The best iced coffee I've ever had! Their iced coffee is 2 shots and water/ice. I used to go to Starbucks but now I only come here every morning. I really love their coffee. Pastries are okay, nothing really special. The staff at the Ala Moana Shopping Center Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Foodland are the best. They are friendly 90% of the time. I drive further to that location instead of the main one in the mall in the food court. They are not friendly at that one 100% of the time but they do have better ice for some reason. It's small ice cubes so your drink is super cold. Please try their coffee just once if you love coffee.
(5)
M B.
star what? why would people go to that place who don't even know what they are drinking but buying the name? cbtl might not have the best coffee or tea in the world but they could easily kill "starsucks" by miles! i'm writing this review straightly to the ala moana food court location. most of their staff are very attentive and friendly. i only go there maybe 2-3 a weeks but most of them remember not only my name but also my order. yes, i'm one boring person and order the same old thing over and over again...lol. anyway, this is how to make a normal customer to become loyal. keep up the good work, guys!
(4)
Ruth H.
My husband and I go to the Makai Food Court location every Sunday morning. We enjoy the friendly staff, free newspaper, delicious hot teas, breakfast items, and sidewalk cafe seating. The cornbread has real corn kernels in it, and can be requested heated up and served on a china plate with a side of butter and jelly. The penne pasta, bagels, and egg salad sandwiches are all great. Sometimes we throw out the diet and come back in the afternoon for peanut butter fudge brownies or pumpkin crunch squares, wow.
(4)
ANNE U.
no question, this is my fave coffee place. this particular location did not disapoint. Service was great and fast Iced Blended White Chocolate with Whip-consistent. Not too sweet or totally iced. Oh yea...and I enjoyed that they have a CBTL Hawaii has a rewards promotion, for the summer I think (each dollar = 1 stamp in the card) Complete the card, you get a free drink. Too bad it's only in Hawaii.
(5)
Jerome N.
Unfriendly doesn't begin to describe the staff. Ala Moana was running a promotion and it didn't say anything about brining a coupon or event book but when I got there the rude girl at the register told me that I couldn't get the deal without the book. When I asked where I could get one she flatly replied "I don't know". I asked for the manager and explained what happened. Of course the manager said it was perfectly fine that I didn't have the book and I could get the promotion. But when I looked at my receipt the rude girl had charged me the regular price and had to re-ring everything and out the difference back on my card. Even though I asked during the transaction if this was correct price. I also told her I wanted light ice in one of them but when I went to pick up my order the guy called my name then stopped before handing it to me. He looked at the ticket and said "oh you wanted light ice? Sorry" He then proceeded to grab a spoon from a container that had water and other spoons in it and scooped some cubes out. Then he gave it back to me!! NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Tiffany P.
I always stop by Coffee Bean for the ice vanilla latte and if I have extra time I'll get something small to eat like a muffin. Chiyo, a girl that works there always greet me & in my opinion makes my coffee the best.
(5)
Tabatha P.
I always get great service here. I love the way they make their hot vanilla latte, a creamy treat! Also the green tea macha is good and the peppermint mocha. I have filled a few frequent customer cards by now! The always say "Thank you for waiting" even though I don't usually wait long. LoL
(5)
Gen M.
This location is really small with not many tables to sit. However their staff is really friendly and attentive and always greet you at the door and when you leave. Whoever is in charges of trying The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf employees is doing a great job.
(4)
Jonathan R.
Like others, I definatly recommend the plantation ice tea at this place. Other places around Ala Moana would cost you up toward $4 for smaller cups of this sweet stuff. I cannot comment about the other drinks nor the food but yummy plantation ice tea is all I need :D
(4)
Angelo A.
Mmmmmm. Dammit Starbucks why don't you have a Black Forest on your menu? I've been a loyal Starbucks fan ever since their doors opened, but Coffee Bean is definitely in the running for my attention mostly because of their non-coffee products (which are great for 3-ish year old twins and for enjoying during the evening hours). Their prices are generally on par for a coffee shop in the mall. In my experience, their customer service was exceptional, which btw ISN'T the norm for mall food joints. Oh, and the lemon bar is a great compliment to my personal favorite ..... BLACK FOREST.
(5)
Sandra M.
I tried their iced latte hazelnut. It's okay- a bit on the sweeter side- what I should have done was order a cup of dark roast to gauge quality of their roast- They have iced teas as well!
(3)
Nat N.
I'll take CBTL over Starbucks any day. Their drip coffee has a very bold flavor, and I love how if you order decaf, they run it through the espresso machine (hence it's made to order!). Their pastry selection rocks and their pastries taste 100 times better than SB's! My fave is still the apple cinnamon crumb cake!
(4)
Consuela P.
My #MoJoeMondays deal ~ a large Plantation Iced Tea for only 99¢ (see tip below). Totally refreshing and a quick mid-day pick me up! Ohh, the serving staff were friendly and helpful too. Tip: Be sure to follow @coffeebeanhi on twitter & instagram and score sweet social media deals!
(4)
Minho G.
The service was okay. Drinks are pretty good; last time there was a hair in my tea though.
(2)
Thomas G.
This is one of the very few coffee beans that sell the banana bagel with peanut butter. The brownies are also pretty good. I normally get them for my girlfriend.
(4)
Angela Y.
No matter where I am, I am always a fan of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. This store is located in Ala Moana in the food court. This is next to Cinnamon, and Aja. When I came into it was a little busy, but when you walk in you are always greeted by the workers and telling us "just a moment we will be right with you." Which to me this feels like great customer service. I finally got a full stamp card, therefore I got to use it to get a free drink. This was awesome because I saved couple bucks today. I ordered the Cameral affagato. WHen the lady took my order she said it would just take a few minutes. Getting my drinks did only take a few minutes. They were fast and very friendly. THis is no biggy but I just wish that my drink came in the cup with the coffee bean logo instead of a plain cup.
(5)
Chass B.
When I first began wanting to write a review about this location I have to admit that I wasn't very impressed. So, I'm glad I didn't write it then, because feelings change. There were a lot of new faces here. Sometimes I felt like this was probably a training ground for newbies... This can cause you to wait about 10-15 mins for your drink. No joke. So unless you're ordering plain coffee hold on for a bit. What changed my thought about this location is simply for a few key people. Holly instantly remembered my drink the next time I came in and she always greeted me by name. Bummer I haven't seen her in awhile since she's working part time only. Laurie is awesome too and I appreciate her not only remembering my drink, but greeting me by name. There was one other young gal who would cheerfully greet me by name. Haven't seen her in awhile too though, sadness. These three have great energy no matter how busy or crazy it gets for them. Remembering my name or drink may not be that important to some people , but for me , when I go practically everyday, I feel as if there's more of an effort to know your "regulars" and to me, that's customer care. Drinks are on point. Sometimes my tea can come out exactly the way I like and sometimes they may miss the taste by making it a little too watery. Does this mean they don't steep it long enough? Or not enough of that vanilla powder? Now that's just me pretending to be a tea connoisseur. What do I really know, besides drinking it!?! Once I ordered strawberry lemonade with Thai walls, or was it Thai tea and Thai walls? Regardless, the reaction the girl (not one mentioned above) gave me the weirdest reaction, which led to a weird conversation, and me telling her that she should try the drink! It left me questioning my choice on drink, only for a little while. Seriously, I think it's yummy how I order it.... Oh, that's another thing, Thai walls are yummy, but its 99¢ and very very light. I like it a little heavier.
(3)
Li Y.
I actually love the loose tea selections better than their coffee at this place. Good quality tea with interesting flavors. They do have a nice Jasmine Pearl. My favorite though is the cherry blossom tea...this one I actually prefer cold over ice. I like to start with a hot cup of tea and once the flavor is steeped, cool it down to room temperature then pour it over ice. So refreshing as is, no sweetener needed! This way...I can pour more hot water over the tea leaves and steep the next cup while enjoying the first, and second, and third, etc. These high quality tea leaves are good for full flavors of multiple pours! Enjoy.
(4)
Phillip K.
I work right in the area and although I personally don't like the taste of their coffee, they have great service and they're diligent in providing that excellent service that they do. I usually go in for my morning coffee but the thing I like about them is that they feel accommodating because they're busy especially morning time, however, I've never seen any of the workers there in a stressed or pressured state or work. They're efficient and friendly! *applause* Also I really appreciate them because this one time, just once, I went in there with an order for my whole department and everyone got something different - I believe 12 drinks in total - and the guys at this location was on it! Nothing messed up and just the way my coworkers wanted. Overall, good job guys! Keep it up and to whoever is doing the hiring, you rock!
(4)
Donjay B.
This review is based on customer service and not on the food (cause I did not order any of it) and the drinks (since chains like this usually have them tasting the same anyway except for an unusual odd day). Anyways, I have to say I am completely disappointed in the lack of service and professionalism displayed by the workers here. First off, there were only 4 customers total and I was 3rd in line. After waiting patiently they had the nerve to serve the 4th customer ahead of me. Seriously, why would you even do that? There was a line to begin with and yet they take in the group that just comes in and barged their way ahead to the cashier. They could've told those people there was a line. Just 10min ago, I was in line at Panda Express and a Japanese tourist did the same thing. Luckily the staff at Panda Express told her to wait in line. CBTL staff could've done the same thing. After I got my order in, it took a while for them to even start on my drink. Being the lone ranger left of a small group of customers, my drink was the only drink left to make. Yet the staff decided to engage in their own conversation forgetting about me. It maybe took them about 3 minutes later to finally realize my order has not been made yet and all this time I thought they started. Not cool CBTL Ala Moana. Next time I'm in the mall I'll head out to the other CBTL location in Foodland.
(1)
Jenn T.
Located in the mall on the bottom level. It's open early, even before the mall is. There's plenty of seating if you include the food court area, however nothing much inside the store itself. They are fast, polite and the place is clean. Parking is abundant, however it's in the mall so it can be tough to for just grabbing a quick cup of joe.
(4)
Shawny R.
This team that works here is amazing!! I had a bad experience at Starbucks. It was so awful I forgot to order a bagel. So instead of going back to Starbucks, I headed here. Boy, I was so glad I did! They total made my morning. I will be returning soon!
(5)
Victoria R.
I Love coming here every morning before work. The employees are wonderful. The lychee iced tea is really good if you like lychee.
(5)
Darrell K.
Anything that isn't that crappy over-hyped overpriced bitter Starbucks is ok with me.
(3)
Thomas O.
*Lumpy Space Princess* A princess visiting from another kingdom has me LUMPING HOOKED on CBTL. She told me of this fabulous tea that tasted of strawberries and cream and that it was only like a chump change for a totally huge cup! Oh my Glob. My body is ready for this tea. So ready. Isn't it obvi? Unfortunately it was like only offered the day before we came here. Ugh. WHATEVERS IT'S 2012. Fortunately, they had new iced/hot teas of the day for us to indulge in. I had like this minty herbal green tea that was like totally the most refreshing and invigorating cup of iced tea. Ever. Oh. My. Glob. With a dash of simple syrup mixed in, I was like, in LUMPING heaven. It was like I fake died. Now, what sends CBTL to 5-star status, does not lie in the bari-stars behind the counter, or the fact this place is most likely near a Foodland, but it is that they have a great selection of grab and go foods. Hands down, it like TOTALLY trumps Starbucks in flavor, quality, and best of all, PRICE. They have like these breakfast burritos, croissant breakfast sandwiches, tuna avocado sandwiches, penne pasta salad, and even a Chinese chicken salad. Like so delish, right? But like I said, the best part is that all of these items are like totally less than $4 each. The serving size is like perfect too, so like that means for like the price of a Grande Soy Latte at Starbucks, you can get like a complete meal at CBTL. So like, what the glob are you staring at? LUMPING GO THERE. LIKE NOW.
(5)
Clay K.
Great caramel latte, but a bit pricey with soy milk. Recommend you don't add sweetener until you try, the caramel makes it sweet enough.
(4)
Jeremy B.
I've done lots of coffee bean and tea leaf at this point. The ala moana location is great, but in comparison to the pearl location it's a little disappointing. The food is usually not warmed up quiet enough. The service is good but a little more distant and the coffee is still just as great as any location.
(4)
Brent K.
Do get me wrong.I like the coffee here. But I like coffee shops to have move food and other options. LOL
(3)
Angela K.
Almond milk!!! Yes. Up on the non-gmo for those like me who eat nutin except bagels n coffee. Fruit salad too. Soy milk too. Beats all other coffee places on Oahu, this one and other on Kapiolani are my faves
(5)
Kaai L.
While at home this past spring, we stayed with my in-laws, and they live like across the street from Ala Moana. So, being the coffee addict that I am, I frequented this Coffee Bean a lot. Like, every day! Oh, I LOVE Coffee Bean coffee too, so this place was was PERFECT! The good things about this particular Coffee Bean: 1. It's very convenient if you're in the Ala Moana area. 2. It's located in the Makai Market, so it's not too hard to find. 3. If you want food to go with it, you have many many choices, being it is in the food court of the mall. 4. It's Coffee Bean! Their Coffee, to me, is really good! 5. The staff that I encountered on a daily basis were super friendly and attentive. So, yes, I believe this location deserves five stars! Definitely worth a try!
(5)
Ashley S.
I was hooked on this place when my friend introduced me to the winter tea latte! So good! Ever since I prefer this place over Starbucks. I also enjoy their food. Breakfast croissant is the best! I also tried the tofu salad for lunch and that was really, Really good. Oh and I really like the red velvet latte too:-)
(5)
Arynn I.
This was my first time here...to This location as well as to this coffee shop. Now, I make no secret that I am a starbucks junkie but when you're shopping and want coffee, you go to the first place you come across. I don't like drinking hot drinks while I shop so I figure I'll get a iced drink. I think the guy behind the counter heard me bitching about needing caffeine cause when I ordered he asked if I wanted a double shot of espresso..um...most definitely please! I got an iced vanilla latte, with that double shot and also noticed the bubbies mochi ice cream sign so I had to get mochi ice cream. My coffee was still really warm on the bottom when I started drinking it and it took quite a while to get cool. I considered getting a cup of ice from somewhere...I think maybe the store's ice is just too small..which I'm sure is good for the blended drinks. Flavor was good; not too sweet and I didn't really get too much of a vanilla taste. But extremely happy with the double shot of espresso! I actually saw a sign for the stamp card and ended up asking for one. (he didn't ask if I had one.) I figured, what the heck, I spent $9 here and they can give me that many stamps. I'm sure I will go to this coffee place again; not necessarily at Ala Moana Marketplace but somewhere. I have to say, I wasn't extremely impressed as the coffee didn't "blow me away" but it was tasty and you can't go wrong with Bubbies. The guy at the counter who took my order was very friendly and nice! #Yelp 365 Challenge- 126/365
(4)
Lorenzo R.
I think my experience from today at this location would make me hesitate before going to a coffee bean again. The person working there today was nice and friendly but had gotten my drink wrong 2 times and on the 3rd try she finally got it. I would definitely recommend trying their pomegranate blueberry lattes but confirm it after your drink is made!
(2)
Kate T.
I'm actually a bit conflicted about how I should rate this place. But since their drinks and food and service is so awesome I guess I'll give it a five star rating. The only reason I would think about giving this place less than that is because I found out some of their drinks are made with just water and powder. If I really wanted a drink like that I would go to the grocery store and buy a powder and mix it myself. But whatever, onto my review. So this place is awesome. The drinks are always yummy and unlike Starbucks they don't hurt my stomach!! The food here is awesome too. I wasn't really a fan of their doughnuts but everything else here is amazing and healthy too! Every time I come in a coffee bean and tea leaf all of their workers are super nice and have a smile on their face. Lately it seems like that is a rarity. So kudos to you Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. You have amazing customer service. I have been converted from a Starbucks lover to a CBTL lover!!!
(5)
Kiva Y.
Came by there just before closing in the last half hour; ordered a hot latte; then later wanted something sweet. One of the guys suggested the brownie; said it was his favorite; they had lots left; thought he was just trying to "sell" me, but it was really good! He had it warmed up, toasty on the outside; chocolate gooey on the inside; just $2.75 for a pretty good size brownie; definitely recommend you try it; latte was good too! :)
(5)
David P.
Yelp 365: 032/365 This place has got to be one of my favorite coffee shops. Service: The service here is great. They always ask whether I have a rewards card (I always forget that I have one), and even if we take a long time to make our order, they're always patient. If you are military, this place is great since they appreciate us by giving 10% percent off your bill. I think that is pretty awesome. They never take their time making your drink and if it does take a while to make, they always apologize. Drinks: I love their iced creations here; especially the black forest. The staff also accomadates to you by making your drinks the way you like them. They also have a mini bar of condiments like cocoa powder, liquid sugar, among other things on the side at your disposal. I have never tried their food yet, but this location has a Beard Papa cream puff booth a couple of steps away. I agree with Mariko A when exclaiming this is her favorite location. This has got to be one of my faves as well. Keep on reviewing everyone with lots of YELP POWER!!!
(5)
Jess J.
Today was my first time at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Their Iced Hazelnut Latte was good. But I was really disappointed with their Salted Caramel Cupcake. This cupcake had absolutely no taste. No salt, no sweet. Just a bland cupcake... ended up having to throw it away. So not worth the $1.99 that I paid. It resembled a Hostess Cupcake with the filling inside of the cupcake. Actually a Hostess Cupcake would have tasted better... too bad they're not around anymore.
(3)
Steffen G.
I drink tea way more than coffee, so this place is great. Starbucks usually has mint in all their green teas, which I hate. CB&T has a huge selection of iced teas available. If you dont like their three choices on the board : herbal, green, black then just let them know which one you want and theyll make you a fresh one in that flavor just for you, it just takes a minute instead of a second. This location is probably one of the dullest Ive seen. Between the parking garage and the food court, there are about 4 tables outside to sit at and watch the cars drive around. The service is super fast and very efficient. Friendly? It depends. No one is mean, but they aint all Mary Poppins either.
(4)
Bonnie H.
I received the worst service from any coffee shop I've ever been in my life at this particular location. When I arrived, it wasn't a busy time or anything so my friends and I stood on the side to decide what we wanted since it was our first time there. There were three workers at the time and the guy working the cashier was starting to give us condescending looks for not immediately knowing what we wanted (even though we were the only customers at the time). I was peeved so I approached the cashier to avoid the awkward glare and explain that it was our first time there; my younger friend asked him about a couple drinks and what exactly was in a latte, and he sneered at her. He really didn't have anything beneficial to say about anything (I recall him at one point saying the Rocky Road Ice Blend tastes chocolatey. ... really?) At this point, I was getting increasingly agitated at him so I hastily ordered a Hazelnut latte before his face would offend me any longer than it already did. He kind of sensed that I regularly buy coffee and then became sickingly complacent with himself. While we were ordering (which didn't even take all of two minutes), there was a lady to the side of us who came in later but was simultaneously ordering her drink. The other lady and I then went to wait for our drinks when the staff put out a drink and shouted hazelnut. Hazelnut what? I took it because I had ordered a Hazelnut latte. The other guy worker who put it out gave me kindof a funny look but didn't say anything at ALL so I shrugged it off. A few sips into it and the worker who was working on my actual drink put my latte out, shouting hazelnut. She glanced at me and realized I took the other customer's drink and gave me the WORST stink eye in the world. The other customer just smiled and said "Oh it's okay! We both ordered Hazelnut. Isn't the ice blend good though?? :-)" but I apologized profusely to her anyway since I felt bad. The lady worker then apologized to her in a way that was condescending to me and turned to me to take the ice blend away! Really? Because you're just going to have to throw that away unless you're gonna violate the health code and shove it down your own throat. First of all, why shout out half-assed drink titles when mix-ups like this are obviously going to happen? Is this just some sadistic way to differentiate your shop from Starbucks? Secondly, why couldn't that guy who initially put out the Hazelnut Ice Blend USE HIS WORDS and tell me that I accidentally grabbed the other customer's drink? I really didn't put the straw in and take a sip til a little while later. He really had enough time to just stop me. Third, the other two workers had major attitudes that permeated all boundaries of coffee snobbery (though the guy with glasses didn't even seem especially knowledgeable about coffee or their own blended drinks for that matter) into plain-faced douchebaggery. As for the actual latte? It was underwhelming. :-/ :-\
(2)
danny Y.
Good coffee here but I go for the Lemon Bar-the best i ever ate hands down. And to top it off i order three BUBBIES MOCHI. We go the the Ala Moana Store whenever we shop there
(4)
Ana H.
Ok so the girl that took my order in Foodland Ala Moana had very bad customer service. She didn't really pay attention to me but tried to rush at the same time. I had my stamp card out for her to take care of but she ignored it and I could've had 6 extra stamps from that transaction!! What kind of an employer is that! I used to work at two coffee bean locations and starbucks so I know what I'm talking about. Oh and get this..I was waiting for food to get warmed up on the side for about 2 minutes after my drink was made. She obviously saw me waiting but kept talking with her co-worker. I had to go up to her and remind her that my food is in the microwave. SHE FORGOT! How hard is it to remember to take out something from the microwave lady? Serious? She then came up to me and handed my food and said "here you go." No apology. Never going to that location again.
(1)
Kara N.
Love love love the coffee here. My recent favorite has been the ice blended hazelnut coffee. I only get to come down here when I'm really early for work or if I have some time to kill on my break. It's never really crowded and I get my drink in a blink of an eye! It's a little pricey but I never mind it because of the quality.
(5)
Chad Y.
They put Crack in their drinks! How else is it so addictive?! I go here everyday before work to get my coffee fix. The reason I get my drinks here is that they simply make the best tasting ones, it is convenient, it is fast, they have a promotional stamp card, they serve a lot of different teas and coffees, you can get a tea Latte here, they are nice people, and they know me here. They know their drinks here and how to make them! If you want some thing delicious try the black forest iced blended drink. Inside there are cherries, chocolate covered coffee beans, and a shot espresso! If you want a tea I like the peach oolong in a iced tea latte! There teas are so refreshing :) I wonder how much I spend here every month? I would rather not find out. Lol. ;D
(4)
Gil S.
straight to the point! foodland location very friendly and great coffee. makai market next to cinnabons. horrendous fail. they have three registers and one loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooÂoooooooooooooooooooooooooooong line!!! three lines for three register!!!! loose money one lady says theres one line... the other says whoevers ready. the other just stands around while a lady in register 3 line complains to me why i stood behind register 2 and says theres one line. register 2 lady already acknowledge to serve me already.. so what that makes= cranky customers. your performance says alot about your business. cranky customers is due to workers not caring. they look like they dont want to be there. put a sign so we can see...line starts here or there is only one line. for whatever beans you sow. is what ever harvest youll reap...
(1)
Kym R.
Love this place! They are always friendly and nice. I have started coming more frequently and I like that they remember what I ordered the previous day. I usually get a tall ice water in addition to my regular drink and this is never a problem. Keep up the good work! I like their fresh fruit as well! Always good!
(5)
Scott H.
Their Ice Blended Pure Chocolate drink is as good as it gets. It is the ONLY thing I've ever had here. It is delicious!!!! I don't drink coffee but their Pure Chocolate drink is one of the best shakes/ice drinks you can get.
(5)
Shady R.
Best vanilla latte I had so far! I never need to add any sweetener or sugar to my drinks! First time I tried Cbtl I loved it and am a returning customer! Coffee and tea lovers I recommend this place
(5)
Nikki M.
How could you not ABSOLUTELY ADORE this place? CB&TL corporate office...PLEASE BUILD MORE stores - I'd even be willing to help franchise! The only reason I don't come here more often is because it is so out of the way - actually all of the CB&TL locations take a concerted effort for me to get to. So, I end up going to the "other" chain. They're not bad, don't get me wrong, but IMO. they just don't compare to CB&TL. So again, PLEASE BUILD MORE stores on Oah'u!!!!!
(5)
corey l.
It's a chain. It's like Starbucks but worse. Vanilla latte tasted like a lollipop it was so sweet. Couldn't even taste the espresso. Charged me for extra cream cheese after I spent 15 dollars on breakfast. It's just corporate crap.
(1)
Cheryl K.
I always frequent this coffee shop and prefer it over Starbucks. We go to the other locations but this one is special. For some reason we always redeem our filled out drink cards to get any drink of our choice, any size, for free. This is the location that the worker suggested us to use that on a large Ultimate Mocha. Ever since then we have been doing that. This last time we used it on an Ultimate Mocha and asked if they can throw in some peppermint (you know for the holiday touch). Split it into two cups and we had an amazing 1000 calorie treat to walk around the mall with. You know, so we can work it off while we walk. Anyway, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has been my favorite coffee shop and I am always craving their moroccan mint tea lattes. Thank you for making amazing drinks.
(5)
Jenny B.
I frequent Coffee Bean, here in Hawaii and on the mainland often so I decided to try this location due to convenience. I purchased a salad, fruit, and a latte and sat down to begin studying. Less than an hour and a half later, I was approached by a male staff member stating if I wanted to be there, I needed to make a purchase. I felt offended and embarrassed by the mannerism in which I was approached. I looked around & noticed other costumers that had been there longer than I had, but had not been approached. After showing my receipt for proof that I had purchased something, I still felt the need to leave. I have never encountered this at any other Coffee Bean location. The latte, salad, and fruit were wonderful...the staff not so much.
(1)
R. H.
I love the coffee here and the associates are really friendly. I always order the dark chocolate latte iced. I would definitely recommend coming here as an alternative to Starbucks (their lines is always so long).
(5)
Shay F.
Is this the one in Foodland or the one in the food court? Well, whatever the case...I like the people that work at the Foodland one. I've been frequenting this place because I got Coffee Bean gift cards, and I love it. The staff are very friendly and I look forward to the Green and Black tea of the day.
(4)
Gabriel T.
I am not really a coffee drinker myself. I drink smoothies and orange juice. Sometimes I will drink a coffee drink, mostly like the tasty stuff like frapps and stuff. My friend introduced and took me to this place. I've had Starbucks a lot but never had a drink from here. He introduced me to lattes. He said for lattes, preferably the hazelnut or caramel one. He usually gets the hazelnut and I got the same too. It was super good and addicted right on the spot! I think I am going to try the caramel one next. The prices are decent. The staff and customer service is good. The area is pretty small like most coffee places but it's good that they have some space for sitting in on the outside. It's conveniently located at Ala Moana Mall inside the Makai Market Food Court right next to Cinnabon which is an excellent combination next to the Coffee bean. Maybe I should go here often after my Jollibee fix. Yelp 365 Challenge #127/365
(4)
Baba G.
Good coffee, but dishonest employees!! I was shortchanged two days in a row. A 1.99 coffee with tax is 2.08. Pay with 3 dollars and get back 92 cents right?? Wrong!! Cashier shorted 25 cents, gave me back 67 cents. Sure this is not alot- but it adds up. This is a very common scam for cashiers- shortchange customers and pocket the difference from the register. I intentionally paid with bills to test her, and she failed. Dishonest employees can kill a business. I will test her again in a few days.
(1)
Reese R.
Why is the Coffee Bean everywhere in Hawaii when there are only two locations at most in San Francisco??!! Not fair! I do love Starbucks but Coffee Bean is the only cafe that beats them! Their white mocha is God-sent...mmm.... And all of their iced blended drinks beat Starbucks' frappuccinos by a long mile. Coffee Bean, please open more spots in the bay area!!
(5)
Pam S.
This is my favorite CBTL...the staff there are great, they start making my drink as soon as I walk in....Thanks Rayna, Karen, Chanel, and Sanoe.
(5)
Jodi K.
I'm not sure for which location in Ala Moana this review is for, so, to be specific, this review is for: INSIDE FOODLAND. I love CBTL. I find their lattes are way better then Starbucks (IMHO). I had to meet my friend at Starbucks in Sears, but I did that teeny walk over to Foodland yesterday. I ordered my usual Mocha Latte (hot), and tried it this time with their NSA chocolate powder. For me, it was just as yummy as their Mocha Latte made with regular powder...ANYWAY. There was only one dude working there and I put my order in, and another customer behind me ordered something as well. Well....I waited...and waited...not more then 10 minutes, but when the customer behind me left and the barista guy saw me, he kinda had this scared look on his face, like "CRAP! I forgot her order!" Needless to say he was sincere about it, and even refunded my gift card. How's that for service!? =) Whenever I'm at Ala Moana, CBTL is where I go for my latte fix. I just wish one would open up in Kahala!
(5)
Kimi N.
Love Coffee Bean!!! I miss working there, I moved and we don't have one in Alaska. If you're a Starbucks fan, you must try it. The shops have a comfy feel to them. They sell freshly made sandwiches, pasta, and baked goods. I was really impressed with their tea selection. And the "ice blendeds" are very smooth, whereas Starbucks frappacinos (which actually came into existence AFTER ice blendeds) are usually chunky because of all of the ice ):
(5)
Brian A.
By the way as a clarification, this IS the Foodland location ( yelp.com/biz/foodland-al… ). I checked the phone number from their website. I like the flavor of their blended iced coffees better than most other coffee houses. Remember to pick up your stamp card to get a free one later. It's situated right by the entrance and is kind of busy and distracting in a way that takes away from going and relaxing at a coffee house. It's a small rinky-dink kind of stand. So, if just picking up something to drink, then this is your cup or tea (or coffee).
(3)
Leslie Marie D.
Coffee is my drug. To the morning crew, you guys are awesome. I come in and literally my drink is ready to go. I just have to pay for it. haha. Large Ice Americano with room. Thank you ^_____^
(5)
Nathan N.
Thank you for making me a good cappuccino. Starbutts always ends up giving me a latte. Is this the only location that has sea salt as a condiment? Good job.
(4)
Sara S.
Delicious dark chocolate latte. A little pricier than I'm used to ($4.39 for a regular size), but it was still worth it! No complaints!
(4)
Lance T.
Great alternative to Starbucks. Stamp card is a good incentive. Short lines. Ala Moana shop is located in Foodland, how convenient.
(5)
Mark E.
I'm a fan of coffee bean and tea leaf in the food court at ala moana shopping center. generally they have the best coffee and service. i don't know how they do it, but the manager always remembers my name and greets me with a "good morning mark!" i really feel like they try to connect with their customers. unlike starbucks that gets your name just for your drink (btw, nothing wrong with that. it's organized...) I like to drink americano's, but an iced coffee is cheaper and stronger at CB&TL. Whoow! And CB&TL makes their iced coffee's straight from fresh espresso shots. i'm not a sweets fan, but i've had their red velvet and their yum yum cake, and those are fun and good.
(5)
Amber W.
This CB&TL location has the best soy lattes but I really need to find out how I insulted the help. I mean, I must have done something for them to be that rude, right?
(4)
Michelle C.
Home of the BEST vanilla latte I have ever consumed in my life. Ever.
(5)
Keane L.
Barista: Iced Coffee! Keane: I ordered an Iced Americano... Barista: Iced Coffee IS Iced Americano. FAIL.
(3)
Gidget T.
I've tried several of their iced coffees and found them to be overly sweet, more so than the iced coffee from Starbucks, Coffee Talk, etc. I do really enjoy their selection of teas. I had a sore throat once and tried their Honey & Lemon tea and it was delicious and soothing. A friend told me they had the best hot cocoa on the island, so I have it a try and was pleasantly surprised. Compared to some other coffee places, I think their prices are reasonable, their teas and hot cocoa is delicious, but I've always found the service at this particular location to be very slow and unfriendly. On the occasions where I've asked the employees for more information about a certain tea, they don't seem as knowledgeable as other CB&TL locations I've been to. Overall, it's a nice place to grab a drink and go shopping if there isn't too much of a line and you're not looking to sit and relax (as it usually gets pretty noisy in there and there isn't as much seating as you might expect from a coffee shop).
(3)
Candace F.
I love this location! I am not a coffee drinker and have always loved the various unsweetened fruit teas. I like CB&T's tea variety and the friendly staff. They know me by name and it's a nice start to my mornings. My favorites are the Iced Teas. Rasberry Ceylon has a stronger bitter but sweet/fruity taste. Strawberry Cream is nice as well when I don't want that much caffeine in my teas. My recent fave, the Peach Oolong, So refreshing especially after a run at Ala Moana park! The stamp cards are nice because after filling out a card, you get a free drink of any size. In that case I get a large hot choco raspberry tea soy latte. Such a yummy but calorie laden dessert/treat.
(5)
Mariko A.
This location has to be my favorite! The staff is always friendly and accommodating. They are the ones who introduced me to the earl gray tea latte with hazelnut instead of vanilla. So Good!!!
(5)
Alex S.
In my opinion, I think their lattes are better than Starbucks. Here's a tip, get the flavored lattes with half the powder so it's not too sweet and perfect
(5)
Joyce K.
This is a review on the food court location, not the one located inside of foodland. The service is horrible. I've been there multiple times, and only once have the employees been polite, as they should be. They're rude, snotty, and just don't have any customer service at all. A boy scoffed at me and said in the sassiest tone: "WHAT?" when I made my order. Seriously? Just ask me to repeat myself. I thought maybe this one a one time thing, but it's always something different each time, from rude looks, to not giving change, etc. I just permanently avoid this location now. I know this isn't just my opinion, since I've heard from MANY people that Alamoana foodcourt location is their least favorite Coffee Bean. Shape up.
(2)
Jenny B.
I frequent Coffee Bean, here in Hawaii and on the mainland often so I decided to try this location due to convenience. I purchased a salad, fruit, and a latte and sat down to begin studying. Less than an hour and a half later, I was approached by a male staff member stating if I wanted to be there, I needed to make a purchase. I felt offended and embarrassed by the mannerism in which I was approached. I looked around & noticed other costumers that had been there longer than I had, but had not been approached. After showing my receipt for proof that I had purchased something, I still felt the need to leave. I have never encountered this at any other Coffee Bean location. The latte, salad, and fruit were wonderful...the staff not so much.
(1)
Gil S.
straight to the point! foodland location very friendly and great coffee. makai market next to cinnabons. horrendous fail. they have three registers and one loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooÂoooooooooooooooooooooooooooong line!!! three lines for three register!!!! loose money one lady says theres one line... the other says whoevers ready. the other just stands around while a lady in register 3 line complains to me why i stood behind register 2 and says theres one line. register 2 lady already acknowledge to serve me already.. so what that makes= cranky customers. your performance says alot about your business. cranky customers is due to workers not caring. they look like they dont want to be there. put a sign so we can see...line starts here or there is only one line. for whatever beans you sow. is what ever harvest youll reap...
(1)
Kym R.
Love this place! They are always friendly and nice. I have started coming more frequently and I like that they remember what I ordered the previous day. I usually get a tall ice water in addition to my regular drink and this is never a problem. Keep up the good work! I like their fresh fruit as well! Always good!
(5)
Scott H.
Their Ice Blended Pure Chocolate drink is as good as it gets. It is the ONLY thing I've ever had here. It is delicious!!!! I don't drink coffee but their Pure Chocolate drink is one of the best shakes/ice drinks you can get.
(5)
Shady R.
Best vanilla latte I had so far! I never need to add any sweetener or sugar to my drinks! First time I tried Cbtl I loved it and am a returning customer! Coffee and tea lovers I recommend this place
(5)
Nikki M.
How could you not ABSOLUTELY ADORE this place? CB&TL corporate office...PLEASE BUILD MORE stores - I'd even be willing to help franchise! The only reason I don't come here more often is because it is so out of the way - actually all of the CB&TL locations take a concerted effort for me to get to. So, I end up going to the "other" chain. They're not bad, don't get me wrong, but IMO. they just don't compare to CB&TL. So again, PLEASE BUILD MORE stores on Oah'u!!!!!
(5)
corey l.
It's a chain. It's like Starbucks but worse. Vanilla latte tasted like a lollipop it was so sweet. Couldn't even taste the espresso. Charged me for extra cream cheese after I spent 15 dollars on breakfast. It's just corporate crap.
(1)
Cheryl K.
I always frequent this coffee shop and prefer it over Starbucks. We go to the other locations but this one is special. For some reason we always redeem our filled out drink cards to get any drink of our choice, any size, for free. This is the location that the worker suggested us to use that on a large Ultimate Mocha. Ever since then we have been doing that. This last time we used it on an Ultimate Mocha and asked if they can throw in some peppermint (you know for the holiday touch). Split it into two cups and we had an amazing 1000 calorie treat to walk around the mall with. You know, so we can work it off while we walk. Anyway, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has been my favorite coffee shop and I am always craving their moroccan mint tea lattes. Thank you for making amazing drinks.
(5)
R. H.
I love the coffee here and the associates are really friendly. I always order the dark chocolate latte iced. I would definitely recommend coming here as an alternative to Starbucks (their lines is always so long).
(5)
Gabriel T.
I am not really a coffee drinker myself. I drink smoothies and orange juice. Sometimes I will drink a coffee drink, mostly like the tasty stuff like frapps and stuff. My friend introduced and took me to this place. I've had Starbucks a lot but never had a drink from here. He introduced me to lattes. He said for lattes, preferably the hazelnut or caramel one. He usually gets the hazelnut and I got the same too. It was super good and addicted right on the spot! I think I am going to try the caramel one next. The prices are decent. The staff and customer service is good. The area is pretty small like most coffee places but it's good that they have some space for sitting in on the outside. It's conveniently located at Ala Moana Mall inside the Makai Market Food Court right next to Cinnabon which is an excellent combination next to the Coffee bean. Maybe I should go here often after my Jollibee fix. Yelp 365 Challenge #127/365
(4)
Baba G.
Good coffee, but dishonest employees!! I was shortchanged two days in a row. A 1.99 coffee with tax is 2.08. Pay with 3 dollars and get back 92 cents right?? Wrong!! Cashier shorted 25 cents, gave me back 67 cents. Sure this is not alot- but it adds up. This is a very common scam for cashiers- shortchange customers and pocket the difference from the register. I intentionally paid with bills to test her, and she failed. Dishonest employees can kill a business. I will test her again in a few days.
(1)
Jodi K.
I'm not sure for which location in Ala Moana this review is for, so, to be specific, this review is for: INSIDE FOODLAND. I love CBTL. I find their lattes are way better then Starbucks (IMHO). I had to meet my friend at Starbucks in Sears, but I did that teeny walk over to Foodland yesterday. I ordered my usual Mocha Latte (hot), and tried it this time with their NSA chocolate powder. For me, it was just as yummy as their Mocha Latte made with regular powder...ANYWAY. There was only one dude working there and I put my order in, and another customer behind me ordered something as well. Well....I waited...and waited...not more then 10 minutes, but when the customer behind me left and the barista guy saw me, he kinda had this scared look on his face, like "CRAP! I forgot her order!" Needless to say he was sincere about it, and even refunded my gift card. How's that for service!? =) Whenever I'm at Ala Moana, CBTL is where I go for my latte fix. I just wish one would open up in Kahala!
(5)
Shay F.
Is this the one in Foodland or the one in the food court? Well, whatever the case...I like the people that work at the Foodland one. I've been frequenting this place because I got Coffee Bean gift cards, and I love it. The staff are very friendly and I look forward to the Green and Black tea of the day.
(4)
Kimi N.
Love Coffee Bean!!! I miss working there, I moved and we don't have one in Alaska. If you're a Starbucks fan, you must try it. The shops have a comfy feel to them. They sell freshly made sandwiches, pasta, and baked goods. I was really impressed with their tea selection. And the "ice blendeds" are very smooth, whereas Starbucks frappacinos (which actually came into existence AFTER ice blendeds) are usually chunky because of all of the ice ):
(5)
Brian A.
By the way as a clarification, this IS the Foodland location ( yelp.com/biz/foodland-al… ). I checked the phone number from their website. I like the flavor of their blended iced coffees better than most other coffee houses. Remember to pick up your stamp card to get a free one later. It's situated right by the entrance and is kind of busy and distracting in a way that takes away from going and relaxing at a coffee house. It's a small rinky-dink kind of stand. So, if just picking up something to drink, then this is your cup or tea (or coffee).
(3)
Leslie Marie D.
Coffee is my drug. To the morning crew, you guys are awesome. I come in and literally my drink is ready to go. I just have to pay for it. haha. Large Ice Americano with room. Thank you ^_____^
(5)
Nathan N.
Thank you for making me a good cappuccino. Starbutts always ends up giving me a latte. Is this the only location that has sea salt as a condiment? Good job.
(4)
Sara S.
Delicious dark chocolate latte. A little pricier than I'm used to ($4.39 for a regular size), but it was still worth it! No complaints!
(4)
Reese R.
Why is the Coffee Bean everywhere in Hawaii when there are only two locations at most in San Francisco??!! Not fair! I do love Starbucks but Coffee Bean is the only cafe that beats them! Their white mocha is God-sent...mmm.... And all of their iced blended drinks beat Starbucks' frappuccinos by a long mile. Coffee Bean, please open more spots in the bay area!!
(5)
Pam S.
This is my favorite CBTL...the staff there are great, they start making my drink as soon as I walk in....Thanks Rayna, Karen, Chanel, and Sanoe.
(5)
Lance T.
Great alternative to Starbucks. Stamp card is a good incentive. Short lines. Ala Moana shop is located in Foodland, how convenient.
(5)
Mark E.
I'm a fan of coffee bean and tea leaf in the food court at ala moana shopping center. generally they have the best coffee and service. i don't know how they do it, but the manager always remembers my name and greets me with a "good morning mark!" i really feel like they try to connect with their customers. unlike starbucks that gets your name just for your drink (btw, nothing wrong with that. it's organized...) I like to drink americano's, but an iced coffee is cheaper and stronger at CB&TL. Whoow! And CB&TL makes their iced coffee's straight from fresh espresso shots. i'm not a sweets fan, but i've had their red velvet and their yum yum cake, and those are fun and good.
(5)
Amber W.
This CB&TL location has the best soy lattes but I really need to find out how I insulted the help. I mean, I must have done something for them to be that rude, right?
(4)
Michelle C.
Home of the BEST vanilla latte I have ever consumed in my life. Ever.
(5)
Keane L.
Barista: Iced Coffee! Keane: I ordered an Iced Americano... Barista: Iced Coffee IS Iced Americano. FAIL.
(3)
M B.
star what? why would people go to that place who don't even know what they are drinking but buying the name? cbtl might not have the best coffee or tea in the world but they could easily kill "starsucks" by miles! i'm writing this review straightly to the ala moana food court location. most of their staff are very attentive and friendly. i only go there maybe 2-3 a weeks but most of them remember not only my name but also my order. yes, i'm one boring person and order the same old thing over and over again...lol. anyway, this is how to make a normal customer to become loyal. keep up the good work, guys!
(4)
Gidget T.
I've tried several of their iced coffees and found them to be overly sweet, more so than the iced coffee from Starbucks, Coffee Talk, etc. I do really enjoy their selection of teas. I had a sore throat once and tried their Honey & Lemon tea and it was delicious and soothing. A friend told me they had the best hot cocoa on the island, so I have it a try and was pleasantly surprised. Compared to some other coffee places, I think their prices are reasonable, their teas and hot cocoa is delicious, but I've always found the service at this particular location to be very slow and unfriendly. On the occasions where I've asked the employees for more information about a certain tea, they don't seem as knowledgeable as other CB&TL locations I've been to. Overall, it's a nice place to grab a drink and go shopping if there isn't too much of a line and you're not looking to sit and relax (as it usually gets pretty noisy in there and there isn't as much seating as you might expect from a coffee shop).
(3)
Candace F.
I love this location! I am not a coffee drinker and have always loved the various unsweetened fruit teas. I like CB&T's tea variety and the friendly staff. They know me by name and it's a nice start to my mornings. My favorites are the Iced Teas. Rasberry Ceylon has a stronger bitter but sweet/fruity taste. Strawberry Cream is nice as well when I don't want that much caffeine in my teas. My recent fave, the Peach Oolong, So refreshing especially after a run at Ala Moana park! The stamp cards are nice because after filling out a card, you get a free drink of any size. In that case I get a large hot choco raspberry tea soy latte. Such a yummy but calorie laden dessert/treat.
(5)
Mariko A.
This location has to be my favorite! The staff is always friendly and accommodating. They are the ones who introduced me to the earl gray tea latte with hazelnut instead of vanilla. So Good!!!
(5)
Alex S.
In my opinion, I think their lattes are better than Starbucks. Here's a tip, get the flavored lattes with half the powder so it's not too sweet and perfect
(5)
Joyce K.
This is a review on the food court location, not the one located inside of foodland. The service is horrible. I've been there multiple times, and only once have the employees been polite, as they should be. They're rude, snotty, and just don't have any customer service at all. A boy scoffed at me and said in the sassiest tone: "WHAT?" when I made my order. Seriously? Just ask me to repeat myself. I thought maybe this one a one time thing, but it's always something different each time, from rude looks, to not giving change, etc. I just permanently avoid this location now. I know this isn't just my opinion, since I've heard from MANY people that Alamoana foodcourt location is their least favorite Coffee Bean. Shape up.
(2)
Ruth H.
My husband and I go to the Makai Food Court location every Sunday morning. We enjoy the friendly staff, free newspaper, delicious hot teas, breakfast items, and sidewalk cafe seating. The cornbread has real corn kernels in it, and can be requested heated up and served on a china plate with a side of butter and jelly. The penne pasta, bagels, and egg salad sandwiches are all great. Sometimes we throw out the diet and come back in the afternoon for peanut butter fudge brownies or pumpkin crunch squares, wow.
(4)
ANNE U.
no question, this is my fave coffee place. this particular location did not disapoint. Service was great and fast Iced Blended White Chocolate with Whip-consistent. Not too sweet or totally iced. Oh yea...and I enjoyed that they have a CBTL Hawaii has a rewards promotion, for the summer I think (each dollar = 1 stamp in the card) Complete the card, you get a free drink. Too bad it's only in Hawaii.
(5)
Emi J.
The best iced coffee I've ever had! Their iced coffee is 2 shots and water/ice. I used to go to Starbucks but now I only come here every morning. I really love their coffee. Pastries are okay, nothing really special. The staff at the Ala Moana Shopping Center Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Foodland are the best. They are friendly 90% of the time. I drive further to that location instead of the main one in the mall in the food court. They are not friendly at that one 100% of the time but they do have better ice for some reason. It's small ice cubes so your drink is super cold. Please try their coffee just once if you love coffee.
(5)
Angela Y.
No matter where I am, I am always a fan of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. This store is located in Ala Moana in the food court. This is next to Cinnamon, and Aja. When I came into it was a little busy, but when you walk in you are always greeted by the workers and telling us "just a moment we will be right with you." Which to me this feels like great customer service. I finally got a full stamp card, therefore I got to use it to get a free drink. This was awesome because I saved couple bucks today. I ordered the Cameral affagato. WHen the lady took my order she said it would just take a few minutes. Getting my drinks did only take a few minutes. They were fast and very friendly. THis is no biggy but I just wish that my drink came in the cup with the coffee bean logo instead of a plain cup.
(5)
Chass B.
When I first began wanting to write a review about this location I have to admit that I wasn't very impressed. So, I'm glad I didn't write it then, because feelings change. There were a lot of new faces here. Sometimes I felt like this was probably a training ground for newbies... This can cause you to wait about 10-15 mins for your drink. No joke. So unless you're ordering plain coffee hold on for a bit. What changed my thought about this location is simply for a few key people. Holly instantly remembered my drink the next time I came in and she always greeted me by name. Bummer I haven't seen her in awhile since she's working part time only. Laurie is awesome too and I appreciate her not only remembering my drink, but greeting me by name. There was one other young gal who would cheerfully greet me by name. Haven't seen her in awhile too though, sadness. These three have great energy no matter how busy or crazy it gets for them. Remembering my name or drink may not be that important to some people , but for me , when I go practically everyday, I feel as if there's more of an effort to know your "regulars" and to me, that's customer care. Drinks are on point. Sometimes my tea can come out exactly the way I like and sometimes they may miss the taste by making it a little too watery. Does this mean they don't steep it long enough? Or not enough of that vanilla powder? Now that's just me pretending to be a tea connoisseur. What do I really know, besides drinking it!?! Once I ordered strawberry lemonade with Thai walls, or was it Thai tea and Thai walls? Regardless, the reaction the girl (not one mentioned above) gave me the weirdest reaction, which led to a weird conversation, and me telling her that she should try the drink! It left me questioning my choice on drink, only for a little while. Seriously, I think it's yummy how I order it.... Oh, that's another thing, Thai walls are yummy, but its 99¢ and very very light. I like it a little heavier.
(3)
Chad Y.
They put Crack in their drinks! How else is it so addictive?! I go here everyday before work to get my coffee fix. The reason I get my drinks here is that they simply make the best tasting ones, it is convenient, it is fast, they have a promotional stamp card, they serve a lot of different teas and coffees, you can get a tea Latte here, they are nice people, and they know me here. They know their drinks here and how to make them! If you want some thing delicious try the black forest iced blended drink. Inside there are cherries, chocolate covered coffee beans, and a shot espresso! If you want a tea I like the peach oolong in a iced tea latte! There teas are so refreshing :) I wonder how much I spend here every month? I would rather not find out. Lol. ;D
(4)
Kyla N.
No matter how busy they are when I come, they always greet me and let me know that they'll be right with me. I love that they acknowledge my presence and are working to help all of their customers! I usually come here for a Mocha drink (either hot or cold depending on the weather) and a Plain bagel with plain cream cheese. When I walk in, there's one girl that always remembers me and asks how I want my mocha and if I'll be getting a bagel today. This kind of service deserves to be appreciated and I'll definitely go back and get her name so I can give her credit! My bagel is never burnt, as it was a few times I went to starbucks, and the Mocha is always just right. Because I work at the mall, I get a 15% discount which is great especially since I'm usually buying coffee before a shift at work. Although I usually get the same thing, I once tried their limited time Chocolate covered Strawberry iced-blended and it was delicious!
(5)
Tiffany P.
I always stop by Coffee Bean for the ice vanilla latte and if I have extra time I'll get something small to eat like a muffin. Chiyo, a girl that works there always greet me & in my opinion makes my coffee the best.
(5)
Tabatha P.
I always get great service here. I love the way they make their hot vanilla latte, a creamy treat! Also the green tea macha is good and the peppermint mocha. I have filled a few frequent customer cards by now! The always say "Thank you for waiting" even though I don't usually wait long. LoL
(5)
Jerome N.
Unfriendly doesn't begin to describe the staff. Ala Moana was running a promotion and it didn't say anything about brining a coupon or event book but when I got there the rude girl at the register told me that I couldn't get the deal without the book. When I asked where I could get one she flatly replied "I don't know". I asked for the manager and explained what happened. Of course the manager said it was perfectly fine that I didn't have the book and I could get the promotion. But when I looked at my receipt the rude girl had charged me the regular price and had to re-ring everything and out the difference back on my card. Even though I asked during the transaction if this was correct price. I also told her I wanted light ice in one of them but when I went to pick up my order the guy called my name then stopped before handing it to me. He looked at the ticket and said "oh you wanted light ice? Sorry" He then proceeded to grab a spoon from a container that had water and other spoons in it and scooped some cubes out. Then he gave it back to me!! NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Angelo A.
Mmmmmm. Dammit Starbucks why don't you have a Black Forest on your menu? I've been a loyal Starbucks fan ever since their doors opened, but Coffee Bean is definitely in the running for my attention mostly because of their non-coffee products (which are great for 3-ish year old twins and for enjoying during the evening hours). Their prices are generally on par for a coffee shop in the mall. In my experience, their customer service was exceptional, which btw ISN'T the norm for mall food joints. Oh, and the lemon bar is a great compliment to my personal favorite ..... BLACK FOREST.
(5)
Kaai L.
While at home this past spring, we stayed with my in-laws, and they live like across the street from Ala Moana. So, being the coffee addict that I am, I frequented this Coffee Bean a lot. Like, every day! Oh, I LOVE Coffee Bean coffee too, so this place was was PERFECT! The good things about this particular Coffee Bean: 1. It's very convenient if you're in the Ala Moana area. 2. It's located in the Makai Market, so it's not too hard to find. 3. If you want food to go with it, you have many many choices, being it is in the food court of the mall. 4. It's Coffee Bean! Their Coffee, to me, is really good! 5. The staff that I encountered on a daily basis were super friendly and attentive. So, yes, I believe this location deserves five stars! Definitely worth a try!
(5)
Ashley S.
I was hooked on this place when my friend introduced me to the winter tea latte! So good! Ever since I prefer this place over Starbucks. I also enjoy their food. Breakfast croissant is the best! I also tried the tofu salad for lunch and that was really, Really good. Oh and I really like the red velvet latte too:-)
(5)
Kate T.
I'm actually a bit conflicted about how I should rate this place. But since their drinks and food and service is so awesome I guess I'll give it a five star rating. The only reason I would think about giving this place less than that is because I found out some of their drinks are made with just water and powder. If I really wanted a drink like that I would go to the grocery store and buy a powder and mix it myself. But whatever, onto my review. So this place is awesome. The drinks are always yummy and unlike Starbucks they don't hurt my stomach!! The food here is awesome too. I wasn't really a fan of their doughnuts but everything else here is amazing and healthy too! Every time I come in a coffee bean and tea leaf all of their workers are super nice and have a smile on their face. Lately it seems like that is a rarity. So kudos to you Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. You have amazing customer service. I have been converted from a Starbucks lover to a CBTL lover!!!
(5)
Lorenzo R.
I think my experience from today at this location would make me hesitate before going to a coffee bean again. The person working there today was nice and friendly but had gotten my drink wrong 2 times and on the 3rd try she finally got it. I would definitely recommend trying their pomegranate blueberry lattes but confirm it after your drink is made!
(2)
Thomas O.
*Lumpy Space Princess* A princess visiting from another kingdom has me LUMPING HOOKED on CBTL. She told me of this fabulous tea that tasted of strawberries and cream and that it was only like a chump change for a totally huge cup! Oh my Glob. My body is ready for this tea. So ready. Isn't it obvi? Unfortunately it was like only offered the day before we came here. Ugh. WHATEVERS IT'S 2012. Fortunately, they had new iced/hot teas of the day for us to indulge in. I had like this minty herbal green tea that was like totally the most refreshing and invigorating cup of iced tea. Ever. Oh. My. Glob. With a dash of simple syrup mixed in, I was like, in LUMPING heaven. It was like I fake died. Now, what sends CBTL to 5-star status, does not lie in the bari-stars behind the counter, or the fact this place is most likely near a Foodland, but it is that they have a great selection of grab and go foods. Hands down, it like TOTALLY trumps Starbucks in flavor, quality, and best of all, PRICE. They have like these breakfast burritos, croissant breakfast sandwiches, tuna avocado sandwiches, penne pasta salad, and even a Chinese chicken salad. Like so delish, right? But like I said, the best part is that all of these items are like totally less than $4 each. The serving size is like perfect too, so like that means for like the price of a Grande Soy Latte at Starbucks, you can get like a complete meal at CBTL. So like, what the glob are you staring at? LUMPING GO THERE. LIKE NOW.
(5)
Consuela P.
My #MoJoeMondays deal ~ a large Plantation Iced Tea for only 99¢ (see tip below). Totally refreshing and a quick mid-day pick me up! Ohh, the serving staff were friendly and helpful too. Tip: Be sure to follow @coffeebeanhi on twitter & instagram and score sweet social media deals!
(4)
Phillip K.
I work right in the area and although I personally don't like the taste of their coffee, they have great service and they're diligent in providing that excellent service that they do. I usually go in for my morning coffee but the thing I like about them is that they feel accommodating because they're busy especially morning time, however, I've never seen any of the workers there in a stressed or pressured state or work. They're efficient and friendly! *applause* Also I really appreciate them because this one time, just once, I went in there with an order for my whole department and everyone got something different - I believe 12 drinks in total - and the guys at this location was on it! Nothing messed up and just the way my coworkers wanted. Overall, good job guys! Keep it up and to whoever is doing the hiring, you rock!
(4)
Donjay B.
This review is based on customer service and not on the food (cause I did not order any of it) and the drinks (since chains like this usually have them tasting the same anyway except for an unusual odd day). Anyways, I have to say I am completely disappointed in the lack of service and professionalism displayed by the workers here. First off, there were only 4 customers total and I was 3rd in line. After waiting patiently they had the nerve to serve the 4th customer ahead of me. Seriously, why would you even do that? There was a line to begin with and yet they take in the group that just comes in and barged their way ahead to the cashier. They could've told those people there was a line. Just 10min ago, I was in line at Panda Express and a Japanese tourist did the same thing. Luckily the staff at Panda Express told her to wait in line. CBTL staff could've done the same thing. After I got my order in, it took a while for them to even start on my drink. Being the lone ranger left of a small group of customers, my drink was the only drink left to make. Yet the staff decided to engage in their own conversation forgetting about me. It maybe took them about 3 minutes later to finally realize my order has not been made yet and all this time I thought they started. Not cool CBTL Ala Moana. Next time I'm in the mall I'll head out to the other CBTL location in Foodland.
(1)
Jenn T.
Located in the mall on the bottom level. It's open early, even before the mall is. There's plenty of seating if you include the food court area, however nothing much inside the store itself. They are fast, polite and the place is clean. Parking is abundant, however it's in the mall so it can be tough to for just grabbing a quick cup of joe.
(4)
Shawny R.
This team that works here is amazing!! I had a bad experience at Starbucks. It was so awful I forgot to order a bagel. So instead of going back to Starbucks, I headed here. Boy, I was so glad I did! They total made my morning. I will be returning soon!
(5)
Victoria R.
I Love coming here every morning before work. The employees are wonderful. The lychee iced tea is really good if you like lychee.
(5)
Li Y.
I actually love the loose tea selections better than their coffee at this place. Good quality tea with interesting flavors. They do have a nice Jasmine Pearl. My favorite though is the cherry blossom tea...this one I actually prefer cold over ice. I like to start with a hot cup of tea and once the flavor is steeped, cool it down to room temperature then pour it over ice. So refreshing as is, no sweetener needed! This way...I can pour more hot water over the tea leaves and steep the next cup while enjoying the first, and second, and third, etc. These high quality tea leaves are good for full flavors of multiple pours! Enjoy.
(4)
Darrell K.
Anything that isn't that crappy over-hyped overpriced bitter Starbucks is ok with me.
(3)
Minho G.
The service was okay. Drinks are pretty good; last time there was a hair in my tea though.
(2)
Thomas G.
This is one of the very few coffee beans that sell the banana bagel with peanut butter. The brownies are also pretty good. I normally get them for my girlfriend.
(4)
Sandra M.
I tried their iced latte hazelnut. It's okay- a bit on the sweeter side- what I should have done was order a cup of dark roast to gauge quality of their roast- They have iced teas as well!
(3)
Nat N.
I'll take CBTL over Starbucks any day. Their drip coffee has a very bold flavor, and I love how if you order decaf, they run it through the espresso machine (hence it's made to order!). Their pastry selection rocks and their pastries taste 100 times better than SB's! My fave is still the apple cinnamon crumb cake!
(4)
Clay K.
Great caramel latte, but a bit pricey with soy milk. Recommend you don't add sweetener until you try, the caramel makes it sweet enough.
(4)
Jeremy B.
I've done lots of coffee bean and tea leaf at this point. The ala moana location is great, but in comparison to the pearl location it's a little disappointing. The food is usually not warmed up quiet enough. The service is good but a little more distant and the coffee is still just as great as any location.
(4)
Brent K.
Do get me wrong.I like the coffee here. But I like coffee shops to have move food and other options. LOL
(3)
Angela K.
Almond milk!!! Yes. Up on the non-gmo for those like me who eat nutin except bagels n coffee. Fruit salad too. Soy milk too. Beats all other coffee places on Oahu, this one and other on Kapiolani are my faves
(5)
Arynn I.
This was my first time here...to This location as well as to this coffee shop. Now, I make no secret that I am a starbucks junkie but when you're shopping and want coffee, you go to the first place you come across. I don't like drinking hot drinks while I shop so I figure I'll get a iced drink. I think the guy behind the counter heard me bitching about needing caffeine cause when I ordered he asked if I wanted a double shot of espresso..um...most definitely please! I got an iced vanilla latte, with that double shot and also noticed the bubbies mochi ice cream sign so I had to get mochi ice cream. My coffee was still really warm on the bottom when I started drinking it and it took quite a while to get cool. I considered getting a cup of ice from somewhere...I think maybe the store's ice is just too small..which I'm sure is good for the blended drinks. Flavor was good; not too sweet and I didn't really get too much of a vanilla taste. But extremely happy with the double shot of espresso! I actually saw a sign for the stamp card and ended up asking for one. (he didn't ask if I had one.) I figured, what the heck, I spent $9 here and they can give me that many stamps. I'm sure I will go to this coffee place again; not necessarily at Ala Moana Marketplace but somewhere. I have to say, I wasn't extremely impressed as the coffee didn't "blow me away" but it was tasty and you can't go wrong with Bubbies. The guy at the counter who took my order was very friendly and nice! #Yelp 365 Challenge- 126/365
(4)
Kiva Y.
Came by there just before closing in the last half hour; ordered a hot latte; then later wanted something sweet. One of the guys suggested the brownie; said it was his favorite; they had lots left; thought he was just trying to "sell" me, but it was really good! He had it warmed up, toasty on the outside; chocolate gooey on the inside; just $2.75 for a pretty good size brownie; definitely recommend you try it; latte was good too! :)
(5)
David P.
Yelp 365: 032/365 This place has got to be one of my favorite coffee shops. Service: The service here is great. They always ask whether I have a rewards card (I always forget that I have one), and even if we take a long time to make our order, they're always patient. If you are military, this place is great since they appreciate us by giving 10% percent off your bill. I think that is pretty awesome. They never take their time making your drink and if it does take a while to make, they always apologize. Drinks: I love their iced creations here; especially the black forest. The staff also accomadates to you by making your drinks the way you like them. They also have a mini bar of condiments like cocoa powder, liquid sugar, among other things on the side at your disposal. I have never tried their food yet, but this location has a Beard Papa cream puff booth a couple of steps away. I agree with Mariko A when exclaiming this is her favorite location. This has got to be one of my faves as well. Keep on reviewing everyone with lots of YELP POWER!!!
(5)
Jess J.
Today was my first time at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Their Iced Hazelnut Latte was good. But I was really disappointed with their Salted Caramel Cupcake. This cupcake had absolutely no taste. No salt, no sweet. Just a bland cupcake... ended up having to throw it away. So not worth the $1.99 that I paid. It resembled a Hostess Cupcake with the filling inside of the cupcake. Actually a Hostess Cupcake would have tasted better... too bad they're not around anymore.
(3)
Steffen G.
I drink tea way more than coffee, so this place is great. Starbucks usually has mint in all their green teas, which I hate. CB&T has a huge selection of iced teas available. If you dont like their three choices on the board : herbal, green, black then just let them know which one you want and theyll make you a fresh one in that flavor just for you, it just takes a minute instead of a second. This location is probably one of the dullest Ive seen. Between the parking garage and the food court, there are about 4 tables outside to sit at and watch the cars drive around. The service is super fast and very efficient. Friendly? It depends. No one is mean, but they aint all Mary Poppins either.
(4)
Ana H.
Ok so the girl that took my order in Foodland Ala Moana had very bad customer service. She didn't really pay attention to me but tried to rush at the same time. I had my stamp card out for her to take care of but she ignored it and I could've had 6 extra stamps from that transaction!! What kind of an employer is that! I used to work at two coffee bean locations and starbucks so I know what I'm talking about. Oh and get this..I was waiting for food to get warmed up on the side for about 2 minutes after my drink was made. She obviously saw me waiting but kept talking with her co-worker. I had to go up to her and remind her that my food is in the microwave. SHE FORGOT! How hard is it to remember to take out something from the microwave lady? Serious? She then came up to me and handed my food and said "here you go." No apology. Never going to that location again.
(1)
Kara N.
Love love love the coffee here. My recent favorite has been the ice blended hazelnut coffee. I only get to come down here when I'm really early for work or if I have some time to kill on my break. It's never really crowded and I get my drink in a blink of an eye! It's a little pricey but I never mind it because of the quality.
(5)
Bonnie H.
I received the worst service from any coffee shop I've ever been in my life at this particular location. When I arrived, it wasn't a busy time or anything so my friends and I stood on the side to decide what we wanted since it was our first time there. There were three workers at the time and the guy working the cashier was starting to give us condescending looks for not immediately knowing what we wanted (even though we were the only customers at the time). I was peeved so I approached the cashier to avoid the awkward glare and explain that it was our first time there; my younger friend asked him about a couple drinks and what exactly was in a latte, and he sneered at her. He really didn't have anything beneficial to say about anything (I recall him at one point saying the Rocky Road Ice Blend tastes chocolatey. ... really?) At this point, I was getting increasingly agitated at him so I hastily ordered a Hazelnut latte before his face would offend me any longer than it already did. He kind of sensed that I regularly buy coffee and then became sickingly complacent with himself. While we were ordering (which didn't even take all of two minutes), there was a lady to the side of us who came in later but was simultaneously ordering her drink. The other lady and I then went to wait for our drinks when the staff put out a drink and shouted hazelnut. Hazelnut what? I took it because I had ordered a Hazelnut latte. The other guy worker who put it out gave me kindof a funny look but didn't say anything at ALL so I shrugged it off. A few sips into it and the worker who was working on my actual drink put my latte out, shouting hazelnut. She glanced at me and realized I took the other customer's drink and gave me the WORST stink eye in the world. The other customer just smiled and said "Oh it's okay! We both ordered Hazelnut. Isn't the ice blend good though?? :-)" but I apologized profusely to her anyway since I felt bad. The lady worker then apologized to her in a way that was condescending to me and turned to me to take the ice blend away! Really? Because you're just going to have to throw that away unless you're gonna violate the health code and shove it down your own throat. First of all, why shout out half-assed drink titles when mix-ups like this are obviously going to happen? Is this just some sadistic way to differentiate your shop from Starbucks? Secondly, why couldn't that guy who initially put out the Hazelnut Ice Blend USE HIS WORDS and tell me that I accidentally grabbed the other customer's drink? I really didn't put the straw in and take a sip til a little while later. He really had enough time to just stop me. Third, the other two workers had major attitudes that permeated all boundaries of coffee snobbery (though the guy with glasses didn't even seem especially knowledgeable about coffee or their own blended drinks for that matter) into plain-faced douchebaggery. As for the actual latte? It was underwhelming. :-/ :-\
(2)
danny Y.
Good coffee here but I go for the Lemon Bar-the best i ever ate hands down. And to top it off i order three BUBBIES MOCHI. We go the the Ala Moana Store whenever we shop there
(4)
Gen M.
This location is really small with not many tables to sit. However their staff is really friendly and attentive and always greet you at the door and when you leave. Whoever is in charges of trying The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf employees is doing a great job.
(4)
Jonathan R.
Like others, I definatly recommend the plantation ice tea at this place. Other places around Ala Moana would cost you up toward $4 for smaller cups of this sweet stuff. I cannot comment about the other drinks nor the food but yummy plantation ice tea is all I need :D
(4)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
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Address :1450 Ala Moana Blvd,Ste 1103
Honolulu, HI, 96814
Emi J.
The best iced coffee I've ever had! Their iced coffee is 2 shots and water/ice. I used to go to Starbucks but now I only come here every morning. I really love their coffee. Pastries are okay, nothing really special. The staff at the Ala Moana Shopping Center Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Foodland are the best. They are friendly 90% of the time. I drive further to that location instead of the main one in the mall in the food court. They are not friendly at that one 100% of the time but they do have better ice for some reason. It's small ice cubes so your drink is super cold. Please try their coffee just once if you love coffee.
(5)M B.
star what? why would people go to that place who don't even know what they are drinking but buying the name? cbtl might not have the best coffee or tea in the world but they could easily kill "starsucks" by miles! i'm writing this review straightly to the ala moana food court location. most of their staff are very attentive and friendly. i only go there maybe 2-3 a weeks but most of them remember not only my name but also my order. yes, i'm one boring person and order the same old thing over and over again...lol. anyway, this is how to make a normal customer to become loyal. keep up the good work, guys!
(4)Ruth H.
My husband and I go to the Makai Food Court location every Sunday morning. We enjoy the friendly staff, free newspaper, delicious hot teas, breakfast items, and sidewalk cafe seating. The cornbread has real corn kernels in it, and can be requested heated up and served on a china plate with a side of butter and jelly. The penne pasta, bagels, and egg salad sandwiches are all great. Sometimes we throw out the diet and come back in the afternoon for peanut butter fudge brownies or pumpkin crunch squares, wow.
(4)ANNE U.
no question, this is my fave coffee place. this particular location did not disapoint. Service was great and fast Iced Blended White Chocolate with Whip-consistent. Not too sweet or totally iced. Oh yea...and I enjoyed that they have a CBTL Hawaii has a rewards promotion, for the summer I think (each dollar = 1 stamp in the card) Complete the card, you get a free drink. Too bad it's only in Hawaii.
(5)Jerome N.
Unfriendly doesn't begin to describe the staff. Ala Moana was running a promotion and it didn't say anything about brining a coupon or event book but when I got there the rude girl at the register told me that I couldn't get the deal without the book. When I asked where I could get one she flatly replied "I don't know". I asked for the manager and explained what happened. Of course the manager said it was perfectly fine that I didn't have the book and I could get the promotion. But when I looked at my receipt the rude girl had charged me the regular price and had to re-ring everything and out the difference back on my card. Even though I asked during the transaction if this was correct price. I also told her I wanted light ice in one of them but when I went to pick up my order the guy called my name then stopped before handing it to me. He looked at the ticket and said "oh you wanted light ice? Sorry" He then proceeded to grab a spoon from a container that had water and other spoons in it and scooped some cubes out. Then he gave it back to me!! NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)Tiffany P.
I always stop by Coffee Bean for the ice vanilla latte and if I have extra time I'll get something small to eat like a muffin. Chiyo, a girl that works there always greet me & in my opinion makes my coffee the best.
(5)Tabatha P.
I always get great service here. I love the way they make their hot vanilla latte, a creamy treat! Also the green tea macha is good and the peppermint mocha. I have filled a few frequent customer cards by now! The always say "Thank you for waiting" even though I don't usually wait long. LoL
(5)Gen M.
This location is really small with not many tables to sit. However their staff is really friendly and attentive and always greet you at the door and when you leave. Whoever is in charges of trying The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf employees is doing a great job.
(4)Jonathan R.
Like others, I definatly recommend the plantation ice tea at this place. Other places around Ala Moana would cost you up toward $4 for smaller cups of this sweet stuff. I cannot comment about the other drinks nor the food but yummy plantation ice tea is all I need :D
(4)Angelo A.
Mmmmmm. Dammit Starbucks why don't you have a Black Forest on your menu? I've been a loyal Starbucks fan ever since their doors opened, but Coffee Bean is definitely in the running for my attention mostly because of their non-coffee products (which are great for 3-ish year old twins and for enjoying during the evening hours). Their prices are generally on par for a coffee shop in the mall. In my experience, their customer service was exceptional, which btw ISN'T the norm for mall food joints. Oh, and the lemon bar is a great compliment to my personal favorite ..... BLACK FOREST.
(5)Sandra M.
I tried their iced latte hazelnut. It's okay- a bit on the sweeter side- what I should have done was order a cup of dark roast to gauge quality of their roast- They have iced teas as well!
(3)Nat N.
I'll take CBTL over Starbucks any day. Their drip coffee has a very bold flavor, and I love how if you order decaf, they run it through the espresso machine (hence it's made to order!). Their pastry selection rocks and their pastries taste 100 times better than SB's! My fave is still the apple cinnamon crumb cake!
(4)Consuela P.
My #MoJoeMondays deal ~ a large Plantation Iced Tea for only 99¢ (see tip below). Totally refreshing and a quick mid-day pick me up! Ohh, the serving staff were friendly and helpful too. Tip: Be sure to follow @coffeebeanhi on twitter & instagram and score sweet social media deals!
(4)Minho G.
The service was okay. Drinks are pretty good; last time there was a hair in my tea though.
(2)Thomas G.
This is one of the very few coffee beans that sell the banana bagel with peanut butter. The brownies are also pretty good. I normally get them for my girlfriend.
(4)Angela Y.
No matter where I am, I am always a fan of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. This store is located in Ala Moana in the food court. This is next to Cinnamon, and Aja. When I came into it was a little busy, but when you walk in you are always greeted by the workers and telling us "just a moment we will be right with you." Which to me this feels like great customer service. I finally got a full stamp card, therefore I got to use it to get a free drink. This was awesome because I saved couple bucks today. I ordered the Cameral affagato. WHen the lady took my order she said it would just take a few minutes. Getting my drinks did only take a few minutes. They were fast and very friendly. THis is no biggy but I just wish that my drink came in the cup with the coffee bean logo instead of a plain cup.
(5)Chass B.
When I first began wanting to write a review about this location I have to admit that I wasn't very impressed. So, I'm glad I didn't write it then, because feelings change. There were a lot of new faces here. Sometimes I felt like this was probably a training ground for newbies... This can cause you to wait about 10-15 mins for your drink. No joke. So unless you're ordering plain coffee hold on for a bit. What changed my thought about this location is simply for a few key people. Holly instantly remembered my drink the next time I came in and she always greeted me by name. Bummer I haven't seen her in awhile since she's working part time only. Laurie is awesome too and I appreciate her not only remembering my drink, but greeting me by name. There was one other young gal who would cheerfully greet me by name. Haven't seen her in awhile too though, sadness. These three have great energy no matter how busy or crazy it gets for them. Remembering my name or drink may not be that important to some people , but for me , when I go practically everyday, I feel as if there's more of an effort to know your "regulars" and to me, that's customer care. Drinks are on point. Sometimes my tea can come out exactly the way I like and sometimes they may miss the taste by making it a little too watery. Does this mean they don't steep it long enough? Or not enough of that vanilla powder? Now that's just me pretending to be a tea connoisseur. What do I really know, besides drinking it!?! Once I ordered strawberry lemonade with Thai walls, or was it Thai tea and Thai walls? Regardless, the reaction the girl (not one mentioned above) gave me the weirdest reaction, which led to a weird conversation, and me telling her that she should try the drink! It left me questioning my choice on drink, only for a little while. Seriously, I think it's yummy how I order it.... Oh, that's another thing, Thai walls are yummy, but its 99¢ and very very light. I like it a little heavier.
(3)Li Y.
I actually love the loose tea selections better than their coffee at this place. Good quality tea with interesting flavors. They do have a nice Jasmine Pearl. My favorite though is the cherry blossom tea...this one I actually prefer cold over ice. I like to start with a hot cup of tea and once the flavor is steeped, cool it down to room temperature then pour it over ice. So refreshing as is, no sweetener needed! This way...I can pour more hot water over the tea leaves and steep the next cup while enjoying the first, and second, and third, etc. These high quality tea leaves are good for full flavors of multiple pours! Enjoy.
(4)Phillip K.
I work right in the area and although I personally don't like the taste of their coffee, they have great service and they're diligent in providing that excellent service that they do. I usually go in for my morning coffee but the thing I like about them is that they feel accommodating because they're busy especially morning time, however, I've never seen any of the workers there in a stressed or pressured state or work. They're efficient and friendly! *applause* Also I really appreciate them because this one time, just once, I went in there with an order for my whole department and everyone got something different - I believe 12 drinks in total - and the guys at this location was on it! Nothing messed up and just the way my coworkers wanted. Overall, good job guys! Keep it up and to whoever is doing the hiring, you rock!
(4)Donjay B.
This review is based on customer service and not on the food (cause I did not order any of it) and the drinks (since chains like this usually have them tasting the same anyway except for an unusual odd day). Anyways, I have to say I am completely disappointed in the lack of service and professionalism displayed by the workers here. First off, there were only 4 customers total and I was 3rd in line. After waiting patiently they had the nerve to serve the 4th customer ahead of me. Seriously, why would you even do that? There was a line to begin with and yet they take in the group that just comes in and barged their way ahead to the cashier. They could've told those people there was a line. Just 10min ago, I was in line at Panda Express and a Japanese tourist did the same thing. Luckily the staff at Panda Express told her to wait in line. CBTL staff could've done the same thing. After I got my order in, it took a while for them to even start on my drink. Being the lone ranger left of a small group of customers, my drink was the only drink left to make. Yet the staff decided to engage in their own conversation forgetting about me. It maybe took them about 3 minutes later to finally realize my order has not been made yet and all this time I thought they started. Not cool CBTL Ala Moana. Next time I'm in the mall I'll head out to the other CBTL location in Foodland.
(1)Jenn T.
Located in the mall on the bottom level. It's open early, even before the mall is. There's plenty of seating if you include the food court area, however nothing much inside the store itself. They are fast, polite and the place is clean. Parking is abundant, however it's in the mall so it can be tough to for just grabbing a quick cup of joe.
(4)Shawny R.
This team that works here is amazing!! I had a bad experience at Starbucks. It was so awful I forgot to order a bagel. So instead of going back to Starbucks, I headed here. Boy, I was so glad I did! They total made my morning. I will be returning soon!
(5)Victoria R.
I Love coming here every morning before work. The employees are wonderful. The lychee iced tea is really good if you like lychee.
(5)Darrell K.
Anything that isn't that crappy over-hyped overpriced bitter Starbucks is ok with me.
(3)Thomas O.
*Lumpy Space Princess* A princess visiting from another kingdom has me LUMPING HOOKED on CBTL. She told me of this fabulous tea that tasted of strawberries and cream and that it was only like a chump change for a totally huge cup! Oh my Glob. My body is ready for this tea. So ready. Isn't it obvi? Unfortunately it was like only offered the day before we came here. Ugh. WHATEVERS IT'S 2012. Fortunately, they had new iced/hot teas of the day for us to indulge in. I had like this minty herbal green tea that was like totally the most refreshing and invigorating cup of iced tea. Ever. Oh. My. Glob. With a dash of simple syrup mixed in, I was like, in LUMPING heaven. It was like I fake died. Now, what sends CBTL to 5-star status, does not lie in the bari-stars behind the counter, or the fact this place is most likely near a Foodland, but it is that they have a great selection of grab and go foods. Hands down, it like TOTALLY trumps Starbucks in flavor, quality, and best of all, PRICE. They have like these breakfast burritos, croissant breakfast sandwiches, tuna avocado sandwiches, penne pasta salad, and even a Chinese chicken salad. Like so delish, right? But like I said, the best part is that all of these items are like totally less than $4 each. The serving size is like perfect too, so like that means for like the price of a Grande Soy Latte at Starbucks, you can get like a complete meal at CBTL. So like, what the glob are you staring at? LUMPING GO THERE. LIKE NOW.
(5)Clay K.
Great caramel latte, but a bit pricey with soy milk. Recommend you don't add sweetener until you try, the caramel makes it sweet enough.
(4)Jeremy B.
I've done lots of coffee bean and tea leaf at this point. The ala moana location is great, but in comparison to the pearl location it's a little disappointing. The food is usually not warmed up quiet enough. The service is good but a little more distant and the coffee is still just as great as any location.
(4)Brent K.
Do get me wrong.I like the coffee here. But I like coffee shops to have move food and other options. LOL
(3)Angela K.
Almond milk!!! Yes. Up on the non-gmo for those like me who eat nutin except bagels n coffee. Fruit salad too. Soy milk too. Beats all other coffee places on Oahu, this one and other on Kapiolani are my faves
(5)Kaai L.
While at home this past spring, we stayed with my in-laws, and they live like across the street from Ala Moana. So, being the coffee addict that I am, I frequented this Coffee Bean a lot. Like, every day! Oh, I LOVE Coffee Bean coffee too, so this place was was PERFECT! The good things about this particular Coffee Bean: 1. It's very convenient if you're in the Ala Moana area. 2. It's located in the Makai Market, so it's not too hard to find. 3. If you want food to go with it, you have many many choices, being it is in the food court of the mall. 4. It's Coffee Bean! Their Coffee, to me, is really good! 5. The staff that I encountered on a daily basis were super friendly and attentive. So, yes, I believe this location deserves five stars! Definitely worth a try!
(5)Ashley S.
I was hooked on this place when my friend introduced me to the winter tea latte! So good! Ever since I prefer this place over Starbucks. I also enjoy their food. Breakfast croissant is the best! I also tried the tofu salad for lunch and that was really, Really good. Oh and I really like the red velvet latte too:-)
(5)Arynn I.
This was my first time here...to This location as well as to this coffee shop. Now, I make no secret that I am a starbucks junkie but when you're shopping and want coffee, you go to the first place you come across. I don't like drinking hot drinks while I shop so I figure I'll get a iced drink. I think the guy behind the counter heard me bitching about needing caffeine cause when I ordered he asked if I wanted a double shot of espresso..um...most definitely please! I got an iced vanilla latte, with that double shot and also noticed the bubbies mochi ice cream sign so I had to get mochi ice cream. My coffee was still really warm on the bottom when I started drinking it and it took quite a while to get cool. I considered getting a cup of ice from somewhere...I think maybe the store's ice is just too small..which I'm sure is good for the blended drinks. Flavor was good; not too sweet and I didn't really get too much of a vanilla taste. But extremely happy with the double shot of espresso! I actually saw a sign for the stamp card and ended up asking for one. (he didn't ask if I had one.) I figured, what the heck, I spent $9 here and they can give me that many stamps. I'm sure I will go to this coffee place again; not necessarily at Ala Moana Marketplace but somewhere. I have to say, I wasn't extremely impressed as the coffee didn't "blow me away" but it was tasty and you can't go wrong with Bubbies. The guy at the counter who took my order was very friendly and nice! #Yelp 365 Challenge- 126/365
(4)Lorenzo R.
I think my experience from today at this location would make me hesitate before going to a coffee bean again. The person working there today was nice and friendly but had gotten my drink wrong 2 times and on the 3rd try she finally got it. I would definitely recommend trying their pomegranate blueberry lattes but confirm it after your drink is made!
(2)Kate T.
I'm actually a bit conflicted about how I should rate this place. But since their drinks and food and service is so awesome I guess I'll give it a five star rating. The only reason I would think about giving this place less than that is because I found out some of their drinks are made with just water and powder. If I really wanted a drink like that I would go to the grocery store and buy a powder and mix it myself. But whatever, onto my review. So this place is awesome. The drinks are always yummy and unlike Starbucks they don't hurt my stomach!! The food here is awesome too. I wasn't really a fan of their doughnuts but everything else here is amazing and healthy too! Every time I come in a coffee bean and tea leaf all of their workers are super nice and have a smile on their face. Lately it seems like that is a rarity. So kudos to you Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. You have amazing customer service. I have been converted from a Starbucks lover to a CBTL lover!!!
(5)Kiva Y.
Came by there just before closing in the last half hour; ordered a hot latte; then later wanted something sweet. One of the guys suggested the brownie; said it was his favorite; they had lots left; thought he was just trying to "sell" me, but it was really good! He had it warmed up, toasty on the outside; chocolate gooey on the inside; just $2.75 for a pretty good size brownie; definitely recommend you try it; latte was good too! :)
(5)David P.
Yelp 365: 032/365 This place has got to be one of my favorite coffee shops. Service: The service here is great. They always ask whether I have a rewards card (I always forget that I have one), and even if we take a long time to make our order, they're always patient. If you are military, this place is great since they appreciate us by giving 10% percent off your bill. I think that is pretty awesome. They never take their time making your drink and if it does take a while to make, they always apologize. Drinks: I love their iced creations here; especially the black forest. The staff also accomadates to you by making your drinks the way you like them. They also have a mini bar of condiments like cocoa powder, liquid sugar, among other things on the side at your disposal. I have never tried their food yet, but this location has a Beard Papa cream puff booth a couple of steps away. I agree with Mariko A when exclaiming this is her favorite location. This has got to be one of my faves as well. Keep on reviewing everyone with lots of YELP POWER!!!
(5)Jess J.
Today was my first time at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Their Iced Hazelnut Latte was good. But I was really disappointed with their Salted Caramel Cupcake. This cupcake had absolutely no taste. No salt, no sweet. Just a bland cupcake... ended up having to throw it away. So not worth the $1.99 that I paid. It resembled a Hostess Cupcake with the filling inside of the cupcake. Actually a Hostess Cupcake would have tasted better... too bad they're not around anymore.
(3)Steffen G.
I drink tea way more than coffee, so this place is great. Starbucks usually has mint in all their green teas, which I hate. CB&T has a huge selection of iced teas available. If you dont like their three choices on the board : herbal, green, black then just let them know which one you want and theyll make you a fresh one in that flavor just for you, it just takes a minute instead of a second. This location is probably one of the dullest Ive seen. Between the parking garage and the food court, there are about 4 tables outside to sit at and watch the cars drive around. The service is super fast and very efficient. Friendly? It depends. No one is mean, but they aint all Mary Poppins either.
(4)Bonnie H.
I received the worst service from any coffee shop I've ever been in my life at this particular location. When I arrived, it wasn't a busy time or anything so my friends and I stood on the side to decide what we wanted since it was our first time there. There were three workers at the time and the guy working the cashier was starting to give us condescending looks for not immediately knowing what we wanted (even though we were the only customers at the time). I was peeved so I approached the cashier to avoid the awkward glare and explain that it was our first time there; my younger friend asked him about a couple drinks and what exactly was in a latte, and he sneered at her. He really didn't have anything beneficial to say about anything (I recall him at one point saying the Rocky Road Ice Blend tastes chocolatey. ... really?) At this point, I was getting increasingly agitated at him so I hastily ordered a Hazelnut latte before his face would offend me any longer than it already did. He kind of sensed that I regularly buy coffee and then became sickingly complacent with himself. While we were ordering (which didn't even take all of two minutes), there was a lady to the side of us who came in later but was simultaneously ordering her drink. The other lady and I then went to wait for our drinks when the staff put out a drink and shouted hazelnut. Hazelnut what? I took it because I had ordered a Hazelnut latte. The other guy worker who put it out gave me kindof a funny look but didn't say anything at ALL so I shrugged it off. A few sips into it and the worker who was working on my actual drink put my latte out, shouting hazelnut. She glanced at me and realized I took the other customer's drink and gave me the WORST stink eye in the world. The other customer just smiled and said "Oh it's okay! We both ordered Hazelnut. Isn't the ice blend good though?? :-)" but I apologized profusely to her anyway since I felt bad. The lady worker then apologized to her in a way that was condescending to me and turned to me to take the ice blend away! Really? Because you're just going to have to throw that away unless you're gonna violate the health code and shove it down your own throat. First of all, why shout out half-assed drink titles when mix-ups like this are obviously going to happen? Is this just some sadistic way to differentiate your shop from Starbucks? Secondly, why couldn't that guy who initially put out the Hazelnut Ice Blend USE HIS WORDS and tell me that I accidentally grabbed the other customer's drink? I really didn't put the straw in and take a sip til a little while later. He really had enough time to just stop me. Third, the other two workers had major attitudes that permeated all boundaries of coffee snobbery (though the guy with glasses didn't even seem especially knowledgeable about coffee or their own blended drinks for that matter) into plain-faced douchebaggery. As for the actual latte? It was underwhelming. :-/ :-\
(2)danny Y.
Good coffee here but I go for the Lemon Bar-the best i ever ate hands down. And to top it off i order three BUBBIES MOCHI. We go the the Ala Moana Store whenever we shop there
(4)Ana H.
Ok so the girl that took my order in Foodland Ala Moana had very bad customer service. She didn't really pay attention to me but tried to rush at the same time. I had my stamp card out for her to take care of but she ignored it and I could've had 6 extra stamps from that transaction!! What kind of an employer is that! I used to work at two coffee bean locations and starbucks so I know what I'm talking about. Oh and get this..I was waiting for food to get warmed up on the side for about 2 minutes after my drink was made. She obviously saw me waiting but kept talking with her co-worker. I had to go up to her and remind her that my food is in the microwave. SHE FORGOT! How hard is it to remember to take out something from the microwave lady? Serious? She then came up to me and handed my food and said "here you go." No apology. Never going to that location again.
(1)Kara N.
Love love love the coffee here. My recent favorite has been the ice blended hazelnut coffee. I only get to come down here when I'm really early for work or if I have some time to kill on my break. It's never really crowded and I get my drink in a blink of an eye! It's a little pricey but I never mind it because of the quality.
(5)Chad Y.
They put Crack in their drinks! How else is it so addictive?! I go here everyday before work to get my coffee fix. The reason I get my drinks here is that they simply make the best tasting ones, it is convenient, it is fast, they have a promotional stamp card, they serve a lot of different teas and coffees, you can get a tea Latte here, they are nice people, and they know me here. They know their drinks here and how to make them! If you want some thing delicious try the black forest iced blended drink. Inside there are cherries, chocolate covered coffee beans, and a shot espresso! If you want a tea I like the peach oolong in a iced tea latte! There teas are so refreshing :) I wonder how much I spend here every month? I would rather not find out. Lol. ;D
(4)Gil S.
straight to the point! foodland location very friendly and great coffee. makai market next to cinnabons. horrendous fail. they have three registers and one loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooÂoooooooooooooooooooooooooooong line!!! three lines for three register!!!! loose money one lady says theres one line... the other says whoevers ready. the other just stands around while a lady in register 3 line complains to me why i stood behind register 2 and says theres one line. register 2 lady already acknowledge to serve me already.. so what that makes= cranky customers. your performance says alot about your business. cranky customers is due to workers not caring. they look like they dont want to be there. put a sign so we can see...line starts here or there is only one line. for whatever beans you sow. is what ever harvest youll reap...
(1)Kym R.
Love this place! They are always friendly and nice. I have started coming more frequently and I like that they remember what I ordered the previous day. I usually get a tall ice water in addition to my regular drink and this is never a problem. Keep up the good work! I like their fresh fruit as well! Always good!
(5)Scott H.
Their Ice Blended Pure Chocolate drink is as good as it gets. It is the ONLY thing I've ever had here. It is delicious!!!! I don't drink coffee but their Pure Chocolate drink is one of the best shakes/ice drinks you can get.
(5)Shady R.
Best vanilla latte I had so far! I never need to add any sweetener or sugar to my drinks! First time I tried Cbtl I loved it and am a returning customer! Coffee and tea lovers I recommend this place
(5)Nikki M.
How could you not ABSOLUTELY ADORE this place? CB&TL corporate office...PLEASE BUILD MORE stores - I'd even be willing to help franchise! The only reason I don't come here more often is because it is so out of the way - actually all of the CB&TL locations take a concerted effort for me to get to. So, I end up going to the "other" chain. They're not bad, don't get me wrong, but IMO. they just don't compare to CB&TL. So again, PLEASE BUILD MORE stores on Oah'u!!!!!
(5)corey l.
It's a chain. It's like Starbucks but worse. Vanilla latte tasted like a lollipop it was so sweet. Couldn't even taste the espresso. Charged me for extra cream cheese after I spent 15 dollars on breakfast. It's just corporate crap.
(1)Cheryl K.
I always frequent this coffee shop and prefer it over Starbucks. We go to the other locations but this one is special. For some reason we always redeem our filled out drink cards to get any drink of our choice, any size, for free. This is the location that the worker suggested us to use that on a large Ultimate Mocha. Ever since then we have been doing that. This last time we used it on an Ultimate Mocha and asked if they can throw in some peppermint (you know for the holiday touch). Split it into two cups and we had an amazing 1000 calorie treat to walk around the mall with. You know, so we can work it off while we walk. Anyway, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has been my favorite coffee shop and I am always craving their moroccan mint tea lattes. Thank you for making amazing drinks.
(5)Jenny B.
I frequent Coffee Bean, here in Hawaii and on the mainland often so I decided to try this location due to convenience. I purchased a salad, fruit, and a latte and sat down to begin studying. Less than an hour and a half later, I was approached by a male staff member stating if I wanted to be there, I needed to make a purchase. I felt offended and embarrassed by the mannerism in which I was approached. I looked around & noticed other costumers that had been there longer than I had, but had not been approached. After showing my receipt for proof that I had purchased something, I still felt the need to leave. I have never encountered this at any other Coffee Bean location. The latte, salad, and fruit were wonderful...the staff not so much.
(1)R. H.
I love the coffee here and the associates are really friendly. I always order the dark chocolate latte iced. I would definitely recommend coming here as an alternative to Starbucks (their lines is always so long).
(5)Shay F.
Is this the one in Foodland or the one in the food court? Well, whatever the case...I like the people that work at the Foodland one. I've been frequenting this place because I got Coffee Bean gift cards, and I love it. The staff are very friendly and I look forward to the Green and Black tea of the day.
(4)Gabriel T.
I am not really a coffee drinker myself. I drink smoothies and orange juice. Sometimes I will drink a coffee drink, mostly like the tasty stuff like frapps and stuff. My friend introduced and took me to this place. I've had Starbucks a lot but never had a drink from here. He introduced me to lattes. He said for lattes, preferably the hazelnut or caramel one. He usually gets the hazelnut and I got the same too. It was super good and addicted right on the spot! I think I am going to try the caramel one next. The prices are decent. The staff and customer service is good. The area is pretty small like most coffee places but it's good that they have some space for sitting in on the outside. It's conveniently located at Ala Moana Mall inside the Makai Market Food Court right next to Cinnabon which is an excellent combination next to the Coffee bean. Maybe I should go here often after my Jollibee fix. Yelp 365 Challenge #127/365
(4)Baba G.
Good coffee, but dishonest employees!! I was shortchanged two days in a row. A 1.99 coffee with tax is 2.08. Pay with 3 dollars and get back 92 cents right?? Wrong!! Cashier shorted 25 cents, gave me back 67 cents. Sure this is not alot- but it adds up. This is a very common scam for cashiers- shortchange customers and pocket the difference from the register. I intentionally paid with bills to test her, and she failed. Dishonest employees can kill a business. I will test her again in a few days.
(1)Reese R.
Why is the Coffee Bean everywhere in Hawaii when there are only two locations at most in San Francisco??!! Not fair! I do love Starbucks but Coffee Bean is the only cafe that beats them! Their white mocha is God-sent...mmm.... And all of their iced blended drinks beat Starbucks' frappuccinos by a long mile. Coffee Bean, please open more spots in the bay area!!
(5)Pam S.
This is my favorite CBTL...the staff there are great, they start making my drink as soon as I walk in....Thanks Rayna, Karen, Chanel, and Sanoe.
(5)Jodi K.
I'm not sure for which location in Ala Moana this review is for, so, to be specific, this review is for: INSIDE FOODLAND. I love CBTL. I find their lattes are way better then Starbucks (IMHO). I had to meet my friend at Starbucks in Sears, but I did that teeny walk over to Foodland yesterday. I ordered my usual Mocha Latte (hot), and tried it this time with their NSA chocolate powder. For me, it was just as yummy as their Mocha Latte made with regular powder...ANYWAY. There was only one dude working there and I put my order in, and another customer behind me ordered something as well. Well....I waited...and waited...not more then 10 minutes, but when the customer behind me left and the barista guy saw me, he kinda had this scared look on his face, like "CRAP! I forgot her order!" Needless to say he was sincere about it, and even refunded my gift card. How's that for service!? =) Whenever I'm at Ala Moana, CBTL is where I go for my latte fix. I just wish one would open up in Kahala!
(5)Kimi N.
Love Coffee Bean!!! I miss working there, I moved and we don't have one in Alaska. If you're a Starbucks fan, you must try it. The shops have a comfy feel to them. They sell freshly made sandwiches, pasta, and baked goods. I was really impressed with their tea selection. And the "ice blendeds" are very smooth, whereas Starbucks frappacinos (which actually came into existence AFTER ice blendeds) are usually chunky because of all of the ice ):
(5)Brian A.
By the way as a clarification, this IS the Foodland location ( yelp.com/biz/foodland-al… ). I checked the phone number from their website. I like the flavor of their blended iced coffees better than most other coffee houses. Remember to pick up your stamp card to get a free one later. It's situated right by the entrance and is kind of busy and distracting in a way that takes away from going and relaxing at a coffee house. It's a small rinky-dink kind of stand. So, if just picking up something to drink, then this is your cup or tea (or coffee).
(3)Leslie Marie D.
Coffee is my drug. To the morning crew, you guys are awesome. I come in and literally my drink is ready to go. I just have to pay for it. haha. Large Ice Americano with room. Thank you ^_____^
(5)Nathan N.
Thank you for making me a good cappuccino. Starbutts always ends up giving me a latte. Is this the only location that has sea salt as a condiment? Good job.
(4)Sara S.
Delicious dark chocolate latte. A little pricier than I'm used to ($4.39 for a regular size), but it was still worth it! No complaints!
(4)Lance T.
Great alternative to Starbucks. Stamp card is a good incentive. Short lines. Ala Moana shop is located in Foodland, how convenient.
(5)Mark E.
I'm a fan of coffee bean and tea leaf in the food court at ala moana shopping center. generally they have the best coffee and service. i don't know how they do it, but the manager always remembers my name and greets me with a "good morning mark!" i really feel like they try to connect with their customers. unlike starbucks that gets your name just for your drink (btw, nothing wrong with that. it's organized...) I like to drink americano's, but an iced coffee is cheaper and stronger at CB&TL. Whoow! And CB&TL makes their iced coffee's straight from fresh espresso shots. i'm not a sweets fan, but i've had their red velvet and their yum yum cake, and those are fun and good.
(5)Amber W.
This CB&TL location has the best soy lattes but I really need to find out how I insulted the help. I mean, I must have done something for them to be that rude, right?
(4)Michelle C.
Home of the BEST vanilla latte I have ever consumed in my life. Ever.
(5)Keane L.
Barista: Iced Coffee! Keane: I ordered an Iced Americano... Barista: Iced Coffee IS Iced Americano. FAIL.
(3)Gidget T.
I've tried several of their iced coffees and found them to be overly sweet, more so than the iced coffee from Starbucks, Coffee Talk, etc. I do really enjoy their selection of teas. I had a sore throat once and tried their Honey & Lemon tea and it was delicious and soothing. A friend told me they had the best hot cocoa on the island, so I have it a try and was pleasantly surprised. Compared to some other coffee places, I think their prices are reasonable, their teas and hot cocoa is delicious, but I've always found the service at this particular location to be very slow and unfriendly. On the occasions where I've asked the employees for more information about a certain tea, they don't seem as knowledgeable as other CB&TL locations I've been to. Overall, it's a nice place to grab a drink and go shopping if there isn't too much of a line and you're not looking to sit and relax (as it usually gets pretty noisy in there and there isn't as much seating as you might expect from a coffee shop).
(3)Candace F.
I love this location! I am not a coffee drinker and have always loved the various unsweetened fruit teas. I like CB&T's tea variety and the friendly staff. They know me by name and it's a nice start to my mornings. My favorites are the Iced Teas. Rasberry Ceylon has a stronger bitter but sweet/fruity taste. Strawberry Cream is nice as well when I don't want that much caffeine in my teas. My recent fave, the Peach Oolong, So refreshing especially after a run at Ala Moana park! The stamp cards are nice because after filling out a card, you get a free drink of any size. In that case I get a large hot choco raspberry tea soy latte. Such a yummy but calorie laden dessert/treat.
(5)Mariko A.
This location has to be my favorite! The staff is always friendly and accommodating. They are the ones who introduced me to the earl gray tea latte with hazelnut instead of vanilla. So Good!!!
(5)Alex S.
In my opinion, I think their lattes are better than Starbucks. Here's a tip, get the flavored lattes with half the powder so it's not too sweet and perfect
(5)Joyce K.
This is a review on the food court location, not the one located inside of foodland. The service is horrible. I've been there multiple times, and only once have the employees been polite, as they should be. They're rude, snotty, and just don't have any customer service at all. A boy scoffed at me and said in the sassiest tone: "WHAT?" when I made my order. Seriously? Just ask me to repeat myself. I thought maybe this one a one time thing, but it's always something different each time, from rude looks, to not giving change, etc. I just permanently avoid this location now. I know this isn't just my opinion, since I've heard from MANY people that Alamoana foodcourt location is their least favorite Coffee Bean. Shape up.
(2)Jenny B.
I frequent Coffee Bean, here in Hawaii and on the mainland often so I decided to try this location due to convenience. I purchased a salad, fruit, and a latte and sat down to begin studying. Less than an hour and a half later, I was approached by a male staff member stating if I wanted to be there, I needed to make a purchase. I felt offended and embarrassed by the mannerism in which I was approached. I looked around & noticed other costumers that had been there longer than I had, but had not been approached. After showing my receipt for proof that I had purchased something, I still felt the need to leave. I have never encountered this at any other Coffee Bean location. The latte, salad, and fruit were wonderful...the staff not so much.
(1)Gil S.
straight to the point! foodland location very friendly and great coffee. makai market next to cinnabons. horrendous fail. they have three registers and one loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooÂoooooooooooooooooooooooooooong line!!! three lines for three register!!!! loose money one lady says theres one line... the other says whoevers ready. the other just stands around while a lady in register 3 line complains to me why i stood behind register 2 and says theres one line. register 2 lady already acknowledge to serve me already.. so what that makes= cranky customers. your performance says alot about your business. cranky customers is due to workers not caring. they look like they dont want to be there. put a sign so we can see...line starts here or there is only one line. for whatever beans you sow. is what ever harvest youll reap...
(1)Kym R.
Love this place! They are always friendly and nice. I have started coming more frequently and I like that they remember what I ordered the previous day. I usually get a tall ice water in addition to my regular drink and this is never a problem. Keep up the good work! I like their fresh fruit as well! Always good!
(5)Scott H.
Their Ice Blended Pure Chocolate drink is as good as it gets. It is the ONLY thing I've ever had here. It is delicious!!!! I don't drink coffee but their Pure Chocolate drink is one of the best shakes/ice drinks you can get.
(5)Shady R.
Best vanilla latte I had so far! I never need to add any sweetener or sugar to my drinks! First time I tried Cbtl I loved it and am a returning customer! Coffee and tea lovers I recommend this place
(5)Nikki M.
How could you not ABSOLUTELY ADORE this place? CB&TL corporate office...PLEASE BUILD MORE stores - I'd even be willing to help franchise! The only reason I don't come here more often is because it is so out of the way - actually all of the CB&TL locations take a concerted effort for me to get to. So, I end up going to the "other" chain. They're not bad, don't get me wrong, but IMO. they just don't compare to CB&TL. So again, PLEASE BUILD MORE stores on Oah'u!!!!!
(5)corey l.
It's a chain. It's like Starbucks but worse. Vanilla latte tasted like a lollipop it was so sweet. Couldn't even taste the espresso. Charged me for extra cream cheese after I spent 15 dollars on breakfast. It's just corporate crap.
(1)Cheryl K.
I always frequent this coffee shop and prefer it over Starbucks. We go to the other locations but this one is special. For some reason we always redeem our filled out drink cards to get any drink of our choice, any size, for free. This is the location that the worker suggested us to use that on a large Ultimate Mocha. Ever since then we have been doing that. This last time we used it on an Ultimate Mocha and asked if they can throw in some peppermint (you know for the holiday touch). Split it into two cups and we had an amazing 1000 calorie treat to walk around the mall with. You know, so we can work it off while we walk. Anyway, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has been my favorite coffee shop and I am always craving their moroccan mint tea lattes. Thank you for making amazing drinks.
(5)R. H.
I love the coffee here and the associates are really friendly. I always order the dark chocolate latte iced. I would definitely recommend coming here as an alternative to Starbucks (their lines is always so long).
(5)Gabriel T.
I am not really a coffee drinker myself. I drink smoothies and orange juice. Sometimes I will drink a coffee drink, mostly like the tasty stuff like frapps and stuff. My friend introduced and took me to this place. I've had Starbucks a lot but never had a drink from here. He introduced me to lattes. He said for lattes, preferably the hazelnut or caramel one. He usually gets the hazelnut and I got the same too. It was super good and addicted right on the spot! I think I am going to try the caramel one next. The prices are decent. The staff and customer service is good. The area is pretty small like most coffee places but it's good that they have some space for sitting in on the outside. It's conveniently located at Ala Moana Mall inside the Makai Market Food Court right next to Cinnabon which is an excellent combination next to the Coffee bean. Maybe I should go here often after my Jollibee fix. Yelp 365 Challenge #127/365
(4)Baba G.
Good coffee, but dishonest employees!! I was shortchanged two days in a row. A 1.99 coffee with tax is 2.08. Pay with 3 dollars and get back 92 cents right?? Wrong!! Cashier shorted 25 cents, gave me back 67 cents. Sure this is not alot- but it adds up. This is a very common scam for cashiers- shortchange customers and pocket the difference from the register. I intentionally paid with bills to test her, and she failed. Dishonest employees can kill a business. I will test her again in a few days.
(1)Jodi K.
I'm not sure for which location in Ala Moana this review is for, so, to be specific, this review is for: INSIDE FOODLAND. I love CBTL. I find their lattes are way better then Starbucks (IMHO). I had to meet my friend at Starbucks in Sears, but I did that teeny walk over to Foodland yesterday. I ordered my usual Mocha Latte (hot), and tried it this time with their NSA chocolate powder. For me, it was just as yummy as their Mocha Latte made with regular powder...ANYWAY. There was only one dude working there and I put my order in, and another customer behind me ordered something as well. Well....I waited...and waited...not more then 10 minutes, but when the customer behind me left and the barista guy saw me, he kinda had this scared look on his face, like "CRAP! I forgot her order!" Needless to say he was sincere about it, and even refunded my gift card. How's that for service!? =) Whenever I'm at Ala Moana, CBTL is where I go for my latte fix. I just wish one would open up in Kahala!
(5)Shay F.
Is this the one in Foodland or the one in the food court? Well, whatever the case...I like the people that work at the Foodland one. I've been frequenting this place because I got Coffee Bean gift cards, and I love it. The staff are very friendly and I look forward to the Green and Black tea of the day.
(4)Kimi N.
Love Coffee Bean!!! I miss working there, I moved and we don't have one in Alaska. If you're a Starbucks fan, you must try it. The shops have a comfy feel to them. They sell freshly made sandwiches, pasta, and baked goods. I was really impressed with their tea selection. And the "ice blendeds" are very smooth, whereas Starbucks frappacinos (which actually came into existence AFTER ice blendeds) are usually chunky because of all of the ice ):
(5)Brian A.
By the way as a clarification, this IS the Foodland location ( yelp.com/biz/foodland-al… ). I checked the phone number from their website. I like the flavor of their blended iced coffees better than most other coffee houses. Remember to pick up your stamp card to get a free one later. It's situated right by the entrance and is kind of busy and distracting in a way that takes away from going and relaxing at a coffee house. It's a small rinky-dink kind of stand. So, if just picking up something to drink, then this is your cup or tea (or coffee).
(3)Leslie Marie D.
Coffee is my drug. To the morning crew, you guys are awesome. I come in and literally my drink is ready to go. I just have to pay for it. haha. Large Ice Americano with room. Thank you ^_____^
(5)Nathan N.
Thank you for making me a good cappuccino. Starbutts always ends up giving me a latte. Is this the only location that has sea salt as a condiment? Good job.
(4)Sara S.
Delicious dark chocolate latte. A little pricier than I'm used to ($4.39 for a regular size), but it was still worth it! No complaints!
(4)Reese R.
Why is the Coffee Bean everywhere in Hawaii when there are only two locations at most in San Francisco??!! Not fair! I do love Starbucks but Coffee Bean is the only cafe that beats them! Their white mocha is God-sent...mmm.... And all of their iced blended drinks beat Starbucks' frappuccinos by a long mile. Coffee Bean, please open more spots in the bay area!!
(5)Pam S.
This is my favorite CBTL...the staff there are great, they start making my drink as soon as I walk in....Thanks Rayna, Karen, Chanel, and Sanoe.
(5)Lance T.
Great alternative to Starbucks. Stamp card is a good incentive. Short lines. Ala Moana shop is located in Foodland, how convenient.
(5)Mark E.
I'm a fan of coffee bean and tea leaf in the food court at ala moana shopping center. generally they have the best coffee and service. i don't know how they do it, but the manager always remembers my name and greets me with a "good morning mark!" i really feel like they try to connect with their customers. unlike starbucks that gets your name just for your drink (btw, nothing wrong with that. it's organized...) I like to drink americano's, but an iced coffee is cheaper and stronger at CB&TL. Whoow! And CB&TL makes their iced coffee's straight from fresh espresso shots. i'm not a sweets fan, but i've had their red velvet and their yum yum cake, and those are fun and good.
(5)Amber W.
This CB&TL location has the best soy lattes but I really need to find out how I insulted the help. I mean, I must have done something for them to be that rude, right?
(4)Michelle C.
Home of the BEST vanilla latte I have ever consumed in my life. Ever.
(5)Keane L.
Barista: Iced Coffee! Keane: I ordered an Iced Americano... Barista: Iced Coffee IS Iced Americano. FAIL.
(3)M B.
star what? why would people go to that place who don't even know what they are drinking but buying the name? cbtl might not have the best coffee or tea in the world but they could easily kill "starsucks" by miles! i'm writing this review straightly to the ala moana food court location. most of their staff are very attentive and friendly. i only go there maybe 2-3 a weeks but most of them remember not only my name but also my order. yes, i'm one boring person and order the same old thing over and over again...lol. anyway, this is how to make a normal customer to become loyal. keep up the good work, guys!
(4)Gidget T.
I've tried several of their iced coffees and found them to be overly sweet, more so than the iced coffee from Starbucks, Coffee Talk, etc. I do really enjoy their selection of teas. I had a sore throat once and tried their Honey & Lemon tea and it was delicious and soothing. A friend told me they had the best hot cocoa on the island, so I have it a try and was pleasantly surprised. Compared to some other coffee places, I think their prices are reasonable, their teas and hot cocoa is delicious, but I've always found the service at this particular location to be very slow and unfriendly. On the occasions where I've asked the employees for more information about a certain tea, they don't seem as knowledgeable as other CB&TL locations I've been to. Overall, it's a nice place to grab a drink and go shopping if there isn't too much of a line and you're not looking to sit and relax (as it usually gets pretty noisy in there and there isn't as much seating as you might expect from a coffee shop).
(3)Candace F.
I love this location! I am not a coffee drinker and have always loved the various unsweetened fruit teas. I like CB&T's tea variety and the friendly staff. They know me by name and it's a nice start to my mornings. My favorites are the Iced Teas. Rasberry Ceylon has a stronger bitter but sweet/fruity taste. Strawberry Cream is nice as well when I don't want that much caffeine in my teas. My recent fave, the Peach Oolong, So refreshing especially after a run at Ala Moana park! The stamp cards are nice because after filling out a card, you get a free drink of any size. In that case I get a large hot choco raspberry tea soy latte. Such a yummy but calorie laden dessert/treat.
(5)Mariko A.
This location has to be my favorite! The staff is always friendly and accommodating. They are the ones who introduced me to the earl gray tea latte with hazelnut instead of vanilla. So Good!!!
(5)Alex S.
In my opinion, I think their lattes are better than Starbucks. Here's a tip, get the flavored lattes with half the powder so it's not too sweet and perfect
(5)Joyce K.
This is a review on the food court location, not the one located inside of foodland. The service is horrible. I've been there multiple times, and only once have the employees been polite, as they should be. They're rude, snotty, and just don't have any customer service at all. A boy scoffed at me and said in the sassiest tone: "WHAT?" when I made my order. Seriously? Just ask me to repeat myself. I thought maybe this one a one time thing, but it's always something different each time, from rude looks, to not giving change, etc. I just permanently avoid this location now. I know this isn't just my opinion, since I've heard from MANY people that Alamoana foodcourt location is their least favorite Coffee Bean. Shape up.
(2)Ruth H.
My husband and I go to the Makai Food Court location every Sunday morning. We enjoy the friendly staff, free newspaper, delicious hot teas, breakfast items, and sidewalk cafe seating. The cornbread has real corn kernels in it, and can be requested heated up and served on a china plate with a side of butter and jelly. The penne pasta, bagels, and egg salad sandwiches are all great. Sometimes we throw out the diet and come back in the afternoon for peanut butter fudge brownies or pumpkin crunch squares, wow.
(4)ANNE U.
no question, this is my fave coffee place. this particular location did not disapoint. Service was great and fast Iced Blended White Chocolate with Whip-consistent. Not too sweet or totally iced. Oh yea...and I enjoyed that they have a CBTL Hawaii has a rewards promotion, for the summer I think (each dollar = 1 stamp in the card) Complete the card, you get a free drink. Too bad it's only in Hawaii.
(5)Emi J.
The best iced coffee I've ever had! Their iced coffee is 2 shots and water/ice. I used to go to Starbucks but now I only come here every morning. I really love their coffee. Pastries are okay, nothing really special. The staff at the Ala Moana Shopping Center Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Foodland are the best. They are friendly 90% of the time. I drive further to that location instead of the main one in the mall in the food court. They are not friendly at that one 100% of the time but they do have better ice for some reason. It's small ice cubes so your drink is super cold. Please try their coffee just once if you love coffee.
(5)Angela Y.
No matter where I am, I am always a fan of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. This store is located in Ala Moana in the food court. This is next to Cinnamon, and Aja. When I came into it was a little busy, but when you walk in you are always greeted by the workers and telling us "just a moment we will be right with you." Which to me this feels like great customer service. I finally got a full stamp card, therefore I got to use it to get a free drink. This was awesome because I saved couple bucks today. I ordered the Cameral affagato. WHen the lady took my order she said it would just take a few minutes. Getting my drinks did only take a few minutes. They were fast and very friendly. THis is no biggy but I just wish that my drink came in the cup with the coffee bean logo instead of a plain cup.
(5)Chass B.
When I first began wanting to write a review about this location I have to admit that I wasn't very impressed. So, I'm glad I didn't write it then, because feelings change. There were a lot of new faces here. Sometimes I felt like this was probably a training ground for newbies... This can cause you to wait about 10-15 mins for your drink. No joke. So unless you're ordering plain coffee hold on for a bit. What changed my thought about this location is simply for a few key people. Holly instantly remembered my drink the next time I came in and she always greeted me by name. Bummer I haven't seen her in awhile since she's working part time only. Laurie is awesome too and I appreciate her not only remembering my drink, but greeting me by name. There was one other young gal who would cheerfully greet me by name. Haven't seen her in awhile too though, sadness. These three have great energy no matter how busy or crazy it gets for them. Remembering my name or drink may not be that important to some people , but for me , when I go practically everyday, I feel as if there's more of an effort to know your "regulars" and to me, that's customer care. Drinks are on point. Sometimes my tea can come out exactly the way I like and sometimes they may miss the taste by making it a little too watery. Does this mean they don't steep it long enough? Or not enough of that vanilla powder? Now that's just me pretending to be a tea connoisseur. What do I really know, besides drinking it!?! Once I ordered strawberry lemonade with Thai walls, or was it Thai tea and Thai walls? Regardless, the reaction the girl (not one mentioned above) gave me the weirdest reaction, which led to a weird conversation, and me telling her that she should try the drink! It left me questioning my choice on drink, only for a little while. Seriously, I think it's yummy how I order it.... Oh, that's another thing, Thai walls are yummy, but its 99¢ and very very light. I like it a little heavier.
(3)Chad Y.
They put Crack in their drinks! How else is it so addictive?! I go here everyday before work to get my coffee fix. The reason I get my drinks here is that they simply make the best tasting ones, it is convenient, it is fast, they have a promotional stamp card, they serve a lot of different teas and coffees, you can get a tea Latte here, they are nice people, and they know me here. They know their drinks here and how to make them! If you want some thing delicious try the black forest iced blended drink. Inside there are cherries, chocolate covered coffee beans, and a shot espresso! If you want a tea I like the peach oolong in a iced tea latte! There teas are so refreshing :) I wonder how much I spend here every month? I would rather not find out. Lol. ;D
(4)Kyla N.
No matter how busy they are when I come, they always greet me and let me know that they'll be right with me. I love that they acknowledge my presence and are working to help all of their customers! I usually come here for a Mocha drink (either hot or cold depending on the weather) and a Plain bagel with plain cream cheese. When I walk in, there's one girl that always remembers me and asks how I want my mocha and if I'll be getting a bagel today. This kind of service deserves to be appreciated and I'll definitely go back and get her name so I can give her credit! My bagel is never burnt, as it was a few times I went to starbucks, and the Mocha is always just right. Because I work at the mall, I get a 15% discount which is great especially since I'm usually buying coffee before a shift at work. Although I usually get the same thing, I once tried their limited time Chocolate covered Strawberry iced-blended and it was delicious!
(5)Tiffany P.
I always stop by Coffee Bean for the ice vanilla latte and if I have extra time I'll get something small to eat like a muffin. Chiyo, a girl that works there always greet me & in my opinion makes my coffee the best.
(5)Tabatha P.
I always get great service here. I love the way they make their hot vanilla latte, a creamy treat! Also the green tea macha is good and the peppermint mocha. I have filled a few frequent customer cards by now! The always say "Thank you for waiting" even though I don't usually wait long. LoL
(5)Jerome N.
Unfriendly doesn't begin to describe the staff. Ala Moana was running a promotion and it didn't say anything about brining a coupon or event book but when I got there the rude girl at the register told me that I couldn't get the deal without the book. When I asked where I could get one she flatly replied "I don't know". I asked for the manager and explained what happened. Of course the manager said it was perfectly fine that I didn't have the book and I could get the promotion. But when I looked at my receipt the rude girl had charged me the regular price and had to re-ring everything and out the difference back on my card. Even though I asked during the transaction if this was correct price. I also told her I wanted light ice in one of them but when I went to pick up my order the guy called my name then stopped before handing it to me. He looked at the ticket and said "oh you wanted light ice? Sorry" He then proceeded to grab a spoon from a container that had water and other spoons in it and scooped some cubes out. Then he gave it back to me!! NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)Angelo A.
Mmmmmm. Dammit Starbucks why don't you have a Black Forest on your menu? I've been a loyal Starbucks fan ever since their doors opened, but Coffee Bean is definitely in the running for my attention mostly because of their non-coffee products (which are great for 3-ish year old twins and for enjoying during the evening hours). Their prices are generally on par for a coffee shop in the mall. In my experience, their customer service was exceptional, which btw ISN'T the norm for mall food joints. Oh, and the lemon bar is a great compliment to my personal favorite ..... BLACK FOREST.
(5)Kaai L.
While at home this past spring, we stayed with my in-laws, and they live like across the street from Ala Moana. So, being the coffee addict that I am, I frequented this Coffee Bean a lot. Like, every day! Oh, I LOVE Coffee Bean coffee too, so this place was was PERFECT! The good things about this particular Coffee Bean: 1. It's very convenient if you're in the Ala Moana area. 2. It's located in the Makai Market, so it's not too hard to find. 3. If you want food to go with it, you have many many choices, being it is in the food court of the mall. 4. It's Coffee Bean! Their Coffee, to me, is really good! 5. The staff that I encountered on a daily basis were super friendly and attentive. So, yes, I believe this location deserves five stars! Definitely worth a try!
(5)Ashley S.
I was hooked on this place when my friend introduced me to the winter tea latte! So good! Ever since I prefer this place over Starbucks. I also enjoy their food. Breakfast croissant is the best! I also tried the tofu salad for lunch and that was really, Really good. Oh and I really like the red velvet latte too:-)
(5)Kate T.
I'm actually a bit conflicted about how I should rate this place. But since their drinks and food and service is so awesome I guess I'll give it a five star rating. The only reason I would think about giving this place less than that is because I found out some of their drinks are made with just water and powder. If I really wanted a drink like that I would go to the grocery store and buy a powder and mix it myself. But whatever, onto my review. So this place is awesome. The drinks are always yummy and unlike Starbucks they don't hurt my stomach!! The food here is awesome too. I wasn't really a fan of their doughnuts but everything else here is amazing and healthy too! Every time I come in a coffee bean and tea leaf all of their workers are super nice and have a smile on their face. Lately it seems like that is a rarity. So kudos to you Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. You have amazing customer service. I have been converted from a Starbucks lover to a CBTL lover!!!
(5)Lorenzo R.
I think my experience from today at this location would make me hesitate before going to a coffee bean again. The person working there today was nice and friendly but had gotten my drink wrong 2 times and on the 3rd try she finally got it. I would definitely recommend trying their pomegranate blueberry lattes but confirm it after your drink is made!
(2)Thomas O.
*Lumpy Space Princess* A princess visiting from another kingdom has me LUMPING HOOKED on CBTL. She told me of this fabulous tea that tasted of strawberries and cream and that it was only like a chump change for a totally huge cup! Oh my Glob. My body is ready for this tea. So ready. Isn't it obvi? Unfortunately it was like only offered the day before we came here. Ugh. WHATEVERS IT'S 2012. Fortunately, they had new iced/hot teas of the day for us to indulge in. I had like this minty herbal green tea that was like totally the most refreshing and invigorating cup of iced tea. Ever. Oh. My. Glob. With a dash of simple syrup mixed in, I was like, in LUMPING heaven. It was like I fake died. Now, what sends CBTL to 5-star status, does not lie in the bari-stars behind the counter, or the fact this place is most likely near a Foodland, but it is that they have a great selection of grab and go foods. Hands down, it like TOTALLY trumps Starbucks in flavor, quality, and best of all, PRICE. They have like these breakfast burritos, croissant breakfast sandwiches, tuna avocado sandwiches, penne pasta salad, and even a Chinese chicken salad. Like so delish, right? But like I said, the best part is that all of these items are like totally less than $4 each. The serving size is like perfect too, so like that means for like the price of a Grande Soy Latte at Starbucks, you can get like a complete meal at CBTL. So like, what the glob are you staring at? LUMPING GO THERE. LIKE NOW.
(5)Consuela P.
My #MoJoeMondays deal ~ a large Plantation Iced Tea for only 99¢ (see tip below). Totally refreshing and a quick mid-day pick me up! Ohh, the serving staff were friendly and helpful too. Tip: Be sure to follow @coffeebeanhi on twitter & instagram and score sweet social media deals!
(4)Phillip K.
I work right in the area and although I personally don't like the taste of their coffee, they have great service and they're diligent in providing that excellent service that they do. I usually go in for my morning coffee but the thing I like about them is that they feel accommodating because they're busy especially morning time, however, I've never seen any of the workers there in a stressed or pressured state or work. They're efficient and friendly! *applause* Also I really appreciate them because this one time, just once, I went in there with an order for my whole department and everyone got something different - I believe 12 drinks in total - and the guys at this location was on it! Nothing messed up and just the way my coworkers wanted. Overall, good job guys! Keep it up and to whoever is doing the hiring, you rock!
(4)Donjay B.
This review is based on customer service and not on the food (cause I did not order any of it) and the drinks (since chains like this usually have them tasting the same anyway except for an unusual odd day). Anyways, I have to say I am completely disappointed in the lack of service and professionalism displayed by the workers here. First off, there were only 4 customers total and I was 3rd in line. After waiting patiently they had the nerve to serve the 4th customer ahead of me. Seriously, why would you even do that? There was a line to begin with and yet they take in the group that just comes in and barged their way ahead to the cashier. They could've told those people there was a line. Just 10min ago, I was in line at Panda Express and a Japanese tourist did the same thing. Luckily the staff at Panda Express told her to wait in line. CBTL staff could've done the same thing. After I got my order in, it took a while for them to even start on my drink. Being the lone ranger left of a small group of customers, my drink was the only drink left to make. Yet the staff decided to engage in their own conversation forgetting about me. It maybe took them about 3 minutes later to finally realize my order has not been made yet and all this time I thought they started. Not cool CBTL Ala Moana. Next time I'm in the mall I'll head out to the other CBTL location in Foodland.
(1)Jenn T.
Located in the mall on the bottom level. It's open early, even before the mall is. There's plenty of seating if you include the food court area, however nothing much inside the store itself. They are fast, polite and the place is clean. Parking is abundant, however it's in the mall so it can be tough to for just grabbing a quick cup of joe.
(4)Shawny R.
This team that works here is amazing!! I had a bad experience at Starbucks. It was so awful I forgot to order a bagel. So instead of going back to Starbucks, I headed here. Boy, I was so glad I did! They total made my morning. I will be returning soon!
(5)Victoria R.
I Love coming here every morning before work. The employees are wonderful. The lychee iced tea is really good if you like lychee.
(5)Li Y.
I actually love the loose tea selections better than their coffee at this place. Good quality tea with interesting flavors. They do have a nice Jasmine Pearl. My favorite though is the cherry blossom tea...this one I actually prefer cold over ice. I like to start with a hot cup of tea and once the flavor is steeped, cool it down to room temperature then pour it over ice. So refreshing as is, no sweetener needed! This way...I can pour more hot water over the tea leaves and steep the next cup while enjoying the first, and second, and third, etc. These high quality tea leaves are good for full flavors of multiple pours! Enjoy.
(4)Darrell K.
Anything that isn't that crappy over-hyped overpriced bitter Starbucks is ok with me.
(3)Minho G.
The service was okay. Drinks are pretty good; last time there was a hair in my tea though.
(2)Thomas G.
This is one of the very few coffee beans that sell the banana bagel with peanut butter. The brownies are also pretty good. I normally get them for my girlfriend.
(4)Sandra M.
I tried their iced latte hazelnut. It's okay- a bit on the sweeter side- what I should have done was order a cup of dark roast to gauge quality of their roast- They have iced teas as well!
(3)Nat N.
I'll take CBTL over Starbucks any day. Their drip coffee has a very bold flavor, and I love how if you order decaf, they run it through the espresso machine (hence it's made to order!). Their pastry selection rocks and their pastries taste 100 times better than SB's! My fave is still the apple cinnamon crumb cake!
(4)Clay K.
Great caramel latte, but a bit pricey with soy milk. Recommend you don't add sweetener until you try, the caramel makes it sweet enough.
(4)Jeremy B.
I've done lots of coffee bean and tea leaf at this point. The ala moana location is great, but in comparison to the pearl location it's a little disappointing. The food is usually not warmed up quiet enough. The service is good but a little more distant and the coffee is still just as great as any location.
(4)Brent K.
Do get me wrong.I like the coffee here. But I like coffee shops to have move food and other options. LOL
(3)Angela K.
Almond milk!!! Yes. Up on the non-gmo for those like me who eat nutin except bagels n coffee. Fruit salad too. Soy milk too. Beats all other coffee places on Oahu, this one and other on Kapiolani are my faves
(5)Arynn I.
This was my first time here...to This location as well as to this coffee shop. Now, I make no secret that I am a starbucks junkie but when you're shopping and want coffee, you go to the first place you come across. I don't like drinking hot drinks while I shop so I figure I'll get a iced drink. I think the guy behind the counter heard me bitching about needing caffeine cause when I ordered he asked if I wanted a double shot of espresso..um...most definitely please! I got an iced vanilla latte, with that double shot and also noticed the bubbies mochi ice cream sign so I had to get mochi ice cream. My coffee was still really warm on the bottom when I started drinking it and it took quite a while to get cool. I considered getting a cup of ice from somewhere...I think maybe the store's ice is just too small..which I'm sure is good for the blended drinks. Flavor was good; not too sweet and I didn't really get too much of a vanilla taste. But extremely happy with the double shot of espresso! I actually saw a sign for the stamp card and ended up asking for one. (he didn't ask if I had one.) I figured, what the heck, I spent $9 here and they can give me that many stamps. I'm sure I will go to this coffee place again; not necessarily at Ala Moana Marketplace but somewhere. I have to say, I wasn't extremely impressed as the coffee didn't "blow me away" but it was tasty and you can't go wrong with Bubbies. The guy at the counter who took my order was very friendly and nice! #Yelp 365 Challenge- 126/365
(4)Kiva Y.
Came by there just before closing in the last half hour; ordered a hot latte; then later wanted something sweet. One of the guys suggested the brownie; said it was his favorite; they had lots left; thought he was just trying to "sell" me, but it was really good! He had it warmed up, toasty on the outside; chocolate gooey on the inside; just $2.75 for a pretty good size brownie; definitely recommend you try it; latte was good too! :)
(5)David P.
Yelp 365: 032/365 This place has got to be one of my favorite coffee shops. Service: The service here is great. They always ask whether I have a rewards card (I always forget that I have one), and even if we take a long time to make our order, they're always patient. If you are military, this place is great since they appreciate us by giving 10% percent off your bill. I think that is pretty awesome. They never take their time making your drink and if it does take a while to make, they always apologize. Drinks: I love their iced creations here; especially the black forest. The staff also accomadates to you by making your drinks the way you like them. They also have a mini bar of condiments like cocoa powder, liquid sugar, among other things on the side at your disposal. I have never tried their food yet, but this location has a Beard Papa cream puff booth a couple of steps away. I agree with Mariko A when exclaiming this is her favorite location. This has got to be one of my faves as well. Keep on reviewing everyone with lots of YELP POWER!!!
(5)Jess J.
Today was my first time at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Their Iced Hazelnut Latte was good. But I was really disappointed with their Salted Caramel Cupcake. This cupcake had absolutely no taste. No salt, no sweet. Just a bland cupcake... ended up having to throw it away. So not worth the $1.99 that I paid. It resembled a Hostess Cupcake with the filling inside of the cupcake. Actually a Hostess Cupcake would have tasted better... too bad they're not around anymore.
(3)Steffen G.
I drink tea way more than coffee, so this place is great. Starbucks usually has mint in all their green teas, which I hate. CB&T has a huge selection of iced teas available. If you dont like their three choices on the board : herbal, green, black then just let them know which one you want and theyll make you a fresh one in that flavor just for you, it just takes a minute instead of a second. This location is probably one of the dullest Ive seen. Between the parking garage and the food court, there are about 4 tables outside to sit at and watch the cars drive around. The service is super fast and very efficient. Friendly? It depends. No one is mean, but they aint all Mary Poppins either.
(4)Ana H.
Ok so the girl that took my order in Foodland Ala Moana had very bad customer service. She didn't really pay attention to me but tried to rush at the same time. I had my stamp card out for her to take care of but she ignored it and I could've had 6 extra stamps from that transaction!! What kind of an employer is that! I used to work at two coffee bean locations and starbucks so I know what I'm talking about. Oh and get this..I was waiting for food to get warmed up on the side for about 2 minutes after my drink was made. She obviously saw me waiting but kept talking with her co-worker. I had to go up to her and remind her that my food is in the microwave. SHE FORGOT! How hard is it to remember to take out something from the microwave lady? Serious? She then came up to me and handed my food and said "here you go." No apology. Never going to that location again.
(1)Kara N.
Love love love the coffee here. My recent favorite has been the ice blended hazelnut coffee. I only get to come down here when I'm really early for work or if I have some time to kill on my break. It's never really crowded and I get my drink in a blink of an eye! It's a little pricey but I never mind it because of the quality.
(5)Bonnie H.
I received the worst service from any coffee shop I've ever been in my life at this particular location. When I arrived, it wasn't a busy time or anything so my friends and I stood on the side to decide what we wanted since it was our first time there. There were three workers at the time and the guy working the cashier was starting to give us condescending looks for not immediately knowing what we wanted (even though we were the only customers at the time). I was peeved so I approached the cashier to avoid the awkward glare and explain that it was our first time there; my younger friend asked him about a couple drinks and what exactly was in a latte, and he sneered at her. He really didn't have anything beneficial to say about anything (I recall him at one point saying the Rocky Road Ice Blend tastes chocolatey. ... really?) At this point, I was getting increasingly agitated at him so I hastily ordered a Hazelnut latte before his face would offend me any longer than it already did. He kind of sensed that I regularly buy coffee and then became sickingly complacent with himself. While we were ordering (which didn't even take all of two minutes), there was a lady to the side of us who came in later but was simultaneously ordering her drink. The other lady and I then went to wait for our drinks when the staff put out a drink and shouted hazelnut. Hazelnut what? I took it because I had ordered a Hazelnut latte. The other guy worker who put it out gave me kindof a funny look but didn't say anything at ALL so I shrugged it off. A few sips into it and the worker who was working on my actual drink put my latte out, shouting hazelnut. She glanced at me and realized I took the other customer's drink and gave me the WORST stink eye in the world. The other customer just smiled and said "Oh it's okay! We both ordered Hazelnut. Isn't the ice blend good though?? :-)" but I apologized profusely to her anyway since I felt bad. The lady worker then apologized to her in a way that was condescending to me and turned to me to take the ice blend away! Really? Because you're just going to have to throw that away unless you're gonna violate the health code and shove it down your own throat. First of all, why shout out half-assed drink titles when mix-ups like this are obviously going to happen? Is this just some sadistic way to differentiate your shop from Starbucks? Secondly, why couldn't that guy who initially put out the Hazelnut Ice Blend USE HIS WORDS and tell me that I accidentally grabbed the other customer's drink? I really didn't put the straw in and take a sip til a little while later. He really had enough time to just stop me. Third, the other two workers had major attitudes that permeated all boundaries of coffee snobbery (though the guy with glasses didn't even seem especially knowledgeable about coffee or their own blended drinks for that matter) into plain-faced douchebaggery. As for the actual latte? It was underwhelming. :-/ :-\
(2)danny Y.
Good coffee here but I go for the Lemon Bar-the best i ever ate hands down. And to top it off i order three BUBBIES MOCHI. We go the the Ala Moana Store whenever we shop there
(4)Gen M.
This location is really small with not many tables to sit. However their staff is really friendly and attentive and always greet you at the door and when you leave. Whoever is in charges of trying The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf employees is doing a great job.
(4)Jonathan R.
Like others, I definatly recommend the plantation ice tea at this place. Other places around Ala Moana would cost you up toward $4 for smaller cups of this sweet stuff. I cannot comment about the other drinks nor the food but yummy plantation ice tea is all I need :D
(4)