Best Bites: Goofy’s Café and Dine is a Hidden Gem for Breakfast-Loving Locals

Nestled beside Hilton Hawaiian Village just on the edge of Waikīkī, and with no designated parking to its name, Goofy Café and Dine is the quintessential definition of “off the beaten path” for locals. But, with a line out the door on a Wednesday morning, it’s clear that the tourists are in on the secret: There’s magic brewing at this cozy little breakfast spot. Two hours and a full stomach later, we can say that Goofy’s is worth the trip into Waikīkī. Yes, even if you’ll need to hunt a bit for parking.

First, let’s just get this out of the way: Order. The. Big Island beef loco moco ($19.70). Of the many versions we’ve tried of this local dish, Goofy’s ranks among the best. It arrives as a bigger-than-your-head plate of two scoops of rice, a giant local beef patty, two bright orange sunny eggs and a pool of demi-glace. It’s the gravy—savory, rich and with a depth of flavor only possible with the right ingredients and lots of simmering—that takes this dish from heavenly to out-of-this-world addicting. When asked what’s in it: “Secret,” says restaurant manager Yasumitsu Otsuka with a knowing smile. A very similar—and equally delicious—loco moco can be found at Aloha Steak House, another one of Zetton Inc.’s Island restaurants, and it’s clear why this recipe is closely guarded.

It’s worth nothing that Goofy’s takes its ingredients seriously—so seriously, in fact, that its promise of always serving quality ingredients is permanently announced on one of its walls: “Local first, organic whenever possible”. Truly, this is one of the reasons that makes Goofy’s dishes stand out both in flavor and presentation. The kalua pork Island eggs Benedict ($23) comes with sides of lightly dressed kale and chunks of Okinawan sweet potato, with two delicately poached local eggs (those orange yolks!) just begging to be popped with a knife. The Very Mix Berry French toast ($18.70) is a gamechanger with Punalu‘u sweet bread—one of our favorites—which maintains a luxurious, chewy bite even after the oven. Topped with house-made whipped cream, this dish is a woman after mine own heart.

Acai bowls make a great alternative to the heavier menu options, but don’t underestimate them here. The Rob Machado ($16.50) was a hefty bowl, so much so that I wondered how there could possibly be any acai under that mountain of fruits, peanut butter and hemp granola. (Spoiler: There were two scoops!)

Goofy’s serves breakfast daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., closing for a few hours before reopening for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Its drink menu is available all day, a choice certainly meant for our visiting guests. But when in Rome, right?

Goofy Café & Dine, 1831 Ala Moana Blvd Suite 201, (808) 943-0077, @goofy.hi

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