Known for its Taiwanese flavors and boba, Dragon Tea first opened in 2013 in Waikīkī, and relocated to its current Kalihi store in 2019. While the café is regarded for its large boba selection, it also offers snacks like popcorn chicken and skewers.
The cafe recently changed its name to Leilani Taiwanese Kitchen to reflect its menu — which includes much more than boba.
While the café changed its name, its food and drink menus are mostly the same; a few drinks were recently added, but you can still look forward to shareable Taiwanese snacks.
We get the café’s popular tea eggs (one for $2, three for $5.20) and popcorn chicken ($9.70 small, $17.70 large) to start. I always look forward to the hard-boiled eggs; while these don’t feature a strong tea flavor, they’re still a delightful snack.
Of everything we tried, the popcorn chicken ($9.70 small, $17.70 large) was my favorite dish. The popcorn chicken is ultra crispy, conveniently bite-sized and juicy on the inside.
You can order it spicy or mild; we opted for the latter, which had a slight kick.
Rou zao fan, or Taiwanese minced pork over rice ($14.70), is a hearty, comforting dish. The ground pork was so flavorful, especially when paired with the dish’s accompanying soy-braised egg.
The braised tomato beef noodle soup ($15.70) comes highly recommended. The beef is tender and flavorful; you can opt for a mild version or no-spice version. If you want something spicy, go for the Sichuan beef noodle soup ($16.20).
The eatery offers a variety of options for skewers; each order includes three pieces. Meats range from beef, pork belly and lamb to chicken and frog legs. While we weren’t brave enough to try the latter, the chicken and lamb skewers were both safe choices. Both featured a slight heat, resulting in a lingering spice.
The eatery still features an extensive bubble tea menu, which comprises milk tea, slushes and fruit teas. Popular options include brown sugar fresh milk ($5.70), passionfruit lemon green tea ($6.20), taro slush ($6.70) and strawberry milk ($5.70). Toppings like boba (70 cents) and a variety of jellies — ranging from coffee and lychee to peach and mango — are available.
Non-caffeinated beverages, like fresh lemon yogurt ($6.20) and honeydew milk tea ($5.70), are also available.
Free customer parking is available in the two lots behind the building; parking entrance is on Houghtailing Street.
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CONTACT
Leilani Taiwanese Kitchen
1339 N. School St., Honolulu
808-847-4838
Instagram: @leilanitaiwanesekitchen
Open 11:15 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays-Fridays, closed Saturdays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
