Insomnia

I thought that this place was named for me because I sometimes have insomnia.
Really?
Why?
Could it be because I work the graveyard shift?
Anyway, this place sounded like a night time hang out spot, but it is not! They serve smoothies, won ton mien, Vietnamese sandwiches, phở, and, of course, coffee!
My lunch buddy and I secured a small table (there are about 8 tables inside and a couple outside) before the lunch crowd appeared — wow, this place is popular! We were lucky to get metered street parking. Remember to bring your quarters for these old school parking meters!
There are only 3 workers in this small shop. The friendly lady works well with her brother and her husband. Their teamwork is great! Brother works the front by taking orders, serving the meals, and collecting the payment. Husband works in the kitchen while the Mrs. floats between front and back! It’s amazing to watch their dynamics!
The food was pretty good! We had the Spring Rolls, Summer Rolls, and Vietnamese Iced Coffee. The standout was the Lemongrass Chicken French Sandwich. Loved the bread with the crisp crust and soft interior with flavorful, moist meat with the contrasting tang of the veggies — yum! The iced coffee was strong and «thick» — hah!
I kept looking at the decorations, especially the 4 aquariums with live fish. The alligator head with the loaf of bread in its mouth was amusing, but I was drawn to the sign that read, «Won Ton Mien». It haunted me, so I went back… a few days later…
Won ton noodle soup is one of my favorite dishes, especially if the Chinese dumpling has a shrimp in it — and this one had shrimp! The pi (wrapper) was nice and thin on the 5 won tons. I only wished that the noodles were firmer and that the bowl was bigger… The veggies were a great enhancement to the broth!
Since I wasn’t full, I got the phở… (Yes, I can eat!) It was okay with flavorful soup. The noodles were a bit softer than I’m used to. However, the bowl was large enough so that I wasn’t able to finish — yay! I also got the Thai Iced Coffee. It’s not as strong as the Vietnamese Iced Coffee, but both can keep you alert!
Next time, I’d probably get a plate lunch. The fish entrée sounded good… it’s kind of calling to me right now… hahaha! Looking forward to my next visit!

This place is BUSY!
I had lunch here with my lunch buddy and we got there about 11am. There was only one table that was occupied but was on their way out. We took our time to look at the menu and check out their off the wall décor. Good thing we ordered because the lunch rush came in and it was crazy! All the tables inside and outside were full within minutes! A line started to form and people were standing on the side waiting for their take out orders.
We ordered a few dishes to try since this was our first time. The dishes were Spring Rolls, Summer Rolls, Lemongrass Chicken French Sandwich and Vietnamese Coffee.
Spring Rolls came out in 4 pieces and all the sides you normally get with the order (lettuce, noodles, slices of cucumber, basil, pickled veggies and the dipping sauce). It was good but nothing special.
Summer Rolls came out in two pieces that were cut in half. It was a typical order of Summer Rolls with the peanut sauce on the side. I thought the shrimp slices were small and thin but it did come with a lot of noodles in the roll.
Lemongrass Chicken French Sandwich was good. It had a hint of lemongrass where it didn’t overpower the sandwich. The pickled veggies added a nice flavor to compliment the chicken and the bread came out nicely toasted.
Vietnamese Coffee was strong. It had a flavor that I couldn’t put my finger on but it wasn’t bad. I have to say that the bitterness to the drink was just right. It wasn’t drowning in condensed milk so thumbs up to this drink.
Great little spot and customer service was great. The owners mentioned that they have parking in back so you don’t have to street park and worry about your meter. It is a mom and pop type place so it does take time to get your order during the lunch rush so keep that in mind.

Excellent, friendly service and delicious food and coffee, Vietnamese-​style. My favorite is the lemongrass chicken sandwich, fresh and hot, with cilantro, pickled daikon and carrots, tomato and mayo in a crusty French roll; $ 6.75. So tasty! Also love the über-​strong Vietnamese ice coffee, $ 3.75. Lots of dark coffee flavor. I hope this super cheerful mom-​and-​pop coffee shop stays around forever!

Awesome little Mom and pop shop. Great, friendly, fun to meet. Most of all great on prices and value of what your buying. Sometimes a 6 $ 6oz. Drink at uproll café gets old real quick. Will definitely be stopping here regularly to get a bite to eat

The lemongrass sandwich was super ono, as well as the steamed fish and shrimp won ton soup! Best of all the guys behind the counter were soooo friendly. Only thing is, gets crowded at lunch.

The owners of Insomnia are a positive group to be around. They radiate positive energy and are extremely friendly. I like coming here not only for the food, but for the service which is FANTASTIC! I got the handsome service (inside joke) on my last visit. If you are a regular, they give you the VIP treatment which keeps me coming back.
I usually order the sauté chicken with insomnia spicy special sauce. This comes on a bed of rice (white or brown), picked vegetables, and salad. It’s is perfectly seasoned and not overbearing in taste. Parking is limited to metered on the street. You have the option to sit inside or outside. Just make sure to come early to beat the lunch crowd. If you are desperate and don’t want to wait, phone orders and take out can be an option. You’ll enjoy this place as much as I have.

I’ve only been here once but it’s already become a favorite of mine. I’ll definitely be making future trips whenever I can. They close at 4:30pm so I’m not able to make it during the week unless I have the day off. But I’ll definitely make it a place to visit on Saturdays whenever I’m craving anything Viet or just want coffee.
First off, the owners are really friendly and accommodating. They converse with you and are all smiles. They get to know their customers by name. I hope I can become a regular soon and just walk in and they say, «Hey, Josh! Same thing today?!» The atmosphere is inviting and homey which is really cool in my opinion. I love the plethora of fishy’s they have.
I had a Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi which was pretty good! The French Bread had the right consistency of crispy and soft. The daikon, carrots, and cucumber complimented the chicken just right. All making a perfect symphony worthy of brunch/​lunch. I was leaning towards getting an Iced Americano but they recommended a Vietnamese Coffee. I decided to give it a try and kudos to them! They brought it out in the French drip filter and I watched it brew in front of my eyes. They then poured it for me. Lately I’ve just been drinking my coffee or espresso black. But this Viet Coffee in particular was just the right amount of sweet and bitter. The condensed milk didn’t overpower the coffee and vice versa. It was a bit strong too but in a tasty way.
I love the place. Good hospitality is always good in my eyes. Next time I’ll go for Phở!

Adorable place that serves decent food. The high ratings for this place come from how sweet the couple who own the place are, calling everyone «my friend», letting everyone take their time to order, and just being super nice. Their menu is limited, but if you are looking for a light lunch and are in that area, this is a great place.

The staff was super friendly, it has this mom and pop feel. The banh mi lemon grass was so phenomenal so I highly recommend it.

My very first Unilocal review! And I’m glad to say it’s a great one. This is the the cutest little mom and pop Coffee/​Vietnamese café, located in the heart of Kakaako.
I actually stumbled upon this place while I was next door to their competition (brue bar). The owners of the shop were very friendly– and probably the main reason I give this place a ⁵⁄₅. They actually said they’ve been there for 11 years!!!
Their coffee menu is definitely for those who like it strong! I personally like my coffee on the sweeter side (but not too sweet) so I got the Vietnamese Iced Coffee. The husband brought the coffee to my table so I could watch it drip before he stirred and poured it over ice (so cool!). This was actually my first time trying Vietnamese iced coffee and even though it was on the strong side, I really liked it. It was just the right amount of sweet.
I also got the lemongrass chicken french sandwich. I love Vietnamese sandwiches, so I was really excited to try this one. They tied it in a plastic bag, so you have to eat it right way otherwise the bread will get tough. The bread the a little over toasted (which I didn’t mind). The chicken was nice and tender, with a mildly spicy kick, and the pickled veges and sauce were also very flavorful.
I got to excited and ate my sandwhich before I got to take a pic lol, so I’m posting my brother sandwich instead– he got the Vietnamese french sandwich (he liked mine better, I didn’t try his bc I don’t care for char sui to much)
I’m so glad that I live in the area, I might just make this place my one stop shop for coffee!

I feel really terrible writing this review but I went to Insomnia this morning for lunch and there was a small roach in my food (chicken Caesar salad) and one on the table where we sat.
The couple who owns this shop was very sweet and accommodating which is why I feel bad writing this but the roaches put me off the rest of my lunch and I got a bag to take the rest and threw it away outside.
The roach in my food was still alive and kicking and stuck to my lettuce, I was a little too afraid to check if there were any more but there was definitely one that crawled up the wall onto our table.
Service is 5 stars; food, I couldn’t tell you because I lost my appetite after one bite.

Insomnia is a quaint little shop that for the most part would go unseen by most if not for the glowing reviews that customers have given them time and time again without fail.
I took my family here on a whim. We’re Vietnamese and we wanted something familiar. My mother has always been skeptical about going to restaurants that claim ‘home cooking’, but even she has nothing but good things to say especially about their Lemon Grass Chicken.
Personally, I’m in love with their Mongolian Beef!
My brother is just as notoriously picky as my mother and he can do nothing but sing its praises.
The service is astounding and the attention to their customers despite having a full house is great! They’re so friendly and do such a good job cooking. They seem like they’re having a lot of fun with their job. They’ve greeted every customer with a hello and a smile since we came in. Every dish looks amazing and I LOVE their drinks.
I might be from out of town, but I don’t think it would be much of a stretch to say that it’s probably the best place on Oahu to grab a Vietnamese taste of home on the cheap.

Friendly staff makes you feel at home and the food is fresh and ONO!
Loved my shrimp ramen soup and summer roll!
The Mocha Bubble Delight made everything just right. Nice touch of serving a local candy apple banana with chocolate sauce for dessert!
Can’t wait to try French roll breakfast sandwich next visit!

Others have said it, but I thought I’d add my two cents– I LOVE this place! I work right across the street and on days when I need a little extra caffeine kick or a lunch pick-​me-​up, I head here. The coffee is good– VERY strong, but I actually like this place for its lunch sandwiches the best. My absolute fav is the Vietnamese French Sandwich, but most of my co-​workers are gaga for the Lemongrass Chicken on French Bread.
Their customer service is AMAZING! The owners of this place remembered my name after one trip, and rain or shine, I have never seen them fail to greet a customer with anything but the highest levels of warmth and Aloha. They’ve even done up a few group orders for me for staff lunch meetings and the like. Their prices are totally fair (I attached a pic below), actually on par with a chain like Subway– and who wants a crummy, cardboard sub when you could have fresh, delicious, Vietnamese yumminess?

I love this place so much! This is my new go-​to breakfast place. So very affordable, and the owners are the greatest. The store is owned by a Vietnamese family, and they greet everyone who comes through the door with great energy and enthusiasm.
I stopped by here with my best friends, wanting to get some breakfast before heading over to Paiko. I got the breakfast bagel with ham, egg, and cheese. Very simple, yet delicious. My friend got an iced tea, and I got an iced coffee. Man, that coffee was STRONG. It kept me going through my entire day at work! I’m totally going back there today to get some more before work. It’s a total necessity now.
While we were eating and talking, they brought over dark chocolate covered apple bananas for us. So yummy! The food is affordable and delicious, the ambience is relaxing yet fun, and the people are very friendly. There is no question that this place deserves five stars. I love it here!

I give it 5 shining stars because of the ambience, hospitality, quality and quantity of the food. The owners are very generous with great customer service and awesome food!
It’s such a great feeling coming here knowing that you’ll get great food and service all the time, it’s like a family — like visiting aunty’s house. It’s such a warm feeling.

The breakfast French roll is amazing.
Their prices do not feel like Hawaii at all. Very reasonable!!!
The nicest couple run this place. They will always remember you and treat you like family.
Amazing little hole in the wall.
Believe it or not for such a small place, their coffee is actually really good too!!!
Try it. Go say hi and become a part of their family.

While my friend and I were trying to find somewhere to eat lunch, we drove past Insomnia and my friend said we should eat there. I looked at him incredulously and was like, «Uh, the sign says it is a coffee and tea place…» He replied, «No, my friend said it has awesome Vietnamese food.» Perplexed and somewhat hesitant, I agreed to go to Insomnia for lunch. But boy, am I glad we went there!
Aside from coffee and tea as advertised on the sign outside, Insomnia offers a small, but solid, array of Vietnamese food. I went with Phở with steak and brisket. The broth was super flavorful and the meat was good quality (i.e. not just fat like at a lot of other places).
But the real reason this place gets five stars from me is the service. I was amazed by how warm and welcoming the old couple that runs this place was. They were seriously the sweetest people EVER. The wife was adorable. When we went to pay, she was asking us how we enjoyed our meal and wishing us a good day. I know the staff at a lot of restaurants do that, but you could tell she really meant it. The husband kept coming over to talk to us and calling us «my friends.» My heart was melting. They also gave everyone in the restaurant a little banana drizzled with chocolate as a treat. If you need your day brightened, just go to Insomnia. Really. This couple can put a smile on anyone’s face.

I’m grateful for three things when eating out: good hospitality, delicious food and AC! Thankfully, Insomnia has the trifecta. My lunch homies and I decided to make our way over from the office, but google maps can be deceiving sometimes. Especially when you’re hungry. A short stroll turned turned into a full on journey under the beaming hot sun, and I was more than relieved to walk into Insomnia which had its AC on blast! The owners were behind the counter, and their friendly greetings of «helloooo dear!», made me all the more happier to be dining there!
Insomnia has a lot of coffee goodies, drinks and shakes but the main draw for us to come here was the food! They have a handful of Vietnamese dishes to choose from, including sandwiches, phở, rice and bun dishes. The lemongrass chicken is freakin’ delectable. I literally demolished my plate. I usually pass on rice too, but in this case I cleaned up because everything just tasted so good! I ordered a Thai Iced Tea to go with my food, and while it was a little watered down, the sweetness and the distinct flavor the tea really hit the spot.
We dined in so that we could soak up the AC before heading back to the office, and halfway through our meal, we were presented with some fresh cut pineapple! Talk about service!
The prices here are reasonable and everything is delectably tasty. The best part though, is how friendly and welcoming the owners are. The husband and wife duo (I’m assuming!) are just so cute! Stepping into their restaurant makes you feel like you’re seeing old friends, and their happiness and kindness is absolutely contageous. Heck, I feel all warm and fuzzy just thinking about visiting Insomnia again.

Adding to my previous review, tried their popular Lemongrass Chicken on cold noodle (like bun) for the first time. AMAZING. Take out menu says $ 8.25 but it’s $ 7.25 as their Thursday Special. but she charged me the lower price today (Tuesday), maybe because she knows I’ve eaten there before but never tried their Lemongrass Chicken yet? What a dear!
The chicken is so flavorul and so tasty, topped with slices of onion, daikon, showered with chopped peanuts (she asked if I wanted peanuts. that was thoughtful to ask in advance!), and she even gave me two containers of fish sauce. I hardly touched the 2^nd one, it had more than enough flavor.
Always friendly service. Always available parking (during non peak hours! lol). I shall upload some pics.