Café Kaila — Restaurant in Honolulu

I recently had the pleasure of discovering a hidden gem for breakfast – a place that not only served up a fantastic cup of coffee but also boasted expertly crafted sandwiches and the most perfect bowl of soup. From the moment I stepped in, I could sense the warm and welcoming atmosphere, distinctly local and individual. It is a mom and pop shop, and our server have been working there since it opened years on back!

Stepping inside, the bustling exterior gave way to a cozy interior, providing a comforting respite from the changing world outside. We snagged a nice, snug table on the side, close to the counter.Now, let's talk about the food – an absolute revelation! The kalua pig benedict with fried rice was an explosion of flavors, and the brownie ice cream, a true work of art.

As breakfast time tends to get busy, especially on weekends, a bit of patience is required. We spent a good two hours there – talking, savoring our meals, and immersing ourselves in the inviting ambiance.

The service remained consistently quick, efficient, and remarkably friendly. Despite the waiting crowd, there was no rush, allowing us to enjoy our breakfast at a leisurely pace. I left with a promise to return, eager to explore more offerings, especially eyeing the intriguing Waffle Special.

In conclusion, this breakfast spot, which has consistently impressed me (this being my first visit), is undoubtedly a must-visit. The blend of delectable dishes, welcoming atmosphere, and attentive service make it a standout choice, and I'm already looking forward to my next culinary adventure at Cafe Kaila! I even bought a souvenir cup to support the restaurant, and also to keep a token memory! I wish i had more days, i would totally come back!

FYI - lot of parking in the plaza (free...

Rude staff. It was unorganized to where there was no one at the podium to arrange guests in order to take their name to be put on the waiting list. There was an entire family in front just waiting in front of said podium that added to the confusion. When the hostess finally came out after waiting several minutes she attended to other customers that just walked up that second and I shouted from behind the family that myself and my had been waiting here. She proceeded to explain the policy that you just walk up to the podium and sign your name. I then explained that I understand that now that I hadn’t known before because this was our first time here. Then that’s when the hostess became defensive and started arguing. We went back and forth where she exclaimed that no outside drinks were allowed, that there’s 2 seats available and explained that I understand, that’s standard policy at any restaurant but I had called ahead of time and know there’s a 20 to 30 minute wait. She then explained the same thing again about the drinks how I had to finish them prior which at this point I said that I get it. That I’m just trying to get my name on the sheet to wait. She kept arguing and I just said “You know what. I don’t even want to eat here because it’s so disorganized.” I turned to my husband and motioned him to leave. The hostess said some other things as I was walking away but I had shut down not caring anymore. She was a blonde hostess with blue eyes and a long pony tail. I’ll be living here in Waikiki for the next 3 years but I’ll avoid be avoiding this place. I suggest...

Waited 35 min when quoted a 25 min take-out wait time. I had ordered ahead 10min prior to arrival and still waited for a long time. Even after the long wait, our food still came out room-tempature / cold (the waffles) they also say they make/cut the fruit "to order" but they are clearly preserved or cut and left overnight as indicated by the jello-like consistency. The eggs were not seasoned by any means and when we requested salt and pepper, they don't have packets, instead they grabbed small plastic containers and slowly shaked the salt and pepper glasses into them. I have never had something like that happen. After this all, we decided to make a return. The women decided to then claim that we were very much in the wrong. Along with that one of the waiters stepped in front of us, using the cashier till which came off rude and is a very poor setup. The women servicing us also came of rude and degrading saying "I can make her something to make you feel better? So you guys aren't angry and hungry" when we just wanted to make a return and leave due to other matters we needed to attend. Overall, long wait time and rude interactions with poor set-up for a restaurant with an extreme price for basic food that didn't come out to its worth. $75 for 2 waffles, Omlete,...