Egghead Cafe

Egghead Cafe is a brunch spot that offers American and Taiwan fusion. The "Egghead Special" menu is mostly Taiwanese dishes with my favorites being the pork belly bowl and the peanut butter french toast. The pork belly is tender and the sauce drips into the rice giving it so much flavor, then topped with a fried egg where the bottom is slightly crisp. For the peanut butter french toastm it reminds me of the cafes in Hong Kong where PB is between 2 slices of white bread and deep fried. It's rich but it taste delicious and I suggest sharing this.

They don't accept reservations. When you arrive, scan the QR code outside and join the wait list. Their interior space is a reasonable size and since they put a time limit on dining in, they turnover tables quickly. The staff are friendly and the kitchen is efficient. The longest I've waited for a table is 10 minutes on the weekend when I come around 830am. They are located at the Kapalama Shopping Center with ample parking. 

For more information about Egghead Cafe, visit eggheadhonolulu.com. 

Kapalama Shopping Center
1210 Dillingham Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 888-2211

Peanut Butter French Toast

2 Eggs Brekky + Mix Greens

Pork Belly Bowl

Green Onion Pancake

 

 

Victor's Dessert Lounge

Victor's Dessert Lounge is a daytime pop up at Nanzan Giro Giro. All the desserts on the menu are made by Victor himself. They also offer coffees, teas, and mocktails. My favorites were the Dubai chocolate crepe and iced chocolate. Both were delicious and not too sweet. The desserts are priced between $15 - $18 and the drinks are between $4 - $9. I highly recommend checking out this spot if you love sweets.  For parking, there's metered street parking and a few spaces in front of Nanzan Giro Giro on Pensacola Street. 

For more information about Victor's Dessert Lounge, follow them on Instagram, @victorsdessertlounge.  

560 Pensacola St. Suite 107
Honolulu, HI 96814

Dubai Chocolate Crepe

Apple Tart

Blueberry Flaugnarde

Lounge Fizz

Iced Chocolate

 

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

 

Nola Cafe - CLOSED

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)

PacifiKool

Pacifikool is at the KCC Farmers’ Market every Saturday making refreshing drinks with their ginger syrup. Most of their drinks have fruit in it but there's 1 drink that has coffee. The drinks are priced between $7 to $8. My favorite is the ginger colada because the combination of pineapple, coconut, and ginger taste really good. I recommend going to the KCC Farmers’ Market before 9AM because it's less crowded, the wait time for your drink is shorter, and you'll be able to enjoy some food from other vendors.

Their stall is located at the end by the vendor that sells succulents and orchids. It's also where you'll see groups of people sitting on the curb or the grass enjoying their food. They accept cash and card for payment.

KCC Farmers’ Market
4303 Diamond Head Rd., Parking Lot C
Honolulu, HI 96816 

Ginger Colada

Calamansi Ginger

Daily Whisk Matcha

Daily Whisk Matcha is a tea and coffee cafe located in Kaimuki. They are on the first level of Ten Tomorrow. With "matcha" in their name, you have to order a drink that has matcha on your first visit. My favorite so far is the matcha lilikoi soda because it's fizzy and refreshing. I like their matcha drinks because it does not leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. They offer a variety of milks as well as sweeteners for the drinks. All the iced drinks come in one size. Their lattes are reasonably priced around $6 but the soda and lemonade are on the pricey side ranging from $7 to $9. They also have a small selection of pastries available. 

They are open daily from 8am- 2pm. The cafe is small but they do have seating inside. It can get crowded at certain times of the day but the staff will still make the drinks quickly. There is parking in front of the cafe, 5 stalls are available and it's shared with Ten Tomorrow. If all the parking stalls are taken, there is a paid parking lot across the street with cheap rates.

For more information about Daily Whisk Matcha, visit dailywhiskmatcha.com. 

1114 11th Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 490-3436

Iced Matcha Tea Latte

Iced Hojicha Tea Latte

Matcha Lilikoi Soda

Insomnia

Insomnia is a small restaurant that serves Vietnamese food and coffee. The prices are reasonable and the food is delicious. My favorite item is the pork chops because it's tender and well-seasoned with spices. Their Vietnamese coffee is strong, so I always ask for more condensed milk and I wait till some of the ice melts before I drink it. If you come before 10:30am, you can order breakfast and pho. When you come after 10:30am, you can order the entrees which are the rice plates. I like coming here because the owners are friendly and they're so appreciative of their customers.

They are located next to Paiko on Auahi Street. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is good if you come early in the morning but by 10:30AM, it starts to get warm. Reservations are not required, and everyone just does walk in. They also do take out if you don't feel comfortable with dine in. For parking, you can park in the SALT parking structure and get validation. The first hour is free and it's $1 for the 2nd hour.

SALT At Our Kaka'ako
669 Auahi St
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 545-4160

Spring Rolls

Beef Pho

Pork Chops

Vietnamese Coffee

Arvo Cafe

Arvo Cafe is coffee shop located in the middle of SALT At Our Kaka'ako. Besides coffee, they also offer iced teas and toast. The shop is tiny, but they have a large outdoor seating area; some tables are shaded, and some are in the sun. The beverages and food prices are reasonable. The staff are friendly, and they give good recommendations if you're not sure what to try. My favorites are the vanilla latte, meatballs and toast, and the egg salad toast. The meatballs and toast are good if you're feeling extra hungry.  

For parking, park in the SALT At Our Kaka'ako structure and ask for validation. The first hour of parking is free. If you go over that 1 hour, it's $1. 

For more information about Arvo Cafe, visit arvocafe.com or check out their instagram, @a_r_v_o.

SALT At Our Kaka'ako
324 Coral St
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 312-3979

Iced Mocha

Meatballs & Toast

Smoked Salmon Toast

Egg Salad Toast

Iced Vanilla Latte

Farmhouse Cafe

Farmhouse Cafe is a brunch spot in the 808 Center. Their specialty is the potato mille feuille and I highly recommend ordering it. The food portions were good and everything tasted delicious but the prices are high. The breakfast and brunch items ranged from $10 to $18.

They have a limited menu; this might be due to the pandemic. The wait for food was longer than most brunch places and it seemed like the staff was still in training. The interior decor is rustic but the dine in space is tight. They have 3 table outside by the entrance but it can get busy with people waiting for table. If you are concerned with social distancing, take out would be you best option for you. You can also get pastries and coffee to go. For parking, I suggest parking on the street in the residential area or at a metered space on the street. If nothing is available on the street, you can drop off your vehicle at the 808 Center vertical garage and let the staff park it for you. I'm not sure what their parking rates are.

808 Center
808 Sheridan St., #107
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 888-2055

Potato Mille Feuille

Soft Scramble Omelette Parmesan & Herbs

Kona Coffee Purveyors | b. patisserie

Kona Coffee Purveyors | b. patisserie is a coffee shop in the International Market Place. They are located by the Kuhio Ave entrance of the market place. The beverage menu is small but they have a variety of pastries and desserts. My favorite is the kouign amann by b. patisserie. I was surprised that it's consistent with the kouign amann I ate at their San Francisco shop. If you're visiting from out of town, I recommend the black sesame kouign amann because you won't find at the SF shop. The mocha from Kona Coffee Purveyors was good but it was strong. I stayed awake for more than what I needed.

There are a few tables inside and some outdoor seating in front of the shop. The prices are high. If you plan on getting a beverage and a pastry, it will be around $10. If you park in the International Market Place structure, you can get validation if you make a $10 purchase. The validation will give you free parking for 1 hour.

International Market Place
2330 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 845-1700

Kouign Amann

Sesame Kouign Amann

Croissant

Cafe Mocha

Foodland Farms Ala Moana

Foodland will be reopening in Ala Moana Center on Wednesday. I was invited to a preview of their new flagship store and got to try some of the new creations prepared by the in-house chefs. You can still buy groceries here but you'll also find some new things like a juice bar, shave ice stand, fresh mini donuts, thin crust pizzas, a grilling station, a poke island, and the R. Field Wine Company which offers wine by the glass and specialty beers on tap. HI Steaks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and the Foodland Pharmacy are in here as well. There is a dining area that seats up to 100 people and offers complimentary wifi. The will call service can hold your groceries for you while you continue to shop around the mall. The interior decor and layout of this store is amazing and its worth checking out. If you like poke, get the truffle ahi poke because it's only available here.

For more information about Foodland Farms Ala Moana, visit www.foodland.com/alamoana.

Ala Moana Center
Ewa Wing, Street Level
1450 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 949-5044

Truffle Ahi Poke

Margherita Pizza

Hawaiian Style Medianoche

Grilled Steak w/ Teriyaki Sauce from HI Steaks

Cheese from R. Field Wine Company

Prosciutto from R. Field Wine Company

Salami from R. Field Wine Company

Mini donuts tossed in Lilikoi Sugar