Lil T Cup is more than just a café for business owner Marisa McKnight. It’s a way to connect people and “get in touch with the community,” she says.
“I did a career change; I always wanted to own something,” explains McKnight, who used to work as an accountant. “I needed to do something for myself and regain my purpose.
“I thought, ‘I love cafes;’ I thought of multiple things that I could do with a space,” she adds. “I’ve been building this (concept) since last year.”
Lil T Cup Café officially opened toward the end of last December in ‘Aiea Town Square, in the former space of Hughley’s Southern Cuisine.
“My mom’s name is Lily, so the ‘Lil’ is for Lily,” McKnight says, of the business’s name. “The ‘T’ is for my auntie Thelma. I put the two women who made me who I am in the name. It came out to be ‘Lil T Cup’ … they both love tea.”
The café offers a variety of coffees and teas, housemade baked goods, sandwiches and plates. Besides its food and drinks, though, McKnight wanted the space to be known for its welcoming atmosphere.
“It’s known for the vibe — when you come in, how you feel, how we greet people,” she says.
The business prides itself on sourcing locally when possible.
“Our coffee and tea are from the Big Island,” McKnight says. “We try to support local; we’re using 100% Kaʻu coffee.”
Popular drinks so far include the cookie milk latte ($8-$8.75) and Ha-Y-an (Hawaiian … get it?) latte ($7.50-$8.25). The cookie milk latte is like a cookies and cream latte; it comprises vanilla, honey, cookies and cream and vanilla cold foam.
Meanwhile, the Ha-Y-an latte features a mix of taro and coconut.
The biz also offers specialty cold brews.
“Our cold brews are good because they’re made with Mānoa chocolate,” McKnight says. “It’s not bitter; there’s a good hint of chocolate in them.”
Dishes range from salads and sandwiches to heartier plates. If you’re craving breakfast, opt for da fried rice plate ($13) — two scoops of fried rice, two eggs and four pieces of bacon — or ube avocado toast ($10; add bacon and an egg for an additional $2 each).
Da “make your own musubi” plate ($15) features deconstructed musubi. The plate includes four pieces of marinated teriyaki Spam served over furikake sushi rice with six pieces of nori and pickled vegetables.
“We also have banana bread French toast,” McKnight says. “We make our banana bread in house; we make a lot of our desserts in house.”
The tonkatsu pork plate — featuring crispy, panko-crusted pork cutlet drizzled with tonkatsu sauce — is another customer favorite. Be on the lookout for any featured specials; if specials — like the fried rice — sell well, they’ll be added to the café’s regular menu.
The business is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday, Feb. 14. The first 10 customers at the grand opening will get a free 10-ounce cold brew. Every customer who makes a purchase will get a chance to spin a wheel to win free samples and prizes.
“I’m looking forward to seeing this place thrive, and being able to grow and expand,” McKnight says. “I want to continue to show other women out there that you can do what you put your mind to.”
CONTACT
Lil T Cup Café
99-080 Kauhale St. C-4, ‘Aiea
liltcupcafe.com
Instagram: @liltcupcafe
Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
