Junbi

Junbi sits at Royal Hawaiian Center on Kalakaua, the California matcha brand's first Hawaii outpost in a small Building C storefront. The program is matcha forward and unapologetic about it: ceremonial-grade Daily and the higher Reiwa tier, served straight, in lattes, in cold brew, and in flavored variations including strawberry, guava, mango, and the Dirty Matcha that adds an espresso shot. Hawaii-exclusive collaborations bring in local produce when it is in season. The line moves Waikiki-fast. The crowd is a mix of visitors who walked over from the Royal Hawaiian and locals who drove in for the matcha specifically. It is open until 9pm, which makes it one of the few real after-dinner matcha options in town. Order the matcha cold brew if you want pure matcha without the dairy. Order the Dirty Matcha if you want the full crossover, espresso and ceremonial grade in one cup.