Oli's Kitchen

Oli's Kitchen offers local style comfort food for breakfast and lunch daily. They have a loco moco and kalbi plate but their best items are the garlic chicken, salt & pepper chicken and breakfast. They give large portions and the prices are cheap. For breakfast, the bacon waffle with peanut butter maple glaze and the stuffed french toast with peanut butter and banana are a "must try!" My favorite is the garlic chicken because it's sweet and savory with a hint of garlic flavor that's not overpowering. 

They are located at Puck's Alley next to Nijiya Market on University Ave by the bus stop. The staff are friendly they check to make sure you're all good even after you get your food. If the restaurant is half full, the kitchen does take a little longer but because the atmosphere is so chill, just talk story with your friends and enjoy the Hawaiian music over the speakers. I usually come for breakfast around 9am on weekends and do a walk in. If you are coming with 6 or more people, I recommend calling them first to see if they can arrange the tables and chairs to accommodate you. The parking in Puck's Alley is pricey if you go past 1 hour. It will cost you $3.99, pay in the Metropolis app on your phone. If you can leave in under 1 hour, the parking is free. 

For more information about Oli's Kitchen visit oliskitchenhawaii.com.

Puck's Alley
1009 University Ave
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 387-0457

 

Half n Half Chicken Plate
(Salt n Pepper, Garlic)

2 Egg Breakfast w/ 
Portuguese Sausage & Hash

Pancakes (3pc)

Stuffed French Toast w/ 
Peanut Butter Banana (3pc)

Broome St General Store - CLOSED

There is a pop-up cafe inside Broome St. General Store that serves coffee, matcha, and pastries. They are located at Ward Village in Kakaako near Whole Foods Market. I enjoyed the miso caramel latte since that's not a drink I've seen anywhere on the island. The olive oil lemon cake and the chocolate banana mascarpone loaf were also delicious. The toasts are photogenic but they're $13 each. The whipped ricotta toast comes with jam and they have a bunch of different flavors. You can choose 3 jams and make it a "rainbow style" toast for an extra $1.50. The pastries are about $8 each. The drinks range from $4 - $10 depending on what you add in (espresso shots, oat milk)

If you are in the Kakaako area, this is a nice spot to hang out at since they have outdoor seating. There are 2 tables that have an umbrella and the rest are partially shaded or might be in the sun depending on the time of day you go. They do get busy and you'll see the line coming out the door but it's worth the wait for the drinks and pastries. If you eat there, I'm not sure if we're supposed to clean up our own table but we did. Some customers don't clean up and just leave their dirty cups and plates and another customer does it so they can use the table.

For more information about the cafe at Broome St. General Store, visit their Instagram @broomestgeneralhawaii.

310 Kamakee St B
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 480-9031

Whipped Ricotta Toast

Olive Oil Lemon Cake

Chocolate Banana Mascarpone Loaf

Avocado Beet Hummus Toast

Iced Aina Cloud Latte

Iced Miso Caramel Latte

Iced Ube Horchata

 

Island Glazed

Island Glazed is a donut shop in the Aiea area that makes fluffy donuts with local flavors like guava, lilikoi, lychee, ube and more. My favorite is their OG (original glazed) donut which is similar to Krispy Kreme but without the greasy taste. I thought the flavored ones were too sweet but the lychee had better flavor compared to the guava. Their donuts cost about $2.50 each which is pricey but if you buy them by the dozen or half dozen, it's cheaper. I recommend going before 10AM for the best selection of flavors. If the trays inside the display case are empty, ask the staff and they'll let you know if there's more of that flavor in the back. Besides the yeast donuts, they also have cinnamon rolls, filled donuts, donut holes, drip coffee and a few espresso drinks.

They are located inside the Pearl Kai Shopping Center next to Ricado's Italian Restaurant. They have a leather couch with a coffee table inside and a few chairs with counter seating against the wall. There is parking in front of the shop making it easy to grab and go breakfast in the mornings.

For more information about Island Glazed, visit @islandglazed on Instagram.

Pearl Kai Shopping Center
199 Kamehameha Hwy #98
Aiea, HI 96701
(808) 777-7505

OG (Original Glazed)

Lychee, Guava

 

Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe

Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe is a Japanese bakery in Ward Village that offers fresh baked pastries and breads. They also serve matcha, coffee, and teas. My favorites are the salt & butter roll, strawberry milk cream croissant, and the white milk cream bread. The salt & butter rolls taste amazing if you can get them fresh. It's soft with a buttery core and some salt sprinkled on the top. The pastries range from $2 - $5 and the drinks range from $4 - $7. I recommend going before 11AM to get the best selection.

Their shop is small but they bake all day so you can still get some fresh items from the oven in the afternoon. They have a few tables and chairs outside where you can sit and enjoy your pastries and drinks. This used to be the former space of Starbucks Coffee at the corner of Auahi Street and Kamakee Street by the Consolidated Theaters. For parking, the closest parking lot would be the one where you park for the theater.

For more information about Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe, visit okayamakobousa.com/honolulu.

Ward Village
310 Kamakee St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 888-0724

Strawberry Milk Cream Croissant

Matcha Sea Salt Coldbrew, Mocha Latte

Strawberry Milk Cream, White Milk Cream

Croque Monsieur, Salt & Butter Rolls,
Le Chocolat, Chocolate Croissant

Citrus-ade

 

Ellie Girl Poke - Hilo

Ellie Girl Poke is a poke shop located in Hilo on the Big Island. Their fish are locally sourced and the poke is made fresh. Most of their poke use ahi (tuna) but they'll have specials with other types of seafood and fish. I ordered by the pound ($18/lb.) and my favorites were the sesame shoyu ahi and the miso tako. They also have poke bowls with up to 3 choices of poke which range from $12 - $22. Their prices are reasonable and based on customers in front of me, they give a generous portion for their poke bowls.

The interior of the shop is big. The poke display case and cashier take up a small corner in the front. They have tables and chairs outside of shop where you can sit and enjoy your food. They are open from 8am - 6pm daily. There is lots of parking right in front of the shop.

Prince Kuhio Plaza
111 E Puainako St
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 333-3469

Sesame Shoyu Ahi Poke

Ahi Basil Poke

Miso Tako Poke

Kawamoto Store - Hilo

Kawamoto Store is an okazuya (Japanese-style delicatessen) located in Hilo on the Big Island, Hawaii. They serve local style Japanese food and it's takeout only. When you drive by their store, there is always a line because locals and tourist go there. The food is cheap and it taste very good! One of my favorites were the shrimp tempura because the batter tasted like shrimp chips, it had so much shrimp flavor in every bite. I also enjoyed the Korean chicken, which was a deep fried drumstick dipped in a delicious sauce. Other things I would recommend is the cone sushi, maki sushi, nori chicken, and fish cake.

They are 10 minutes from the Hilo airport so if you come for a day trip, this would be the ideal place for breakfast. They are open Tuesday - Saturday from 6am -12pm. You should go early for the best selection of food. You can also do a phone order which makes pick up quicker but some items might not be available at the time you call to place the order. If you plan to stand in line and order, the wait will be around 30 minutes. This will give you enough time to decide which items you want to eat and what items are coming out from the kitchen. For parking, there is free street parking along Kilauea Ave. They accept cash and credit cards.

For more information about Kawamoto Store, visit kawamotostore.com.

784 Kilauea Ave
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 935-8209

Cone Sushi, Nori Chicken

Maki Sushi, Corned Beef Hash,
Shrimp Tempura, Korean Chicken

Deli Case

Honolulu Seafood Restaurant

Honolulu Seafood Restaurant is Chinese restaurant in downtown Honolulu. From 9:30am - 3:00pm they serve dim sum. Their menus include pictures and you mark off what you want to eat on a sheet of paper. This makes ordering easy. The staff can understand English but they speak Cantonese and some also speak Mandarin. You can also order stir fry dishes but you have to put that in with the waiter. I went during the peak lunch hours and the food came out quick. From 5pm - 10pm, they serve dinner and there's no dim sum.

Their interior space is well lit and there is ample space between the tables so you don't hit anyone's chairs when you try to sit down or leave. The quality of the food and the taste is very good. Their prices are a bit high though. If you work in the downtown area, this is a great place to come with co-workers or friends for lunch. Like all Chinese restaurants, it's best to go with a group so you can order a bunch of items and do family style dining. If you have more than 6 people, I suggest making a reservation on the day of or calling in advanced just so you can get seated right away. If you don't have time to dine in, you can order take out. For parking, Alii Place garage is the most reasonably priced and it's right next to the restaurant.

1055 Alakea St
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 538-8788

Seafood Bean Curd Roll

Look Funn w/ Beef

Pork Hash w/ Seafood (Sui Mai)

Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow)

Taro Puffs

Pan Fried Look Funn

Baked BBQ Pork Buns

House Special Chow Mein

Nola Cafe

Nola Cafe is a New Orleans inspired cafe that serves beignets and coffee. They open daily from 7am - 3pm. The beignets are made to order and take about 10 - 15 minutes. You can get the traditional beignets which have powdered sugar on them. You also have the option of adding a filling such as chocolate, vanilla cream, or ube. They offer it in savory as well, which turns the beignet into a sandwich with prosciutto or caprese in between. For half dozen of the traditional beignets, it was $7. The beignets taste good when eaten fresh, right after they had it to you. I wish it was a bit lighter and more moist. I suggest getting the traditional beignets since that paired well with a caffeinated drink.

They have some seating inside but most of the seating is on the patio. A lot of the tables and chairs have powdered sugar on them so you might want to get some extra napkins to wipe it down before sitting. They are located across from Kaimuki City Mill and in the same complex as Von's Chicken. They have small parking lot but some of the spaces are a bit difficult to get into.

3040 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 737-0540

Beignets (Traditional)

Beignets (Chocolate, Vanilla Cream)

Iced Mocha

Ocean Side Bakery

Ocean Side Bakery is a French bakery located in Chinatown Honolulu on Smith Street and N. Beretania Street. They make cookies, pastries, sandwiches, and serve coffee. Their shop is tiny and you order at the door. The wait is long since they only have 2 workers and the person in the kitchen is baking pastries as it's selling out in the front. The best time to go is early in the morning when they open because everything is available. My favorites were the croissant cube because they're butter and flaky and the guava bar. If you bite into the croissant cube while it's still warm, you can hear the crunch. If you're a fan of canelé, I suggest trying theirs. The canelé's outer is caramelized and crispy; not burnt, and the center is soft but not too custardy. The prices of their pastries range from $3.50 - $5. The pastry sizes are smaller compared to other bakeries. I do like the smaller size because it gives me a chance to eat 2 or 3 different things.

They are open Tuesday - Thursday from 7am-2 pm. They accept card and have contactless payment. There are a couple of tables outside if you want to sit there and eat your pastries right away. For parking, there is metered street parking on Smith Street or the Municipal parking lot across from Honolulu Park Place, you enter on N. Beretania Street. It's an underground parking lot that's 1 level. The lot is well lit and the stalls are spacious. 

For more information about Ocean Side Bakery, check out their Instagram @oceansidebakery808.

1176 Smith St.
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 931-9680

Raspberry Croissant Cube

Croissant Cube

Guava Bar

Eclair

Canelé (Chocolate, Original)

Heavenly Island Lifestyle Waikiki

Heavenly Island Lifestyle Waikiki is a breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant located in the Shoreline Hotel. Their menu is American Asian fusion and they have local favorites like poke, garlic shrimp, and loco moco. I enjoyed the Hainanese chicken rice and the rack of lamb. Their food is not heavy or greasy and they include a side of vegetables in most of their dishes. Since they are in Waikiki, the prices are high. For dinner, their entrees are priced between $20 - $30. The entrees can be shared with 2 people but I would recommend getting some appetizers too. If you are on a budget, check out their happy hour from 4pm - 6pm. There is a good selection of drinks and appetizers. The happy hour appetizers are priced between $6 - $20. 

The interior space is tight and the tables are close to each other. They have outdoor seating but the restaurant gets loud with the music in the background and customers talking. The staff are friendly but the wait time for food does take a while especially if you go during happy hour. For parking, there's metered street parking or park at the Royal Hawaiian Center or International Marketplace to shop and get your validation and then walk over to the restaurant. 

For more information about Heavenly Island Lifestyle, visit heavenly-waikiki.com. 

Shoreline Hotel Waikiki
342 Seaside Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 923-1100

Hainanese Organic Chicken Rice

Rack of Lamb Grill w/ Roasted Nuts &
Lilikoi Balsamic Sauce

Fried Chicken Wings

French Fries

Ribeye Steak w/ Grilled Vegetables & Truffle Sauce

Guieb Cafe

Guieb Cafe offers homestyle meals with reasonable prices. This is a great place for breakfast. My favorites are the prime rib loco moco, fried chicken and waffle, and the ube pancakes. The prime rib is tender and the fried chicken is well seasoned. The ube pancakes are moist and fluffy and with some syrup drizzled over it, it was delicious. Their portions are large so you can share a plate between 2 people. The staff are efficient. The food comes out fast and the temperate is hot. Your water cups will always get filled and they clear your plate once you're done.

They have 3 locations, Kalihi, Aiea, and Wahiawa. I've been to the Kalihi location a few times and the interior is small. If you go when they open, they're not busy. If you go later in the day, there is a wait for a table. They accept reservations by phone, just call a few days in advance to reserve it. The tables are set up to seat 2 – 4 people so if you have 5 or more, reservations are highly recommended.

For more information about Guieb Cafe, visit guiebcafe.com.

1311 North King St 
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 913-2131

98-025 Hekaha St
Building 4, Unit 14
Aiea, HI 96701
(808) 762-9247

538 California Ave
Wahiawa, HI 96786
(808) 888-2121

Prime Rib Loco Moco

Adobo Fried Rice Omelette w/ Lechon Kawali

Corned Beef Hash w/ Eggs

Fried Chicken and Waffles

Ube Mascarpone Pancakes