Nola Cafe

We went to pick up our 2 flights of Beignets for our office work lunch. This place is absolutely amazing . The decorations are absolutely stunning. The owner was helping a customer at the register but he acknowledged us and greeted us right away. He told us he's finishing a drink and will be right with us. That' is excellent customer service . Our Beignets were delicious. The flight comes with 8 inside of the box. You get 2 traditional, 2 ube, 2 chocolate, and 2 vanilla. We purchased 2 boxes . Our office can't wait to try the food items on the menu such as gumbo , and jambalaya. Very excited to have discovered this hidden gem .

Having frequented Kaimuki often, specifically for their amazing cafe and restaurant scene, the specific location of this restaurant has gone through many changes over the decades. I don't think it's the easiest spot to maintain a thriving business, maybe because parking is a challenge, and/or what many patrons may not notice, though they should, the rent in the area may also be unnecessarily high.I realize this may seem like a tangent, but you can't ignore rental and housing prices when you come to Hawai'i, so it shouldn't be a surprise when you see those costs reflected in our local businesses. So, if you're going out to eat, please keep that in mind when coming to places like this. Yes, it's a little pricey BUT their menu items taste great AND if you like it, then you should support the business by frequenting it more.This lovely restaurant has a very New Orleans vibe with both inside and outdoor seating. We got their 4 pack of ube beignets, which was more than enough for the 3 of us and we plan to return to try their other flavors and their coffee, which is so good. I got the Nola coffee, which I thought would be too sweet because it has cinnamon, caramel, and chocolate, but to be honest, it was perfect. We also ordered the southern casserole, my husband is from the south so it was an easy win for him. It's REALLY cheesy so we ordered it for our kid, too. They didn't like it as much. If you're looking for a more kid friendly breakfast item, go with the egg and bacon sandwich. I got the andouille breakfast sandwich because it seemed spicy. The spicy flavor of the Tabasco was noticeable in the filling but not as much when you eat it like a sandwich, as it's intended to be eaten. I tend to like a lot of spice but I think it was still a good breakfast sandwich.

Nola cafe is open in kaimuki and serving southern food of all things, including beignets and gumbo. They also have some breakfast options. If you're willing to brave that small parking lot across from city mill, it's worth a try. My friend recommended Nola Cafe for lunch. I'm always willing to try new restaurants so I happily accepted her lunch invitation. I was able to find a parking spot at 12:30 on a Saturday so maybe the parking lot isn't too bad or maybe I got lucky. There were quite a few people in line when I got there and many other occupied tables, so it seems business is poppin'. I ordered the gumbo, a small plate of lilikoi beignets to share and an iced Nola coffee. It was $45 for everything. Yikes, I thought it was a little pricey. The plate of gumbo was huge. The stewed chicken and sausage came with two scoops of rice. While the gumbo was pretty flavorful and delicious, it wasn't my favorite gumbo I ever had. I've only eaten gumbo at 3 places though, so it has made top 3! The rice was a little crunchy too.The Nola coffee had cinnamon and caramel. It was good. They have lattes and other espresso drinks too. I kind of wish they had iced teas because I prefer tea to coffee, but it's not that big of a deal.The beignets weren't very good and I think that's what this place is known for. They have a bunch of different flavors including some that are savory. I like that they have a monthly flavor too. I just maybe thought it would be lighter, fluffier, etc. it was kind of dense and too filling for 2 people to share. I ended up giving the other two away. Seating is mostly outside, although there is some interior seating. It's nicely renovated inside (anyone remember when this place was the fat Greek?). I wish the menu was a little more clear inside. I think there was a smaller option for the gumbo, which I would have specified if it was more clear. I wish the cash register area thing didn't automatically pull up 15% tip because this isn't a full service restaurant. I know I could customize tip, but I felt pressured to be quick because there was a line. They brought out my food and that's it. There's no water service or anyone to check on you while you eat. We bussed our own tables when we were pau.For a $45 lunch I don't think I'll be back anytime soon. I'd go to other places for gumbo and beignets unfortunately. I'm glad I tried it and I hope they continue having lots of business, it's just not for me I think :/

- Iced black Coffee was pretty good with a chicory flavor expected of NOLA.- Traditional beignets were ok, slightly crispy on the edges, dough was a bit heavy, prob should have had it with a filling.Étouffée bowl base was mildly spicy, tasty and pleasant. Slight fishy flavor guessing from use of a hearty seafood broth. Served with a scoop of white rice. Shrimp was overcooked and mushy, but good amount for portion. I would give it another try if I visited againFirst, sat outside in their covered patio. Which was very comfortable and cool from the overhead ceiling fans. Then moved to an inside table because the traffic street noise was pretty loud. However, we arrived at a peak time and the inside noise was very loud as we sat next to a table of college girls. Combined with the outdoor noise, we had a hard hearing our order-taker and vice versa. Thus, part of our order was wrong which the restaurant quickly apologized and remedied! Customer service and staff were very friendly and nice.

If you're craving Louisiana-style comfort food with a Hawaiian twist, Café Nola in Waialae is the place to be! We stopped by recently and were blown away by the food, coffee, and welcoming vibes.Here's what we tried: * Beignet Flight: 8 perfectly fried, lightly sweet beignets. The flavors were amazing--2 traditional, 2 ube-filled, 2 chocolate-filled, and 2 vanilla-filled. Each one was fluffy, warm, and so satisfying! * Nola Signature Coffee: We tried it both hot and cold, and it was smooth, rich, and packed with flavor. Perfect for a morning or mid-day pick-me-up! * Shrimp Étouffée: Packed with bold, flavorful spices and just the right amount of heat. If you like it extra spicy, the owner will happily give you their signature Carolina Reaper hot sauce to kick it up a notch--just proceed with caution because it's no joke! The café has nice outdoor seating, making it a cozy spot to enjoy your meal.If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking this place out. Amazing food, great coffee, and friendly service!

What a cute place! This little coffee and begniets shop is nice and clean and located so close to the University. The stuffed begniets are very good, per my husband who is a snob about such things. He also says the coffee is good. For me, I didn't see any gluten free options. They looked up the casserole, but since it didn't say gluten free and this is a shop with lots of flour, I decided to pass.Service was quick and the guys were super nice.

The étouffée sandwich was awesome. We loved the dipping sauce. The subroll was nice and soft. The iced latte was refreshing. Cute place with wrought iron bistro table and chairs. The owner was gracious and service was good. The beignets were a little more chewy than we are used to. We only had the plain ones.

I think that if I hadn't previously been to New Orleans then this place might have blown my mind. But I have been to New Orleans and the food at Nola Cafe is different from what's I've had just walking on the streets of downtown New Orleans. The original flavor is richer and deeper. Almost like they cook everything with lard, there's a deep richness to it. I feel as if Nola was toned down to suit Hawaii local tastes. I got a latte as well and the coffee itself was a bit weak but flavor was good. The best thing was the breakfast casserole and they were really generous with the sour cream.

Wanted to try somewhere new while we were int the town area and decided to try here. Located on Waialae Ave. across of City Mill. Parking is right in front but there are limited stalls that are shared with other businesses in the same area. We were greeted warmly by the girl behind the counter. We ordered at the counter and picked a table inside, there is also a covered patio area with lots of tables. The food we ordered was brought out by the chef, who was friendly.Cafe style decor, with New Orleans art and memorabilia on the walls. Charming!Food we ordered: Shrimp Étouffée Bowl: Comfort food, warm and satisfying, rich and tasty with a bit of heat, served with a scoop of rice. Yummy!Andouille Egg Scramble Sandwich: Scrambled eggs, Andouille Sausage, green onions and cheese served on a bun. Served with a side tossed salad w/balsamic vinaigrette, my hubby enjoyed it.Sweet Beignet: Combo, 2 vanilla, 2 Ube, doused with powdered sugar.Savory Beignet: Prosciutto & Mozzarella.All the Beignets were so, so good! If you're in the mood for a taste of New Orleans, check out NOLA!

This place is amazing.The iced cafe nola is 10/10 and the original beignets are so good I keep coming back for more. Service is also great, very friendly staff and an awesome atmosphere. Definitely give this place a try!