Cha-No-Ma Teahouse

This place is really hidden. No sign or anything. Limited amount of tables and chairs; needs renovations, but understand it’s family owned.
I came in here because of the good Unilocal reviews and it was around 10 PM. This place is so awkward, there’s a random lady with her baby inside, and 20 minutes into the service I thought most of the people in there were customers, then to realize they are family members and friends having tea.
There was a tea host, she was really sweet, but she is hard to hear. They ran out of the Japanese tea, but luckily she said all of the tea they offer are organic. We wanted to pick the oolong tea, but she kept urging us for the Shan Lin Xi High Mountain tea which was $ 3 – 4 more, and to «buy us» she said the tea cures cancer and diabetes. My friend and I don’t have any type of health problems; told her we were healthy, then to give in she said, «this is our popular pick».
Sure, the tea taste nice. The tea ritual was interesting which I enjoyed. She also offered us these bamboo charcoal to try (pineapple and macadamia) as samplers. She offered us each 3 oz bags for $ 5, but you can get it on-​line in bulk (if you want to be cheap) for about $ 3 a bag.
Overall: highly awkward setting with a random lady with a baby, friends and family, ridiculous tax (doesn’t match up with the 4.2% state tax), good tea, but limited selections and false advertisement of the tea, and nice floral notes of the tea.
*note: i walked here, but they do not validate your parking.

Uh, this place is alright, but very disorganized. They were out of all the Japanese teas, and kept pushing the other (rather expensive) teas, talking about the detoxifying benefits of said tea. I don’t want to drink tea because I think it’s going to cure something… I want to drink tea because it tastes good.
it was really hot, so I just got the pot-​stickers, which were really really delicious. I would have gotten the shabu-​shabu but the price was way too high, in excess of $ 20 per person.
The place could use a little bit of cleaning up, but they seemed to be opening late that day (I have no idea what that means because there are no posted hours) and in fact I had to call to figure out if they were planning to open at all.

This place is the hidden gem of Waikiki! My friend and I had one of the worst food experiences downstairs at Odoriko one night, leaving me with food poisoning, but thank the Lord for Cha no ma, for saving our night and making it a memorable one (in a good way) because they serve what my friend and I have since referred to as the «magic nuts» and «magic tea»!
Cha-​no-​ma is completely hidden on the very top (and desserted) floor of King’s Village. You would never find this place simply by just «stumbling» upon it. I had read about the charcoal nuts and friendly owners here on Unilocal,and I was so curious about it that even with my rumbly tummy I just had to take a peek. My intention was to just see where it was and ask them for the bathroom key since I was really suffering from my meal at Odoriko, but the owner’s were so friendly and happen to ask if we had had dinner yet. I of course told them that unfortunately yes I did, and my stomach was hurting from it. When they heard that, they immediately sat us down and prepared a pot of Shan lin xi high mountain tea which is supposed to be great for «stomach difficulties» and food poisoning and told me to eat the charcoal nuts to help «flush me out». The last thing I wanted to do at that moment was eat or drink anything, but it was the best thing to happen to us that evening because my friend and I walked away literally feeling golden and my stomach was completely better by the time I left (with a few trips to the bathroom in between, haha)!
But besides my personal tummy troubles that night, this place is wonderful. It is not fancy, it does not have matching furniture, their daughter’s toys and books are set up in the corner of the tea house, but when you are there, you feel like you are a guest in their home and you walk away just feeling good. They have a long list of HIGH QUALITY teas, with each of them good for a variety of ailments, or palate preferences. The way they serve the tea here is also an experience in itself. It’s served in a very tiny pot that they are constantly refilling for you so that each sip of tea is truly fresh. The charcoal nuts really are something. It’s not what I expected at all and had such a pleasant flavor. The nuts and the tea were truly harmonious and complemented each other perfectly. The desserts that they serve here look absolutely amazing, and though I wasn’t able to try them this go around, I will definitely be back soon with a well tummy ready to dig in!
If you like family owned, hole in the wall places that offer you a unique dining experience, you really must check this place out! Or if you dine at Odoriko and get food poisoning, then you know where to go to fix you up fast ;o) Let’s hope the latter doesn’t happen though. Regardless, I hope you fall in love with Cha-​no-​ma like I have!

Where to start…
5 stars obviously. BYOB isn’t mentioned, it is. Everything that IS mentioned, for the most part I agree with. Tony and his wife are sweethearts. They will walk you through the traditional (taiwanese — Gong Fu) way of pouring, steeping and enjoying your tea. Think, «Tea 101». A class that you can enjoy w/​shabushabu.
«1024», «A Cup of tea», this is not.
The Shabushabu is pretty good, and they even use the left over broth to make a egg/​rice dish at the end that is absolutely delightful. Think. egg juk. Also, charcoal treats accompany the tea. Namely bamboo-​charcoal pineapple and macnut treats. You can probably google them and they’ll pop up. Very tasty and not at all intimidating.
In making your tea, you share a community kettle of water. Once you get the hang of it, pouring and preparing your own tea is just part of the experience. It’s a very comfortable and relaxing environment.
Parking in the structure downstairs will probably run you 8 – 10 $, but it’s a lot more convenient than trying to park elsewhere.
We’ve been here numerous times and have always walked away happy/​heavier. If you are looking for a unique experience with regards to tea and food, please do give this place a go.

I dont think I can really write a review because I didn’t have their tea, but I went here today and they only had 2 options for food. Yes, I know it’s a TEAhouse, but I was deceived into thinking that they had more than just 2 food options.
And do not park in the King’s Village parking. They will NOT validate. They just told us to find some street parking.
Unilocal 365 Challenge #245/​365

This is a very authentic teahouse. They serve a small selection of Taiwanese and Japanese teas the traditional way, with small teapots and minuscule cups. I’d never experienced the apparently taiwanese method of filling one cup, putting the other overtop, and flipping them both; very cool! The Ah Li Shan Oolong vas delightful, all five steepings. The Japanese tea wasn’t available due to radiation, which is commendable for not serving it anyway. All in all a good experience, and the best tea experience I’ve had in Honolulu.

My favorite: Green Tea Shaved Ice Cream (shave ice, green tea ice cream, sweetened condensed milk, whipped cream, green tea powder and azuki beans). The flavor is light, crisp, and satisfying. The texture is amazing, the way the fluff of the shaved ice pairs with the ice cream. Delightful!
The tea is also quite good. While the price point may seem a bit steep and the tea pot tiny, however, the majority of teas offered can be steeped up to 17 times! Completely worth the price.
The complimentary charcoal snacks, served with tea, are initially novel, but are genuinely scrumptious and partners so well.
The owners (a husband and wife team) are attentive, welcoming hosts. Their children are absolutely charming. The atmosphere – casual and relaxed.
I really can’t think of any significant con to this establishment. I love it.

Cha-​No-​Ma teahouse is a hidden gem! If you enjoy good tea and sweet treats this place is a must.
I hosted a bridal shower here. At first we were reluctant since I haven’t heard of this place, but after looking at the Unilocal reviews I decided to give it a try. Everyone had a blast at the shower and the tea was delicious. Tony and Mie are really nice.
Only bad thing is parking is difficult. We parked at the muni and walked over. Good place if you’re in the area.

Adore this place :)
Fun times were spent here with my friends.
I am a tea lover, so this place is so nice to drink tea! The owner and his wife are super nice and funny! and they usually have kids running around but its a really approachable place lol. Every time we come here I have to get their maccha parfait (green tea ice cream with whipped cream, azuki, and an assortment of fruits including lychee, mandarin oranges, pineapples, etc.). The green tea shave ice is also refreshing, but I always get the parfait.
As for tea, we’ve tried the Oriental Beauty and Jasmine Sparrow-​Tongue. I like drinking in the Taiwanese style of drinking tea where there’s two cups, one tiny one for smelling the scent of the tea before you drink, and then the slightly bigger cup which is for drinking. I just love their NUTS too! charcoal nuts… yum! They are the perfect complement to their teas.
Funny story, one time my friends and I were sharing a Jasmine tea set and I swear there must have been something in the tea because we couldn’t stop laughing at the stupidest things! It was like there were drugs in there or something lmao. So yeah, good times/​memories :D

This small teahouse is lovely! My friends and I walked over after lunching at Marukame Udon and had such a relaxing time as we chatted over tea. Having read the Unilocal reviews on the place, I was looking forward to meeting the owners but there was someone else holding down the fort when we went. The young woman was friendly and attentive. We told her we wanted to go with a Taiwanese tea and she kindly explained the benefit of each Taiwanese tea on the menu. We went with the Ali Shan Oolong, which is good for the skin and thus, popular with women.
The tea set was so darn cute! Everything from the tea pot to the utensils to the tea cups were mini. The oolong we chose was fragrant and smooth – I could definitely taste the quality. Each tea has a different price and the one we chose was $ 15. The woman informed us that we can get about twenty (mini) pots out of the tea leaves and there was definitely enough tea to last us! (I believe we were there for an hour.) Since there were five of us, it came out to $ 3 per person plus $ 1 for tip… not expensive at all! Because the tea pot is so small, the woman repeatedly poured boiling water into the tea pot for us until we told her we were done enjoying the tea =).
The charcoal treats (charcoal macadamia nuts, charcoal pineapple bits, and charcoal peanuts) were great! The subtly sweet flavors of the treats balanced our ever so slightly bitter oolong tea very well.
Bottom line: if relaxing afternoons in a teahouse are your cup of tea, Cha-​No-​Ma is more than ready to please!

Hidden away on the second story of the King’s Plaza in Waikiki, Cha-​No-​Ma Tea House is a truly wonderful find.
My girlfriend and I stopped by late one evening, about a half hour before they closed. Despite that, the owner was very welcoming to us. After being encouraged to try their free charcoal treats (an invention by the owner of the tea house), we were then invited to have a seat at a table in the corner. The owner, a man named Tony, rushed over menus and answered several questions for us. When I requested to order Japanese green tea, Tony politely warned that there was a great deal of caffeine in the drink I wanted. He instead recommended a relaxing Jasmine green tea from Taiwan.
The tea was great! Tony came over and walked us through the proper way to enjoy the aromas and tastes of this delicious tea. He also brought over more samples of the three charcoal treats by the front door. The treats are very tasty. I’ve had jasmine tea before, and this was a good one. The taste of most jasmine tea is usually has a bitter and artificial. At Cha-​No-​Ma, the jasmine tea is sublime! The taste was much mellower than the jasmine teas I’ve had at other places. The flavor was smooth, and slightly sweet. The scent of the tea was that of fresh Jasmine flowers: light, sweet, and relaxing. It tasted like a much more expensive tea, but definitely didn’t cost as much as one. Tony definitely knows his teas.
We had also ordered boiled dumplings to snack on with our tea. They were pretty good too. Much better than the frozen dumplings you can buy in stores, and on par with a lot of other restaurants offering dumplings. I was impressed how well they went with the tea too.
While we nibbled our dumplings and sipped out tea, Tony and his daughter Rei played outside. The two of them were definitely a cute scene. Tony’s wife was very kind when we were ready to pay the bill. I regret not taking her up on her offer to take home some of the charcoal treats. I really liked the charcoal pineapple and macadamia nut treats, and my girlfriend enjoyed the charcoal covered peanuts too.
We only managed to go to this shop once, but I would definitely go again. We were short on time when we discovered their little shop, and really wanted to try their lunch special. (It looks like such a great buy!) All in all, it was a very charming shop, with great service, good food, and amazing tea. I wish them all the luck in the world, and hope their shop is still there when we go back to Oahu!

Very cute couple running this teahouse. Very traditional. Their charcoal bites are really good and goes great with the tea. The music enhances the atmosphere and it helps to relax us while sipping tea.
The shabu shabu another group was eating smelled really good. We tried the fruit parfait and the green tea parfait… both were yummy.
We only tried the Taiwanese tea so far. Looking at the menu again, there were many different types of Taiwanese and Japanese tea! The Taiwanese teas are good for detoxification and lowering high cholesterol. If you’re like me, and worried about their cholesterol levels, high blood pressure levels, and just need a getaway from these problems (which include arthritis AND acne; unfortunately) then this is the place for you!!! I would give this place my personal stamp of approval. Happy Unilocaling!

This place is so awesome! It is hidden on the second story of the King’s Plaza. The owner was super friendly and nice. We came after their last call for their shabu-​shabu hot pots. Instead, we just order some dumplings. His wife said that they specialized in both Taiwanese and Japanese teas. She recommended one that was $ 15 that was good for detoxing and for lowering the cholesterol. With all the seafood and sushis that we been eating, we agreed that it was probably the best choice for us at the time. They also had tea that helps your skin, detox, beauty, weight… etc etc.
The tea setup up was quite elaborate. The last time I had tea like this was when I was in Taiwan on a hilltop! The service was so awesome! The owner kept refilling our mini teapot as we watched in awe. Eventually, he explained the process of it and even allowed each one of us to have a turn at making the tea! The tea was really nice and of good quality! The bf said that he actually felt better after drinking the tea. He said that he felt that he had more energy. Regardless, it was good tea. Hopefully, we can visit this place again before we head home. The tea also accompanied a light snack.
This snack was bamboo charcoal nuts. That’s right! CHARCOAL! There were three different flavors including macadamia nuts, peanuts, and dried pineapple. Supposedly, the bamboo is heated up to 800 degrees — what is the purpose? Well, we were informed that it is supposed to help with the digestion process and also detox. Ultimately, it is supposed to be a good healthy snack for you. Honestly, it wasn’t too bad. I actually liked the macadamia nut flavored ones, and even took a bag home with me for my family. This product was actually discovered and made by the owner of Cha-​No-​Ma Teahouse! How awesome is that? Yum!

This place was awesome!!! best tea you can possibly find on this island. I tried there Tea Nabe it was so deliciously healthy! Those of you who have been here before need to try it! Its a brand new item they have created. I also enjoyed there bamboo charcoal nuts and ended up taking a few bags home!
Service was splendid, the owner and daughter always seem to keep the place delighted.

Tea was very good quality! Although I’m not a professional tea connoisseur, I know good tea when I drink it because my Asian relatives are heavily into premium tea. If there was ever a tea-​holic anonymous they would all belong to one.
Dessert: The shaved ice was tasty without being too heavy-​tasting. Perfect finish to the night (especially after we stuff our faces at the sushi restaurant earlier).
What impressed me the most was the service and the warmth – that itself is more than 5 stars.
The kids play area saved us because our little one was perfectly entertained on her own while we got a little break to sip heavenly tea! We shall be back!
Tip: open until 11pm! Much better alternative to the clubbing nights loaded with fattening alcohol (or maybe I’m over that, been there done that!).

What an experience!
The owner was soooo friendly and nice. He really took his time to explain how to drink the tea, and how to really enjoy tea.
Loved it!!!

If only I could come here everyday, we unfortunately went for two evenings in a row on a 4 day business trip; would have been four if we found this amazing tea house our first night.
Walking through the King’s Village, third floor, we spot a tea house… not a typical formal tea house. It’s wide open and has a place for young kids to play. The owners, a husband and wife team are so friendly and funny, informative and attentive to their customer’s needs. After peeking in, looking at the menu, we decide to go for it because of the shave ice offering (the first night, we were so taken by the teas that we forgot to order the shave ice!)
If you want to check out more online, here’s their website link in English:
We head into the family room:
This is no authentic tea house of any ethnicity, no kimono clad woman pouring for you. No grumpy Chinese lady dumping out the first brewing. No snooty Brit offering you scones and a bunch of sugar for their bitter teas. Ah, this is tea experience can only be summed up as island style; which to me means a melting pot of styles: laid back while hilarious (our host), delicious and smooth, and calm while exciting! We stayed for hours each night, never being pushed to leave while always feeling welcomed.
The beautiful owner-​wife, who is Japanese, speaks English very well, explained the different types of organic teas they offer, and what it is said to do for the body. She showed us that we should not brew the teas long as it will make the tea bitter. The tea sets offered are very tiny, in comparison to typical tea places. Each setting has a smelling cup as well as the drinking cup. Ahh, to smell fresh tea, then pour into the drinking tea and drink.
The Taiwanese owner-​husband came over, and basically is a total crack up… Jokes, tells stories and just quite entertaining (as well as their adorable little daughter.) His family in Taiwan are organic tea growers. He wanted to try a tea house in Honolulu, which obviously was a smart move.
Anyway, there are basically two food orders other than the desserts:
Och-​kake (hot tea poured over rice with toppings) and tea boiled gyoza. Both are delicious. Shave ice, green tea, sweetened condensed milk and azuki beans, all Japanese style is to die for, is also offered.
Cha No Ma is a fun, casual place which has an entertaining and friendly family that owns the place. Nice place to lingeringly chat over tea with friends. A must for an unique experience and to get away from the crowds of Honolulu.

I LOVE this place =]. My first time was maybe a year ago… or has it been a year and a half already? Like Alice A. said, it seems like a hang out for old family friends rather than a business. Whenever my friends and I go, it seems like we’re the only customers. It’s a really small place but the owners are super nice. I have been there maybe 5 or 6 times since. I can’t wait to go again. I haven’t gone back in a while. It’s a nice place to hang after dinner. drinking some tea to help digest. It can get a little pricy but if you get the Taiwanese teas, you can all chip in and share ^^

I hate the term «tourist» and try really hard to find the hole-​in-​the-​wall places that offer real people and real good food. This place is as authentic as it gets. It’s more like a hang out for old family friends than a business. Not being Taiwanese nor Japanese, I seemed to have walked into someone’s living room, but in a great way.
We were welcomed warmly; the owner sat down with us and explained the tea selections and her favorite ones. It was literally the BEST tea we had ever had. Order the Jasmine, reasonably priced at $ 10 and you can brew the little tea pot 20 times! We also ordered the Green Tea Shaved Ice dessert ($ 5.95), it was like a little present with sweet suprises that made it even more fun. Oh and don’t be afraid to try the bamboo charcoal peanuts, they come with the tea and they’re great (we bought a bag).
We also bought a bag of the organic Jasmine for $ 28 and another by her recommendation for $ 50, a little pricey but you only use 2 teaspoons at a time, so it’ll last a while.
LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT

And for my 200^th review. .. a unique and amusing new find!
Alert: Really long and rambling review follows. Do not read unless you are seriously bored.
My buddies and I get together every week to eat, and lately, we’ve been hanging out at King’s Village in Waikiki. First, we discovered Gyoza No Ohsho, then the really friendly owner of A Latta Gelata, then the cheap Kama’aina take out specials at Odoriko. Last week, one of my friends finished eating before us and wandered off to check out the touristy shops. He came back excited about a new teahouse he had found, so we all went to check it out.
Cha-​No-​Ma is a tiny shop on the second floor of King’s Village with a few tiny wood tables to sit at. We stood at the entrance looking over the dessert menu (it looked yummy) and then the bagged teas for sale when the owner approached us and asked if he could help us.
I asked about the bag of tea I happened to be holding up at the time and he bluntly stated, «Honestly, that one is not very good.» Okay. One point for honesty. Within minutes, he somehow got us seated at one of the tables for a tasting.
We expected to maybe taste a cup of tea, buy something, and then leave, but we ended up staying for hours, because this guy was just hilarious! And he was relentless with the tea pouring. As soon as we drank down one of the tiny cups, a new batch was waiting to be poured into them. We didn’t leave until 1 am, and it was a work day!
The owner was from Taiwan, where teahouses are very popular, and decided to try his hand at one here. Hearing that my mother was originally from Taiwan as well, he decided that I must be an expert at all things Taiwanese, and quizzed me all night on tea facts. This gave my friends a great big chuckle, as I miserably failed each test.
If you have a couple of hours to kill, this guy is seriously amusing. We were laughing our a**** off all night. He was just so blunt, and the broken English made everything funnier. At one point, we were talking about pastries, and he was telling us how much he loved pastries (except he called them «bakery»), but his wife always ate his stash when he was busy and how she was so fat (he said this lovingly!) and when we turned to look at his wife, there she was behind the counter, shoving a pastry into her mouth! Aw man, this isn’t funny when I write it down! You had to be there to listen to the way he said it…
Oh, and I should rate the tea. He has a large selection of teas from Taiwan, of varying quality. He also sells all the equipment for brewing and serving tea. The tea sets and wooden boxes and instruments are very pretty, but quite expensive. The next time we stop by, I’m trying one of their desserts, too.