"I specifically asked for the cream cheese on the side today. I come in regularly and always order the cream cheese bread this way without any issues. Today, the employee refused to accommodate the request and instead made excuses rather than simply preparing it correctly. As a result, my toddler was very upset. This could have been easily avoided if the request had been followed."

"I truly appreciate the concept behind Kitanda and what the space could represent for the Brazilian community in Seattle. Unfortunately, my experiences at some of their locations have been quite disappointing — and I can confidently say they do not reflect what authentic Brazilian service is about: warmth, attention to detail, friendliness, and genuine care for every customer, regardless of who they are. As a Brazilian, I honestly feel embarrassed by this representation of our culture here. Disappointment after disappointment. This past Saturday, while my husband and I were having coffee at the Green Lake location, his chair suddenly broke — and, to be honest, it was already extremely uncomfortable for a café setting. Luckily, he managed to hold onto a nearby table and avoid a more serious accident. Even so, it was quite a scare. What shocked us the most, however, was the staff’s reaction. One employee, sitting in the same area and witnessing everything, didn’t move — not even a look of concern. My husband asked her something (she wasn’t wearing headphones), and she completely ignored him. When he addressed her again, asking whether she had seen what had just happened to one of her customers, she rolled her eyes and said she couldn’t do anything because she was “on her break.” Really? How about being human? Represent your company with dignity. I completely understand that breaks are necessary, but that situation required at least a minimum of empathy and awareness. A simple gesture of concern would have made a big difference. None of the employees seemed to be Brazilian, and the overall attitude toward customers was distant and unwelcoming — the atmosphere felt heavy and indifferent. For years, I’ve seen similar feedback about this location: poor service, lack of training, and an absence of genuine hospitality, which contradict the beautiful idea behind the brand. It might be time to reevaluate processes and invest in proper staff training. More attentive professionals — ideally Brazilian, who truly understand the essence of what Kitanda stands for — could completely transform the customer experience. Unfortunately, it seems the owners have reached a point where they no longer value or even consider the feedback generously offered on this and other platforms. What a shame. On the other hand, the Kirkland location is quite different: the staff there tend to be friendlier and more pleasant, creating a more welcoming environment. The only note is that they often speak too loudly, which sometimes affects the calm atmosphere one expects from a café. I genuinely hope this review serves as constructive feedback. Customer service should reflect the warmth and care that Brazilian culture is known for. Personally, I don’t plan to return to any of the locations — and for now, I can’t recommend Kitanda as a standout café. Sadly, it has become just another average coffee spot in the area."

"I ordered a Ziba Acai bowl with no coconut due to a mild allergy and informed the cashier about it. A few minutes later, I heard the person preparing my order start to call it out, and I believe it was the cashier who reminded them that it wasn’t supposed to have coconut. I didn’t look over, assuming they would have the courtesy to make a new one. When I got home, I realized they had simply scooped most of the coconut out instead of remaking the bowl. As I began eating, I noticed traces of coconut still in the bowl. This was disappointing, as allergies, mild or severe should be taken seriously. I called the store and requested a refund since I couldn’t drive back. They did offer to make another bowl, but I wasn’t able to return."

"Edit 08/2025: haven't had a bad acai for a while, been icy enough! Adding back stars Edit 03/2025: added photo of the workers here not taking orders until noon when I arrived at 11:30, during lunch time... Edit 09/2024: I've been consistently going here for 2 years. The quality of the food heavily depends on who's making it, as the past 2 times I've been there , the acai was very much in liquid form. Edit 05/2022: Since the review the quality has been superb, it's crazy how they improved their service significantly. I still go on Sundays, and the man who works there always makes quality acai. Changing this back to 5 stars. Old review: The quality of the acai differs by who's working that day, but the people working at Sunday noon keeps on putting peanut butter on the Festa bowl and not on the Energy blast. And the acai is all melted."

"Terrible service. The short girl at the cashier was very confused and not even polite. I had to go back there twice because they messed up my in-person order today. Kitanda definitely needs to invest in better training for their staff, as this kind of service is slowly driving customers away."