“Hands down, one of the best places for boba in my opinion. The tea is always brewed fresh daily. The boba itself is not hard or too chewy. Drinks are made to order. The staff is always patient, friendly and kind even with my two energetic boys running around. The ambience is so cute and the place is always clean.“
“I have been getting an Iced Latte from them in a regular basis and I want to say that they have always been very friendly... the coffee is great too. They also have a lot of interesting pastries and deserts. Although I am not a sweets person, the items I have tried were all very good.“
“Sama Sama is amazing! I love what they are doing with unique Filipino-inspired flavors, collaborating with local artists to design cups, etc. You can tell that they use real ube, calamansi, and other actual ingredients instead of just artificial flavoring. Service is excellent too. There's no other boba/tea place on the island that does what they do! I enjoyed their drinks so much, I even hired them to cater our wedding. We had 4 flavors at a serviced bar, and it was an absolute hit. I plan to visit more often in the future and try out their coffee beverages. They also come out with new flavors every so often.“
“We went here today and were the only people in the shop. What I'm assuming are the owners were very sweet. We had a delicious banana split, blueberry cheesecake icecream in a waffle cone, and some chocolate icecream with sprinkles. The place might need a little updating but overall had some great icecream.“
“Was early for Dr's appointments this morning and went on a search for a coffee place near by and found this little gem!Got the hazelnut latte for Mom,which she absolutely loved, and a yummy caramel macchiato for myself.Amazing customer service, got our drinks quickly and great prices!Will definitely drop by again for another coffee fix next appointment in town.Parking: It is a busy parking lot but we found a spot fairly quickly.“
“Fooki is an amazing spot as a solo diner, date night spot, or with a group of friends you want to catch up with. I ordered the Seafood Laksa, which was very flavorful and if you end up saving the leftover curry coconut creamy broth, would be ideal for layering on top of any appetizer. The Shrimp Paste Noodle Soup could've been improved upon as the broth wasn't too memorable, however the hand made shrimp paste was fairly unique. If you have a group bigger than two, would recommend making reservations to play it safe!“
“If you’re looking for those super fluffy Japanese souffle pancakes, this is the place to get ‘em. Aside from the pancakes, which are delicious on their own, they have creative toppings like Biscoff and Crème Brûlée and Brown Sugar Boba - those sauces will have you licking the wax off the plates lol.I also appreciate how you can order the drinks at varying degrees of added sweetness - for smoothies 25% is about right for me. They’re always coming up with new and seasonal flavors for the drinks as well - you’ll have a hard time deciding between a tea, milk tea, smoothie or milk shake.Parking is plentiful in the area; closest garage would be the Hmart one and you can get validation with a purchase in the market. On Sundays, street parking is free and the area is pretty safe during the day - just don’t go into the bathrooms at the park nearby.“
Bubble Tea • $
“We used to come here a lot! Like every week at least once, but we hadn't been coming into town as much so haven't stopped here in awhile.I'm happy to say that Thangs is still awesome! I never remember how good Thangs is until I've eaten at other smoothie places for awhile. What I realize when I get to have Thangs again is their smoothies have more real fruit in them, you can taste the extra flavor. Their bobas are perfect, soft without being too soft. And the texture of their bobas is creamy.The family that runs it is very efficient and friendly as well.Thangs is awesome, do yourself a favor and go there! They always keep the place very clean as well, we've been going for many years.“
“We got a melon slushy it was so yummy. Round off 5 bucks a cup it was cold sweet and bright green ? my little ones enjoyed it maybe next time we will try the food ? out door seating and it was sunny and breezy that day so it was a nice little spot to stop ✔️“
“I love to walk here when I'm taking a long walk. The service is great as are the drinks. I like to get the papaya smoothie and add boba and the boba is perfectly made. It also doesn't freeze with the drink, so it's delicious to the last sip. The atmosphere is cozy as it is just an ordering window, but there is a place to sit if you're looking for a reprieve from the sun or your walk.“
“Indulging in Korean snow ice cream was an absolute delight! The delicate flakes of shaved ice were like a fluffy blanket, melting on my tongue with every bite. Topped with fresh fruit, sweet condensed milk, and chewy mochi, every spoonful was a delightful surprise. It was the perfect treat to cool down on a hot day, and I can't wait to enjoy it again!“
“Ordered a passion mango smoothie and I will say that I will make the sugar level higher next time. Overall, it was a very refreshing drink and I really liked the passion fruit seeds in the bottom.The drink was smooth, fruity, and delicious. The location is rather cute being around the corner of the street, but depending on when you come you may or may not find much street parking. The tea shop was clean, bright and simple. I actually appreciated that it wasn't too cluttered with items and their menu had options but not overwhelming. The people were friendly and fast with my order. To me, that's great service considering that you're only getting a drink! Definitely will come back again!“
“Who knew there's a Teapresso Bar here in Aloha Tower Marketplace... One of the smallest Teapresso Bar that I've seen and their menu is displayed a bit different than the usual so I'm not sure if they do have all the teas that they usually brew fresh but do see my favorite Pink Dragon Hibiscus is available here though for some reason wasn't feeling that this visit. It could be seeing the ocean view just a short distance but something about this open outdoorsy air vibe just feels so refreshing and decided on a Slushie and with what seems to have five to choose from (Mango, Strawberry, Honeydew, Yeah, Lychee, Pineapple and Passion Fruit) it had to be Passion Fruit for me and though there is a couple of tables and a few counter seating strolling around outside seem like the vibe for me as this slushie had just the right sweetness and flavor. The staff here is just a patient and pleasant as I couldn't decide between several choice did help me narrow it down to my slushie...with a view. Thank you!“
“Uncle's Chicken is a small chicken shop located near Sakana in Kalihi. I placed a 5 chicken sandwich order around 11:20 and was quoted 15 minutes. I left downtown to grab the food right after and my food was ready by the time I got there. Very impressive chicken sandwich. I got the spicy one and it was only spicy in certain parts of my sandwich, which is why I gave minus one star. It seems like I was eating the original sandwich and put hot sauce in one spot of my sandwich. Other than that, the chicken was moist and crispy. The bread was so good. Seemed like a sweet bread bun. Definitely put the sandwich together. I think one thing I wish they included was pickles. That would make the sandwich complete! I would definitely come back if I was ever in the area. Their boba drinks look very impressive too.“
“I love the decor of this beautiful cafe. The music was soft and soothing so I was able to focus when studying. It has a nice open feel, not overcrowded. Ordering was very easy and we received our order very quickly. The Pineapple Snow Ice was so yummy! The pineapple was fresh and the lemon jelly wasn't tart; it was just perfect. Before we left because we just had to have more, we ordered the Milk Tea Snow Ice and Wintermelon Tea with boba and grass jelly. I was pleasantly surprised that the grass jelly was not overpowering. The boba was just the perfect texture! There are so many more things I cannot wait to try on our next visit!“
“Best boba on the island, hands down! The owners are always so nice and remember me and my husband's order. Drinks come out very quickly. It's a small shop, definitely more grab-and-go, but it's worth the stop. Parking is weird since the city changed the stalls on Kamake'e, but it's easy to find a stall in front of the shop/a little further up or around the corner near Harry's Cafe. Highly recommend the Lattea!“
“I ventured into Ding Tea for the first time ever, and I was not disappointed.[Parking]I believe they offer up to 25 or 30 min free validation in their lot. I walked, so I'm not 100% certain--but there is also street parking nearby.[Ambiance]There is construction nearby because Kaka'ako is always working on some new project. But the location is nice! The place itself is clean and inviting. Lots of seating. Free WiFi for guests. Not sure if they have a restroom, but seems like a good place to catch up with friends, read, study, do work, etc. Not too loud. Not too busy.[Boba]I ordered a regular size signature milk tea with golden boba at 75% sweetness. It was a solid milk tea. Not too sweet. Boba was good texture wise. I wish there was more of a prominent tea flavor to hook my in, but this was definitely one of the better milk teas I've tried. I tend to be picky with my boba. Standard pricing. A little less than $7. Not cheap but but expensive either.[Service]The two employees that were working were exceptionally nice. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with a "welcome in" and smile. They were efficient and sweet. Customer service at its best.Overall, a solid boba place. I wanna come back and try a fruit offering and banh mi!“
Bubble Tea • $
“Good service, great drinks, convenient location with parking !! Drinks can be a bit sweet so I recommend 50% or 75% if you need a sweet pick me up. Just tried the peach oolong tea 50% sweet and it's perfect with pieces of fresh peaches. The girl helping me today was kind and offered me a stamp card. Love that it's dog friendly here. The shop is always so clean and there is tons of outdoor seating.“
“I had very high hopes for this place.A few weeks ago, I stopped by for the first time and got beef curry and gyoza to go. It was spectacular! Decided to go for the ramen next visit.And I did.I wanted to get the thickest, most robust flavored soup, so I got the "Special" tonkotsu black garlic ramen.I really liked the visual presentation. Very vibrant, neat and appetizing.As with most ramen takeouts, the soup and noodles were packaged in separate containers. Before pouring the soup into the ramen bowl, I took a little sip.It was a tad disappointing, as I had such high hopes for this shop. The soup was a bit on the bland side. I guess the fried garlic chips are supposed to carry the flavor but there's nothing else. What I did notice was a slight slimy texture and a hint of odor. This probably indicates that inferior pork bones were used to draw the soup stock.For those of you who don't know how tonkotsu soup is made, ignorance is bliss. If you knew exactly what's in it, you may be traumatized!So, I'll spare you the details. What I will say is that hours of boiling the pork bones is needed to extract the umami, but other ingredients are crucial too. Grated ginger, garlic cloves, salt and pepper are some of the common items that are used. Despite the shortcomings of the tonkotsu soup, I have high hopes that Rakumen could be a top contender in the ramen world if they tweaked their soup just a little bit. Use better quality pork bones would be one. Adding a bit more flavor would be the other. *I had some leftover soup, so I added a little grated ginger and garlic with a few drops of la-yu to it and already, it was about as good as the other ramen shops in town. I give them 4 stars despite the seemingly harsh critique of their tonkotsu, because of their prompt and courteous service. But most of all, I believe that they will only get better.Looking forward to visiting again to up them to 5 stars!“
“I have been wanting to try this place for a while. There is parking in front but limited. We decided to park in the garage, which wasn't pricey. We went between 1 to 2, and it wasn't busy. We ordered the grilled cheese sandwich for the kids and waffle fries. Also ordered the Papa Smokes Burger, a Buttah Big Boi Burger, thai milk tea, and brown sugar ube milk.I wasn't too impressed with the drinks. Was a bit water down. But we did like the food. The waffle fries were crunchy and had nice seasoning to it. The grilled cheese was glooey and the kids loved that. The japanese milk bread used with the grilled cheese was good. My kids ate it, so I was happy, lol. I enjoyed the papa smokes burger. The bun was soft and the brisket and burger patties were cooked great. My bf really enjoyed the big boi burger. It is a big burger with three patties and he really enjoyed it. Overall, we enjoyed the food and would go back again. Sorry, pictures/videos aren't good. lol we were hungry.“
“We were greeted by two lovely young ladies.We ordered "2" Macha Frappuccino with coconut milk and ube cake.The Macha frap tasted like the Japanese Macha ice cream from Tanaka of Tokyo or from Dave's Ice Cream. The Ube cake was soft and not overpowering in sweetness it was just right.We were greeted as we exited and we enjoyed our refreshing drinks and soft ube cake“
“We have been coming to Wen’s for years! It is the best local spot in Honolulu. They have great flavors, affordable prices and friendly staff. I recently got the peach oolong tea and the winter melon black tea. You can actually taste the tea.“
“Always shop at lins when I'm in Oahu. Usually get my products at the aloha swap meet, but not on this trip. A lot more convenient for me, since it was close to the hotelKid-friendliness: The kids may go wild in here with all of the local snacks“
“I absolutely love this boba shop located on JBPHH. The owner is always so happy to chat with the customers and each drink is made to order. The dragon fruit drink is full of flavor and the color is vibrant. I also ordered a mango drink and it was perfect and not too sweet. Plus the sizes are very generous for the price. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. Military base access is required to go to the shop.“
“Best matcha boba on the island (and I’ve tried a lot). Matcha has excellent flavor, especially for matcha enthusiasts like myself haha. Boba is well cooked, chewy, and sweet but not overtly sweet. My friend likes to get the potted milk tea.Honestly my favorite boba shop on the island!!Such a nice place, cute vibes, and free parking (but if you have a big car it’ll be a bit tight… also right now there’s construction to the adjacent parking lot so this one can get crowded/full at certain hours).Parking: Free lot but spaces are tiny“
“Came back to give this place another try and was greeted by a very friendly lady. I ordered a banh mi and Vietnamese coffee. The coffee was strong, bold flavor with a hint of chocolatey sweetness. Woke me up and hit the spot. I ordered the traditional Banh Mi. It is a Vietnamese sandwich made with a Crusty French bread rolls smeared with pate, mayo, Asian ham, pickled vegetables, green onion, coriander/cilantro, fresh chillies and drizzle of seasoning. It came warm, crispy with a great crunch and satisfied my craving. Will be back to try more items on the menu and thank you for the good service.“
“Cute little gem that had a nice variety of choices. The menu was robust and organized well. I opted for the non caffeinated taro milk tea with boba and lychee jelly. I loved that you could choose the level of sweetness. I went with 25%, and it was perfect - sweet but not too sweet. A nice refreshing afternoon stop.“
“Picking up an Instagram prize in Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii...I'm sure I've been to this Teapresso Bar location in the past. I remember that Instagram-worthy wall mural and the #sakuraSwing! However, my sister and my niece aren't familiar with these things and this place. They agreed to come with me and help me consume the FOUR Brownie Lattes (made with Kilani Bakery brownies) AND a pack of the famous brownies! Yeah! This is such a generous prize!I parked in the free shared lot and told the gal (Rose) at the counter that I was one of the Instagram winners. I asked if one of the lattes could be made with Oat Milk. Yes! Can do!We took a lot of photos, and the owner's wife took our group photo, too! LOL! My family is camera shy... The Brownie Latte is delicious! It was created from the old Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial... when the guy and the gal bump into each other while one was eating a chocolate bar and the other was eating from an open jar of peanut butter. If you look at Teapresso Bar's Instagram post, a guy and a gal bump into each other while one is eating a vanilla Latte from Teapresso Bar Wahiawa and the other is eating a brownie from Kilani Bakery. LOL! Very clever collaboration!Thank you, Teapresso Bar Wahiawa, for your generosity - not only towards me and the other two winners - but also to the community. I watched Instagram videos of graffiti clean-up; distribution of drinks to the fire fighters, police officers, and other community members; participation in community events such as the annual Easter Egg Hunt, and community involvement with organizations such as the local Rotary Club! Kudos to you!Your business is truly amazing because of the way you train your young workers and the way you treat others! You give the next generation an opportunity to learn excellent customer service skills and also provide patrons with exciting new drink menu items like Pumpkin Haupia Latte and the Immuni-tea series!Thanks for hanging in there during "the pandemic", "rude" customers, and even enduring a car crashing through the wall of the neighboring business! You've survived so much and still maintain a positive Aloha Spirit!Best wishes for continued success and happiness! We will be back!“
“Really chill place. The Taro Bubble Tea is delicious, real great little place, lady that served us looked like she would rather be doing anything else than being there.Packaging is unique and funky.The brown sugar boba is a wee bit too grainy for my liking, but overall nice bubble tea place“
“Been here multiple times and they never failed me. I love their drinks here so much that I kept coming back. Prices are reasonable and the space is so cute. Almost every corner it's so artistic.Amongst my favorite drinks are mango purple rice yogurt, ube purple rice yogurt, dragon fruit yogurt & their peach yogurt. They have the best purple rice yogurt in my opinion.Customer service is good and they were nice in here. Waiting time for your drink varies. It also depends if they got lots of customer and most of the time they got a long line which form from the outside.The only thing that I don't like coming here is parking. There are many instances that I want to grab drinks here but didn't went through coz parking is so tough, like really challenging. They only got street parking and most of the time it is occupied but other than that their drinks are pretty competitive. Hope they'll open one in a mall or a foodcourt. That would be awesome!Mahalo for reading & happy juandering fellow Yeeps!“
“After hearing Thang's closing at this location, I was excited that another cafe took over and had the same concept as Thang's. Located across the gas station, you can easily find parking in the back by Aiea Manapua or the lot further back. Menu consists the same drinks such as fresh fruit smoothies, Vietnamese coffee, and more. They have tapioca pearls as well. We decided to get a pineapple and watermelon smoothie as those are our favorite. The prices range from $6-$8 depending on what flavor or combos you get. I was a bit disappointed by the smoothies because they added in coconut milk or some type of milk versus Thang's didn't add milk. It was really milky. No complaints but just a food for thought. It wasn't bad but just wasn't what I thought it was going to be like since the menu and concept was the same. Overall it's just okay. Def would try their iced Vietnamese coffee though because that looked amazing!“
“This was my first time eating Pad Thai and papaya salad, and I really enjoyed it! It's my kind of flavors. I will definitely be coming back as a regular. The service was also really great. He seemed so kind and genuine in serving his food. 10/10!!“
“The coffe was really good and the entire place was really neatVegetarian options: There coffe was vegetarian and there abocado shake and shaveice is good tooParking: There is a parking spot right near the café and it isnt ammed that much and you Can just park your car and walk right inKid-friendliness: The staff are really kind só they don't really mind about anything just as long as no one is hurt“
“Been here twice to take out this week. Although a bit expensive at $18 a poke bowl, it's fresh and decent:Wasabi shoyu poke bowl: 4 stars for $18, a regular sized poke bowl with wasabi and shoyu. They don't have a selection for rice, so you just choose the poke. Since there isn't anywhere close by except for restaurant row to buy in the area, it's decent. The fish is fresh.Hurricane poke bowl: 4 stars, only because they are a little more expensive than other places. Otherwise a 5 star. A regular sized poke bowl with more garnishes than the shoyu bowl. Fresh tasting fish, but I went at 1:30p and they were running out of ahi, so they offered me a half salmon/ahi bowl. It was a decent sized bowl, but a little pricy, but where is cheap in Kakaako? strawberry Hojicha matcha - first time I bought it for $8, but after adding my phone number at the cashier and checking in the 5 star loyalty app, I ordered a different poke bowl again because five star offered a free drink for a limited time, and they told me I could order any drink, so ordered it again since no other place sells this type of drink, with real strawberries and hojicha (roasted) matcha.Service was excellent. They do NOT charge an extra 3% surcharge like some other restaurants for using a credit card.When I'm in the area, it's a good place to pick up poke bowl and a specialty drink here, yes, I'd buy here again even if it's a little more expensive than other places, especially their drinks.“
“I worked with George and Kawelo for my boba catering for my destination wedding and we are more than satisfied with their communication and service. Even if they were just dropping the boba teas off, their team had no issue with my instructions on how we wanted them displayed on the table. We ordered 50 boba teas - half jasmine and half taro, which are my husband's and my favorite flavors. One of our guests never had taro milk tea before and it instantly became her favorite! I definitely recommend booking them for your event!“
“Really cute, small, boba tea place in ward village. Only one gentleman working. Not many people inside, just a few enjoying bubble waffles. A lady was hanging out with her dog inside so I brought mine in and ordered the Boba milk tea with puff cream. It was really good, only one size. Not overly sweet, a lot of ice but service was quick. Boba was nice a squishy and tasty. My mom got their new soft serve and enjoyed that as well, said it was really creamy.“
“My favorite bubble tea place on the island. This place is authentic Taiwanese bubble tea. Big serving size. The auntie here is so sweet and she’s truly a kind person who cares about the students who comes to her shop. She also makes her bubbles from scratch early in the morning. My kid and i always have a good time when we are here.Kid-friendliness: Auntie is super sweet to little keiki“