Mochi Lab - CLOSED

Mochi Lab is known for their butter mochi creations. They put filling into the center of the butter mochi so it has an extra burst of flavor. You can only find them at the Farmers Market (Blaisdell Concert Hall, Kailua, and Ala Moana Center). The butter mochi is $3 each but you're going to want to buy more than one. My favorite is the pandanilla because it's different and no one on the island makes mochi with pandan. If you follow @mochilab808, you can find out their flavors of the week.

For more information about Mochi Lab, visit mochilab808.com.

Pandanilla, Purple Sweet Potato, Lilikoilada

Ricado's Italian Restaurant

Ricado's serves up delicious Italian food for a reasonable price. They are located inside the Pearl Kai Shopping Center a few doors down from Baskin Robbins. The interior of the restaurant has dim lighting but the space is big. The wait staff is super nice and they will keep refilling your bread basket with fresh bread while you wait for your food.  I recommend the cabonara because it's different from the other Italian restaurants. They don't crack a raw egg on top of it but it's still really tasty.

This is a popular dinner spot for locals who live on the West side of the island.  If you plan to come for dinner, reservations are recommended because it gets busy. The best time to eat is before 6pm. After 6pm, there is a crowd and the parking lot is full.

98-199 Kamehameha Hwy
Aiea, HI 96701
(808) 484-0215

Caesar Salad

Carbonara

Veal Saltimbocca

Fettuccine Salmon Alfredo

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

Senia

Senia is in Chinatown next to The Pig and the Lady. They now open for lunch and there is a $35 Prix Fix lunch menu. The menu consists of 3 courses but you have 4 options for the appetizer, 4 options for the entree and 2 options for dessert. You can also add on some of their popular dinner items like the poke cracker and chicken liver mousse. This is a pricey lunch but it's reasonable compared to the dinner. The food is delicious, the presentations are amazing and the service is excellent. The wait staff is friendly and they made great recommendations on the food and drinks. 

If you haven't tried Senia yet, this prix fix lunch is a good way to try the food and see if it's for your taste and you can go back for the dinner. The restaurant is small so you need to make a reservation. For lunch, casual dress code is fine but there are some diners who dressed formal. For parking, I recommend the Marin Tower parking lot; you enter on Smith Street.

For more information about Senia, visit restaurantsenia.com.

75 N King St
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 200-5412

"Poke" Cracker

Chicken Liver Mousse

Hirabara Chopped Salad

Beef Tartare

Mafaldine

Porchetta Sandwich

Upsidedown Cake w/ Vanilla Beeswax Ice Cream

Rita's Italian Ice Hawaii - CLOSED

You can cool off this summer with Italian ice and frozen custard from Rita's. They are located inside Tiki's Family Fun Center next to the Regal Theaters in Dole Cannery. This is a mainland franchise and their first Hawaii location.

You need to get the vanilla frozen custard because it's delicious. If you want to step it up a bit, get the gelati; which is a combination of Italian ice and frozen custard. The regular size will cost you less than $5 and you won't be disappointed. You can park in the Dole Cannery parking structure and they'll give you validation. Depending on what time of day you go, there may be a lot of kids inside Tiki's but Rita's is in the back so you can go in get your frozen treats and get out. If you don't mind the noise, you can stay inside to eat because they have some tables and chairs.

For more information about Rita's visit, ritasfranchises.com.

Tiki's Family Fun Center
735 Iwilei Rd
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 206-9143

Mango Gelati

Strawberry Gelati

Frozen Custard Swirl