Studying in Kofe haus. (Vaitele- Apia)
Written on 14th May 2026. 11:21am.
The diary of a café hopper- PART 1
Going to Kung Pao Noodles
Today at 4pm I have a physics test paper. Despite contrary beliefs, taking science subjects does not mean you’re smart, it just means that you’re not easily scared by every tom, dick and harry screaming about difficult science is. So, when they say “oh wow! You take physics? You must be smart!” I can’t usually help but chuckle because sometimes, it’s not that simple.
Today, I am on the prowl to find a café near USP (University of the south Pacific), Alafua campus that I can deem good enough to study in. I had initially driven to Kung Pao Noodles, a well-known restaurant that has made its mark as one of Apia’s favourite soup places, before receiving a shiny new renovation sometime last year. With this new renovation came a slight change in menu as Café styled cuisine and drinks were added. I thought that it would be a great place to study considering that the place would have the three fundamental points crucial to my study schedule. Aircon, peace and electrical power points to charge my laptop.
However, when I arrived at the restaurant, the place looked darker than I ever recalled it to be, warmer in temperature which was evident as the staff member behind the counter was fanning herself with a notebook. It was quick for me to realize that Kung Pao noodles located in Vaitele was down with no electricity. As if sensing my misery and dread that had been forming in my gut all morning, Samoa decided to switch off its electricity. This is at times a common theme in Apia. It’s not something you can blame the restaurant in its entirety. It’s just something that happens.
Please note that in an event of no electricity, the restaurant does not allow dine ins and you must order takeaway.
Kung pao noodles is one of my mother’s favourite restaurants in the whole country, and on any Saturday, we find ourselves out and about adventuring Apia, we always find ourselves in the plush red booth seats of Kung Pao noodles. so, with this little mishap and the time I was losing I was a little bummed out by the situation, though I do respect the decision as the restaurant gets hot when there’s no power.
Arriving at Kofe Hause
With this start of an adventure, I found myself driving up hill to a neighbouring Cafe which is maybe less than a minute’s drive.
Kofe haus is an actual café which takes on a vintage American pop culture vibe within their concrete walls. It’s certainly a place you come to if you’re expecting coffees, fries and greasy thick burgers. With posters of movies like Pulp fiction, wonder woman the comic, music ones of Elvis and Michael Jackson. Vinyl records are hung along the walls almost touching the ceiling.
The place has black wooden tables with black metallic café chairs. Hung along the windows is checkered white and red pieces of cloths, too small to be functional curtains, but hung nonetheless to accentuate the American café ambiance they’re playing with. The outside eating area has wooden floorboards while inside it ha chequered black and white tiles.
The name of the café, Kofe Haus, is almost a reminder of Samoa’s history, which has been intertwined with Germany’s influence on the islands. Whether the owner’s have some German heritage in their blood is unknown to me.
Kofe haus is literally on the same street as Kung pao noodles. Its parking is quite wide and can fit approximately more than 12 cars (?). The café offers a small indoor eating area but a much larger space to eat outside, with tables lined under the porch of the tiny house and then a much bigger wooden platform built around the shade of a gigantic tree, its large, thick branches sprawling out over the dining deck.
Just like Kung Pao noodles, the place is also suffering from a power outage, however, not entirely? As I walked in, I noticed that the air conditioning was turned off but the ceiling fans and lights were on. I think they do have a generator somewhere at the back.
However, when ordering almost any drink off the menu like coffee of any sort or even Vaitipolo (lemon juice) I was quickly informed that due to the power outage they were unable to provide many of the drinks. After naming maybe 5 drinks and being told it was not available, I sighed and asked the waiter what they had. He then turned towards the beverage fridge sitting by the coffee maker. “We have coke, Fanta, sprite, apple juice-“
“Alright. Apple juice it is,”
The café is always an enjoyable place to eat, as their food is, in my opinion, always cooked to perfection. As I studied for my test at 4pm, I slowly sipped my apple juice, papers- scribbled on and rewritten on sprawled across my table. After 15 minutes of nursing my drink, I called on a waiter to take my order. None could be found.
Thankfully, a kitchen hand who only stepped out of the kitchen momentarily saw me trying to wave a waiter over and immediately approached me.
Anyways, here is what is on their menu:
And here’s what I ordered 😊
The steak and eggs: steak strips with mashed potato, two sunny side ups and a salad. It was 32 tala ($26.50 FJD)
It was nice.
I always enjoy the flavor of the steak as it is creamy, buttery and soft. The flavors kind are quite rich in the way it coats your tongue. With this dish you can order the eggs however you prefer it to be cooked. The mashed potatoes were smooth and fluffy, with it being more of a mundane flavor which pairs well with the richness that the steak has to offer. The salad was a salad. The portion size has decreased, a growing trend I’ve begun to notice all over Apia as shrink(in)flation terrorizes the world.
A saddening reality for many restaurants who are trying to keep their menus the same price.
Overall, even though the café didn’t have electricity at the time of my visit, I have no problem with this place. It’s a popular place here in Apia and during their peak hours, despite them having a big enough parking space to cater for 15 cars, it tends to fill up quickly, often leaving you struggling to find a spot.
It’s a café that kind of plays a bit on a American diner aesthetic in the way its decorated and with the type of food it serves. It’s a fun little place that a carnivore would fall in love with. This is one of those places I wish I could take my friends from Fiji to as they would enjoy everything about it. Would I say it’s the best place to study? Probably not, but not all places are ideal for studying and that’s okay.
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