Yung Yee Kee Dim Sum - CLOSED

Yung Yee Kee serves dim sum all day. If you want dim sum for dinner, this is where you should be. They are known for their steamed salted egg custard buns which has filling that oozes out. I highly recommend ordering this and you will want to eat it while it is still hot. My other favorites where the shrimp dumplings, pan fried seafood bean curd rolls, and the custard tart with flaky crust. The dine in experience is better than takeout because of the food temperature. The steamed items taste the best when they are still steaming. When I did takeout, all the items were cold by the time I got home.

The inside of the restaurant is well lit and clean. They have photos of the food on the menu so this is helpful if you don't want to read the English or Chinese. You mark off the items on the sheet of paper and just sit back and wait for the food; no dim sum carts here. Their dim sum is pricey, starting at $5 per steamer. The atmosphere is good and the staff were alert. I made reservations 48 hours in advanced and went on a weekday for an early dinner to avoid the crowds. They are located next to the Ala Moana Building. The entrance faces Kapiolani Blvd. They have free parking available in the back of the building by Sweet Creams and Manichi Ramen, you can drive in from Kapiolani Blvd or Kona St.

1411 Kapiolani Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 955-7478

Steamed Salted Egg Custard Bun

Shanghai Pork Dumplings

Shrimp Dumplings

Pan Fried Seafood Bean Curd Rolls

Look Funn w/ Beef

Mochi Puffs w/ Pork

Custard Tart

Sesame Ball w/ Red Bean

A-ma's Gua Bao

A-ma's Gua Bao is known for their Taiwanese pork belly buns. They are one of the newer vendors at the Kakaako Farmers Market this month. The bao has other fillings like, beef, minced pork, and tofu. Each bao costs $8. I recommend the pork belly and the beef gua bao. Both of those had a lot of flavor. The minced pork was a bit too spicy for my liking. The tofu is good if you want something with lighter flavor.  

The Kakaako Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 8AM - 12PM. A-ma's Gua Bao is located on the side closer to the ocean. They accept cash and Venmo only. If you plan to try this, I suggest going early in the morning to put in an order first and then coming back to pick up the food in 30-60 minutes. The prep/cook time takes awhile because they steam the buns in small batches. They usually sell out by 11AM.

Kaka'ako Farmers Market
919 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 388-9696

Pork Belly Gua Bao

Beef Shin Gua Bao

Minced Pork Gua Bao

Tofu Gua Bao

 

Sunset Texas Barbecue

If you're looking for good BBQ, you need to stop by Sunset Texas Barbecue in the Kakaako area. They used to have a food truck on the north shore and now they have a shop in town. Depending on what time of day you go, the wait could be more than 30 minutes. I went around 12:30pm on a Sunday and there was no line. All items on the menu were available. The beef brisket is tender and goes great with the mild BBQ sauce. The pork spare ribs and cream corn were my favorites. The pinto beans were good but it was a bit too spicy for me so I wasn't able to eat more. This place is very pricey. My lunch ended up being $60 and I shared it with 2 other people. The staff are friendly and they're super appreciative with the customers, they "thank you" and they say "bye" too. I don't get that when I do take out at other places. I got more "thank you's" last year and during the shut downs.

For parking, it's all metered street parking in front and around the area. If you go on Sundays, street parking is free so take advantage of that. They accept cash or card. You can also eat there but you'll need to show your vaccination card, ID, and leave your contact information.

For more information about Sunset Texas Barbecue, visit www.sunsetq.com.

443 Cooke St
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 476-1405

Beef Brisket (top), Cream Corn
Pork Spare Ribs (bottom), Spicy Pinto Beans

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

Boba Bros

Boba Bros is locally owned and are known for their organic milk tea. They are a vendor in the farmers market at Blaisdell Center (Wed. 4pm-7pm), Kakaako (Sat. 8am-12pm) and Kaiser High School (Tues. 330pm-6pm).

The drinks cost between $5-$6, for diary free, it's an extra $.50. Their drinks are photogenic if you get the ones with the walls. I usually go in the evenings, so I get the caffeine-free options like the tiger milk and ladybug. My favorite is the ladybug because it goes well with all the different food, I'm eating at the farmers market. If you go towards the end, they are usually sold out, so I recommend going early if there's a specific drink you want. They accept cash and card payments.

For more information about Boba Bros, visit bobabroshawaii.com or check out their instagram, @boba_bros_hi.

Tiger Milk

Crème Tea

Lady Bug