Kissaten Coffee Bar

24-​hour coffee shop?! No way!
Like other reviews mention, the workers here aren’t the best, and service is lacking. While the food and convenience of the shop is a definite plus, I rarely find myself recommending this place when my friends and I want to study somewhere. The drinks are a little expensive and the wifi is given out by the hour, with a purchase. While this is a good system given that they are open 24/​7, I wish they were a little more generous. Maybe two hours? Three? When I want to go somewhere like this to study, I wanna get work done!
All in all, Kissaten is decent, and a reasonable option for a study group.

Great place to come and grab a bite after work. It was a little hard to find while driving at first, but the Unilocal directions are correct, it’s there! Lots of seats and tables available; no crowd around 6:00 pm on a Friday. A few people had their books and laptops out, outlets are available for charging.
I got the Pastrami Swiss Melt after seeing some good looking pics of it on Unilocal.It comes with a side of salad or chips, total was $ 9.95 including tax.
I parked on the street (check signs but may be free after 6pm), my friend parked across at the mall.

Tried their Fried rice special and hot chocolate. The food was flavorful, portion was just right, and the hot chocolate with your choice of dairy. Seating yourself is easy and comfortable though you will be paying specialty coffee house prices for their drinks and food.
Still, if you’re looking for a late night place to chill and prefer not to have wait service this place is a good one to grab a quick bite and chill with friends. Best to get here on foot otherwise you’ll be looking for nearby street parking or if you’re fortunate to find one of their open stalls in the parking structure across the street.

Wait. wait. what’s that I smell? Smells like melted cheese along with some side of tomato bisque ala steamed clams and muscles. Do such things exist at this place that’s tucked away in a little corner building of the KHON station? Yes! Parking here is available inside the KHON lot (with signs on each spot for Kissaten patrons) but sometimes hard to find when they’re busy. I’ve always been a fan of coffee shops for people watching. This place is over flowing with people from all around.
I’ve stopped by here during their busy times just to get a hot cocoa and work on a side project. They have free wifi (wifi password given upon ordering or if you ask), sometimes the password is at the back of the counter. The amount of seats are aplenty, power plugs are either at the middle bar station, or some under the booths. Their menu is pretty eclectic with options for soups, salads, rice dishes and sandwiches and miscellaneous specials (give them a ring). Don’t let me forget about their overnight menu (served from 10:30−6am «for the party people»). A vast array of items can fill the stomach whether it be brunch and dinner. You can easily order a simple grilled cheese sandwich to a fancy little pasta for dinner. Whether you’re pulling an all nighter or simply stopping by during odd times of the day/​night, this place is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Yup, pretty happening! I absolutely love their grilled cheese sandwich and tomato bisque on the side with a nice cup of hot cocoa. I can never get over the prices on the hot cocoa sometimes. But I do enjoy how they make it here. The grilled cheese is delightful with a sweet hint of apple, bacon on white bread and toasted (just how I like ‘em). I’m very much into the creamy type of soup, so I jumped on the opportunity when I saw the tomato bisque as my option but at times could be too rich in taste. Portions are good for the price. I will definitely come back here to try their specials.

This is my favorite place to study late at night. It’s open 24 hours so its really convenient when you need to cram for exams or finish assignments after Starbucks closes. When I feel sad because I’m about to fail an exam I like to calm my worries with their bomb truffle mac and cheese or the grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Down sides:
limited parking in the connected structure. Your other option is metered street parking.
Timed internet (two hours)
No outside food or drinks which includes hydroflasks or bottles.

Kissaten has some yummy eats and treats for everybody and I love the fact that this place is open 24 hours.
I really love their grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. It’s a must have when u are here.
They also have daily specials like bbq chicken wrap with salad.
I gave it four stars because the Internet is timed. That’s pretty much it.
Still a great place to grab a bite and do some work especially for me since I work from my laptop.

This is such a cute café and it’s 24 hours! Great spot to chill and study because it’s quiet here and relaxing. I love the vibe here and the various local art they showcase on the walls. They have variety of sandwiches, salads and few soups. They also have poke bowls here! I love their Matcha green tea latte here. Friendly service but parking can be difficult so I would suggest get dropped off or park in Alamoana and walk across street.

The attraction here is the space. It’s the coffice that you and your coworkers have been looking for (if you can find parking.) Open 24 hours, there’s free wi-​fi and lots of seating (at the counter and at tables.) Clean, spacious, and casual.
The menu’s not the biggest, but good enough. It’s a space that you’re more likely to find near a college campus. More coffice than café, a nice place to do work in the Ward area.

I eat their grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup WAAAY too often.
Like, EVERY time the office orders lunch from here. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Even when I’m trying to try something different. It’s just TOO good.
And the whole office does the same with their favorites too!

When I was in undergrad, I remember my friends and I used to like coming here for the tomato bisque and grilled cheese for a late night snack.
Tonight I finally got to come back, as I have been on the mainland for a bit. I got the tomato bisque and grilled cheese combo and decided to try the truffled mac and cheese since I love truffle :)
TRUFFLE MAC AND CHEESE: very cheesy and comforting with a lot of bacon on top, but I was missing the truffle flavor, which I was looking forward to. I didn’t taste any truffle :(
BISQUE AND GRILLED CHEESE: the tomato bisque has great flavor and texture and creamy, but with all tomato soups, it can get really acidic after eating it. The grilled cheese is still pretty good, but tonight I was a little sad I couldn’t taste as much cheese or Apple as it used to be. Tonight I mostly tasted the bacon inside it.
Service was friendly tonight, and my bf and I lucked out and we found parking (which is tough since there’s no longer street parking and only like 4 stalls in the garage :()
I’m hoping tonight was an off night when it comes to food, but I’ll be back again to give it another go and hope it tastes like how I remembered :)

It’s been a while since I’ve visited Kissaten, but I had the chance to catch up with a friend here recently. I already had dinner but my friend hadn’t eaten yet, so he got an entrée while I opted for dessert.
Since they were still doing construction around Ala Moana during the time of our visit, there was limited parking. I used to park at the Sears parking area and just walk across the street to Kissaten (to avoid the meters). Kissaten has a few allotted stalls in the KHON building, but there are only a few and they were all taken on this particular Friday evening. Fortunately, my friend and I were able to find street parking and since it was after the allotted hours, we didn’t have to pay. But, if you visit Kissaten during the day, I can imagine that parking would be hard to come by.
Fortunately, the ²⁴⁄₇ coffee shop/​eatery wasn’t too crowded when we dropped by, but there were still a decent amount of customers in there. It didn’t take too long for our food to come. I was so full that I couldn’t even have a bite of my friend’s pasta, but it sure looked good. There’s lots to try on the menu and I definitely look forward to enjoying more of their food. I can’t wait for the construction around Ala Moana to be done so that parking opens up again.
Here’s what we got during our visit:
«Truffle Mac & Cheese»: My friend ordered this for dinner and it was definitely cheesy; it’s something I wouldn’t hesitate to get for myself on a future visit. This entrée includes aged white cheddar and roasted chicken breast, and it’s finished with truffle oil and topped with bacon and torched crumbs. It was definitely a beauty to behold. My friend said he enjoyed the dish because it was really cheesy, but he felt like it was filling because of the strong truffle flavor. If you’re really into mac & cheese – like I am – I’m sure you’ll enjoy this dish.
«Chocolate Chip Cheesecake»: There are many different desserts to choose from here – including ice cream – but for some reason, cheesecake really appealed to me during my visit. I’m not sure if Kissaten is even known for their cheesecake, and I usually only like cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory, but this sweet treat hit the spot. The cheesecake was soft and not overly sweet, but the generous amount of chocolate chips on top of it provided the chocolaty taste I was looking for. I would order this again if I had a craving for it, but I also look forward to trying the other desserts available.
«Red Velvet Cake»: The red velvet cake in the display case looked really good, and I did contemplate ordering it … but, cheesecake won out during my visit. Next time, I’ll ask if the red velvet has cream cheese frosting. I’m picky about my red velvet – it has to have cream cheese frosting – and if the Kissaten one does, I’m down to try it.
«Mocha»: If I weren’t meeting my friend in the evening, I would have ordered this espresso drink for myself. It features espresso with milk and chocolate. I would have ordered an iced version because I like cold drinks over hot drinks, but I just would have made sure soy was available first. Even though Kissaten is a coffee shop, I never ordered coffee here yet, so I anticipate doing so on a future visit.

Kissaten Coffee Bar is a great place to work. They are open 24 hours, have WiFi, and a variety of drinks, sandwiches, soups, salads, plates and desserts to keep you going. The café has a youthful vibe and great floor to ceiling windows so you can watch the world go by while you are stuck working. A nice variety of music plays in the background and a laptop or book is open on almost every table.
If you want to check this place out, be warned, parking is a challenge. They have a few stalls in the KHON Building parking lot but these are usually taken, so find parking elsewhere and walk.

Today I had to eat light. It was a conscience decision of mine. There was no way any type of bread was going into my mouth. After devouring a large pie at jj dolans by myself last night it was the right choice. I couldn’t control my stomach at that time.
Anywho, I had finished my workout and I heard my stomach grumbling. I have no idea why, I fed it thousands of calories less then 12 hours ago. I passed by kissaten and Unilocaled it right away. I clicked on the menu section and I saw salads. Well that is what I’m going to be having.
I entered and it was relatively empty. There was a few students studying and that was about it. I looked at the wooden board at the salad section. Roasted beet and chicken salad… SOLD!!! It came with organic mixed greens, toasted walnuts, grape tomatoes, goat cheese crumbles and goat cheese dressing. I am a sucker for goat cheese;)
The chicken was cold, and it seemed that it was boiled, refrigerated, then sliced up thrown on top of the salad. The beets tasted sweet which was nice. As for the dressing it was more of a Caesar then a goat cheese. I can’t say it was worth the 9.75.
I’ll try something else next time. It’s a great place to get some reading and writing done.

I came here on a second instance, this time to study. This has got to become my go to study place. It’s not like any other coffee shop that’s too noisy or crowded. The music they play is set at the perfect noise level so you are able to study in peace. Most of the people who go there study too so it’s fairly mellow. I also got an iced mocha to study which was perfect. After I studied I got a vegetable panini. This sandwich was way more filling of vegetables than the grilled cheese, which I liked. The bread was toasted perfectly and all the fix ins were freshly made!

I can see why people like Kissaten, but at the same time, I always wonder why I come.
Parking is impossible, I always end up having to park across the street at Ala Moana and navigate my way across busy Piikoi to get there.
It does have a nice laid-​back atmosphere, very cool with art on the walls and appeals to students. There’s plenty of tables, and wifi, which makes it a popular studying destination.
But the service never stood out to me, and my opinion took a nose dive the other day when I walked in, almost overheating from walking over from Alaz on a hot day.
First of all, the clerk didn’t say anything to me. It looked like a customer was wrapping up a transaction, but he was standing off to the side, so I lingered back a bit. She just stared at me. No «Hi, welcome!» or «I can help you right here!» Not even a smile. It was super awkward. I finally walked up, and she still didn’t say anything. I glanced at the menu, with some idea of what I wanted and asked if they have soy milk. She said unfortunately, they were all out– no problem, I used to work at Starbucks and know that happens. So I got a bottle of water instead. There was no problem with that until she said they have a $ 5 card minimum. I asked her if she could make an exception since they didn’t have what I wanted. She said, «You don’t have cash?!»
Seriously? Wow, sorry for not having cash on me.
I would have left, if I wasn’t supposed to meet someone.
When my friends finally came, my friend offered to buy. I wasn’t going to get anything, but the same girl said «So are you gonna get your water now?» That was when one of my friends pointed out there was free ice water out on the counter– that would have been nice to know. When my friends were finally brought their drinks, the waiter forgot straws too.
Sure, the food is okay, and it is BYOB, but the service, morale or something needs improvement.

I love Kissaten, you don’t come across to many cafes that serve out of the norm drinks and food. The vibe of this restaurant is very chill and it’s great place to study or read a book. It’s attracts everyone from college students to families. I recommend the pastrami sandwich, but don’t get chips as a side. I love their ghost chili mango-​ade.
The only downside is:
1. Scarce Parking
(Park in the marked stalls in the building, you can park there ²⁴⁄₇)
2. No outside food or drinks
(yes, water bottles like hydroflask are prohibited) bring nothing but books and laptop
3. They have internet but you’ll being paying for it, and it only last 1 or 2 hour. So prepare to pay even if you’re not hungry or thirsty.
Want to know if WPA-​2 enabled?
Wpa-​2 is not enabled, so I recommend no shopping online. Coming from a computer geek.
4. If you order a drink that has syrup, ask for little more water, because it might be too much, at least the drinks I order do.
5. Minimum for using any credit or debit card is $ 3. Carry cash if you won’t be spending much, and want the wifi.
Besides that, they are pretty awesome to just chill with friends or study.

A few years ago when I was in grad school, I often went to Kissaten to do some late night studying and to work on my research paper. It was nice to have a place to go to with food, coffee, air conditioning, and free wifi (with purchase). I am a fan of their pesto mushroom pasta, truffle mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, and tomato bisque. I remember staying at Kissaten for hours and going home smelling like the food and drinks here.
Kissaten was walking distance from my old house in town, so I never had to worry about parking. Since then, I have been to Kissaten several times. Parking is tough, especially since there’s no longer any street parking in front of it, and only a limited amount of stalls in the KHON building. Service is also a hit or miss; I guess I never really noticed the wait time before since I used to camp out there overnight. Lastly, the wifi is limited and slow. While Kissaten brings back memories of late night cramming, it just isn’t as appealing to me as it used to be.

What makes a good study café?
1. Free parking
2. Free, reliable, fast wifi
3. Ample, clean tables
4. Numerous plugs for laptops and other devices
5. Comfortable chairs; bar stools (optional — in case you need to stand/​work; stretch your back)
6. Clean bathroom
7. Open ²⁴⁄₇
8. Good drinks (coffee & tea)
9. Good selection of sweet and savory foods at reasonable prices
10. Other people working hard (and talking about interesting things)
11. Good people-​watching
12. Lots of lights (natural light preferred)
13. High ceilings
14. Not musty; fresh air
15. Perfect temperature (not to hot or cold!)
16. Nice patrons who will watch your stuff if you need to pee (or otherwise…)
Best study café in Honolulu: Kissaten!
Five ***** stars for helping me complete my dissertation!

I tried Kissaten out at the insistence of my coworker for our lunch break a few days ago. It’s about a block away from our job so we walked over. It can be a little tricky to find if you aren’t familiar with it. It’s tucked in on the corner of the KHON2 building (Piikoi & Waimanu). I was immediately impressed with the cleanliness of the outside sidewalk & stairs & the cute designs of their windows. I was SUPER excited to see there is an ice cream parlor joined with them as well! I’m not sure if it was open when we went; there was no one behind the counter & no customers on that side.
The employees were very friendly & helpful. They could tell we weren’t familiar with their menu & offered explanations to their cream sodas & things. I ended up with the pesto turkey sandwich, soup of the day (cream of mushroom) & a melon cream soda. Everything tasted AWESOME but was pretty pricey. $ 9 for the sammy (it was crammed full of turkey meat & bacon though & was very filling), $ 4 for the add-​on soup & I think ~$ 3 for the cream soda. I hope they make chicken noodle soup since that’s my fave.

This is by far one of my favorite stops for any time of day.
Coffee, tea, soft drinks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late night fare — a simple and satisfying menu.
It’s a great place to study, journal, doodle, or daydream alone. An even better place for one-​to-​one or group conversations. It has the perfect balance of chill and buzz.
Open 24 hours for those late night and early morning stops for students and business professionals alike.
I gotta get there more often!