Aloha Beer Co. & Waikiki Brewing Co.

Two popular Queen Street breweries are undergoing major changes, and we’re here to break it down for you. In a nutshell, Waikīkī Brewing Co. has vacated its Kaka‘ako facility and returned to brewing only at its OG pub at the corner of Kalākaua Avenue and Ala Moana Boulevard. Farther down Kalākaua Avenue, the spot that was formerly Aloha Beer Co.’s al fresco pub is now Waikīkī Brewing’s new beer garden. Aloha Beer, meanwhile, has acquired Waikīkī Brewing’s old production brewery at 831 Queen St.

So what just happened, and what does it mean? For Waikīkī Brewing, the loss of its small brewing facility and taproom in the Lahaina fire last summer was a major hit to production, not to mention all the staff who lost their jobs. The brewery’s OG pub in Waikīkī is now its main production facility, both for core selections and limited batch beers that will be coming more regularly. New head brewer Patrick Feltz says he’s focused on helping the company “transition from a larger production-focused brewery back to its creative brewpub roots. Through the tweaks we’re making in both recipes and processes, I see our beer quality improving batch by batch and the staff and general public are responding exceedingly well.”

Now that all its beer is made in Waikīkī, the company has shifted to a draft-only model. You will not see Waikīkī Brewing’s cans on shelves anymore. You can find its draft selections at its OG pub at 1945 Kalākaua Ave., at Cheeseburger Waikīkī, 808 Craft House in Ko Olina, and its South Side Maui pub. Draft beers are also available at Waikīkī Brewing Co. Kalākaua, the all-outdoor beer garden it just took over from Aloha Beer. Waikīkī Brewing has closed its bar inside Royal Hawaiian Center’s Waikīkī Food Hall.

More news: Waikīkī Brewing and Hana Koa Brewing are co-hosting a beer pairing dinner at 808 Craft House on Nov. 12. The five-course meal will feature beers from both breweries for $90 a person. The menu and tickets are available here.

SEE ALSO: Hawai‘i’s Beer Scene: Who’s Opening, Who’s Closing

So Waikīkī Brewing is now doing business at two addresses on Kalākaua Avenue, while Aloha Beer has two spots on Queen Street. “We’re excited about this transition,” says Candice Ishikawa, Aloha Beer’s head of marketing. “Not only does this increase our brewing capacity, but it also gives us room to grow our beer garden into a true destination for both locals and visitors.” The new facility will house production of Aloha Beer’s high-volume styles, while the current 700 Queen St. location will continue to brew seasonal, experimental and small-batch beers.

“This expansion opens the door for Aloha Beer to pursue additional opportunities,” Ishikawa says, “including contract brewing for smaller breweries and offering support to fellow brewers in the community.” The company has not set an opening date for its new production facility, but Ishikawa says there will be “a small taproom and tasting room, production tours, a streamlined beer-to-go experience and occasional tap parties to recreate the nostalgia of Kakaʻako’s vibrant past, reminiscent of Art & Flea days.”

Waikīkī Brewing Co., 2155 Kalākaua Ave., 1945 Kalākaua Ave., waikikibrewing.com, @waikikibrewco

Aloha Beer Co., 700 Queen St., 831 Queen St. (latter not yet open), alohabeer.com, @alohabeerco

Honolulu Beerworks

Photo: Courtesy of Honolulu Beerworks

In early November, this Kakaʻako staple for over decade will close its brewpub on Cooke Street. But don’t fear: Beerworks is opening a much larger facility in the Kapālama area of Kalihi in early 2025 to expand its can and keg distribution success. The new Beerworks will have a taproom with snacks and allow BYOF, and a rotation of food trucks will follow. Join the closing celebration on Saturday, Nov. 2, with signature Italian hoagies, throwback beers on tap, and a limited smoked blonde porter with whiskey pairing. In these last days in Kaka‘ako, look for specials including 50% off draft beers and 50% off merchandise.

328 Cooke St., honolulubeerworks.com, @honolulubeer

Hammerhead Bay Brewing

This all-new microbrewery is coming soon to the T. Yogi Building in Kāne‘ohe. Follow its social media for updates.

@hammerheadbaybrewing

Lēʻahi Brewing Co.

Focused on sustainability, local ingredients and its local Hawai‘i history, this brewery is coming soon to the old Hooters site at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Follow its social media for updates.

@leahibrewingco

Kalihi Beer Co.

Beers from this Kalihi success story formerly known as Broken Boundary Brewery are now in stores, including ABC Stores. The taproom on Mo‘owa‘a Street is changing hours to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, but it’s available weekdays for private event rentals.

740 Mo‘owa‘a St., @kalihibeer

Wherever you like to drink, cheers to supporting local beer in Hawai‘i!

Editor’s Note: In the summer of 2022, just before Liliha Bakery opened its fifth location in Pearl City, these were the top sellers at the iconic local diner’s four other spots. We’re republishing this post because the meals and treats are timeless. Our top takeaway? Locals love hamburger steak!

These butter rolls. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Just as every Zippy’s and every Rainbow Drive-In is a little bit different, every Liliha Bakery location is different. Only the “original” Liliha (the true original opened around the corner on Liliha Street in 1950) has beef curry and beef stew—and the best counter diner experience in town. The Nimitz Highway restaurant has Waffards, which are waffles layered with dollops of custard; Ala Moana Center’s one has mimosas (!); and the Waikīkī location, at posh International Market Place, has carved prime rib and milkshakes.

The top-selling baked goods at each place don’t vary: Coco Puffs reign everywhere, and the famous grilled butter rolls with neon raspberry jelly get their due. But country-style omelets? Even Liliha Bakery can’t explain why this scramble of three eggs with green and round onions, tomatoes and your choice of meat is the No. 1 entree at original Liliha and Ala Moana—except to note that breakfast is served all day, and these locations are the most heavily patronized by locals.

Other surprises: Liliha Bakery makes a mean oxtail soup. Who even knew there’s mushroom chicken? And though we buy the same best-selling pastries at every single location, mind-bogglingly, these do NOT include slices of chantilly cake.

SEE ALSO: These 3 Family-Owned Eateries Are Bringing Local Favorites to Wider Audiences

Now, the chain’s fifth restaurant is slated to open in Pearl City on Aug. 31. Given the mix of potential customers there, we’re betting the top sellers will be country-style omelets—and Coco Puffs. Of course.

Top 5 at Original Liliha

Country-style omelet: Is it the onions? Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Coffee Shop

• No. 1: Country-style omelet
• No. 2: Hamburger steak
• No. 3: Hotcakes
• No. 4: Loco moco
• No. 5: Waffles

Bakery

• No. 1: Coco Puffs
• No. 2: Poi mochi doughnuts
• No. 3: Cream puffs
• No. 4: Butter rolls
• No. 5: Chocolate cream puffs

Top 5 at Nimitz

Oxtail soup. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Coffee Shop

• No. 1: Loco moco with fried rice
• No. 2: Country style omelet
• No. 3: Oxtail soup
• No. 4: Loco moco
• No. 5: Hamburger steak

Bakery

• No. 1: Coco Puffs
• No. 2: Poi mochi doughnuts
• No. 3: Chocolate cream puffs
• No. 4: Cream puffs
• No. 5: Butter rolls

SEE ALSO: The Best-Selling Local Slurpee Flavors of All Time at 7-Eleven Hawai‘i Are …

Top 5 at Ala Moana Center

Miso butterfish. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Coffee Shop

• No. 1: Country-style omelet
• No. 2: Loco moco with fried rice
• No. 3: Oxtail soup
• No. 4: Loco moco
• No. 5: Miso butterfish (followed by hotcakes)

Bakery

• No. 1: Coco Puffs
• No. 2: Poi mochi doughnuts
• No. 3: Chocolate cream puffs
• No. 4: Cream puffs
• No. 5: Green tea puffs (followed by butter rolls)

Top 5 at Waikīkī

Loco moco with fried rice. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Coffee Shop

• No. 1: Loco moco with fried rice
• No. 2: Country-style omelet
• No. 3: Mushroom chicken
• No. 4: Hotcakes
• No. 5: Loco moco

Bakery

• No. 1: Coco Puffs
• No. 2: Poi mochi doughnuts
• No. 3: Cream puffs
• No. 4: Chocolate cream puffs
• No. 5: Green tea puffs (then butter rolls)

SEE ALSO: What Are the Best Sellers at Rainbow Drive-In?

Photo: Mari Taketa

I find Baker’s Heart on the grounds of a church in Kalihi. Upstairs, volunteers sit at tables packaging freshly made florentine cookies: Coconut & Mac Nut, Kiawe & Toasted Sesame, Sea Salt Chocolate Caramel Coffee, all looking delicate and scrumptious. Downstairs in the kitchen, others bake them—lacy, buttery disks so thin that when I hold them up, I can see my fingers silhouetted on the other side. The vibe upstairs and downstairs is focused: Baker’s Heart is bringing these florentines to a pre-Mother’s Day pop-up at Nordstrom Ala Moana on Saturday, May 11.

The heart of the offerings (sorry, these puns are unavoidable) is Strawberry Dream. The fruity pink rounds are a limited-edition item that come in a box with a Happy Mother’s Day message on the outside. But it’s what’s on a card inside that drew me here: Baker’s Heart is part of the local nonprofit Touch a Heart, which finds people who were homeless or incarcerated and teaches them kitchen skills and life skills—like communication and time management and writing a resumé—then helps them find jobs at restaurants around O‘ahu.

Baker’s Heart Biscotti Bites. Photo: Mari Taketa

So if you’ve been to Monkeypod Kitchen or Zippy’s or Duke’s Waikīkī or Dave & Busters or Minasa, you might have met a graduate or ordered one of their desserts. If you’ve bought Strawberry Dreams, or any of the half-dozen other florentines or biscotti bites that Baker’s Heart makes, you helped fund this program and another one that supplies kūpuna with meals like BBQ Panko Chicken with Vegetables and Mashed Potatoes.

SEE ALSO: Lechon Fries, Calamansi Steak, Ube Churros: Minasa Is a Worthy Mashup

“The plan was to bake for the omiyage market,” says Touch a Heart’s executive director, Robin Kumabe. “But that was in 2020.” When the pandemic set in, “We had to rethink. So we started making meals for the community and the elderly, and we still do. Anyone can order off the website. And if they can’t afford to pay, we’ll still supply the meals.”

As for the cookies? They’re mostly made with oatmeal, flax and quinoa, like the Strawberry Dreams, or ‘ulu or kiawe pod flour. Toasted macadamia nuts stud the surfaces.

The florentines were the idea of Kumabe’s husband Colin, who spent a career overseeing Zippy’s locations and now heads operations at the nonprofit. The idea of using non-wheat flours was for health and sustainability, he says—and partly because his friend was already paying homeless people to collect kiawe pods. In a way, it fit with Touch a Heart’s mission: to give people at the edges of society a healing, nurturing place to learn a pathway to a sustainable life.

Photo: Mari Taketa

The pace is busy today also because Robin Kumabe is leaving for a Hawai‘i fair in Japan, where she’ll hand out samples of Baker’s Heart florentines. What is your goal?, I ask. “To spread the mission,” Kumabe says. I was thinking about possible cookie contracts. She’s thinking about heart.

Strawberry Dream: box of 6 cookies, $13.50; double box $24
Biscotti Bites in cranberry almond, double chocolate almond or sea salt chocolate caramel coffee: single box $15, double box $30

Available Saturday, May 11, from 11 a.m. at Nordstrom Ala Moana or anytime at Dean & DeLuca at the Ritz-Carlton Waikīkī, or by pre-order online at touchahearthawaii.org. More at @touchaheart.

Doesn’t it seem like there’s something new to check out every day? Last week alone, five exciting new eateries opened ahead of the busy holiday season. They run the gamut from Singaporean fare to local grinds and kawaii pastries. And more are on the horizon for December.

Holoholo Bistro Express

If Holoholo Bistro Express sounds familiar, then you’ve probably had Jill Owens’ Taegu Noodle Salads and pork carnitas bowls. Owens opened her second café Nov. 15 in the former Meg’s Drive-In on Waiakamilo Road. A growing catering business meant her team needed more prep space; in this case, it came with a comfy storefront. Like its sister café Holoholo Grill at Paradise Palms at UH Mānoa, Holoholo Bistro Express has a rotating menu of bentos, salads, wraps, sandwiches and baked goods.

I like the garlic chicken and pork carnitas bento bowls along with the Green Goddess salad wraps, smoked meat fried rice musubi and Gingerade drinks. Most items range from $5 to $13. Check Instagram for daily specials and offerings.

Open Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 743 Waiakamilo Rd., holoholobistro.com, @holohologrilluh

Howzit Brewing

Photo: Alexander Gates

Howzit Brewing brings a refreshing taste of craft beer styles that are popular in the Pacific Northwest. Located near Fishcake on the developing edge of Ward Village, Howzit opened this month with 10 taps and a slushy machine for Radlers. Beers are served in traditional glassware and run $8 a pour for full sizes, while half-pours are $4.

Open daily from noon to 10 p.m., 330 Kamani St., @howzitbrewing

SEE ALSO: Howzit, Honolulu’s Newest Brewery, Opens in Kaka‘ako

Katsuriki BBQ House

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Katsuriki BBQ House is Ichiriki Nabe’s take on yakiniku. Inside the former Gyukaku on School Street, the Japanese grills retain the same Gyukaku standard, but the new AYCE format and meat selection bring a fresh approach. Meals include banchan, salad, rice and shave ice for dessert. During an early preview dinner, we enjoyed grilling up sous vide chicken wings, pork jowl strips, marinated kalbi, sliced pork belly and beef fingers.

The AYCE is well priced at $18.95 for lunch and $27.95 for dinner daily. Children 10 and under can eat for half those prices.

Open daily from 11 a.m. t0 10 p.m., 1339 North School St., @katsuriki_bbq_house_honolulu

Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe

Photo: Thomas Obungen

This kawaii Japanese bakery brings new life to the former Starbucks at the corner of Auahi and Kamake‘e St. Okayama Kobo prides itself on freshly baked breads and pastries using flour imported from Hokkaido, Japan. All items look like they were plucked straight out of an anime and placed in a box. Standard and specialty coffee drinks feature Tradition Coffee Roasters of Kailua.

The line here can snake out of the small café and around the corner. If it stretches past Men’s Warehouse, be prepared to wait over an hour. I like the Salt and Butter roll, Japanini and Oyaki Takana breads along with the Taro Sea Salt Cream latte. Most items are between $3 and $6.

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 310 Kamake‘e St. Unit 6, okayamakobousa.com, @okayamakobohawaii

Straits Restaurant

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Straits brings Chef Chris Yeo’s Singaporean flair to a menu of modern and traditional Asian dishes. Part clubby lounge, part swanky restaurant, it feels like a venue in Crazy Rich Asians. With lots of buzz around this addition to Ward Village, we’re excited to check it out.

Open Sunday to Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to midnight, 1060 Auahi St. #4, straitshawaii.com, @straitshonolulu

Photo: Tracy Chan

While the Islands’ beer festivals started pouring again last year, mostly with reduced crowd sizes for safety, the outlook for 2023 is more positive: A full slate of Hawai‘i festivals is returning. Are you into thoughtful sampling or splurging on all-you-can-drink events? Is live music the main attraction for you, with beer on the side? Is the food lineup just as important as the beer you pair with it? Regardless of how you like to party, there is a festival for you!

Details are accurate as of this writing, but they are subject to change so be sure to check the festival websites and social media (including ticket availability, as many will sell out). Some organizers have more than one festival, so check back this summer for updates for events happening later this year.

Hawaii Beer Fest (Winter)

When: Jan. 28
Where: Bishop Museum Great Lawn, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu
Admission: VIP $80 from 5 to 9 p.m., General $60 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Info: hawaiibeerfest.com, @hawaiibeerfest

This unlimited sampling festival will have over 100 beers, ciders and seltzers from local and national breweries. Food and merchandise are available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Rotary Club of Honolulu. VIP tickets include an extra hour to try those special releases while things are is still quiet.

Kona Brewers Festival

When: March 11
Where: King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort 75-5660, Palani Road, Kailua-Kona
Admission: General $100 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Info: konabrewersfestival.com, @konabrewfest

The 28^th annual festival marks the return of the Trash Fashion Show, showcase of local foods included, and limited beer tastings in a souvenir glass mug. After reducing the size of the festival last year, this year 1,200 tickets will be sold. Held on the beach, the festival is hosted by the Ke Kai Ala Foundation and has raised almost $2 million for local charities. The Run for Hops 5K run/walk takes place the morning before the festival.

Aloha by Volume “The Great Crawl”

When: March 17
Where: Kailua Town Block Party, Kailua
Admission: TBD
Info: @alohabyvolume

From the organizers of concert-style festivals comes a unique concept: a trolley crawl of Windward O‘ahu pubs! Ten venues including The Boardroom, Lanikai Brewing’s Tap & Barrel, Sun & Salt, The Shack, Olomana Golf Course and even one on base (no base pass necessary) will take part in the hop-on-hop-off event with dedicated trolleys for ticket holders. (Another event will be held in June, date TBD.)

Kaua‘i Brewers Festival

When: April 15
Where: Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center, 4475f Nuhou St., Lihue
Admission: VIP $100, General $75, both from 2 to 6 p.m.
Info: kauaibrewersfestival.com, @kauaibrewersfestival

Benefiting Kaua‘i-based nonprofits, this festival wraps limited tastings and food in the price of a ticket. VIP tickets include a special beer-and-food pairing and additional beer tickets. Kaua‘i’s only beer festival is a great excuse to check out the island’s brewery scene.

SEE ALSO: What’s Hopping on Kaua‘i’s Growing Beer Scene

Hawai‘i Beer Fest (Summer)

When: June 17
Where: Bishop Museum Great Lawn, 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu
Admission: VIP $80 from 5 to 9 p.m., General $60 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Info: hawaiibeerfest.com, @hawaiibeerfest

Similar to the Winter festival, this is an unlimited tasting event with food available for purchase.

Hilo Brew Fest

Photo: Alexander Gates

When: July 8
Where: Hilo Yacht Club, 77 Laehala St., Hilo
Admission: TBD
Info: hilobrewfest.com, @hilobrewfest

This year’s festival will be held at a different location since the main site, Wainaku Executive Center, was purchased by Ola Brew Co. to transform into a tasting room and distillery. Organized by the Hilo Rotary Club, the 2023 ticket includes limited beer tastings and food and benefits Hilo-area charities. Transportation to and from Hilo Town is provided.

The Hawaiian Craft Brewers Guild’s CRAFT Festival and Maui Brewers Festivals are on hiatus due to the pandemic, and no information is as yet available about their return.

Whichever Hawai‘i beer festivals you choose to attend in 2023, have a great time sharing beer and laughs in person!

Waffles or pancakes? It’s a decision I always—ahem—waffle on. But waffles are rarer: Almost every breakfast spot will have pancakes, but not waffles, since the latter requires special equipment. So they feel just a little more special. 

And here are four places where the waffles feel extra extra special, where I always order the waffles.

Wicked HI Café

Sourdough liege waffles at Wicked Hi Cafe. Photo: Martha Cheng

I am slightly less likely to surf the North Shore on Tuesdays because Wicked HI Cafe in Waialua is closed those days. Its sourdough liege waffles are my favorite post-surf snack, caramelized on the outside, slightly tangy from a long fermentation, a little bit chewy—like brioche smooshed into a waffle iron—and studded with crunchy pearl sugar. They are perfect plain, or with a little melted butter and maple syrup, but you can gild the lily by adding fruit or even bacon, egg and cheddar if you like both salty and sweet for breakfast.

Starting at $7.50, 66-935 Kaukonahua Road, Waialua, (808) 636-8162, wickedhislushie.com, @wickedhicafe

Café Kaila

Photo: Martha Cheng

Too often, Belgian waffles are cakey or dense or—horrors—soft. Not at Cafe Kaila, where they are airy, delicate and crisp, so light that it feels like I inhale one in a few minutes flat. But maybe other people do, too, which explains how the line outside Cafe Kaila seems to move fantastically fast. If you’re feeling extravagant, you can pile on the fruit options (strawberries, bananas, blueberries), though that turns it into a $20-plus waffle. Just think of it like a caviar supplement! But Cafe Kaila’s waffle is still a beautiful thing plain or with just one additional fruit to balance the maple syrup.

Starting at $11.50, 2919 Kapi‘olani Blvd., cafe-kaila-hawaii.com, @cafekaila

Upon Waffles

Photo: Martha Cheng

I didn’t expect much from this unassuming vendor inside Palama Market on Makaloa, but it was a surprise hit, with shatteringly crisp yet light waffles. It borrows a crepe stand format (are waffles the new crepes?), with light and crispy thin waffles folded over fillings like Nutella and strawberry, peanut butter and banana, or azuki, with a smear of whipped topping. Made to order and served straight from the waffle iron, adding azuki paste to it reminds me of hot and fresh taiyaki that I used to get with my grandma, and which is surprisingly rare these days. Now, when I need a waffle snack, or to relive those memories, I will head here.

About $7, inside Palama Market, 672 Makaloa St.

Liliha Bakery

Speaking of unassuming, the plain waffle at Liliha Bakery shocks me every time with its simplicity. It’s a thin waffle, so crispy it almost tastes fried. The hefty smear of salted butter on top (at least at the original Liliha—you’ll find a more dainty dollop at the other locations) combined with the syrup makes every bite salty-sweet perfection. I have a handful of favorite menu items at Liliha but this one is the absolute best. 

About $10, multiple locations, lilihabakery.com, @lilihabakery

Photo: Mari Taketa

On the Monday after Thanksgiving, old-school local favorite Alicia’s Market quietly reopened at its original location for the first time in more than four years. It’s a big first step back: The iconic poke shop had to close its huge counter and grocery section and move into a tiny neighboring space after a fire destroyed its kitchen. Now it’s serving a growing selection of meat, seafood specialties and favorite snacks from a takeout counter near the original front door.

Chris and Brad Kam are the third generation working at the store. Photo: Mari Taketa

Inside, brothers Chris and Brad Kam cheerfully fill poke containers, plates and bags, lining up walk-in and phone orders for a steady stream of customers. Some things look very familiar: roast pork, smoked tako, wasabi masago ahi poke bowls. Hawaiian plates are back, along with dried aku, pastele, boiled peanuts and, as of this past Saturday, fresh kulolo.

SEE ALSO: What’s happening with Alicia’s Market?

Photo: Robbie Dingeman

About 18 kinds of poke now fill the glass case, from ‘ahi favorites to the less common lomi o‘io, ponzu salmon, bacalhau and pickled limu—more than what was offered at the now-closed temporary location. Chris Kam is asking his mom when she can start making the customer favorite fried rice and fried noodles again. “Slowly but surely, one by one, we’re bringing it back,” he says.

Photo: Mari Taketa

He’s looking to bring back crack seed, almond cookies and other Chinese treats while figuring out his supply chain and finding a new crack seed maker after his last one retired. “I’ve got the jars and everything,” he adds.

SEE ALSO: 11 Hawai‘i General Stores You Must Visit

Photo: Mari Taketa

Alicia’s goes back more than seven decades to a small wooden store started by Alicia and Raymond Kam in 1949. Their legacy just kept going as their son Leonard took over (that’s him still working in the back), with their grandsons working behind the counter. Before the June 2018 blaze, the market drew a near cult-like following with its array of Chinese meats smoked on site, a long glass counter full of poke, plus Hawaiian food, salads, snacks, sweets and the drinks, liquor and groceries you’d expect at a corner store. The original space was rebuilt and ready to move back into a year ago, Kam says. The reason Alicia’s is not yet back to its glory days with arrays of food covering counter after counter, roast ducks and chickens hanging to the left and 30-plus varieties of seafood for sale is a lack of workers.

Photo: Mari Taketa

News that Alicia’s Market is back in its original spot appeared on its Instagram last week, with a short video of the metal roll-up door rising to reveal a little family member bursting out with a big grin; it was greeted with nearly 100 comments from excited fans. By the time we arrive Saturday, they’re sold out of roast beef but still have char siu, char siu ribs, roast pork, turkey tails and furikake salmon.

Photo: Mari Taketa

For now, cardboard boxes full of takeout containers are stacked near the door. Kam says the market will stick with shorter midday hours—10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays—as they figure out next steps. But there’s room to hope that mochi, lumpia, banana walnut bread, roast chicken and marinated meats might be making a comeback in the new year.

267 Mokauea St., (808) 841-1921, aliciasmarket.com, @aliciasmarket

Ouf, it’s hot. Give me a spoon and a halo halo, one of the best ways to stir me out of a lazy haze. Here are my favorite places for the maximalist Filipino dessert.

Via Gelato

Photo: Martha Cheng

Via Gelato’s special of the month, a halo halo sundae, is a showstopper: a Hawai‘i version unlike any halo halo you’ve ever had. Get the large, which adds a scoop of mango sorbet to two scoops of halo halo gelato, made with locally grown Okinawan sweet potato, fresh corn and swirled with pirie mango sauce. The gelato itself is a marvel, the corn providing pops of crunchy sweetness, but the sundae, in the spirit of halo halo, takes it over the top. Azuki beans and osmanthus jellies studded with water chestnut pave the bottom, more mango sauce fills in the gaps, and the whole thing is crowned with mashed sweet potato and a wedge of flan, then finished with sweetened milk and brown rice puffs. 

$15 for a large, 1142 12th Ave., viagelatohawaii.com, @viagelatohawaii

SEE ALSO: Try These New DIY Gelato Cakes from Kaimukī’s Via Gelato

Shimazu Store

Photo: Martha Cheng

Until recently, I didn’t know Shimazu sold halo halo, even though it’s literally listed on its sign, right after shave ice. Now, it’s one of my favorites. It’s the most restrained on this list, but Shimazu makes each component count, including coconut strips that taste of fresh coconut meat, slippery sweet coconut gel, and even an entire jackfruit pod, a treasure found at the bottom. Azuki beans, ube ice cream, a coarse shave ice, and evaporated milk tops it all off.

$8, locations in Liliha and Kapahulu, but call the Kapahulu location before going to make sure it’s not sold out

Magnolia Ice Cream & Treats

Photo: Martha Cheng

Nine ingredients, contributing to a riot of textures and colors, make their way into the signature halo halo at Magnolia, aka the Halo Halo Place. Coarse ice is piled on top of sweet beans and fruit, including jackfruit, saba bananas, macapuno (coconut strings), red bean, and kaong (date palm jelly). Good luck not getting the lightly sweetened milk to overflow as you try to mix in the ube ice cream and puffed crispy rice.

$7.74, multiple locations, magnoliatreats.com

SEE ALSO: My 8 Favorite Filipino Foods on O‘ahu Right Now

Photo: Martha Cheng

Max’s of Manila

I’ve had bowls of cereal less sweet than Max’s halo halo, which helps me justify it as a summer meal. There are even white beans in there—it’s practically a salad! An assortment of colored jellies lend texture while the flan, ube ice cream and ube paste add sweetness to the otherwise unsweetened milk and ice, somewhere between coarse and fine. 

$7.95, multiple locations, maxsrestaurantna.com/hawaii 

I cannot deny my obsession with fruit sandos. There is something about the pillowy texture of bread mixed with fresh fruit and whipped cream that makes my taste buds long for more. Strawberry sandos especially are the way to my heart. They remind me of stopping by 7-Eleven in Japan before getting on the Shinkansen for trips to faraway places. 

I am sure my parents will be proud of me when I say that my goal for the rest of 2022 is to try out every place on this island that has a strawberry sando on its menu. Starting with Ala Moana Center’s new Mana Sandwiches, I have tried six so far so naturally, I feel well on my way to becoming a sando testing professional. To put my new skills to the test, here’s a list of pros and cons of each of the six sandos.

Daily Whisk Matcha

Kaimukī

Photo: Emily Smith

Pros: I normally would not spend $8.80 on a sando, but considering that this one comes with two sandwich halves, it’s a  great value. Daily Whisk also adds other fruits such as kiwi and banana into their sando, so you get more fruit for your buck. Overall, the fruits and fluffy cream make this sando delicious. 

Cons: They use freshly made milk bread, but the bread does not have the same softness of Brug Bakery or La Tour Bakehouse breads. On top of that, Daily Whisk does not cut off the crust. No hate to the crust lovers out there, but leaving crusts on your sando should be criminal.

1114 11^th Ave., (808) 490-3436, dailywhiskmatcha.com, @dailywhiskmatcha

SEE ALSO: Here’s the Scoop on Kaimukī’s New Matcha and Coffee Spot

Coco Bloom 

Kaimukī

Photo: Emily Smith

Pros: My teeth sink right into this sando ($8.40). The cream is something comparable to a melted marshmallow. I do what I call the bounce test and lightly squeeze the bread. If the cream and bread bounce back to their original shape, that’s how you know you’re about to bite into a cloud. Coco Bloom’s sando passes my test. It makes sense, since the bread is from La Tour. For health nuts out there, the strawberries and house-made whipped cream are both organic.

Cons: Although the strawberry sandos come with two halves, they are two-thirds of the size of the Daily Whisk ones despite being only 40 cents cheaper. And the strawberry slices—I get four large ones and the two on the ends are much smaller in size.  

3221 Waialae Ave., Suite A-3, cafe.coco-bloom.com. @cocobloomkitchen

SEE ALSO: Katsu Sandwiches and Burgers Headline a Healthy Menu at Coco Bloom Kitchen—Really

Island Banana 

Various farmers markets

Photo: Emily Smith

Pros: The thick cream. Is there anything I hate more than biting into a sando and getting a mouthful of bread? No. The cream on this sando ($6.35) feels more like a luxe spread rather than an airy texture. My eyes widen like a little kid at a candy store when I see the cream overload. I love the balance between the thick cream and soft bread. My mother gives her stamp of approval when she takes a bite and says, “Wow, this bread is so soft.”

Cons: Do not get me wrong, I am not afraid to get down and dirty with my food. But this sando is on a whole other level. The thick cream presents a double-edged sword because although delicious, it gets everywhere. It overflows all over my hands and gets all over my hair when I bite in. It does not help that the sando is packaged only in plastic wrap, which does nothing for its structural integrity. Pro tip: Eat this sando right when you get it.

@island_banana_juice

U-Kitchen 

Multiple locations

Photo: Emily Smith

Pros: This is the most unique tasting cream I have had. It’s a delicate balance between whipped cream, butter and sugar, with the butter a bit more prominent. In tasting a lineup of sweet sandos, it’s nice to have one that’s less sweet. At $6.90 for two halves, this sando is the most affordable on my list.

Cons: At the back of the sando is something that looks and tastes like straight-up butter. Upon inspection, the cream is curdled from what I assumed is a larger butter content. The bread is soft, but like Daily Whisk Matcha, the crusts remain. And unlike the other sandos here, this one has only two strawberries and no other fruit.

@u_kitchen_hawaii

SEE ALSO: Two-Minute Takeout: U-Kitchen Bento Shop in Kalihi

Mana Sandwiches 

Ala Moana Center

Photo: Emily Smith

Pros: You cannot go wrong with buying a sando at a store that specializes in making them. I do not know whether this is a pro or a con, but I always end up leaving Mana with at least two more sandos than I came for. This place fuels sando fanatics like me. The small shop at the Lanai food court at Ala Moana Center feels like a Japanese experience. Sandos are aesthetically laid out and are comparable in taste to those in Japan. The Brug bakery bread is fluffy and creamy. I bite in and hear the sound of air bubbles softly popping inside the cream. 

Cons: For $5.75 you get a half-sandwich that is smaller than the others. I have seen people eat their Mana sandos in three bites. With this price point, I always joke that Mana is the Gucci of sando shops. If you are shopping, the mall location is convenient. If you are stopping by just to get a sando, the parking might be a hassle. 

1450 Ala Moana Blvd., (808) 201-4948, manasandwiches.com, @mana.sandwiches

SEE ALSO: We Tried Mana Sandwiches, a New Japanese Sando Shop

Don Quijote 

Multiple locations

Photo: Emily Smith

Pros: I am surprised to see a strawberry sando waiting for me in the chilled foods section at Don Quijote. These are made by a local business called Sweet Haato. I live in Mililani and trust me, it is hard to get my sando fix in Central O‘ahu. Don Quijote’s Pearl City store makes it convenient for me to pick up my sandos as I shop for groceries. This is your quintessential strawberry sando, sweet and milky. No surprises here.

Cons: As these sandos have been in a cooler, the bread does not feel as soft. My advice would be to leave the sando out for a couple of minutes to let the bread warm up. The price point is also high because at $6, you get one half, which is more than Mana’s price. However, if you get the sando a day before the expiration date, you get $1 off, and it still tastes delicious.  

 Multiple locations, donquijotehawaii.com, @donquijotehi

Sweet Haato

Waikīkī 

Photo: Emily Smith

Pros: The chocolate cream. This cream elevates your regular strawberry sando with another flavor profile that blends well with the Japanese milk bread and strawberries ($6.25). The cream is not overly sweet—in fact, the chocolate cream tastes more like a latte. Sweet Haato’s sweet, large strawberries also never disappoint.

Cons: Sitting in the refrigerator makes the bread cold, making it the hardest to chew out of all these options. The store sometimes has limited amounts of their sandos so I would suggest calling in ahead of time to see whether they have your desired sando in stock. If not, check Don Quijote or Times, both of which also carry Sweet Haato sandos. 

438 Hobron Lane, Suite 216., (808) 429-1449, @sweethaatollc