad was decent, drowned in the wasabi ginger dressing, vegetables was fresh and it was tasteful, was it $9 tasteful, no. I have had better tasting $7 salads. The shake was $6, was it worth $6, no, a jamba juice or protein shake from down the road at I love country cafe is same price, but i guess more of my preference and a little bit bigger. All in all, would i go back, probably not. But it was average. They have specials on Monday it is 50% full size salads, so maybe i will go on Monday's and try another salad. Today was get a free drink with a combo. Maybe I will try their sandwiches next. But it is not great and it is not horrible, it is in between.

    (2)

  • Malia D.

    I've given this place 3 chances during 2 different stays since we patron only Local places when we visit. For the record the first 2 trips were not unpleasant but simply, the food & coffee was passable but nothing to take to the moon. So 3 stars at first..... It's with the last visit I feel forced to yelp and take away a star! Hubby and I needed our caffeine fix for the afternoon so we dropped in for an Ice coffee & espresso. Sat down with our drinks then decided something sweet was warranted so he went back in to get "something sweet". He came back with 2 miniature cupcakes, each the size of his big toe & claimed,"7 BUCKS!" I said, "WHAAAAT?!!" Literally it took me two bites to polish off this cupcake made for Thumbelina. That's an equivalent to $1.75 for each frickin' bite! OK...whatever natural, organic, ingredients the baker uses.....it SHRINKS the cupcakes! FYI cupcake maker and Cafe owner, it's not worth the effort to squeeze sugary dough (or whatever culinary spiel) in some paper doily that clearly is larger than the cupcake mass. I thought before I took a bite, "this cupcake better bring back Elvis." ..... but way too sweet & sticky...not moist.....sticky, sticky sticky! I don't like pastries that cling to the top of my mouth! This experience killed my sweet tooth high like I was giving my young away with each swallow. Folks giving this place 5 stars really need to get out more.

    (2)

  • Marc v.

    I've been looking for a good coffee shop for a while after being used to such places in Seattle. And Fresh Cafe is it. And more. It has *excellent* healthy food (salads, sandwiches, cakes, pastries), very good coffee, cool art on the walls (including a truly amazing mural), indoor and outdoor seating. The staff is young and friendly. After inquiring as to whether they had a chocolate croissant (which they did not), the server came to my table and said: "We can make you one. We have chocolate and croisssant!". Nice. There's great energy there: people studying, working, reading. Good music. They are open late. Oh, and there an art gallery in the back. This place is a gem. Really.

    (5)

  • M O.

    Love the food, drinks, and service here. Everything is always very fresh. Worth the wait for the corn chowder, though they always run out of it because its so popular. Wi-fi is a plus for those studying hours. Decor is casual, cute , and comfortable. I'm giving only 4 stars because I didnt like the acai bowl ( very watery consistancy) and the outside seating is always so dusty. Its like they never attempt to give it a sweep or wipe at all. And of course the parking is not that great either, but that can't be help. Heard they have fun events and vintage shopping sometimes, must come back for that :)

    (4)

  • Emily D.

    Wonderful atmosphere and delicious food! Seriously; as cafe's go, it can't get much better than this! Great way to start the day, serving a variety of meals to satisfy any palate! Close to everything you could want to do downtown, and provides it's own eclectic night-life as well! Day or night, check this place out for some quality nourishment and ambience!

    (5)

  • Johnny H.

    the drinks here is awesome and everything is fresh. the iced coffee is good but their jungle tea is to die for, you have to try it the next time you go there. their pastry and bagels are toasted perfectly and is delicious. parking isn't the best and when it rains there's always a puddle in the driveway but that never stopped us from going. they're open late and you can chill there even after closing. aside from the sketchy dark street and random strangers riding their bikes asking to buy cigarettes off of you, this is the perfect place to go when you don't want to spend that much money.

    (5)

  • Jeff M.

    So I'm driving by and I decide to swing by and grab some lunch. I walked in, the menu looks good and I decide to get a salad to go. The chick behind the counter is having a fascinating (not) conversation about the fine quality of the espresso grind with the two people in front of me who have ordered and paid. I stood there like I was f@#$%!ing invisible for 5 minutes while they chatted it up. Seriously honey? You see me, yet ignore me. I asked if I could place a quick to go order, and was ignored further. Adios Fresh Cafe, your service sucks. Wish I could review the food, but I'd have to get an employee to take my order.

    (1)

  • Meep M.

    FRESH CAFE IS INNOVATIVE AND FUN! Went there and ordered the turkey pesto bagel (yes they use bagels instead of the standard bread) and an apple italian soda. There are not much places you can get italian soda, but now you know FRESH CAFE OFFERS IT! Loved the atmosphere, the owner is a sweetheart, and the food is awesome! They also have a warehouse in the back that they hold open mic nights and poetry jams (they are open till 2am). Keep your eyes and ears open for Fresh Cafe because this place is going to be the next spot you're gonna wanna hang out at. (*hint* they get their liquor license next month).

    (5)

  • Reef N.

    Fresh Cafe is a nice addition to the Kakaako area and is definitely worth checking out for their delicious bagel sandwiches and dark roast coffee. On the day we came the place was understaffed and the one barista was doing the best she could but it seemed like she could have used some more help. I don't know what she makes but she deserves a raise! There is not a lot of indoor seating and unfortunately the spacious outdoor seating is frequently afflicted with air and noise pollution from passing mopeds and cars. Despite these couple draw backs, I really do like the place and will be back again. Honolulu needs more coffee shops like this because Starf*cks and Coffee Bean are blights on the coffee world! They shouldn't even be considered coffee shops.

    (4)

  • John M.

    I was excited to find out more about this place because of the stark disparity between 1-2 star and 4-5 star ratings here, particularly on the corn chowder, a bone of contention in the reviews. I ordered the chowder and salad combo and dug in. While I can't say how well the restaurant works when very crowded (there weren't that many people there when we went), the server was friendly, got the order right, and got it to us in a timely manner. The food itself was fine, the chowder pretty much what I'd expect, and the salad was fresh. I had no complaints, though I wouldn't rave about it either. So in the end I'm right in the middle at three stars. Decent food, nothing spectacular. But I will give it another star for all the live events and such they hold, and for their emphasis on local produce.

    (4)

  • bryan d.

    Finally tried this place after starbucks closed and there was more studying I wanted to get done for work. Nice setup the breakfast bagel is good. Their coffee is good and so is the tea. The have shows etc in the back on different nights. I wish they opened earlier though so I could get a bagel before 9am ;/ The reason I don't go here more often is parking is an absolute pain there is only like 8 spots. Great place to study if you are up late though and they have free wifi.

    (5)

  • Shige O.

    Cool little spot. Always holds good events and shows. Food is also a huge plus along with the drinks. Lots of street parking also open late. Great atmosphere and the staff is always super friendly. Also not to hard to find. Def. a must stop if your in the area or looking for a chill spot.

    (4)

  • G M.

    I got talked into going back to this place he had two coupons that were going to expire. This time it was for lunch. You still get service with major attitude but the food came quicker. We only waited about ten minutes this time. I had a chicken salad sandwich and the bagel was actually still warm! The plantation iced tea however was just colored unsweetened water. My companion had a blt ( rated ok) and corn chowder (rated revolting ). For some reason there is a smiling doorman who is a treat and he should give some lessons to the b*****s behind the counter. Even though the food was better I would not spend another dime in this place even if I hear the service has improved. Honolulu has thousands of other places to eat. Read all the negative reviews of this place and believe them.

    (1)

  • Michael S.

    Was just there at Fresh Cafe and a PARTY was going on! An awesome atmosphere with good bands playing. Parking can be hectic even though there was valet parking. I parked on Cooke street and walked over. I would've like to stay longer but I gotta work tomorrow (Old man's excuse) How sad...... When did I turn into an old man??? LOL For all you youngsters "Fresh Cafe" is the place to be!

    (5)

  • Dakota L.

    A small coffee joint which seems to emphasize its "Kool factor" with the younger crowd by selling T-shirts, free WiFi, late opening hours, and monthly concerts. I had a turkey pesto sandwich and small salad with 2 cups of regular coffeee. The bill was ~14 bucks -- about the same as Starbucks. Food was OK but nothing special, interior seating was very limited, the parking situation was bad, and the overall setting (including outside) was a bit rundown. I guess because I'm not a "Kool-Aid drinker" I don't understand what the fuss over this place is all about.

    (2)

  • John L.

    We stumbled on this cafe by accident while getting lost trying to find something else. It was late and we we're hungry, so we decided to give it a try. We were very pleasantly surprised: great local foods, friendly staff and a very laid back Hawaiian experience. The coconut and mango iced teas were unique and by themselves made this cafe worth seeking out. Parking was a challenge, but not awful. We enjoyed it so much, we made it a point to drive from our Waikiki hotel just to have breakfast here. And the prices are extremely reasonable. Overall, very pleasant.

    (4)

  • Yen P.

    i found fresh cafe as i was exploring food places nearby work a while back. from the outside it looked very interesting with the black-colored exterior, normally cafe's are bright and soft colored. it definitely got my attention for being edgy and not-your-typical-cafe, at least not what i would think in hawaii. inside is small with some sofa seats and a few tables/chairs. there's plenty of seats outside to enjoy the warm temps i so love. the menu lists many breakfast bagels, sandwiches, soups, and salads. i recently returned and noticed they will be serving acai bowls soon. i'll have to come back and do my taste-test for that. the side parking lot area was advertised to show movies on certain thursday nights. not sure if it's still going on or not, haven't had a chance to check that out. but another wow factor is the huge warehouse space in the back. i attended Rising.Notion Reach Fundraiser filled with musicians, artworks, Yelp sponsor, and SWAM wine tasting. it's such a hip vibe and nice open space for awesome live music such as Emi's singing performance, live artists doing spray painting on canvas and body painting, chill hang out environment, and fresh food and drinks you can order. it's definitely a cool place that supports local artists. the food is good too, which i'll come back and yelp about later :)

    (5)

  • Jannet L.

    outdoor seating and parking (although yeah it's small) and i'm a fan - esp since i got to bring oliver the best dog ever!! i got the pesto pasta salad and i was hungry and got a large and that was a mistake. there's only so much pesto you can eat before you feel a little queasy. no worries, had it for dinner on top of frozen pizza!

    (4)

  • Ryan A.

    Checked out the place for a recent meeting. Parking is a bit of hassle if it's a busy time. The prices are very reasonable and it is great that they are open till 1am. The food is delicious and the drinks are as well. It is a great spot to relax and enjoy some free time.

    (4)

  • Nai G.

    We dropped in to check out the vibe on day. This place reminds of some small coffee house on the East Coast. I got some flavored iced tea and he got mango iced tea and some Chicken pesto pasta. It was pretty good except his Ice tea was supppper sweet. I would come back again and chill with my laptop on a quiet day but it didn't seem like an extra special place.

    (3)

  • Emiko T.

    Would give this place 10 stars if I could. For the quality of food, the QUANTITY of food and the friendly service and awesome romantic decor with the outdoor lighting and tables makes this place a gem hidden away between warehouses. I ordered (and so happy that I did) a cup of their soup of the week which was tomato parmesan bisque. Dude. This makes my list of top 5 soups I've ever tasted. The soup had thick globs of melted parmesan with lots of crispy garlic croutons which gave such amazing texture and satisfaction that I wished I just ordered a whole bowl of that. (Do they do bowls or just cups?) I also ordered (happily as well) a small size of the chicken tofu salad with sesame dressing which was fresh and crisp and with the DARK green romaine lettuce which is always a welcome surprise in salads nowadays. The small was a lot bigger than I expected and so took home leftovers. But seriously for the quality of the food you cannot beat these prices. So this is what you must do, Yelpers: Go tomorrow or the next day, just any day before they take that tomato bisque off the menu and get your fill. It's a little chilly out in Honolulu right now so you have a perfect excuse to get soup. Tell me what you think. If I'm wrong then scold me publicly but I'll never forget those crunchy garlic croutons immersed in cheesy tomato broth and I'll bet you won't either. Oh also, if you go to the bathroom, don't be frightened off the toilet seat like I was by the mannequin head staring at you in the mirror.

    (5)

  • Jin Hee K.

    Coffee was fresh, ample parking, good salad. I was a liitle disappointed when i went there expecting to have some good coffee and a pastry because apparently their pastry menu is only posted for show. They only have bagels. At least their coffee was good.....

    (3)

  • Miki H.

    I went back the other day to get another jungle tea and then the day after to get a jungle tea and a small chicken pesto pasta. I don't know if it was a mistake but the pasta was huge! Such a good deal for $4.95. It came in a regular sized take out container and was pretty heavy. Hmm...mine didnt look like the chicken pesto pasta someone posted a picture of. That one looks like regular pesto but mine was greener and more homogenous. Anyway, it tasted great albeit slightly untraditional and I would totally go back for it the next time I'm looking for a good cold pasta. I have to say small pesto pasta wins over large ginger chicken salad in portion size, value and taste!

    (4)

  • Bea Y.

    Nice place. Great ambience and great food, if they have the supplies. Have not been able to get my first or second choices off the menu a couple of times. And I agree with previous reviewers--mediocre service, if you get it.

    (3)

  • Nunya B.

    I went here thinking that I would be getting fresh, gourmet food. I guess you could put a positive spin on it and say that it's good old home cooking, as in lukewarm/room temperature corn chowder, and Hillshire Farms ham sandwiches on Loves bread. I can definitely make better soup and sandwiches at home.

    (1)

  • Kim K.

    I give this place 5 stars because it beats out the alternatives in Honolulu. While many coffee shops offer stellar customer service, free wifi, and a decent cup o joe, this one: 1. Opens late, till 2 am most days. 2. Has no shortage of power outlets for laptop plug-in. 3. Serves food that doesn't totally suck. I challenge you to find a coffee shop that opens later, always has a plug to revive your dead laptop battery, and serves food that is actually edible.

    (5)

  • Joel H.

    I like this place. I come to Honolulu sometimes for work, and needed to get away from the strip on Waikiki. Their menu isn't huge, but the salads are really decent and seem to be made with some care. Ginger wasabi chicken salad is great, and the iced-tea is perfect on a hot day. Mostly I like it because everyplace I ate in Waikiki is so loaded with salt, and I feel healthy walking out of Fresh Cafe. I'm 42, so my ability to be cool and hip is pretty much long in the past, but the music calendar looks pretty good. If the patrons can stand hanging around someone who reminds them of their dad, I'll probably go check out some bands next visit.

    (4)

  • Deb D.

    I've been to Fresh Cafe many times and I've learned that you cannot be in a rush when you go there. BUT today.... takes the cake! After waiting 15 minutes for a soup and salad combo, the girl comes to let me know that they are out of lettuce....WTF? I'm thinking... you're out of lettuce and you only realize it now? So she says they can substitute the lettuce for spinach BUT they only have enough for 1/2 an order... "Well, okay...". As I wait for my order, I notice that she has not passed on the message to the girl making everything in the back. So 10 more minutes go by before I see her going through the now 5 orders that have come in AFTER me... and finally she lets the cook know that spinach is fine. 5 more minutes roll by and I see the bowl of soup slowly makes its way through the window. By now... my patience is gone and I say to her "I'll take the soup, but cancel the salad". She apologizes and gives me back the money for the salad. I realize that the workers and perhaps some of the customers are not in any rush... But REALLY?!??!? This was ridiculous.... how long does it take to pour soup into a bowl? And if you were a first time customer.... FORGET IT! Find your coffee cold and sitting on the counter.... as some of the customers soon found out. A "Fresh" attitude rather than a "Stale" complacent one would help this place out.

    (1)

  • Tickles T.

    The only thing fresh about this place is the name. Recently moved and needed wi-fi and something to eat. At least they delivered with the wi-fi. I did NOT appreciate the constant surveillance by one of the staff. Instead of sneaking up behind me every 15 minutes, you should have been inside serving customers. I will not be back. My money and I deserve better food and less suspicious staff.

    (1)

  • Valerie R.

    I went here one Saturday morning after a workout. It's got a cool vibe, with murals on the wall outside and people hanging out, working from their computers or reading the paper. Seemed like the perfect place for a healthy breakfast...but it wasn't busy at all and it still took upwards of 25 minutes for my breakfast bagel sandwich to come out of the kitchen! Once I got it, it was delicious, but everyone else in my party had already finished eating their food. They weren't being rude...I told them to go on ahead, since I couldn't imagine it taking as long as it did. If the server had been a little more apologetic about the delay, or updated me on the status, it would have appeased me a bit - but instead I got a disinterested shrug. As for the coffee, it was okay. They keep the cream behind the counter, so get your dosage right on the first go, unless you'll have to ask for it again. Still, I would go back and give them another chance because there's not too many of these cafe/breakfast places on the island (and the sandwich was good!).

    (3)

  • Trevor H.

    Used a Groupon to try Fresh out. Had couple of sandwiches which were okay, but at $7 to $8 per sandwich, it would look and taste a little better with some chips or fries on the plate...solo sandwich with orange wedges is a little lean and lonely looking...but taste was fine. Also, they were selling some fresh mangoes (some Hayden too) in March, which is rare, so they get points for that.

    (3)

  • Rosco D.

    Turkey pesto bagel sandwich is awesome. That paired with an iced tea with fresh mint and blueberries, on a hot day, chillin inside with ac equals more awesomeness. When I'm studying for my next notch on the wall I'll take use of their FREE wi-fi but I have to give them 5 stars for good food, service, and environment.

    (5)

  • Gina V.

    I have been looking for a place like this ever since I moved here 3 years ago. they have free wifi and a great atmosphere. I have been looking for a cafe that is local that has cooked food in an environment where I can stay awhile. It has a variety of sandwiches on bagels, with a ton of different kinds of bagels to choose from. The salads look delicious and offer two sizes- small and large. They have combos so you can try either soup, salad, or bagel (together). I had the ultimate spinach omlete and it was D-yno-Mite! I will definitely be back here!

    (5)

  • Krista M.

    Fresh Cafe is Dynomite! Yummy grub and a great change from the Honolulu norm... reminded us of Portland, Oregon a bit. They're open late too. The only knock I'll give it is that parking is limited... Otherwise 2 thumbs up!

    (4)

  • Kala'i S.

    I tried Fresh Cafe for the first time today. I am not impressed with the coffee; it lacked body and flavor. Also, they didn't have half and half, only the powdered creamer. The Club Bagel was delicious; the bagel was toasted perfectly. There was only one barista working and my order took a long time. I will definitely try this place again, maybe for one of their performance events, but so far, the jury's out.

    (3)

  • mike e.

    I have coined a term for this place: "Little Chinatown." I hope it catches on, because that's really what this place is becoming. It really is everything a miniature version of hotel st. should be, minus the rats and the meth. Tiffany has big ideas for this already gigantic warehouse space. Don't let the name and the storefront fool you--this venue is huge, and so much more than a cafe. Awesome shows and insane private parties take place in the back, and a lot of other cool secret stuff is planned for the near future. If everything works out and the rest of the hip-set of honolulu finds this place, it could become a miniature cultural hub. Here's hoping. Oh and the soup is good and it's nice to have a little blue-lit beacon open late in the middle of the occasional drunken walk home from Big Chinatown.

    (5)

  • bobb n.

    slow. terrible parking. worse decor. mediocre food. I had high hopes but doubt I'll return. just not worth it

    (2)

  • Michael K.

    Friendly, quiet, great location, free wifi, peanut butter puffs. It's exactly what you need when your office is mobile.

    (5)

  • Kalani C.

    Visited my doctor & received concerning news about my injured knee. Headed towards my MRI appointment and decided to try something, well, fresh. Found Fresh Cafe despite the pau hana-like lunch traffic. Place was what some could say cute with outside seating and quaint interior decor. Inside reminded me of a hairstylists' lounge slash yogurt shop with the retro-modern-70's-like chairs. People that gravitate towards Sanrio, anime, souped-up Hondas and Tokidoki would love this place. I wouldn't be surprised at all if a life sized Hello Kitty suddenly appeared and started busing tables. I especially liked the magazine-scattered look, however obviously geared for the female clientele. I couldn't find a Men's Health, Maxim or Sports Illustrated to save my life. Ordered a whole wheat chicken salad bagel (delicious!) and a mint chocolate chip cupcake with red frosting. It was right there, calling out to me; what was I suppose to do? I didn't know it was mint, but it looked cute (deja vu) and in reality, a bit dry. Overall, a pleasant experience to compose and ready myself for my first MRI (claustrophobia not as bad as I thought). Menu limited, very bagel oriented and staff could have been more personable. Perfect if you're a fan of cute.

    (3)

  • Kaiulani K.

    have to try it again, but when i stopped by the food was just 'okay' and the fresh produce on the shelves looked a little too ripe.

    (3)

  • Tammy M.

    Good salad. Bagel sandwich was good but nothing special. The female cashier seemed as if she had a bad day. I like going to places when the employees look as if they enjoy their work. Management: Train your employees--excellent customer service is essential!!! Not sure if I will return.

    (3)

  • Dre P.

    everything about this place is just ..awkard.. the location, the dining room/corny streetwear shop/fixed gear bicycle display placement/arrangment /the customers..awkward.. its as if these people are oblivious of the art of feng-shui, despite their obvious asian heritage...haha.. also the menu items are fkkn awkard, first of all, why do all of your sandwiches have to be on a bagel, i mean for me, the bfast period of my day ends @ 11, dont get me wrong, i love bagels as much anyone ,but the idea of the bagel is forever married to breakfast in my subconscious, realistically its probably bcuz bagels keep longer than bread, and theyre trynna minimize their overhead, i get it, but the word " Fresh" is in your moniker, so how hard would it be to get a little "fresh" bread sourced in from one of ur little hip artisan baker friends that im sure u have....but thats ok, for now ppl will have to settle for your lil nasty ass stank ass bagels..hahah....bring back the byob bbqs , dems was tge best thin u had going for you, i also generally always hate places that try to be everything and end up as nothing at all, asvice, focus less on being relevant in the stupid lil artsy- designer hippy- backpack rap community, with little events an diversions and just focus on being good at what you claim to be ...a CAFE

    (2)

  • Masumi K.

    Honestly, I don't think this place has a good location. The parking here is not so good. I always end up either finding parking on the street - which I hate. Or I just park at Sports Authority on Ward ave. and walk from there. It's a cute little cafe that has good food and good service! The workers here are really nice. The only reason I am giving them 3 stars is because I ordered the egg salad bagel, they were out of that. Then I ordered the turkey, they were out of that. I ordered that peanut butter puff, they were out of that. I was getting really frustrated. I finally randomly picked something off their menu and they actually had that available. Sheesh, it took long enough! I mean, I have been to places where I have ordered off their menu and they ran out of what I requested. But three times in a row?! That's pushing it for me. This place would be even better if they had more tables and chairs inside.

    (3)

  • Jen T.

    one of my favorite places in hawaii. i recently visited da aina for thanksgiving and came here like three times in a week! riddick. really good sandwiches, soups, and drinks (melona italian creme soda...YES!). free wi-fi for the bored folks. cute, clean, and cool atmosphere (the AC is pumpin!). and FREE COOKIES! well sometimes. you just have to come in at the right point of the day. but holy shit, they are good free cookies...

    (4)

  • Kitty T.

    I've been here twice. Sandwiches are good. However, both times I've had to wait almost HALF AN HOUR just for a sandwich! And I was the only customer ordering food at that time. Unbelievable! VERY VERY VERY slow service....and pricey!

    (2)

  • Chad K.

    been to this place about 4x. i love supporting local business and the owner is always pleasant. the atmosphere is a bit dark but other than that its a great little place in a convenient location. the food is good and service excellent!

    (4)

  • Joanne H.

    wasabi chicken salad was great . good food. good service.

    (5)

  • Brian P.

    I'm giving this place the benefit of the doubt with 4 stars because it was pretty obvious that it's brand-spankin new (as indicated by the unfinished clothing store next door) and still has yet to work out its kinks. I'm not by nature a negative person, but these are reviews and I'll bet the readers out there want to hear the details right away. So first the parking sucks. That's gonna have to change if this place plans on getting popular. Also, there needs to be more seating, again assuming that this place becomes more popular. No one wants to sit outside on dusty Queen street in the mid-day heat. If it were me running this place, I'd get rid of the clothing store attached to the cafe and make more seating areas. Maybe even give different seating areas different theme'd furniture and styling... but I digress. I don't own this place and that's a good thing. The bottom line is that this place was a very clean and stylish place to obtain your cup-o-joe, and it was apparent that they take it very seriously not only from the presentation but in the quality/taste category as well, and at a very good price. And we all know that this is ultimately what makes customers turn into loyal customers. So Bravo, Fresh Cafe, you've done an excellent job of bringing life to an otherwise bleak coffee-house scene here in Honolulu. Now if I could only get my hands on one of those vegan green-tea cupcakes before they sellout of them. That will have to be saved for a future review.

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    Great place for every reason. Good sandwiches/smoothies/soups/coffee, free wifi, lovely atmosphere, and friendly people. Just had the corn chowder which was amazing, and the acai smoothie was awesome as well. Only my second time here, but I'm pretty sure I just became a regular...

    (5)

  • Hawaii H.

    It's sad to see a place with such potential treat customers like garbage. I don't understand the arrogance of the staff. This is my second and last time at this place. My gf warned me, but I wanted to give a locally owned place one more try. She reminded me of her 15 minute wait before she was served (at the time I thought that had to be an exageration -but not anymore). The skinny male waiter was a cocky, arrogant jerk, and the girl at the cafe counter was too preoccupied with her salad to bother with me. Her face was planted deep in the lettuce - barely making an effort to look up. If I owned the place, I would fire everyone and start over. Poor and arrogant service is a sure sign of limited longevity or success. Always classic to see a popular spot take on a 'take it or leave it' attitude towards customers. That immature business approach never lasts. I never did try the menu - but from first glance didn't look very special.

    (1)

  • Lori L.

    Fresh Cafe is an oasis on Queen Street, it's hipster, healthy, and fresh. Sit in their sunlit, open dining area, sip a Cold Brewed Ice Coffee, and do you. Work, have a casual meeting, or catch up with a friend. Their salads are good, but be prepared they can be salty, salty chicken, salty shoyu-based dressing, but they also have lots of crunchy greens with nice toppings. Try the Ginger Wasabi, which isn't spicy and has a ginger-green onion sauce; the Chicken Tofu Sesame if you love tofu and bean sprouts; and the Balsamic Vinaigrette which has soft greens, avocado and raspberries. Avoid the Pasta Salad which is dry and light on the pesto flavor. Be warned about the Warm Bacon Spinach Salad which was swimming in dressing, a tasty dressing, but it was swimming. The fried garlic and crispy bacon were good though. Their sandwiches are hearty, but still stick to the healthy and fresh flavors. The egg in the BLT I had, was over-cooked and had gone rubbery, but it was less noticible with the dense, chew of the whole wheat bagel. I also like the Turkey Pesto Melt which is richer with warm pesto and cheese. When it's quiet, like mid-morning on a weekday, Fresh Cafe can be your place to run away.

    (2)

  • Destinee G.

    I've been waiting forever to try this place out and I finally had the chance to come here. I think I was just so hyped and excited to come here that I didn't care how hot it was. No AC which was kind of a bummer. Ordered the half salad & sandwich combo. Turkey Cranberry on Croissant and Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken. Good deal since me and my boyfriend always share meals came out to around $6 per person. The sandwich was amazing. Loves the fact that the turkey tasted like a thanksgiving turkey rather than that deli stuff. And the use of mustard over mayo. Great stuff. But unfortunately my pesto pasta salad wasn't the best. The pesto was dry and didn't give me enough taste and the chicken tasted over cooked and dry as well. I probably wouldn't order it again. Besides the couple downfalls I enjoyed it. Can't wait to try more!!

    (4)

  • Amit B.

    Great service and great food. The sandwich and half salad combo is more like a sandwich and full salad combo. Go with the club sandwich and spinach bacon and mushroom salad and you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Alec F.

    Fresh Café is very fresh indeed - in all senses of the word. FRESH (recently made or obtained) food and drinks! Their smoothies, teas, and food have all been wonderful in my experience. I last tried the chicken salad sandwich, and it was amazing. You really can taste a difference. While it can seem a little pricey for what you're getting, basically the entire menu is still under $10 and pretty awesome. Plus they have specials on different days, so check that out! FRESH (cool, hip) events! They do Slam Poetry every first Thursday, which is always a crowded, but really cool night. I've been to a few different artsy events in the past as well. I'm not sure how many events they do nowadays besides Slam Poetry, but nonetheless, it's something to look out for. FRESH (as in "don't get fresh with me") attitudes! Honestly I've only noticed this the past two times I came back here - in the past, the staff have always been very friendly. But recently I've gotten a lot of snark from the counter workers. Not straight up rude, but definitely not warm or even friendly. On my last visit, I was with some friends and we were sitting, eating, and chatting when the worker announced at 8pm sharp that they were closed. Not "if you don't mind finishing up, we're closing down!" or "hey just a heads up," simply "we're closed" and waited for us to leave. I also found this a bit strange considering their hours say they are open until 9pm... I'd say Fresh Café is a hit or miss - maybe stopping in to grab a smoothie and continuing on your way is the best way to go. Try it for yourself though.

    (3)

  • Pam A.

    It was a very disappointing day. Fresh was always my choice for a nice soup/sandwich or salad lunch. It was my worst experience at my usually favorite sandwich weekend sanctuary. Their stove and oven was broke and only offered 3 type sandwiches, no soup or salad and when we finally got or lunches the fruit, which doubles as garnish was rotten and seeping into the bread. Ew. It was an unfresh day for Fresh...

    (1)

  • Nora M.

    I would give this place a 4 but the wait was too long for a simple chicken salad sandwich. I placed my order at 12:40 pm and I didn't get my sandwich until 1:10pm ( it wasn't busy either) and this was after I went to the cashier and checked the status of my order. I'm usually laid back and patient but today I was so hungry. Maybe it's the growing baby inside of me but I was so famish and I didn't expect the wait to be this long. I was craving a chicken salad sandwich so bad that I drive out of my way because of the good reviews. I must say my sandwich was delicious. I will come back but next time I will order a scone or some other snack while I wait. Oh I almost forgot the special offer for a free tea is for buy one get one free.

    (3)

  • Sandra B.

    It's really not their fault... I believe the manager is out of town... So this place with the best salads I have ever tasted was out if lettuce.... Do not get their coffee... It is awful... Somehow for only one person, I ended up with 3 drinks!!!! A hairpin latte, (awful), a caramel macchiato (really really terrible!!!!!) and a "sense of peace" iced tea... Paid $11 bucks.... Am walking out with nothing. (Warning, don't come here today. )But I will still definitely come back, when the manager gets back, because their salads were that good... Maybe in a few months, when the memory of that awful coffee is gone! Scratch that.... I was informed by the new "manager" that she won't be back.... So it was a one-if-a-kind salad that was sooo good... But it won't be back. I won't return

    (1)

  • Kenson K.

    Who'd think that a neat little place was tucked away here. I was waiting for my massage appointment next door and came in here to kill some time. Had a mango smoothie and kicked back for a bit. It had quite a few people in here considering it was in the backroads of an industrial area.

    (3)

  • Laurabeth M.

    Man, this place takes FOREVER. ALWAYS. It's still a great ambiance though, so if you have time to sit and wait for a while, it's a solid place to meet during a lunch break. It's away from downtown, but not far. The parking is kind of a pain in the butt sometimes. There's always a space, but backing out blindly into traffic in the industrial section is anxiety that I don't want to have right before I head back to the office. The wait time is serious, though. I'm not joking about that. Pasta, soup, salad--doesn't matter. Be prepared to wait ~25 minutes for a plate of anything.

    (3)

  • Emily D.

    I love this place!! It's perfect for a quick/ healthy lunch. Lots of different sandwich options to choose from, salads, coffee/tea etc. I always get the iced haupia latte (so yummy)! Highly recommend this place! Workers are very friendly as well.

    (5)

  • Juliet M.

    Ummmmm.... I have to be brutally honest...I think I floated up to the cloud - you know? The cloud referred to as cloud 9? My co-worker rants and raves about this little 700 sq ft box of glory. I finally had some time to stop by and grab some food. Let's just say - I had the blta and it was legit. I agree, it is hard to mess up anythg that has avocado on it...AND bacon? Well you are right. The bread was delicious too! Shoots the lettuce was fabulous. I also had the gingery salad. Ummmm...yes, yes, yes! Happiness I was emoting. The crowd was cute. I giggled as I work with the homeless population ...being arnd so many that do not have anythg to a room with pretty, put together hipster-uppies prancing arnd in LV loafers took me a few seconds to come back to reality. I understand d why these peeps come to this grand place. It's fantastic. There was not ONE thing that needed to be improved. Well...maybe smaller portions so I wld not have been too fl to try the home/hand made ice cream sando's! Lastly, the staff is epic. Great work team, the number delivery system is rough and yall rock it well.

    (5)

  • Liam C.

    My favorite thing about Fresh Cafe would definitely have to be their monthly slam poetry events that are hosted in their back warehouse. Fresh cafe is undoubtedly a hip and trendy place in Kakaako and while filled with potholes, they do offer a small parking lot which is a plus. Be cautious though, as during special events sometimes this parking lot is coned off! So why the three stars? Sadly I encountered a negative experience the most recent time I came here. I can usually overlook the items on the menu being overpriced at the expense of being hip for the day, but even hip people need to be nice and personable for me to want to come back to a business. We got here a little past 7:00pm on a tuesday night and my boyfriend and I got to the counter to look at a menu and order. While looking through their menu for what was probably all of 15 seconds, the cashier told us "the kitchen is closing so if you're ordering food you'll have to hurry up..........." It wasn't what she told us that bothered me, as I completely understand the burden of having to wait for the last order in order to close up the kitchen, but it was the way it was said that bothered me. It wasn't friendly, and it wasn't making me want to order a $9 or $10 sandwich. After getting the sandwich and sat down with our friends, I thought that we could continue to enjoy our night. But promptly at 8:00pm, the music stopped and the same girl used the same voice to immediately tell us from across the room "okay we're closed now!" Now I understand that my party may not have been the most awesome customers, being that we came in an hour before closing time and whatnot. But I would have still liked some friendliness in our service. I hope that it was just an off night for that employee, as I really do want to like this place. We'll see how it goes next time!

    (3)

  • Krystal C.

    I used to come here all the time and loved it. The food is pretty good, I like their ginger wasabi salad. In the past year the service has definitely tanked. The servers used to be really nice and friendly, now they're all super awkward and on the extreme side of hipster. The last time I ordered at the counter, the blonde girl that was helping me turned around and yelled at the other worker for a good 5 minutes while I stood there waiting for my change. The place just has very weird vibes now.

    (3)

  • Joba B.

    It's always good to come back home and visit Fresh because it is home. There's a lot of community in this place. The staff are happy to serve and give the best experience possible. The art work is vibrant. The space is clean and conducive to studying (inside) and enjoying company (outside). Parking is difficult when busy but what do you expect in ward?

    (5)

  • Kimberly Marie H.

    Swung by here today to pick up lunch on my way back to work and had ordered a BLTA. I've never ordered a sandwich from them before, but will surely not be ordering another sandwich from them again. Not only was my sandwich smaller than I expected, the bacon was burned to where it was black and I don't think the avacado was ripe! It cost $8.95 + tax for my sandwich! Will not be going back there for this type of service. Very very disappointing.

    (1)

  • Cat D.

    What a day. Ive eaten here before, when they was only 1 location and it was good. The wait time still sucked but the food was good, but today.... Worst bacon spinach salad I ever had! My salad was swimming in the dressing, like soup and it was overly salty. Really salty! I wish the girl tasted it before assuming that my taste buds were wrong and defending the salad and how they made it. She even brought me another one, where the dressing was still salty! Really!? It looked nothing like the pictures. I would be cautious. I expected a good salad based on the reviews and got the opposite of that. Worst customer service, ever! She wouldn't replace my salad, would not refund the cost of the un-eaten salad and the entire experience was a disappointment. My club sandwich was really good, but the bad customer service really dropped the star value. Don't bother calling them, because they don't have a phone. The wait always sucks. Minimum of 20 minute wait time. Don't trust the prices on the website! Actually prices are like two bucks more. And make sure you are looking at the right location menu. How are they doing business ? So unprofessional.

    (2)

  • Brooke W.

    I've been to both locations both to here and Kako' ako locations. I definitely like this one more due to its large opened air spaces and offering of outside or inside seating. I love the food ! I'm never disappointed there's always an interesting and delicious combination of flavors. My favorite of theirs is the BLAT sandwich with their pesto pasta salad. The BLAT is bacon lettuce avocado and tomato and I get it on the croissant.

    (5)

  • Chelsey N.

    Horrible service. Period. What happened to the staff and service and food quality? I used to work closer to Fresh Cafe and would make a visit there at least 2x a month. Always experienced friendly staff and food was on point. But not today. Its been a few months and I was craving a sandwich and soup- its Friday and we thought itd be a nice treat so we decided to drive. We phone ordered a little before 12p for one turkey pesto melt and one tuna melt (given the tuna melt was added upon arrival which was aprox 10 mins later than phone order)and 2 cups of soup. It took 50 mins to get one sandwich and 2 soups.The other sandwich was not in the bag and we opted for a refund. I don't appreciate that you tell me it will be done in "10 mins." And then I ask again 15 mins later and you tell me another "5 mins". Give people an expectation and stick to it. There were 2 or 3 other orders 1 before me and I think 2 after me. The others request refunds as well. The wait was rediculous and never communicated. Food- The corn chowder (first time)- super thick, not a soup more like a paste. Or thick dip. The sandwhich - turkey was dry, only 1 slice of bread was toasted. (Is that a new thing you toast only one slice of bread? Serious question. ) Tomato bisque- was okay but amount in cup was sparse. I think they need smaller cup sizes to differentiate between cup and bowl. Tuna melt- not applicable since they didnt make it. 2 stars because I still have faith in fresh cafe but im really disappointed.

    (2)

  • Blanco T.

    Hello Yelp, I experienced the Fresh Cafe for the first time today unfortunately it was not a pleasant experience. Initially, the customer service was good and for some reason the AC was off so I sat outside. They then turned the AC on and I moved inside and they turned on some House music that was exceedingly loud. So loud I could hear it over the music on my headphone. I asked one of the staff if they could turn it down. She said she would check, she never came back. This made this otherwise pleasant visit an unpleasant visit.

    (3)

  • Toan D.

    Good friendly service. Worst Iced Americano EVER !! See photo above with the name "Worst Iced Americano EVER !!" The color was muddy brown like they used leftover ground coffee. The taste was equally as weak. Barely enough ice to last through the first sip.

    (2)

  • Dj H.

    Food was good and to their namesake very fresh seemed very pricy at $15 per person for lunch, on top of high price nickel and dime for things like changes toppings and refills

    (2)

  • Jeffery M.

    When they say they serve SLOW Food, emphasis is on SLOOOOOWWWWW. Terrible service, took over 30 mins for 2 sandwiches. And when we got our food, it was all wrong and the omlettes were burnt. Worst food I have had in a long long time. If you want fresh sandwiches, this is NOT the place. Save yourself the trip. Try something else.

    (1)

  • Meg M.

    I really love Fresh cafe as a study spot, meeting spot and brunch/lunch restaurant! There is so much to say about it, but let's start out by saying that I am so happy that this local business is expanding to their second location! I feel like Fresh Cafe is one of those places that started making Kaka'ako "cool". They were first on the hipster scene, use local, sustainable practices and are a HUGE part of art and culture in Honolulu. One of my favorite events in Honolulu, POW WOW Hawaii, has close ties with Fresh Cafe. The warehouse in the back of the Fresh cafe restaurant is an awesome spots for events to take place, such as the opening ceremony for POW WOW! I have also been to a TED Talk there, plus they let community organizations, such as SEEQS charter school use the space for events. The cafe side is great as well. My favorite are the deals! First off, you get 10% (I think it's 10%!) off with your ID card during the week. next, they have a different deal every day of the week. Smoothie Sundays, Salad Madness Mondays, etc! If you know your deal days, you can get great prices on their food! The tables are big inside and there are picnic tables outside. They have plenty of outlets and their coffee is strong and water is free.... three important aspects of a great coffee shop! One drawback is parking- it's pretty limited and if you get a space in the small lot, it's super hard to get out of! But, there is plenty of street parking a few blocks down, so no reason to worry- just walk! Oh and vegetarians, try all the awesome sandwiches and salads for you here! The options are endless!

    (5)

  • Stephanie T.

    Its unpredictable whether Fresh Cafe is going to be good or not, it really depends on who is in the kitchen and behind the counter. Sometimes things taste the same and other times they dont. It's getting kind of hipsterish and along with that comes the snotty hipsterish staff. It used to be a cool spot to hang out, but now its changing and not so comfortable.

    (3)

  • Rel M.

    HELLAAAA DISAPPOINTED in my first experience here...actually maybe second, but I only really made it to the parking lot the first time before getting denied a stall so I won't count that...though, it factors to the overall experience. I've always heard hype about this place, and I'm not gonna lie the food looked amazing on Yelp and on their website (of course it should) and I really like cafe eats so when I got there one afternoon and luckily nabbed a parking stall I was stoked to finally try it out. When I got in, the atmosphere was chill, good music and cool (temp wise), not too crowded either. I grabbed a menu...which is all on clipboards at the counter and decided I wanted a veggie sandwich ($8) (with turkey) ($2) ---- $10 for a sandwich...pretty damn steep right?! Soooo, when the cashier rung me up I thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt being that they're a "cafe" and they use "FRESH" and "LOCAL" ingredients. *riiiight* and I'm assumed this sandwich would be pretty full sized too right? WRONG!!! I waited at the table and about 5 minutes later, a worker came dropped a doggie bag on my table and took my order number. No "THANK YOU" No "THIS IS YOUR ORDER" Just drop and go. Wow, um ok. I'm in a rush so I bring my sandwich back to work, I opened it and was just APPALLED. It was generally the most BASIC sandwich with BARELY a slice of turkey...Oh, and it wasn't even cut, shouldn't all deli sandwiches be cut? Not the point, anyway.... I couldn't fathom the fact that I just paid $10.16 for two slices of wheat bread with veggies. I expected Paradise Cafe (in Ala Moana) sized sandwich....WHICH IS CHEAPER than this crap. I wanted to make sure I didn't get ripped off, and started to look for my receipt. Where was it? NOT even given one. I looked at the menu online and called the manager to make sure. He told me the prices listed there was more than it said online and they'll eventually fix it....Idk as a manager myself, if I saw a discrepancy in menu pricing I'd apologize and offer some kind of compensation for a customer's inconvenience...but no, of course I didn't. Fine, if I had to dig up one shred of good review to this place, I'll say it tasted pretty good. But there was just WAYYYYYY too much saltiness from the whole experience. Word of advise Fresh Cafe, maybe rethink the pricing for your sandwiches, This is NOT quality, NOT that fresh and NOT worth coming back to.

    (1)

  • Stephanie H.

    Quite expensive for sandwiches and salads. Had the Caesar salad and BLTA combo - the lettuce I had in my salad was not so fresh...it was brown, wilted and I was even served the core along with the browned tops of the leaves...I would never serve myself this type of lettuce, what makes a restaurant think it okay to serve it??? The chicken was just blah, boiled chicken with no taste and the dressing was bland and watery...did not taste like a Caesar at all. The only good thing I could say about it was that there was croutons and they were crunchy. My BLTA -bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado was also a let down. Don't get me wrong there was a good serving of bacon but the tomatoes were cut so thin they were mealy and barely there, same for the avocado. They should call the sandwich B with a side of LTA. At these prices and with the name of their restaurant being "Fresh Cafe" you would think the food would be exactly that...FRESH. I must saying after wanting to eat here for so long it was a big big BIG disappointment. Maybe I built it up in my mind with all the yummy pictures I've seen posted or maybe I just came on the wrong day. Don't think I'll take the chance to waste my money here again...I could definitely do better at home for less. Paying for convenience and service is only worth it when the food and the service is good, however there was a big lack-thereof on both parts.

    (1)

  • Kris M.

    Dinner after the Gym Half Off Salads on Mondays! Balsamic Vinaigrette - Yumm! They had run out of Spring mix so they used Romaine instead. Still yummy. I love tangy dressing and this was delish. Mushrooms, Avocado, Tomatoes, Onions.. loved it all. They didn't overload the onions and it was perfect for me. I also had a croissant which they had warmed perfectly! My drink, Veggie Drink from Itoen, the croissant and Full Sized salad came out about $9! A steal! The boys working were adorable with little bow ties, so cute! The atmosphere is great there, relaxed yet classy. Clean, Air Conditioned, Friendly Service. A great place :)

    (4)

  • Sungjin S.

    Love this place. I come here often to study and relax. The sandwiches here are great and the barista knows how to make a great Americano! Come here for great service and food. I really want to make it to the Chinatown location.

    (4)

  • Tommy V.

    I normally don't write reviews, however I needed to express how bad of a place this is. The service was absolutely horrible. I ordered a bagel with cream cheese and it took one hour for it to be served. I would never come back here and do not recommend one bit. Absolutely terrible.

    (1)

  • Will C.

    Tried something different today.. fresh sandwiches and pesto chicken salad... very good. But a little pricey

    (4)

  • Anna F.

    I come here for coffee and once in awhile, I'll order some food. The first time I came here, they had sign that said "slow food served daily" which I found to be funny and I thought they were joking but they're not. It takes them anywhere from 15-30 minutes to make your drink or food. If you're the type that needs your food in 5 minutes, you probably shouldn't come here. But I will say that the wait is worth it because their food and drinks are very good. My favorite drink is the iced haupia latte. It's different because they add coconut water into it and no one else on the island makes it like that. You can taste the coconut flavor but it's also creamy from the half & half. There are days where the shot is extra strong which I don't like but most of the time, the drink is on the creamier side which is perfect. To go with my drink, I get the breakfast BLT. They have a couple of bread options but my favorite is the bagel. I had it on a croissant once and the crumbs went all over the table. The sandwich is filling because they're very generous with their ingredients. They also have buttery and delicious cookies by the cashier that are 4 for $1. I recommend getting some of those to go with your beverage or meal. I normally go during the week in the morning and it's not crowded. They are always packed at lunch. They have indoor and outdoor seating. They have their own parking lot but the asphalt road has a lot of pot holes. I don't recommend parking in the lot when it rains because water collects in the pot holes and you get these big pools of water.

    (4)

  • Ivy Lou H.

    We popped in here for breakfast but they were out of French Bread so we couldn't try their French Toast unfortunately. However the fruit bowls were very fresh and tasty as you'd expect with a name like 'Fresh Cafe'. Be aware that their breakfast menu is pretty limited and is composed of mostly cold items like granola bowls and sandwiches and wraps so don't come expecting Eggs Bennedict or the like. The atmosphere is funky and very Kakaako with lots of young people hanging out.

    (3)

  • Sarah M.

    The store hours on the front door and Yelp clearly state that the cafe opens at 9am on Sundays. I arrived at 9:20 am and no one is here. 8 other people have come by and left in the 15 mins that I have been sitting and waiting outside. Clearly I wasn't the only person under the wrong impression. Did someone forget to show up for work? This is disappointing, frustrating, and unproffessional. (Btw it's 9:55 am and they just opened...)

    (1)

  • Mushfeq K.

    This is a good place to work. It's well-lit, with readily available tables, power outlets, and free wifi. The music is perhaps a little loud, but it's generally listenable, so I don't mind. The service is excellent. On one occasion, when the coffee they had brewed me was incredibly weak, I let them know, and they apologized and made me a (much) stronger americano. And while the food isn't cheap, it's good.

    (4)

  • Ericka B.

    Ok so update review~ I've come here occasionally since my last review but mainly if I was there for Art & Flea or just needed a drink. I opted for the full sandwich with a half salad combo. I've had their turkey pesto melt way back when and it was kind of dry, so I decided to get a chicken salad sandwich instead. I think I made the right choice, it was tasty! You get to choose your bread, but I'm glad I got mines on a toasty bagel. I loved the fact it came with fresh shredded chicken. I actually prefer this instead of chunks of meaty chicken, it's easier to eat. My friend did however order the turkey pesto again and it looked more moist than I remembered, so get your turkey pesto on! 100% of the time I always get the ginger wasabi salad! It's literally my most favorite salad, ever! The perfect amount of dressing to salad ratio---ALL THE TIME! At this particular time though, they were out of the wasabi sauce it usually comes with... but I got it anyway. It was still delicious, lol! Romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, fresh chicken! Simple yet the most delicious salad I've ever tried. It's the dressing! I highly recommend this. I've also read that the warm spinach and bacon salad is also really good. I also purchased a plantation iced tea. Sad to say I wasn't impressed :( I love iced teas usually but this just wasn't sitting well with me. It kinda seemed they just used pineapple juice from the can because that's all I really tasted. It was kind of bland as well... I shoulda just got a waiola coconut water. Probably skipping the teas from now on (-1 star). I do however enjoy their haupia latte's from time to time. Overall, everything else was good and the service was excellent. Nice and friendly guys. The selection and quality of the food is worth the price.

    (4)

  • Ashley O.

    My last three experiences have been terrible. I don't come here often but since they're at a convenient location I'll occasionally give it another shot and throw it into the mix when I get bored with my regular rotation. Sometimes the food is good. Sometimes you're kicking yourself because you've wasted money on an overpriced sandwich or salad that's sometimes inedible. Sometimes you ask for something on the menu and they say they can't make it that day. Sometimes you try again a different day and you get the same response. Seriously, guys? That's ridiculous. Oh, and their drinks are way overpriced as well. Overall this place is far more disappointing than it is enjoyable. The staff used to be nice enough. I don't know who's hiring now days, but that definitely isn't the case anymore. Parking is a bitch, so good luck with that. During off times you may get lucky. Three strikes, you're out.

    (2)

  • X Y.

    This could be a little gem in Kakaako. Reminds me of cafés in SF. However they did not pass their health inspection. Cool doesn't always mean good. I hope they fix the numerous violations soon

    (1)

  • Sarah F.

    Yes, yes and yes. Walked to this little cafe in a random mechanic-and-industrial-surrounded and was. not. disappointed. I must elaborate on the Warm Spinach salad I ate. Amaze balls. Think spinach, think bacon, think some kind of yummy dressing. Yup. It was wonderful. My croissant sandwich (I ordered the BLA... It's the BLAT with no tomato) and it was good and satisfying. The americano?? Wow. I'm pretty sensitive when it comes to my espresso beans and I almost did a backflip when I took a suckle of that iced drink! If for nothing else, I will definitely be back for that! Words to the wise : took almost 45-50 min to get our food during prime lunch hour with a Pow Wow Hawaii event going on. Also, it's a hangout, so seating was limited except for a shaded but warm outdoor area. GO HERE!! You won't be disappointed!!

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    What bring a me into fresh cafe is the corn chowder! I love their corn chowder!!! Super creamy, full of corn, bacon, and potatoes! I usually get the chowder with the turkey cranberry sandwich and a flavored ice tea... All that for less than $15. They also have specials for each day of the week, so be sure to check it out! Wahine Wednesdays: free beverage! which includes everything but their smoothies. The staff is super nice and friendly. I also love the short collared, bow tie, high socks, shoes look ;) Parking can be a little difficult, but maybe that's just me and my Asian girl driving.

    (5)

  • Ailen C.

    I love coming here to just chill and catch up with my friends over the phone or to browse on my laptop. They do have free wifi. I always order my hot dirty chai latte which comes in a large porcelain mug and some times I have a corn chowder along with it. I ordered their mango smoothies and berry smoothies. They are healthy since they use fresh fruits. Just the last time I went, the inside seating was packed so I sat outside. They have plenty of outside seating with roofing so it doesn't get wet even when its raining. They also just started using frequency cards which is a good thing since I go there frequently. Overall, they have good service and staff is friendly.

    (4)

  • Ma F.

    Checked out this place for the first time and it was an experience for sure.As far as the food is concerned it was a toss up. I was super excited for my Thai Latte. Until it came, the first time it's was just coffee. What!? The nice girl who brought it to me apologized and brought me back another Thai Latte... Which was also just coffee. Thai tea has a distinct color. It's this beautiful orange color. I understand it's a latte but it didn't even have a hint of a Thai tea flavor. On to the food. I ordered the ultimate omelette on a croissant. While my sweetie was left waiting for his blt sandwich. It took a very long time to come. Then they let him know that the bread he had requested was not available. They offered him a selection of bagel options. After going for the everything bagel... Another 25 minutes later his blt arrived on a plain bagel. It wasn't a perfect experience but since my food tasted pretty good I will give them another try if I am ever in the area.

    (2)

  • Mella M.

    Haupia Latte: Excellent! Pleasantly surprised with the taste of this drink. They partially redeemed themselves for not having any soup for the day (Sunday). The cashier shouldn't have given us a reason because it seemed like this location and this day just weren't important: he said no one prepped the night before. This triggered his memory and he proceeded to say they were out of ciabatta bread, turkey and avocado. Chicken Salad Sandwich on Croissant: Delicious! Just the right mix of ingredients. Would order this again. Warm Spinach Salad with Garlic and Bacon: Salty!! Drenched in dressing and very salty. Maybe we'll try this again with the dressing on the side? Overall: Besides the non-existent menu items, it took really long to get our food. A table next to us came in later but ordered egg salad sandwiches...maybe that's quicker to prepare? Call ahead to see what they don't have so you won't be disappointed!

    (3)

  • Lauren C.

    Fresh Cafe is my go-to spot when I either want something quick, relatively healthy & fresh to-go or I just wanna hang out to study or catch up with a friend over lunch! Plus, it's conveniently located in Kaka'ako - close to everything. Parking is a bit limited but they do have their own (narrow) lot so you just gotta get lucky with a spot. The cafe itself is really hip and spacious. During my most recent visit, I ordered the PESTO PASTA (w/ chicken) to-go and it was a very large serving! It was good, but unfortunately not too much flavor. I also checked-in to Fresh Cafe on the Yelp app and redeemed their offer of a FREE PIKAKE ICED TEA. I didn't taste the pikake or really any flavor, but I was still really stoked to get a free drink on such a hot summer day. I would still return here in the future to try the rest of their menu items and hang out/do work in this hipster joint.

    (4)

  • Keisha P.

    I've only been to Fresh Cafe once, but I defiantly will go again. They have really good sandwich combos which I believer are about $10. I got the Sandwich/salad combo which was AHHHmazing! I got the pesto chicken sandwich and the spinach, bacon, garlic salad! I ate everything, and preached about it to my bf later. They have a private lot, and a couple more stalls outside of the restaurant so parking is pretty good. The workers there was amazing. They were busy but they did not ignore their guests. When we ordered, the cashier made sure to warn us about food times being a bit longer then usual which I appreciated the honesty. They have Wifi, coffee, teas, sandwiches, soup, salad, and fruits. PLUS great customer service...so try it out!!!

    (4)

  • Nicole M.

    On my first visit to Fresh Cafe I loved it! I got the Wasabi Chicken Salad, Corn Chowder and shared a Haupia latte with a friend of mine. Everything was delicious and fresh and I particularly loved that the chicken salad was both filling and healthy! A few months later I went back, and was craving all of the same things. Sadly, this time around, the corn chowder had a sour flavor. I asked the counter-person if they had changed the recipe? But no, it wasn't supposed to be sour. She apologized, took it away, and brought me not-so-great tomato soup to replace it. My salad was over-dressed which was further disappointing and also I felt like a meanie asking for more greens. Finally, the wasabi-ginger topping on the chicken tasted less-than-fresh, but by this time I just felt ridiculous and gave up on asking for stuff because it had all been so disappointing. I stole some of my boyfriend's sandwich which was also not super great. While I enjoyed the atmosphere, the cute bear glasses, and the two blind dates I got to observe while there, I think I will have a hard time coming back to Fresh Cafe, at least to eat.

    (1)

  • Grace N.

    Best Kona coffee around but their food is a hit or miss. If you sit outside be ready to be covered in a layer of soot from all of the neighboring car body shops. If you sit inside be ready to freeze.

    (3)

  • Arlene A.

    Glad to report that Fresh Cafe is still keeping things Fresh. I reviewed them a while back when they still had their vegan cupcakes. They're no longer being offered (boo!) but try out their flat, crisp cookies (4 for $1). Super good. I should learn how to make them. The Acai Bowl is also a nice and refreshing treat any time of day but at nearly $9, I'd probably go with another one of their menu items. For example, their tomato bisque. Simple and satisfying. Get it in a cup or a bowl, either choice won't break the bank. I would like to try their pesto pasta salad next time, which seems to be a popular choice. Parking hasn't really been an issue. Obviously it's not as busy during the day. The lot is small and narrow so trying to get out when it's full can be somewhat of a challenge.

    (4)

  • Courtney B.

    I'm sitting here on a random Tuesday night around 9pm, and the radio is blaring out some twangy, middle-Americana chorus about being a cowboy. At the picnic table in front of me, two 20-something young women and three girls around ages 6 to 10, are coloring with crayons. At the picnic table behind me is a college-age student who seems to be studying for a nursing exam. The vibe of the country music station, kids and picnic tables is at a strange sort of disconnect with the graffitied exterior, decorative interior neon signage, and surly service. Fresh Cafe is clearly having an identity crisis. The food is standard coffee shop fare: sandwiches, salads, and drinks. None of it is terribly elaborate, and any halfway decent chef could probably do a better job in their own home kitchen, but that's hardly the point. My tuna melt and cup of tomato bisque came to $11 and change, which is a bit high but not outrageous. I've had coffee drinks here in the past and they are fine, if not anything extraordinary. What Fresh Cafe does well best its plentiful parking, free wifi, and long hours. I often find myself wanting to study after 9pm, and I appreciate having a place I can come spread out my books and caffeinate. What Fresh Cafe seems to be doing less well is customer service, comfortable seating, cleanliness, and cohesive identity. I've watched as each person who walks in waits confused at the counter for a good 2-3 minutes before the the staff member appears to take an order. One almost walked out. This may be an issue of understaffed late night hours, but I have seen it happen during the day here as well. As for the seating, at some point in the past year, Fresh Cafe has switched out their tables for long unfinished wooden picnic tables. And it may be the picnic tables attracting them, but as I sit here a colony of 8 to 10 ants walks along the nearby wall, and ant droppings and long strands of hair coat the ledge. I don't consider myself overly concerned with cleanliness (a peek into my apartment would confirm this embarrassing fact) but this is even enough for me to take note. So, Fresh Cafe, a suggestion: please either adopt a friendly, disinfected identity in matching with your country music and your elementary school clientele, or go for it and be the hip coffee shop your graffiti suggests by blasting some KTUH, adding more interesting items to the menu, and getting some seating that is more comfy on skinny jean-clad butts. This identity crisis isn't doing you any favors.

    (3)

  • Emi H.

    Went to Fresh Cafe for the first night of the newly relocated Hawaii Poetry Slam and the event was awesome! It was my first time and if you've never been to a poetry slam this is something to put on your to do list. I really didn't know what to expect, so I came with an open mind and an open heart. There were surprisingly a lot of out of towners in attendance so the crowd was an eclectic mix of slipper wearing locals, artsy indie chicks and nomadic mainland poets. Word smiths of different shapes and sizes stepped on stage and poured out their hearts in under three minutes. Every single one, regardless of their experience had something real and raw to share with the audience. One girl talked about incest, another about trying to get into medical school and another about her 2010 resolutions. Each story was different in its complexities, but they were all the same in that they were all brave to share the truth of themselves with complete strangers. If you love art, theatre and watching real people bare their souls then make your way to the Hawaii Poetry Slam on the first Thursday each month at Fresh Cafe!

    (5)

  • Simone D.

    I come to Fresh almost everyday. I love the atmosphere, the chill vibe of the people and the beats. I usually get the yogurt parfait which I crave for like crazy ( I think I'm addicted). So just like any other day I got up early and made my way down. I thought that I would be in and out since the cafe just opened 30mins before I came in, WRONG! I walk in and the is one person in front of me, but they were not ordering so I'm like sweet grab breakfast then head to work. I noticed that there where only 5 other people in the shop and two of them had food already, so I shouldn't take long. I order my parfait, sat down and waited. I noticed that the guy at the counter had paint all over his hands and cloths, which made me think if he just get done painting or are you in the middle of doing so? In the frame of mind about health, that doesn't make me want to eat the food if he is prepping it. But don't worry my fellow Yeeps, cuz I DIDN'T! Why do you ask? Well after 20 min, the worker walks up to me and say, "oh, I'm sorry we're out of yogurt. 20 minutes?! 20 minutes?! Really?! Obviously, someone didn't do their morning inventory! So, in the forgiving and hungry spirit I ordered the the breakfast BLT on a croissant. ...FIVE MINUTES LATER... "Oh, I'm sorry we're out of croissants." So I said, "ok, give me ciabatta bread." Then he tells me we're out of that too. WTF, OMG, GTFOOH!! I have been sitting in this place for almost 35 MINUTES! Needless to say I got my money back, was almost late to work and most of all HUNGRY! Fresh Cafe, lets get it together!

    (2)

  • Jonathan Q.

    First time here, never going back... I was really hyped to come here, tried twice on separate days, could find parking, but was finally able to. I'm not sure why this place is so hyped. Or maybe the cashier is just new. Well she had attitude and just looked liked she did not want to be there. She looks like one of those people who will drag the place down like you would see on restaurant impossible or kitchen nightmares lol. She couldn't even make an Italian cream soda right because it was bland. Gave us a bottle of water with a cork in it, since being our first time here, she never told us to get cups which were on shelf near the door. How on earth are you supposed to know that? Besides her, the chefs really gotta learn how to actually cook and use ingredients that are actually fresh. We ordered turkey pesto melt and pelto pasta w/ micro bits of dehydrated chicken. All dry, didn't seem fresh... Overall not enjoyable. I didn't even finish and left.

    (1)

  • Rose H.

    First time I went there...awesome service. The girl at the counter was suppppppppper helpful as we didn't know what or how to order! The next two times, not great. Different girl and then a young man at the counter and they were not helpful! They didn't even look up when we ordered! When I asked the girl for water she pointed at bottles and old bear honey jars like I knew this place was "thinkin green"....I was looking for a water jug! Then the next time the guy, didn't look up when we ordered either, and didn't take out the discount for "mondays 50% off full salads"..... Too bad the first girl there wasn't there the other two times. 2 out of 3 visits it was bad. Even food was better the first time. Or does food taste better when service is great?? Hmmmm....

    (2)

  • Bruce C.

    Been here all day with my bottle of water and fast internet. I am addicted to the Ginger Wasabi salad. If they would bottle that dressing I would buy it and share it with friends and family. Sitting outside on their picnic benches with trades blowing through the streets of Kakaako. This is not Starbucks this is Hoku .... Hawaiian style art vibe, bubbling creatives and entrepeneurs. About the Tomato bisque. Yummy and feels good in the tummy. Something special is brewing here this Sunday night....theres a meeting going on! Come on down and see.

    (5)

  • Candy T.

    I've given this place a numerous of tries! However when you walk into a restaurant or coffee place you expect to be greeted or approached with a smile. None of the staff have welcoming skills. I've eaten their bagel with cream cheese, the bagel was so stiff and old. You could tell their product doesn't move as fast if it sits in the window. The food isn't all that great but if your not in the mood to cook, then "hey why not eat here", right? The coffee drinks are awesome, atmosphere feels great, & music is tad bit too loud! I would rate this place higher, but personality counts for me. I hate walking into a place were I don't feel welcome or staff are staring @ me b/c they don't want to work or cook or as if I'm taking to long to order. So when I go into this cafe all I order is coffee now or rarely do I even go into this place!

    (2)

  • A G.

    Cute little place, love the decor and music they were playing! They didn't have the AC on when I was there so it got a little warm (biggest downfall). Had the Acai Bowl while waiting for my car to get detailed at Capones (see their review too!). I thought it was pricey until I saw the bowl. It was HUGE!!!...and yummy and definitely fresh! I'd eat here again (maybe not on a warm day though!). Free wifi too!

    (4)

  • Megh T.

    Delicious and fresh! Staff is really chill and friendly. The food is a little pricey but better than what you would get at a Starbucks or other big name coffee shop. The building is kinda hard to find even though it is covered in awesome bright art graffiti, since the name isn't very obvious. There are only about 10 parking spots so parking can be difficult. I would definitely go again, but only if i was in the area.

    (5)

  • Lei D.

    This is a cute, odd little place, kind of a hipster-ish joint... A crossbreed between coffee shop and restaurant. A few friends and I went to eat before a volleyball game and it was great. Excellent food and fun atmosphere. Prices are good plus they have daily specials. The service was great and they were patient with the tons of questions we had. I definitely plan on going back at some point!

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    I guess management doesn't read yelp reviews because their service is still bad. So unfriendly and they make you feel like you're interrupting them. Even with the poor attitudes, if the food was really good, it might be worth it. But the food was mediocre. I got the combo of the ginger salad and cup of corn chowder. While it looked pretty, the salad dressing was kind of bland and mostly just oily. It kind of seemed like maybe the dressing wasn't mixed well before being heavily poured over the greens. The chicken was beautifully layered on the salad but quite tasteless. The corn chowder which I was looking forward to was also very bland. There was so much oil floating on top of it and it was so watery. When I think of chowder, I think of it being a more creamy consistency. I also got the plantation iced tea and even that was disappointing. It tasted like watered down pineapple juice. I didn't taste any tea. I won't be coming back. There are too many other places that are better and other places I want to try. Plus their parking is awful with that huge pothole in the driveway.

    (2)

  • Kayla R.

    #saladmadnessmonday 50% salads on Monday's! I've never eaten at fresh cafe, ive only been to the Pow wow event, until this pass Monday since my friend mentioned their salads were half off and they're having specials. So it was worth a try, also it was just 3 minutes away. I had the Balsamic Vinaigrette Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, Red Onion, Mushroom, Cucumber, Ho Farm Cherry Tomatoes, Avocado, Raspberries over Romaine, all locally fresh produce. It was very refreshing. the full size is more than enough for a dinner, or lunch. My friend got the Warm Spinach, Bacon & Garlic, Soy Vinaigrette Dressing, Bacon, Mushroom, Sauteed Garlic over Spinach. For all you garlic lovers you need to order this, very garlicky. I only had a bite of everything but the bacon and it was good, a new remix to a salad I've never had. Probably harder for you meat lovers trying to eat a little more healthy. Its a good way to save money and eat healthy~

    (4)

  • Ivanna D.

    Amazing Vegetarian Tomato Bisque! Love the Tofu Ginger Wasabi Salad;a simple salad with a delicious dressing!

    (5)

  • Frankie W.

    I ordered a chai tea latte and I like it better than starbucks!!!

    (5)

  • Dixie R.

    Love fresh cafe and their flavored ice teas, sandwiches and all of the cultural events and festivities that take place there. They provide for the artist and the art lover and sponsor much needed markets and such events that the island scene definitely was begging for. Though I think they could spice up the menu a bit I guess they make it up with the fact that everything is fresh and locally grown.

    (4)

  • Taylor N.

    I love the selection of sandwiches, salads and teas. The drinks and food are fresh and very delicious. The prices for everything is very reasonable and they have certain specials everyday, ranging from discounts on smoothies or even 50% off all items. If it were not so out of the way, I would go back ALL the time!

    (5)

  • Adrinna B.

    So we were here on a Saturday night. Fom 6-8 you can get 50% off everything. We got there at like, 8:05 and the guy still gave us the discount. Score! They get an extra star just for that! Ambience- super hip college age crowd was around for a concert. There is a concert venue attached so there was almost too-loud music coming from the other room. Part of our group was going to sit outside because of the noise. The place is pretty clean, some kitsch on the walls. It reminds me of college actually. Not just because of the crowd, but the menu, the staff, the diner-feel. Even though we weren't close to a campus, it still felt that way. Food- I had the avocado sandwich and chocolate Nutella smoothie. Yummy smoothie. Good sandwich, but I had a hard time finding the avocado in there. However, it was 50% off so no complaints. Everyone else in my group liked their food (especially those who got there early enough for the discount) so I would recommend it. Overall a good spot that we will frequent on Saturday nights for their crazy discounts!

    (4)

  • Mari M.

    The service was terrible this past time, which is why my boyfriend and I will NOT be returning. The male server/cashier was the only one on floor, with two kitchen workers behind the counter. I've seen this place when it's really busy, and usually the person taking the order is quite pleasant and helps newcomers through the menu. The day my boyfriend and I went it wasn't half as busy as days I've seen the place prior, and the guy running the front had a poor way of handling customers. When asked how the groupon works, he said anything on the menu is fine to order and walked away. When I was ready to order, he said the fritatta I wanted couldn't be made because cookies are in the oven. No apology, or other recommendation of a similar product. This could've been prevented if he had said first off, "anything on the menu works for the groupon, except right now our oven is presently in use so we can't make (whatever sandwiches are out of the question)". I decided on the avocado veggie sandwich instead. He asked me which bread I'd like, and when I asked him what my options are, he merely pointed at the food case. Keep in mind they recently renovated so in the new food case display there are NO names for any of the bagels/breads offered. A description of the breads would've been nice, and would've helped speed the process along much faster. It almost felt like he was making the process more difficult on purpose by giving minimal information at a time-- I'm not sure if it was contempt for us because we were using a groupon and seemed "cheap" or, after reading more reviews, that's just how servers here usually are? But if it's the first, Fresh Cafe management: you probably shouldn't offer groupons if your workers aren't going to appreciate the influx of customers and accomodate newcomers drawn in by the offer. It's cheaper for a reason- to win us over and encourage us to return to purchase a meal priced regularly next time. After ordering, my boyfriend and I sat at the counter near the door to wait for our two sandwiches, and we watched the way the guy dealt with more customers. He wasn't friendly, appreciative, or remotely skilled. When a lady asked for her cupcake, he handed it to her with his bare hands, and then licked the icing off his fingers-- and didn't wash his hands after. I've worked in food service for 7+ years, and customer service should be a big priority. Since he is the ONLY person customers are dealing with, even more so he should be friendly and quick to respond to customer questions/needs. He is the only person anyone in the cafe that day will remember dealing with at fresh cafe, therefore he is the face of your establishment. He approached my boyfriend and I twice, with someone else's orders, and when our sandwiches DID come out, there was no apology for the confusion or anything. My boyfriend's tuna melt was rather tasty (the standard I usually held fresh cafe's food at which is why I purchased the groupon in the first place), however my avocado fritatta was flavorless and dry. We also ordered a mini red velvet cupcake to put our order over $17 which was the requirement of the groupon, and were not given that with our sandwiches so my boyfriend went to retrieve it from the guy. When he asked about the cupcake, the guy responded, "yeah? What about it?" My boyfriend asked, "Could we please have it? ... Since we didn't get it yet?" The guy just said, "oh" and handed it to him. I LOVE red velvet cupcakes, so I was hoping this sweet little treat would at least make the terrible ordeal well worth it, but it was SO dry I spat it out and threw it away. We will not be returning, which is very disappointing because I've thoroughly enjoyed the sandwiches, corn chowder, and acai bowls prior to this experience. As amazing as food can be at an establishment, if the service is terrible, it is never worth going back to. And seeing as the food this past experience wasn't memorable, fresh cafe won't be something to be missed. When we left, my boyfriend turned to me and sternly said, "Never bring me back here again."

    (1)

  • Candace W.

    I wanted to like Fresh Cafe SO bad. It's great potential but no follow through. I've been a few times for coffee and had no issues and so though it seemed like a good potential lunch spot. I brought my husband for lunch on a Sunday and was really disappointed. They were clearly understaffed and overwhelmed. Despite the fact that it took nearly 30min to receive 2 sandwiches I could have made at home, I had to basically go to the kitchen window and search out our lunches, delivering them to our table myself. I've spent much of my college years working in the restaurant atmosphere and I don't blame the workers as much as I think this place is mismanaged...maybe it was an "off day" but I wasn't impressed.

    (2)

  • Chris K.

    I had the chicken pesto pesto pasta today and let me just say, do you remember the first time you found out that you could stick the straw in the bottom of the capri sun drinks and be cool to all your frens. It was kinda of like that but better.

    (5)

  • Ken F.

    We had the ginger wasabi and the sesame chicken tofu salads. For the price of the salad I would expect more than just a lot of romaine lettuce and dry chicken breast. Hardly any tofu. Aloha Salad is much better. he salad dressing was unforgettable and sparse. The Ginseng orange tea was bland and not worth the money. Will not go back there.

    (2)

  • Lindsay C.

    After hearing such great things about Fresh Cafe - we finally went for a visit! Perfect chill Sunday lunch... surprisingly quite, just off of Ward. I ordered a Sandwich and Half Salad - Bacon, Egg and Cheese on everything Bagel with Half warm spinach, bacon and garlic salad. Tony ordered a Chicken Caesar salad. There is seating inside and out... we chose to eat outside. Great choice of bagels... Bagel sandwich was yummy!

    (4)

  • JoAnna G.

    Awwww.. What happened to this place? Alright seriously the chick with the pink hair does have some crazy "I'm better than you, wow hurry up and order, I hate my job" kinda attitude. Their hours are cut way back too. Close @ 11 pm most of the week now (instead of 1 am). Went there @ 1030 pm not knowing this and although all I ordered was a guava iced tea, I got kind of a "wow seriously, you're gonna order an iced freakin tea 30 whole minutes before we close" sort of reaction. I know, life is hard. Yes, pink haired chick, you're obviously better than me. Yay! Playing pretend is fun! Next time maybe we can build a fort together.. I can't really bring myself to take all the stars away for rude customer service (this one time- other times have been good) and cut back hrs tho. It's still a cool place to study because of the charming picnic tables and hipster atmosphere. More for a good study ambiance than anything. Although the food isn't incredible, it's edible, and drinks are alright too(drinks are expensive for what they are- over $4 for a flavored ice tea- honestly I hardly look at the price of anything but this seems a little much considering the lack of gold). Free WiF is a plus. I'll probably only come here after the lunch rush or in the morning. I've had better experiences here in the daytime. I'll just be sure to come here before I run out of my own personal hugs for the day. Yay for being prepared!

    (3)

  • Jenn T.

    OK, how come nobody told me about this place?! So i came here on a lazy sunday to grab some lunch with some friends. Little did I know this was a secret study place, with free WiFi, outlets and lots of table space. I literally ran into 4 classmates today who were all taking advantage of this awesome place. There is a lot of seating here and it seems to be the place that lots of people use to study, so much so that we got dirty looks from people studying because we were talking. Oops! Didn't realize that this was a quiet restaurant! I ordered the sandwich and soup, which was $10.95 Seriously, the best $11 bucks I've spent! I got the turkey pesto sandwich on an everything bagel and the corn chowder. There was more food than I could ever imagine. The cup of corn chowder was like a pretty hefty bowl of soup which was filled with flavor and was definitely delicious. The sandwich was great as well, it had a nice pesto sauce with mushrooms and a toasted bagel. YUMmmy! I also got the iced tea of the day which was delicious and full of caffeine, just as i needed my caffeine fix for the day :). Overall, a great find, but apparently it was already well "found". I will definitely be back for more!

    (5)

  • Nicole R.

    I love Fresh Cafe! What a cozy little spot to make use of the free wi-fi and get some work done while enjoying a tasty treat. I've been here a few times for informal meetings and it's the perfect place. The veggie bagel sandwich is heavenly, the corn chowder is downright sinful and the peach cupcake wasn't half bad! The staff here is really friendly and I love that nearly every time I go to Fresh, I bump into someone I know. It's almost like Central Perk was on the tv show, Friends! ;o)

    (4)

  • Tina H.

    NERDS BEWARE! The gestapo of cool won't serve our kind too kindly. Admit defeat upon entry. First and foremost, if you suck at driving, don't park at this place. I'm not saying that to be mean. It's just a very awkward parking lot where you have to drive your car in reverse in order to get back out on the street. The cars on the street do not slow down, either, so if you sincerely doubt your reversing skills, come here with a friend who doesn't. Their menu alone is impressive. They have an assortment of sandwiches, soups, salads, lattes, and teas -- All made by fresh ingredients that are thrown together in unique combinations. As diverse as their menu is, however, they seem to offer only one kind of service: Slightly condescending. I told the cashier that I wanted a turkey cranberry sandwich. Earlier on, I was told that their sandwiches are made with bagels of your choosing. When I asked her what kind of bagels her restaurant offered, she silently pointed down to a glass display of bagels that had no description or labels. My colleagues and I got the immediate impression that pointing her finger downward annoyed her to some degree. Unfortunately, we forgot to bring our holy bible of bagels that day and my coworker politely asked her to tell us what the fuck was in the glass display. After getting our cashier to introduce us to the food, I threw out my emergency "Are you having a good day?" question to her. I do this because some servers are just down on their luck and the question normally cheers them up. When I asked her this question, though, she replied, "Yeah. Are you?" I wasn't sure if she was being non-chalant or an intentional dick, so I dropped the issue. After placing our order, we got to sit down and check out the place. Off the bat, I'll tell you that Fresh Cafe looks like it was built by the producers of "The Real World." Graffiti walls, chic art, hard wood picnic tables, and the works. If you've got one of those friends who like to say they saw/heard/tasted/screwed/panda bear'ed something "before it went mainstream" take them here. They will cry with hipster joy. Once we got our orders, we took our food and reversed out of there. The food was pretty good. My coworker kept talking about how he enjoyed the jalapeno cheddar bagel that he ordered for his tuna melt and my other coworker thought her pesto pasta was okay. I did enjoy my sandwich and peach iced tea, but I don't see myself coming back here any time soon. It just didn't seem like a welcoming place for a nerd like me and I can definitely find other restaurants that are just as good and can learn to drop the attitude.

    (2)

  • Carmie A.

    Good service, fast food, DELICIOUS food and BEST chai latte i ever had. Great location and super cute place to just hang out... ;) delicious bagel sandwiches!!! yum yum yum! LOVE IT!

    (4)

  • Pari S.

    Fresh cafe is such a uniquely cute spot! I wish I had found it sooner :( I've been here three times in the past couple of months already. Parking is a little odd and hard to find, but it's worth the trek if you can find a spot nearby. Service is pretty quick, even on the weekends. Try the corn chowder, lemon cupcakes (drooool), and the flavored iced teas! In fact, try whatever you like, I'm sure you will be totally pleased! "Fresh" flavors and sweet treats, you can't go wrong.

    (5)

  • Krissy K.

    Fresh Cafe is where hipsters come to die. I ventured here with an ex-pat who had seen " a cool looking place by a graffiti wall" with another friend a couple days before and insisted it was not on Queen Street but on a smaller side street and that it was called "Peace Cafe." After my numerous queries of, "Are you sure it wasn't Fresh Cafe?" I finally got fed up and drove down Queen Street to which she exclaimed, "Oh yeah! This is the place." Grr. I found parking but saw that it could potentially be a huge pain in the rear. As soon as we walked through the door, the gal with the pink hair behind the counter asked us what we wanted. While it was certainly nice to be greeted so quickly, she was not exactly friendly and seemed extremely annoyed when we were not able to give her our order immediately. Um, sorry? She was pretty much a b*tch throughout our entire interaction. When she told me I could have my sammie on ciabatta for an extra $1, I said sure, and she sighed and asked, "well, which kind do you want?" There's nothing labeled and no signs; how was I supposed to know there were different kinds? Because I'm an idiot, I felt compelled to apologize and said we'd had a rough night. This seemed to unfreeze her for half a second, and she replied, "Me too." There were plenty of open seats, although the seating itself seemed a little...sterile? Uncozy? I guess that's the vibe they want, and I did like that everything seemed very clean, including the bathroom. There were several people happily plugged in but many folks like us just having nibbles and checking out their eclectic magazine collection. We didn't have to wait long for our food. My friend had the wasabi ginger salad and a veggie bagel sandwich, while I had the turkey pesto sammie and corn chowder. The chowder was not bad (lots of bacon), and the turkey sandwich was good. I guess my eyes were a little bigger than my tummy, because I could barely eat my sammie - yay leftovers. I had a bite of my friends salad - while I don't usually like the flavor of wasabi, it was a really great salad. The food itself is what saved the experience for me. I don't know if I, with my lack of tattoos and body piercings, would go back to be judged by all those oh-so-cool folks.

    (2)

  • Lauren Y.

    Fresh Cafe distinguishes itself with a space that can be used for almost anything. I've attended many events at Fresh Cafe, as well as having just stopped by for a bite to eat and lounge. During events such as Art & Flea where the whole venu is utilized, it gets quite hot (ESPECIALLY upstairs). What is normally the parking lot is also used as part of the flea market during this event, so parking is scarce on the street and if it rains, it's not the best experience. I'd suggest dressing for comfort more than anything. On the cafe side of the venu, I haven't had the greatest experiences. I order a sandwich, (a simple turkey and pesto), and end up waiting 15 minutes for it. 15?! thats a bit ridiculous for what turns out to be a tiny sandwich, on two small slices of bread. Would I pay $7 for that again? Probably not. However, their plantation iced tea is just awesome and their daily deals make it a place I'd come back to. UPDATE (3/26/14) I called in a phone order at exactly 2:00, and was told that it would be ready for pickup around 10-15 minutes. I am currently still sitting here at 2:40 (25 minutes from when they said it would be ready) with no food. The whole reason I called in the order was to have it ready when I arrived, not to wait DOUBLE the time I would have waited had I walked in and ordered. Ps - I only ordered 2 sandwiches.

    (3)

  • Shayna K.

    Love their organic cookies, 3 for $1. Now those are my kind of cookies--really light and crispy, thin and bite-sized, a variety of kinds (choc chip, peanut butter, almond, oatmeal), and 3 for a dollar. My first time there, back in November, I asked for decaf and the owner said they don't serve decaf because someone told her that the same chemical used in the process of decaffeinating the coffee is also used in fumegating houses! Even though I love my decaf, I really admired the fact that she was firm in her commitment to serving fresh, healthy, organic when possible, whole food. I also noticed she only had sugar in the raw for sweeteners. This told me she was creating something unique. It's not your Starbucks or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I like the purist part of Fresh Cafe. When I went again recently, decaf was available so I asked why. To my delight, she had found a 100% Kona bean that they decaffeinate without the harmful chemical process that she had told me about months ago. Yipeee! Now where else can you get that on the island? And does that place have free wi-fi and 3 for a dollar organic cookies? The other difference I saw was that there was Equal available as a sweetener option. This is not okay with me. The owner explained that they have to be balanced and that customers complained, and I totally understand that and have sympathy for her because complaining customers are no fun. But I think those customers should bring their own carcinogenic food additives if they need it so bad. Don't make Fresh Cafe give up one of the very things that makes them stand apart from the mainstream coffee shops out there. I love their menu--the salads and sandwiches are unreal fresh and savory. My husband likes the iced melona drink. Only thing is, I don't get all the bagels. Aren't bagels like so 90's? I don't know, I'm just not into them anymore. Is anybody else with me on that? Overall it's a perfect place to hangout, work, meet with people. Great that it's open late, love the rustic feel of the outdoor area, but I wish there was more seating area inside. BTW, the owner is a gem, I really like her and she's a Punahou grad. Not that that matters to anyone else, but go puns.

    (4)

  • Trish S.

    a wonderful space to work alone or with others. dog friendly. good drink menu. i especially love the mango iced tea--jasmine iced tea with mango syrup and garnished with fruit and fresh mint. the food's okay. the service is usually very friendly, although sometimes drinks aren't made consistently. it's such a great space and they're very cool and laid back. when you're working or studying for a while, it is very convenient that they do have food and you don't have to leave.

    (4)

  • Roxanne D.

    We had an event there last night and really enjoyed it. The large space in back is truly "warehouse" - and open to all kinds of configurations. Our crowd had very good things to say about our event - the energy in here just feels good. Even though this place can hold several hundred, our crowd of 30 felt just fine in there too. We could use some guidance on parking - otherwise food is good (though more limited than I expected) and having a beer and wine bar for our event was cool. We'll definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Brittany A.

    Had a groupon for 4 meals, and since we're a family of 3 ( and I am a fat kid trapped in a skinny girl's body) we can put away a decent amount of food. I figured it wouldn't be an issue if we split the 4th meal. Wrong. I was about to break down since 1) we're only 3 people on vacation 2) the groupon was going to expire soon and 3) it was 1pm and I was STARVING. Lucky someone made the judgement call to just go ahead and roll with it. We grabbed 2 coronas and a bottle of water ( not included in groupon) and sat down on a park bench- super trendy hipster style. The food was good- you had the option of all different types of bagels (though by 1pm it was a bit limited, totally understandable, and it's an extra charge). But sprouts, lettuce, tomato on a sandwich makes me happy. It wasn't the largest sandwich but with an extra half for my belly I was happier. The only A-OK rating is because the parking was a nightmare, people were very very reluctant to cash in my groupon (hey, it's not like I was going to sell the extra sandwich), and it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. The sandwich was just a sandwich and . I think if I were a college kid in the hipster scene I probably would have liked it better. Not exactly kid friendly, unless you wear yours in a uber sling or whatever the cool kids wear their kids in these days. Our preteen wasn't exactly impressed- he asked me if they couldn't afford real tables. Oh from the mouth of babes. Not going to go out of my way to try and find this place again. But if you are a dude wearing skinny jeans and a messenger bag I highly recommend you check this place out!

    (3)

  • Jonathan L.

    There are many huge changes since they opened. Fresh Cafe was really ghetto when it first opened in addition to being very tiny, but now the atmosphere is pretty awesome. The furniture is new and the area is spacious (the tables aren't too close to each other). I ordered the pesto pasta and luckily my friend had a groupon so we were able to use it . The food came out rather quickly making me wonder is it even cooked. Surely enough the pasta was not cooked al dente. There was very little pesto inside as well. That was the only bad thing about my experience here. The ice tea was okay, they use tea bags so forget about them brewing their own tea. Fresh Cafe is not as crowded as a starbucks but sometimes they have events here such as poetry slam and fashion shows so it might get crowded during that time. As for parking fresh cafe has their own tiny lot but it is usually all taken so you can park on the surrounding streets.

    (4)

  • DeanAnthony R.

    I like going to the events here with all the artists peddling their work. Chill atmosphere. I also like going here for meeting with folks to work on stuff.

    (4)

  • Marcus L.

    Summary: Nice comfy place to relax and have a drink and/or some food. Food/Drink: Didn't try their food but friends at the bagel sandwiches and said they were really good. They looked really good to me so I wouldn't question it. I had the iced tea... not bad. Service: Great Parking: Not that much parking. *Note: I came here when they were setting up for POW WOW so i think that there is normally the whole side of the place for parking

    (4)

  • Amelia M.

    I was so excited to come here since I whole-heartedly support eating local and healthy foods. Plus, the decor is very charming. But, my food was so disappointing, it was a bit of an outrage! I paid $8 for a Veggie sandwich on a croissant. The sandwich was about the size of my (little girl) palm. The filling was 1 slice of cheese, a meager sprinkling of shredded carrot, a few small pieces of sliced mushroom, and the tiniest bit of avocado (about 1/8 of an avocado total), and a pinch of sprouts. I asked for no mayo, but they ended up giving me no mustard, either... so it was absolutely DRY. I left hungry and very unhappy, as did my 3 friends. None of us were satisfied with our sandwiches since they were dry, small, and not flavorful. Some of them said they would sign up for Yelp just to write reviews warning against this place. For $8, you could get a good sandwich almost anywhere else. Maybe the other items are better, but don't bother getting a sandwitch here. GUARANTEED you can make a better one at home.

    (2)

  • Ayumi K.

    I always judge a cafe by trying out their espresso macchiato. I should have known that when the cashier/barista (if you can call him that) asked if a macchiato had vanilla in it to just walk out right then but it was late and my better judgment had left me by that time. Not only did he make it incorrectly the first time after I had told him that I had wanted two espresso shots and foam but he also left this mistake sitting there without offering it to me when he had finished it. You can't just make a drink and let it sit there. A macchiato WILL go cold and taste horrid after the first few moments. He remade the drink again but not only were the espresso shots burned but so was the milk foam. I couldn't even choke the thing down. It was miserable...and to think I had tipped the guy. I am never going here again. This is one of those cafes for hipsters, wannabe writers or people who want their friends to think that they are artsy. If you need a place to do homework or read the newspaper then fine, you can go to Fresh but I wouldn't waste your money on this place. Too expensive for what it's trying to be.

    (1)

  • Justin H.

    NYC and SF got together and had a baby. That baby moved to Honolulu and opened Fresh Cafe. The place is hipster without the douche atitude, and the food is good. Prices can be a bit pricy for what you get, BUT if you intend to meet up with some friends, read a magazine, or just surf the web - then this place is a deal. You're not just paying for the food; you're paying for food and a relaxed place to chill. Fresh Cafe is clean, relaxed, well designed, a good place to hang, and offers good food and drink. I also like their late-ish hours(open til 11)

    (4)

  • Aydee Z.

    3.75 stars Ok, I gave Fresh another chance and things have been working out. Haven't seen pests around, looking more clean and open as it morphs into a hipper cafe. The funky art is always an added aesthetic perk. Good place to get work done or just hang out with friends over delicious local coffee. The menu hasn't changed much but its pretty good. The people that work at Fresh now are more friendly than the old staff members too. Fresh still doesn't offer decaf or chai tho! Would give it a 5 stars if that happened. What kin cafe don't have decaf or chai? lol

    (4)

  • Ecstacy T.

    First performed here for the blood brothers reunion last year. Pretty good!

    (5)

  • Kylie O.

    What's better than a bowl of creamy, rich, corn chowder after a long and exhausting day of pointless classes? Absolutely nothing! No, I do not plan on becoming a doctor, so is it okay if I think of Fresh Café's corn chowder instead of biology during class? Okay, sounds good! After finding this place a week ago, I haven't been able to keep my hands away. 3 times in the past week, and still counting. I swear their corn chowder is just calling me... It's light, but yet creamy enough. The bacon is very subtle, with only a few pieces in the bowl of soup, the bites of potatoes aren't huge chunks either, and it doesn't have funky things (like carrots) inside. It's exactly the way I like it. And the best part: LOTS & LOTS of CORN, and I mean LOTS. Do NOT expect me to share. The prices are sort of on the expensive side, cups go for $3.95 and bowls go for $5.95, but every bite (or should I say gulp?) is worth every cent. I have also tried two drinks so far: Vanilla Italian Soda & Mango Plantation Ice Tea. Now I don't know how you are, but I NEED my italian soda with cream, so don't hesitate to ask if you're the same way. Club soda + vanilla syrup just doesn't cut it for me. The Mango Plantation Ice Tea wasn't bad either, you can definitely taste the mango, but is very subtle, and the taste is a little bland. I still haven't found "my" drink. But that's okay, just gives me an excuse to come back, and before I know it, they'll have me on speed dial.

    (5)

  • Riana S.

    Okay so I noticed I've been giving this place 5-star reviews since...forever. And obviously there's a reason for that :p Stopped by here for a late lunch after work. Decided to get the Turkey Pesto Melt on an onion bagel and a cup of their corn chowder. Accompanied all that with guava Italian soda :). It came out to about $14 but it was totally worth it. It was the best lunch I've had in a really long time. As always, the dishes (even the drink) had awesome presentation. The guava Italian soda was the right amount of sweetness and it was very refreshing. The turkey pesto melt was delicious. The turkey was tender and moist and the vegetables and pesto was fresh. The corn chowder was more corn than chowder but I didn't mind. I heard so many good things about their corn chowder and at that point, I was already convinced that my sister-in-law's was the best. Their corn chowder is now 2nd place :) It surprisingly went well with my turkey pesto melt, which was of course amazing. Tiffany can I just take one of your chefs home to cook me food? kthnx. Yelp 365 Challenge #09/365

    (5)

  • Jo M.

    I went back and the cook was coughing so hard that I thought he was going to hack up a lung. I was going to order a sandwich but thought better of it since he was spewing all over the kitchen. Tb is not a condiment. Down to 1 star from 5. What happened to the professional kitchen staff that was there when I wrote my original review?

    (1)

  • Deborah K.

    Had banana French toast and bacon egg and cheese on bagel and both were amazing! Definitely SLOW food but worth the wait!

    (4)

  • Joanna L.

    Likes: 1. Orange Ginseng Tea - Soo delish! Single greatest item on the menu. I would come here for this drink alone! But sadly, it wasn't so great the last time I went. Disappointing. 2. So Cray Saturdays - Menu's half off from 6 pm to 9 pm! 3. Wahine Wednesdays! - Girls get a complimentary drink when ordering one of their combos. It's perfect bc I love ordering their combos, AND I can get my awesome drink without paying extra! It's so bomb. Guys, don't feel excluded because you guys have a Fellas Friday! 4. Their combos - Soup and salad, Soup and Sandwich, Salad and Sandwich, so many choices! 5. Ginger Wasabi Salad - Looking for something to excite your palate? This salad is very refreshing! Dislikes: 1. This one guy that works there. He's got this attitude that's like IDGAF and it rubs me the wrong way. My friends agree his attitude sucks. 2. Parking is difficult at times. They have a lot on one side and more stalls on the other side, but when it's busy, you'll have to find street parking and the meters only give you up to an hour. 3. Cleanliness - I asked for water. One of them suggested I drink straight from the bottle. Both my friends had ordered drinks so the water was only for me. I hadn't thought about how clean their bottles were until this comment was made. How do we know if someone else had put their lips on this corked bottle of water? Are we sure the teddy bear "cups" are really clean? These are things we naturally trust our food providers to do. In the end, I didn't drink any of the water because there were crusted particles left on the rings of the bottle. Ewww. 4. Acai bowl - My friends and I came here because they were wanting to try the acai bowl. I had a taste and wasn't a fan of it. Unfortunately, it was also quite pricey.

    (3)

  • Krystle M.

    I like this place a lot, it's a great hangout spot, always run into interesting people, has a free parking lot, outdoor seating and the food is tasty, does cool community events. cons: I know they get their bagels from Costco, so I'd shy away from that. And when I know some things are from Costco, it makes me weary of other food in general. I prefer when a cafe uses more local ingredients and local bakeries. Also, I order the same style latte just about everytime and the quality has wavered depending on the barista. Sometimes is great and sometimes it's just ok. However, I know that the micro greens at costco are organic so if they are using that it's a little better and Fresh cafe's wasabi ginger salad is delicious.

    (4)

  • Anastasha S.

    The tea's are pretty awesome!! I've had mango and passion, yum yum! Though soup/salad/& bagel sandwiches can be a bit pricey, its still worth to try on an empty stomach :D

    (4)

  • Rachel S.

    Get the ginger wasabi salad....amazing!

    (5)

  • Pamela W.

    What a groovy little find...and I've only been there for breakfast! Had the French Toast--oh yum. The quality and price are certainly commensurate. The menu is simple but bursting with taste and flavor--no boring items or presentation--and dare I say, freshness? In fact, it's all fresh. The ambiance, the decor, the music. If fresh were a place, this truly would be it. Apparently, the night life here is even more exciting. I would definitely go again, any time of day. The only drawback was that the person taking the order lacked any sort of personality or pulse. However, the food runner was very pleasant and I last ate there over a month ago so, things may have changed.

    (4)

  • Todd T.

    Was looking for a place for coffee that we haven't been to. We searched and this place was near us. After driving past another place we stop at Fresh Cafe. The parking lot was full but the staff said to park and he would call us when a car leaves. After about 10 minutes he came in to ask us to move. We just ordered an ice coffee and ice mocha. Was busy since we got there right after lunch. Service was so so. After we ordered we got a table and waited about 10 minutes. There was another customer after us who ordered a drink and it was made right away. My friend saw that and went to talk to staff, they apologized and made our drinks right away. They have a special that if you print out your yelp review they give 50% off a sandwich. I will go back another time to eat something there.

    (3)

  • Teddy C.

    Fresh Café Food: 3/5 Service: 3/5 Atmosphere: 2/5 Overall Experience: 3/5 My friend and I were on a mission to find the best café in town to dine, study, and relax at. I came across Fresh Café because of all the posts I've encountered on Facebook and yelp. I decided I had to check this place out! My friend and I came for lunch. He ordered the Club Bagel and I had the soup and salad combo, corn chowder and Chicken and Tofu sesame salad. The service was okay. I could tell that the girl who was taking my order was new. But I was okay with that. One thing that bothered me was when I asked her a question and she said she didn't know, she didn't even make an effort to ask someone who was an experienced worker there. Oh well. The atmosphere looked as if the place was still undergoing renovation, i.e. half painted walls. The place also didn't look like the most cleanliness atmosphere. Tables were not wiped, dishes were not cleaned off the tables, and there were garbage on the ground. Maybe the place was understaffed? Now onto the food... Corn Chowder: The chowder was okay. I enjoyed the ingredients within the soup, one word, BACON! Haha. It also had corn and onions. One important ingredient it was missing was potato! No potato in corn chowder? I guess I'll live. The one thing I did not enjoy about this chowder was that it was not chowder, it was more of a soup. It was not thick and creamy, it was very thin, but at least not watered down. Overall, it was a good soup. Chicken and Tofu Sesame Salad: My first bite, yum. Another bite, not bad. Third bite, hmm, is that Aloha Shoyu I taste? It sure was! One of my pet peeves is the use of Aloha Shoyu in cooking other than making spam musubi or fried rice. Aloha Shoyu is not your normal shoyu (soy sauce) it is rather salty and it has a distinct taste to it. I am very picky on how shoyu is used in cooking and it should not be used to make a salad dressing. Back to the salad...the chicken was very tender and the tofu was fresh, which tofu must be if served cold. Big plus to that! The salad overall was good, but they do need to remake that dressing of theirs. The coffee was okay, I'd rather have my iced coffee at Starbucks. One thing that was AMAZING was the Pikake Iced Tea! This was what made my experience at Fresh Café even better and earned them an extra star! It was an iced tea that was flavored with mango and peach syrup and served with fresh mangoes! Not many places serve their ice teas with fresh fruit and I thought that was a great concept. I will definitely be coming to fresh café again for some of that iced tea! On a side note, parking is hard to find if the lot is full. You will have to park either on Ward of Cooke St. It seems like a equal distance from either side so take you pick.

    (3)

  • Phil C.

    3.5 stars Fresh Cafe is one of our climbing cliques favorite places to eat after a hard session at Volcanic Rock Gym. Since we are typically tired, hungry, and covered in chalk, food here typically tastes better. Usually, the hipsters can be seen roaming about, and students are abound, seen studying by themselves or in groups, which makes for a nice, chill vibe. Anywho, on to the important stuff...the food. I've frequented this place over a dozen times in the last two months (that's cray cray, right?), and I've had all the warm sandwiches (Avocado Veggie Omelet, Bacon, Eggs, & Cheese Omelet, Tuna Melt, Turkey Pesto Melt, and The Ultimate Omelet), some of the salads (Chicken Caesar & Warm Spinach, Bacon & Garlic), and both soups (the tomato bisque is quite good). Of all the food I've tried, the most memorable eats were the Turkey Pesto Melt (turkey lathered in pesto), the Ultimate Omelet (breakfast for lunch/dinner because that's how I roll), and the tomato bisque (it's definitely one of my favorite soups). Not to say that the other sandwiches aren't good, but I like these the best. The portions here are generous, but by no means does Fresh Cafe try to overwhelm you by quantity over quality. If you end up getting a combo, beware...it is a lot of food, and you will need a box for the left overs. Also, since you can have the sandwiches made your way (like Burger King), try them on different breads to create a little variety... Fresh Cafe has some pretty tasty fruit-infused teas, but I seem to have found comfort in their plantation ice tea (not too sweet, and nearly perfect). Also, despite being a "regular," I have yet to try the Acai bowl which seems to serve two people. The Pesto pasta is also on my list of things to try, but I'm particular about where I eat Italian food so I may yet skip this dish. Here's the skinny on Fresh Cafe: Hipsters here, students there, people chillin' everywhere, big on quantity and quality, have it your way (like the King), go for the sandwiches, get yo' iced tea drank on, and bring a friend to help you take on the Acai monster.

    (3)

  • Sherylynn S.

    I love their salad and lots of avacados makes my eye go big! O_O! The vibe there seemed clean and bright. The table are very modern and somewhat outdoorsy look. The color matched the name of the place. The service is good. I only went there once and I need to come back for more and will update the review!

    (4)

  • Naomi I.

    Fresh Cafe deserves 5 stars for a countless number of reasons. Their entire staff is sweet, patient and attentive. The food is local when possible, fresh and made-to-order. (Tip: Try the ginger wasabi salad and the veggie omelette!) Not to mention the coffee is probably the best on the island. They have Free wi-fi, a bright, clean atmosphere and lots of seating. They also have a lot of events here that uplift the local community, The space in the back of fresh cafe is an art gallery but is also is home to many events such as Slam Poetry, Art & Flea, business workshops, fundraisers, concerts and many others. Check it out, you won't be disappointed

    (5)

  • Jenn G.

    I am such a fan of the Fresh Cafe, I can't even joke. PROS: -Super eco friendly, recyclable cups, plastic cups at a water dispenser nearby (for anyone). They will charge you less if you bring your own cup for your drink. -An INCREDIBLE array of teas and drinks -Vegetarian options are available and they do them right! -Lots of modern pop art, hip, interesting and beautiful people seem to always grace the cafe with their laptops and books. -Awesome FIRST THURSDAY events, poetry readings, and other artsy shows. CONS: -Parking during the day isn't so bad unless it's lunch hour, which sucks because then the tiny free parking lot is completely full. It only has 6 spaces or so. -Parking on the street is awful because you have to park so far away, at coin meters, just to get to the cafe. -Food is pricey for what it is, but then again, everything on the island is pricey. -Individual people take up a lot of solo-space on the tables inside. Because they're benches, people tend to claim the entire bench when they sit there. -The inside cafe seating can get smoky because of the kitchen steam and smell from the cooks doing there thing. It's not that big of an irritant, but sometimes things burn and it can be a deterrent.

    (5)

  • Goh-it K.

    Ginger Iced Tea, I've had better tasting cough syrup. Not too busy and yet not too friendly :( Friend had a mango smoothie and the taste was like an old brown mango picked off the ground after a week. Not sure what else was in it, but there was a woody taste to it too.

    (2)

  • Chuco T.

    This place is truly one of the hidden treasures of Honolulu. Hidden in a pretty industrial area, its pretty easy to miss this place by half a block on either side. But if you know where it is, or just stumble down the right road, you're definitely in luck. Sandwiched between warehouses, auto repair centers, and who knows what else, stands this small but bright cafe. The storefront is clean, but edgy. Hosting murals by local artists. The bright colors, cleanliness, and interesting artwork are welcoming to patrons of all styles. Clean and quiet enough for a business meeting, but bright and "hip" enough for a weekend brunch with friends before hitting Honolulu for other activities. The cafe interior is much the same. Less the big murals. But very bright and clean. Always welcoming. There's plenty of seating to enjoy a meal, Hang out with friends, Or whatever it is you might be in for. The back of the cafe is also used as a venue for many different types of events, like Art & Flea, and Poetry Slam Competitions. The FRESH made sandwiches, soups, and salads always satisfy, and definitely earn this place their name. And their coffee is fantastic. I generally just get a cup of my favorite default drink, a Thai Latte. But even their regular drip coffee is really good. As i havent had much of a chance to explore the menu, i will definitely be back with an updated review.

    (5)

  • Christel T.

    I went to fresh cafe after purchasing a groupon. I have been going back ever since for three years. I always order the ginger wasabi salad with chicken, a fresh smoothie, and a sweet bar. The staff if friendly the atmosphere is laid back. You can sit inside at a table, or out side at table or picnic benches. The parking has gotten better over time by openings up a lot next door. They have a room in the back for shows and you can always find flyers for what is happening in town. Love the vibe!

    (5)

  • Thomas N.

    Peaceful atmosphere. Small cafe style food. Bad service

    (2)

  • H. K.

    I was highly disappointed after coming here for the for the first time a few days ago. First of all, they need more workers! There was one girl working in front of house and one chef in the back so service was incredibly slow. It took my husband more than 20 minutes to get his melted acai bowl, and by then, i was done eating. Other customers were also waiting awhile for their orders while the poor server/cashier girl tried to handle the long line and make smoothies and acai bowls at the same time. They also did not have many of the major items listed on the menu. The food did not taste or look fresh. Another thing is that they have self serve glass cups for water just sitting on a shelf near the door for you to grab yourself. We were a little grossed out because that doesnt seem sanitary at all. This place has lots of potential but definitely needs some changes!

    (1)

  • M K.

    Another long overdue review. I've been coming here fore many years and have gotten so much of my school work done in this place! This is my go-to spot for studying and I definitely appreciate the free wifi. I sometimes stay there for hours and hours straight to get my shit done and I call that "pretending to be a plant at Fresh Cafe". Food is awesome, love the chowder and salads, love my pikake iced tea with peach syrup, and the music is usually the same stuff I listen to on pandora, depending on who's working. I always bring headphones with me incase I really need to focus and the people on the next table are being obnoxiously loud. Most of the staff are very nice and the owner Tiffany is a sweetheart. I have a lot of books and a laptop that needs to be plugged in so I try not to come during the lunch rush because it can get crowded and hard to find seating. It can also get kinda hot since they don't use the AC much and just keep the doors open. I love their Eco-friendly and buy-local focus. I adore the fact that they have a back warehouse area where they host events like live music, poetry slams, yoga, and my favorite, Art and Flea once a month since I love looking at trinkets and shopping for handmade bits. The downside is parking can be problematic... If both their driveway and the little garage is full, you'll need to park kind of far on another street. I get all pissed off when people refuse to move their cars all the way in the garage because they don't want to double park... Waste of space and the establishment loses customers you jerks! Anyway, that's my take on my favorite cafe! Btw... Fresh Cafe is so much better than Kissaten... Can't stand that place.

    (5)

  • Rissa M.

    RE-WRITE. Strictly for the Cafe Area. Knocking off one star for this place. Why? I'll keep this brief to refrain from sounding like a salty grumbling customer. 1. Poor customer service at the counter. Mis-communication is frustrating on both sides of the party. I know your busy but would putting on a smile hurt? 2. Inconsistency. Aka. Border-line burnt BLAT on honey-oat bagel......20 minute wait. If it wasn't for the super awesome and nice parking attendant who helped me find a stall next door, I would be knocking off two stars. okay. thanks thats all i have to say. bye.

    (3)

  • Kelly G.

    Disclaimer, I drive a scooter, so parking was non issue. But I've only ever been here after 6pm when parking has been mostly available Last Friday, on a whim, my trio decided to drop by for dinner before our show at the Blaisdell Arena. Fresh Cafe was in the vicinity so off we go! ADORE the decor! Strings of lights wrapped around the pole Strings of lights across the lot. Entwined with the vines, Its quite divine! Didn't mean to rhyme, but seriously their outdoor seating is quite cozy with a nice atmosphere. Too bad theres not a view to accompany it. Food wise, everything tasted great. Sadly, I feel the portions didn't meet the price expectations. $8 for my ginger wasabi chicken salad and lacking in size for the $8 charge. $3 regular sized mango tea. Mango tea was quite tasty! A friend saw them pump the syrup, so I'm guessing they use a different tea? My friend's turkey pesto was yummy, but again, the charge didn't seem to fit the bill. The other friend got their pumpkin icec ream pie cake dessert thingy. $8 for a slice and one strawberry. Although tasty, again, the high price slumped me back down from elation. Tonight, tried their tuna melt on a croissant. Yum but $$$. However, tonight, I was able to see their back warehouse! It was a great space. Is this where the poetry slam happens? I can see it as a great venue for gatherings ie the UYE Pumpkin Carving! +1

    (3)

  • Jae V.

    I held an event/seminar at the Fresh Cafe and let me tell you, what a WONDERFUL experience. The atmosphere of the space behind the cafe is super edgy/warehouse chic and was the PERFECT location for my needs. I planned this event from the mainland with a little bit of anxiety but all worry was put to ease my both Tiffany and Aly(event coordinator). They provided an amazing space, the freshest more amazing continental breakfast(Fruit that was to die for, pastries that were scrumptious, coffee/tea, etc) that my clients raved about. With the high level of customer service they provided, I will definitely be using the FRESH CAFE again for my next event! THANKS AGAIN FRESH CAFE!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Corie J.

    Stopped by on a Thursday afternoon. Easy parking and there was only 5-6 others there. I got the turkey cranberry sandwich and it was really really amazing. I chose ciabatta bread and it worked well with it. I also got a lemon cupcake that was pretty good but not amazing. I will for sure be coming back!

    (4)

  • Joy B.

    They should call this Fresh to Death Cafe. Lucky to be in town for the Friday Night Backyard BBQ Jam hosted by Vertical Junkies. Hello Anuhea & band playing live! Aloha DJ Eskae making my soul dancedancedance! Howzit hosted bar! This place makes for a chill cool vibe to hang out and groove to the music & enjoy cruising with local friends old & new. The music venue area is to the rear of the main cafe area. There's a door that opens into this expansive back area with vaulted ceilings and plenty of space. The only negative is that there is only one bathroom, as in one toilet. So make sure you get in line early so you don't make a pee-pee in your panties.

    (5)

  • Pete U.

    Bisky Cookies at Fresh Cafe are Yummy

    (5)

  • Jerome B.

    Chill. That pretty much sums up this joint. If you need more than one word to describe Fresh Cafe then I will have to dust off my thesaurus and see what I can come up with. Urban Cool. That's a two word phrase that I think also encapsulates this cozy hole in the wall. The exterior is adorned with the pieces of Honolulu's premier graffiti artists. Take a glance inside and you'll see a macbook per table ratio of nearly 1 to 1. Hipsters are decked out in their fedoras, trendily retro shirts with matching chucks or TOMS. Diverse. Patrons range in ethnicity, culture, and interests. From low key sufers, dressed to the tees townies, counter culture youths, they all find Fresh cafe a refreshing place to be themselves. Cultured. The arts are evident from the music fliers, the street art plastered on their walls, and the deeper-than-Bieber discussions that my ear could gather as the sound of people's chit-chats wafted into the atmosphere and little bits and pieces planted themselves into my audio field. Ohana. Local people enjoying each other. Local people enjoying locally prepared food. The food itself enlists local farmers to provide some local ingredients. Local business supporting local businesses, one way of keeping it HI. So one word turned into a very long review of Fresh Cafe. But seriously, all you need to know about Fresh Cafe can be expressed by the first word of this review. Chill.

    (4)

  • Winnie P.

    I really wanted to like Fresh Cafe, but honestly I came in again yesterday morning around 10am, but was very very disappointed. I ordered a breakfastsandwich, and when it was ready on the counter, I asked the girl behind the counter if I could have the sandwich as it already was sitting there for ten minutes. She said that she needed me to wait until my husband's food was ready (he ordered the bananas french toast). WHAT?! So by the time I got my food, my bagel sandwich was quite cold, considering it had sat there for 16 minutes. And I'd understand if the place was busy but we were the only customers at the time. On top of this, she had a Very bad attitude. Like she didn't care about the food, nor the service or anything for that matter. I also ordered a Kona coffee and it took her another 15 minutes to brew. Fine, I'm ok with that. But when I got my coffee it was beyond dark and bitter, Almost burnt tasting. Then I went to get sugar and guess what? They were completely OUT of sugar. I asked her if there was any more sugar and if she could check in back. She said, "NO, That's it. What we have out is it" -- Really? you're too lazy to go check for sugar? A place that serves coffee has no sugar and you don't want to do anything about it? Let's just say, between the lackluster food and the EXTREMELY disappointing service (that I would rate a negative 3 if I could) that I will NOT be returning here at all, and would advise others to not come here. There are much better places where your money could go that will leave a better taste in your mouth, and that would actually appreciate you as a custumer.

    (1)

  • Samuel C.

    Fresh Cafe has a really cool vibe/atmosphere. I love the artwork and the big open space. Also has seating outside both in the sun and in the shade. Having lived in Vancouver for a while, it's the closest thing in Honolulu that gives me the hipster coffee shop vibe that I've been hoping for. I've only had a few actual food items, but I enjoyed them. The Coffee is awesome. The main weakness of this joint is the service. The servers can be abbrasive, rude, and non-attentive. I'm used to these types from living in Vancouver so I don't mind all that much. If this place had some decent gluten-free options I'd say it's deserving of a 4.5-5.

    (4)

  • Gabriel T.

    I've been here numerous times for hiphop street dance and music dance many times. It wasn't until very recently till I tried out the food at this place and actually ordering from the cafe in the front. Many of my friends come here to eat and chill and mostly for having a nice place to study and rest. They have a pretty solid menu of sandwiches, salads, bagel sandwiches, drinks, etc. I tried out the bacon, egg, and cheese bagel omelet and it was pretty good. You can choose many breads which they have at the bottom of the cashier register. They have plain, wheat, honey oat, blueberry, etc. I got the spinach bagel as my sandwich. I didn't think having bagel as a sandwich would taste so good. They have some table and seating areas outside and inside of the cafe so it is pretty spacious depending on where you go and what you are doing. The only real negative thing about the cafe is there restrooms and parking. The restrooms inside the cafe is very nice but they only have like 2 throughout the whole cafe area. Behind the cafe, there is a nice stage area where they hold a lot of urban and street art events and 2 restrooms are not going to satisfy 100s of people coming in and out of the event. Depending on what time of the day you come, there is limited parking around the area or just parking further away. They are heavily collaborative with a lot of community organizations especially in the arts scene. Yelp 365 Challenge #364/365

    (4)

  • Hung Y.

    "Slow food served daily" and boy do they mean it. Arrived here today at 12:20, ordered 2 salads and a sandwich to go. Waited, waited, and waited some more... did not get my order until 1:05pm. They seriously gotta get their ish together for the lunch rush. Overall friendly service but disappointed in the spinach salad. Granted the spinich is wilted, but in the to go box it didn't even fill half of the container.

    (1)

  • Adrian D.

    I spotted Fresh Cafe during a cruise around town. Although the wait was long compared to Wendy's, the ginger Wasabi salad was refreshing along with the iced Chai latte. Also, although the server was so task oriented she neglected to realize her full potential when interacting with fellow humans. On the flip side, the cashier with the green beenie was accommodating and energetic. Live Aloha! Next time brothers and sisters.

    (3)

  • Michael F.

    Fresh Cafe is tucked away in an inconspicuous, pedestrian-unfriendly alley on Queen St next to auto shops. I would've never noticed it if I didn't have business that morning on Queen St. I really wanted to get an acai bowl. I figured they may or may not have the acai bowl, and I'll take the risk given that I was in a little bit of a hurry. Of course Fresh Cafe was out of acai that day (and probably have been out for a long while and not bothering to restock). So ok, I ordered the Mixed Berry Smoothie instead which was written on the chalkboard menu. Nope. That's out too, and my server said, "We're actually out of a lot of things." So why not erase it from the menu? And what kind of management is going on here if you're out of a lot of things on your menu? It just tells me that whoever is running the cafe is highly unorganized and does not keep things stocked! What I ended up ordering was a banana, mango, and papaya smoothie. What I got was HORRIBLE customer service. My server was a young hipster woman, face flush red, dressed in sort of beige-tan colored clothes, with a comb as a hairpin, and wearing TWO single-terminated crystals--one quartz, the other kind of purplish (perhaps amethyst). The crystals were pointed downwards for grounding energies. I would expect someone wearing two crystals like that to be really well grounded and in touch with reality, not floating off in some ethereal plane. She spent maybe close to ten minutes at the register with the customer before me, struggling to swipe and read his credit card. She seemed to be very confused about how to operate the computer to read the card. Her voice was very soft and she spoke SLOWLY, almost as if she couldn't think clearly or perhaps the marijuana fog had not quite lifted yet. After the transaction was finally complete, I placed my order (after being told that many things were out), and I too paid with credit card (being stubborn). I thought maybe she figured it out by now. I guess she sort of figured it out. The computer wasn't able to read the card by swiping, so she had to manually enter my credit card number. She messed up maybe twice and she was squinting and tracing the numbers with her fingers. Reading and inputting the numbers was such a difficult, painful task. I wanted to just offer to punch in the numbers myself. I would've been done in 10 seconds. After my transaction was complete, it took another ten minutes before she started making my smoothie. Her boyfriend came in the cafe and she chatted and cuddled with him before slugging her way back to my order. Meanwhile, there was another worker in the cafe, an Asian man who seemed more sober, clear-headed, and on the physical plane, but was nevertheless a useless body who just stood around while customers were waiting for their orders. He could've started on my order while the woman was making out with her boyfriend, but instead, he was making iced coffee for HIMSELF! And then he had to interrupt the woman and ask for her suggestion on what kind of milk to put in there. So they had a little discussion on this issue, and he decided to put in almond milk. Meanwhile, I was waiting and waiting. After all of this, my server finally got started to grab a mango and papaya and cutting them on the cutting board. Wow, I would think that cutting should've been long done, as part of daily prep. You don't start chopping the onions when the first order for French onion soup comes in. A competent kitchen always wisely preps things ahead of time to facilitate the flow of orders. In chef terminology, this is called "mise en place." But to be fair, she only took a total of 5 minutes to cut the mango and papaya in half and scoop out the flesh. I timed her with a stopwatch, because I was growing impatient. I had allotted 20 minutes at Fresh Cafe to make my appointment next door, but ended up being delayed there for 30 minutes. My tardiness wasn't too big of a deal, so I just accepted that I was late and enjoyed my smoothie in the cafe before heading out. The smoothie was fresh. After all, it was nothing but papaya, mango, banana, and ice. Nothing special. At the counter, they have a sign that says "We serve SLOW food." I'm from the Bay Area, home of many hippies, hipsters, counter-culture rebels, slow food activists, foodies. Yes, I've had slow food. In Berkeley, there was a restaurant called SLOW that made awesome sandwiches and small dishes. They served slow food there, but their service was anything but slow. It was surprisingly fast. Slow food doesn't mean that service is slow. It is the antithesis of fast food, where corners are cut and fake franken-ingredients are used. Slow food is real food cooked properly, not an excuse for poor organization and lack of "mise en place."

    (2)

  • Fudge F.

    2 Stars. Came on a Sunday, out of almost everything. Wife ordered an avocado omelette sandwich. They told me to choose my bread. It was $1 more for a croissant. She chose the bagel. $8 for a bagel sandwich? She then got a mango smoothie, added nalo greens for $1 more. I was upset they didn't have what I wanted, so I just sat n watched my wife n daughter eat. That is the only reason it give 2 stars. My daughter ate part of the sandwich and drank some of the smoothie. Won't be back here again. Oh and please tell your employees to smile once and awhile. None of them looked like they wanted to be here. Sure, it's Sunday and you have to work, but maybe pretend to be inviting?

    (2)

  • Heather S.

    Ate there for lunch today. The food was horrible. I ordered the salad and soup combo. The spinach and bacon salad with vinegarette dressing did not taste like vinegarette at all! Tasted like a watered down EXTREMELY salty dressing. The tomato bisque soup was not very good at all either. It was also salty. On the up side, the cashier was friendly and the orange ginseng iced tea was good and refreshing!

    (2)

  • Rita C.

    Great generous portion size and fresh quality ingredients! Check out their specials board for perks depending on the day of the week. Will be back!

    (5)

  • Brandee T.

    Bummer. I've enjoyed my meals in the past but I came in at 702pm and was told the kitchen had closed at 7pm. The operating hours say until 9 so I wish I had known. Other than that, this place is good.

    (2)

  • Rhea Cherie B.

    You can spot Fresh Cafe on Queen Street by the awesome murals they have on the building, they're pretty bright and colorful, hard to miss. They have a small, narrow parking lot and both indoor and outdoor seating. The inside of the restaurant has some awesome artwork as well and a huge wave mural. I also thought it was cool that they have several clocks with different times of the world on their wall. When you first walk in, there's a shelf to the left of the doorway and on it lies a whole bunch of empty glass teddy bear shaped containers. My first inclination was, "Damn, they use a lot of honey!" Lol, they seriously look like the teddy bear shaped containers that honey comes in. I later found out they're used for drinking water. They offer really yummy sandwiches. You can choose your bread-white, croissant and cibatta. In addition to their sandwiches, they have salads and pastries and a wide variety of drinks (juice, coffee and tea). They served a couple of orange slices with my chicken salad croissant sandwich and it complemented the sandwich very well. I also had an iced Haupia latte which was good but very sweet. It tasted more sugary than anything. This is what led me to ask for water so they handed me a green glass bottle and told me to use the glass bear cups for the water. I'm glad I finally came here, I love the selection and quality of food. The atmosphere and customer service is great too! I'll definitely be back soon.

    (4)

  • May Jane T.

    Not AMAZING food, but the food was good. I ordered the tuna melt on wheat with a bowl of corn chowder. I am a corn chowder lover and I'll always order corn chowder at whatever restaurant I come across, if they do have it on their menu. But I was a bit disappointed at their chowder that they serve here because I like my corn chowder thick with not too much corn. They are VERY generous with their corn portions and I got probably got like 5 or more in every bite. I don't like too much corn though, I rather have more soup than corn. Their chowder was the consistency of water which what made knock a star off, but my tuna sandwich was good. I usually hate mustard on any of my sandwiches or hot dogs but it went really well with the tuna melt. I wouldn't mind coming back here again.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :8:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Hipster
    Noise Level : Average
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : No
    Happy Hour : No
    Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : Yes
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : No
    Good for Working : Yes

Fresh Café

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