HĀ Cafe (formerly Liquid Life Hilo)

Really wanted to like this spot based on the reviews. But the food was absolutely awful. The vegan burrito with a tofu scramble was inedible due to being saturated in turmeric. Definitely the worst tofu scramble ive ever had.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 5

The sandwich with beetroot humus was really good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

First time here, I ordered the French dip and mango magic smoothie. The French dip was not good had mostly fat in it and meat didn't taste like it had been slow cooked. The smoothie was not even sweet, with banana and pineapple in it, lady wanted me to add extra ingredients to make it sweet. Wouldn't come here again nor would I recommend for locals or visitors to eat here!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

We got a panini and a burrito and a smoothie. Not the most flavorful ones I’ve ever had but it’s Hilo. Updated from previous review on 2025-07-28

Took over 30 minutes to get 3 sandwiches made with a microwave and panini grill. Food was ok but too expensive for microwaved food. Also saw the woman who was making our food on her phone. The two staff seem to care less about service or their jobs. Won’t be back

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 2

We had the cold press Orange Oasis and the Garden Greens. They were both amazingly fresh and refreshing..... A definite must try!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Great smoothies! Yummy gluten free and vegan treats - the Nutter Better™️ was my fave! 😍😆 Really personable and kind staff. Certified Repeat Customer!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wonderful little spot!
The staff here are incredibly friendly and welcoming. The café is cozy and beautifully designed, with a charming garden terrace that has a few outdoor tables — perfect for a relaxing meal.

The menu is diverse, and the prices are very reasonable. I had the veggie sandwich, and it was absolutely delicious.

Both the woman at the counter and in the kitchen were warm and kind — their hospitality made the experience even better.

This place left a really positive impression, and I’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommended!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The smoothie was bomb but the food was not good AT ALL and I had to wait for it for like 25min

And this is the eggs you’ll be getting if you order their protein breakfast sandwich :) my total was $36 for this

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 1

Horrible food! We went there for breakfast and ordered a breakfast sandwich and a frappe. While the frappe was okay, the sandwich was horrible. It had a slight bitter taste, the eggs and spinach patty was a store bought one, literally nothing fresh.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

Healthy cafe with great smoothies, coffee and breakfast options. Staff were friendly and dealt with a mistake with my order very promptly and professionally.

Food: 5

Service: 5

We tried the vegan breakfast burrito and smoothie bowl. Staff seemed knowledgeable about what was vegan (asked closely about honey given previous reviews). Food took a while to come out, even though we were basically the only customers. It was okay but nothing special - the flavors were a bit muted in both dishes, they tasted fine but that's all. The best part of the meal was that it didn't leave us feeling heavy afterwards. I liked that they had a lot of vegan baked goods (most/all gluten free as well), but the cookies we tried were just ok. We couldn't figure out what they were trying to be - if the cafe is trying to be healthy, why so many traditional baked goods? My wife's burrito was colored so vibrantly we wondered if they used artificial food coloring (not sure, but there was nothing on the menu to reassure us otherwise, or explain what made the food at this restaurant more healthy than other food one might come across). My advice to the business would be to have a more clearly defined/articulated philosophy to attract customers, especially local ones.

They have a nice, shaded seating area and are a good spot for some healthier and optional vegan fare. The vegan burrito was tasty :) My omnivore friend had the steak burrito and liked that too.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Vegan, Steak Burrito, Vegan Burrito

Big fan of Hā Cafe in Hilo because of their serious attention to ensuring food is vegan, and for me, egg-free, as I also have a severe egg allergy. From all of their desserts being entirely vegan and gluten-free (20-30 different bakery items each day), to their smoothies and juices being 90% vegan, with the exception of honey in some premade juice or dairy that can be substituted in smoothies, and a separate vegan menu for sandwiches and toasts, they are doing very well! They know each and every item in their foods and menu and are hyper aware of cross contamination. Plus everything is delicious and served with aloha. Can’t go wrong here.

The spot is cute and the menu has clearly labeled vegan options. I got the vegan breakfast sandwich which was supposed to come on sourdough but I got a croissant instead (not a fan of processed oil and was looking forward to sourdough). The taste was fine but could have used a touch of salt. Husband got the breakfast burrito. He said it wasn’t that good and, again, needed salt. Overall the food was just okay and even a bit disappointing.