Cloud Nine Cafe

Cloud Nine Cafe is known for their moist and fluffy souffle pancakes. Each order of pancakes is made fresh and it could take between 20 to 30 minutes. While you're waiting for pancakes, you can order a drink or snack on some dumplings. I enjoyed the steamed chicken and cabbage dumplings. The pancakes were soft and easy to cut through with a fork, the mango cream had mango taste and was sweet and light. I highly recommend souffle pancakes.

They have a big space and can seat a lot of people but on weekends, they are busy. This place is self-service and you walk to the back to order. If you're eating there, just find an open table after you've placed an order. The staff will call your receipt number when your order is ready. It's best come when they open at 10am or in the late afternoon when it's less crowded. I saw people ordering take out for the souffle pancakes so that's an option if no tables are available. For parking, it's better to park near Ben Franklin since the stalls in the upper parking lot by Foodland and Walgreens are very small.

For more information about Cloud Nine Cafe, visit cloud9cafehi.com.

Relocated to:
1221 Kapiolani Blvd Suite 111
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 739-9988

Mango Cream w/ Fruit Souffle Pancakes

Chicken Dumplings w/ Cabbage

Jasmine Green Milk Tea

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin is known for their kurobuta pork loin tonkatsu. They are a chain in Japan and they have 1 location in Waikiki. The service and taste of their food is excellent. The tonkatsu are served as sets which come with shredded cabbage, rice, and miso soup. You can get refills on miso soup and cabbage. They have lunch specials that are under $20 and they give a good portion of food. I enjoyed the tiger shrimp katsu more than the tonkatsu. The tiger shrimp was huge and very crispy. The pork was a bit dry.

The prices for the tonkatsu sets are high compared to the other place on Kapahulu. They also put a service charge on each bill that is not gratuity so you still have to add tip. They do offer a kamaaina discount if you show your local ID.

I you plan to eat here, call and make a reservation in advance because they do get busy. For parking, you can park in the underground parking lot at the Bank of Hawaii Waikiki Center and get validation from the restaurant.

For more information about Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin, visit www.pj-partners.com/bairin/index.html.

255 Beach Walk
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 926-8082

Kurobuta Pork Loin Katsu Set

Rolled Omelet

Pork Tenderloin Katsu Set w/ Tiger Shrimp Katsu

Katsu Don Set

Japanese BBQ Yoshi

Japanese BBQ Yoshi is a yakiniku restaurant that offers premium meats. You can order items ala carte or choose a set menu. There is a $250 wagyu set and a $200 washugyu set. Both of the set menus will feed 2 people. The wagyu set offer A4/A5 wagyu beef and it's high recommended. My favorite item it the set was the wagyu ribeye steak. See below for photos from the wagyu set for 2.

If the set menu price is too high, they have happy hour from 5pm-6pm and 8:45pm-closing. They have a few meats that are under $20 and cooked items under $10. This place is always busy so I recommend making reservations a few days in advanced. If you come early, you have a better chance to getting a parking stall in front of the restaurant. If the lot fills up, street parking is the alternate option.

For more information about Japanese BBQ Yoshi, visit www.japanesebbq-yoshi.com.

1316 Young St
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 784-0067

Yoshi Green Salad

Assorted Kimchee, Namul, Nori

Pork Belly Bao

Miso Scallops

Beef Tongue

Wagyu Sampler, Wagyu Ribeye Steak

Wagyu Yakishabu w/ Negi & Garlic

Mini Udon

Bread Pudding

Yuzu Jelly w/ Watermelon Sorbet