Cafe Kopi

My Friday date and I ventured outside of urban Honolulu this morning upon recommendation of one of my patients. She raved about her friends' coffee shop meets Singapore fusion restaurant stop as a place we had to try on one of our "coffee safaris."There's a parking lot in the back, which we know is SO key in kailua town. We opted to sit indoors and enjoy their AC and watch the kitchen create delicious smells while we enjoyed our drinks and snacks. Naturally, my grandfather opted for black coffee which in his words "is so strong!" And I chose the Kopi coffee on ice, perfect for the hot day. We also got a snackie of Chinese dumplings, which were individually fried to perfection and came with a delicious sweet chili dipping sauce. The food came out a bit slowly, but the kitchen was busy and we were in no rush, and got to enjoy our drinks while making conversation over the local artwork on their walls. The Singapore laksa came highly recommended by my patient, but we arrived a little too early, and was still brewing. We were told it's only available Fridays-Sundays. Oh well, just means we'll have to come back again!!

The woman at the counter was unbelievably rude to us (dark hair and several piercings). This after we made an extra trip of over an hour to try their food. Left in a state of shock that someone could be so hateful. I would avoid this place and try Shioketh if you're looking for Singaporean food.

So I was so excited to come here with my friends before we went to get a pedicure. I was so sad when I saw the days pastry selection. They were all over baked and looked so dry. So we all skipped out on the pastries we were looking forward to. However; we did like our drinks. My matcha was smooth and balanced. Service was kind and fast. Cute little coffee shop with fun art and chill beach vibe. I will go back and give another try because I always see others get good things, I just think I may have hit an off day.

They have come into their own as a community engaged, all around solid neighborhood bakery / cafe that has a few but very good Singapore dishes honoring the owner's heritage.Requisite American cafe coffee drinks, check. A great selection of house baked goods including a very good croissant and a fruit "Danish" made of buttery layered croissant dough and fresh fruits.The real standouts, Singapore's kaya (coconut spread) toast, kopi (seasoned pulled coffee) and laksa.1. Kaya toast - well made, coconut with pandan notes flavored kaya. It is spread between crust removed, toasted, buttered bread. Simplicity at its best. One thing, where's the coddled egg, soy sauce and white pepper?2. Kopi - STRONG. Good roasted flavor with black butter notes. No bitterness or acrid finish. Simply frothed or with evaporated milk. Either way, a caffeinated boost equal to the similar number of shots of espresso.3. Laksa - Fancy by Singapore standards but between the flavorful and fragrant rempah (dried shrimp / spice paste), good shrimp stock made creamy by slightly curdled coconut milk, tender noodles, and properly cooked shrimp and fried bean curd, a solid example of laksa made for Western taste. The addition of the soft boiled egg adds substance. Friendly service. The staff is constantly working and when there is downtime, cleaning.Indoor / outdoor seating with both street parking and a private lot in back.Satisfying.

Cafe Kopi brings me back to my days living in Singapore when I preferred to hang out at homey cafes with mismatched furnitures, friendly staff and good coffee. The vibe is relaxed and the paintings on the wall feature local artists. I was excited to see real Kopi on the menu. Variations include Kopi O, Kopi Gao, Kopi C, etc. I wanted to order the Kopi but was informed by the nice lady that they ran out of the base brew so they couldn't make it. (It was only 930am on a Tuesday) so I inquired if I can just order the iced Singaporean coffee instead. She said she can make that since it doesn't use the "base brew" ... so I wasn't really sure what I got, maybe just a latte but the milk didn't have a thick feel to it so I was ok with that. My husband was raving about the overnight oats with fresh berries the day before so that's what he ordered again on his second visit. The barista informed him that they just made those oats that morning so the milk hasn't fully set yet. (let's just call it morning oats then) he said this was ok since he was starving.I appreciate what the cafe is doing but couldn't give more than an average review due to the inconsistent offerings. It's definitely better to support local cafes than go to Starbucks IMO.

Nestled in the heart of Kailua town, Cafe Kopi is one of the area's local culinary gems. Inspired by the flavors of Singapore and Asia all with a serene Hawaiian ambiance, this eclectic cafe has much to offer. You'll find coffee and tea beverages, a daily selection of fresh baked goods but it's their weekend special, Singaporean Laksa, that steals the show. My mom and I enjoyed our experience here so much that we visited twice during my trip. The Traditional Singapore Kopi drink is a must-order and features caffeinated Robusta coffee beans, roasted in butter and sugar. This gives it a rich, caramelized flavor that's more aromatic than its Vietnamese version. Enjoy it alongside some Kaya Toast and you have yourself the perfect traditional old school Singaporean breakfast. As for food, everything we had was delicious from the flavor-bomb of a dish, the Singaporean Laksa, to the Spam Musubi Croissant. The latter was a bit pricey for a pastry but upon trying it with its flaky buttery layers of dough combined with the salty, umami-rich seaweed and spam, it was well worth it. The Passion Fruit Tart is also a hit here with its sweet, tangy curd layered upon a buttery shortbread crust and topped with fluffy, toasted merengue.Service was friendly enough and the workers are quick in getting orders out promptly and efficiently. In terms of drink orders, you do have to pay attention to when they call out your order and place it on the counter.

When in Kailua! I love their bakery. Everything we ordered was delicious. Staff were very nice and friendly. Plenty of street parking. Cute and cozy seating area.

I follow a local artist named @candicedoodles on IG and I saw that she started selling some of her merch at Cafe Kopi. I live near Kailua, so I was surprised to find out that Cafe Kopi is Singaporean owned and has been in Kailua for a number of years. How did I not know about this place??! I kind of jokingly pride myself in being 1/4 Singaporean Chinese. I seek out Singaporean things mostly because I miss traveling to Singapore twice a year with my grandparents. Singapore is nostalgic for me. I decided to come in asap to get a coffee and do some work. It's a nice little coffee shop with about 8 tables and a splattering of chairs. They offer cute pastries and coffee and tea. They also sell artwork from artists like Candicedoodles. I ordered the Teh Tarik with condensed milk. It had a strong tea flavor and I love condense milk, so it was perfect. I was thinking about getting kaya toast, but I didn't see it offered anywhere by the register (like on a menu)...oh well, next time!I will definitely need to come back on a Friday, Sat or Sunday to get Laksa. And I am thinking about making this my go to coffee shop in Kailua.

I got some baked goods which just ok, it's not their forte. I would recommend trying their menu instead.

Cafe Kopi is really easy to find. They are located conveniently close to nearby bus stops and it's like a 3-5 mins walks. If you are coming from Honolulu then bus Route 66 and 67 are your friends! As for the cafe itself, it is super cute. The food looks great, and the staff are very nice and easy to talk to. I came on Sunday itself to try their Laksa and I love it! Shoutout to Kat and Milani for chitchatting with us and making this trek out of the city worth it. They have regular utensils next to the area where you can pick up your food, and if you are doing takeout there is another spot for takeout utensils. I didn't try any drinks, but my friend's grandma love their chai latte that she got another one! I would say if you are interested in their sweets try the ones in the display!