Trying Lady M Crepe Cakes Because of Lee Anne Wong

Photo: Melissa Chang

While scrolling Instagram last week, I found myself lingering on a post by Lee Anne Wong (@leeannewong). The chef and co-owner of Koko Head Café was having a fan girl moment—she had just met Kumi Iseki, the co-founder of Lady M Cakes, who had stopped in for a bite at Wong’s eatery. “As a New Yorker, the @ladymcakes #millecrepecake is legendary,” Wong wrote. “No joke I would buy one for myself every Christmas and slowly devour it alone over the course of a few days. This was the crepe cake that spawned all other crepe cakes in America, and certainly the most well-known and celebrated crepe cake around.”

Photo: @leeannewong

Wong went on to describe Iseki as a “LEGEND” (yes, all caps). That got me to click on @ladymcakes, where I spent the next 10 minutes engrossed in images of gorgeous, luscious-looking cakes. Must try this, I swore. I guess you could say I was “influenced.”

I texted Frolic writer Melissa Chang: “After I saw Lee Anne Wong’s post, I can’t stop thinking about Lady M cakes, I know you wrote about it awhile back but want to visit. Want to go?” Her response: “Would love to! Crepe cakes are my fave.”

We met the following afternoon at Waikīkī Tea. Although not an official Lady M boutique, which are all over the world, Waikīkī Tea is owned by Iseki and serves a rotating selection of the famous cakes flown in from Los Angeles.

I was excited. I would be indulging in the same slices that had Lee Anne Wong gushing. Honestly, I don’t even really love cake. But this was Lady M.

Here are our takes on three slices we tried.

SEE ALSO: Lady M: New foodporn in Waikīkī

Lady M Chestnut Crepe Cake. Photo: Melissa Chang

Chestnut Crepe Cake ($12.50/slice)

Diane: It feels so decadent with 20 layers of crepe and 19 layers of cream. There’s so much texture with all the layers. It’s very sweet and rich, though, almost like a thick pudding.

Melissa: Normally, I don’t care for chestnut desserts, but this one is good because it’s not too sweet.

Lady M Pistachio Crepe Cake. Photo: Melissa Chang

Pistachio Crepe Cake ($11.50/slice)

Diane: This one is chewier, which makes it more fun to eat. I see now with this one what the allure is with crepe cakes and all its layers. Still very sweet to me, but I like the nuttiness of the pistachios on top.

Melissa: This was definitely chewier and richer because of the pistachio cream. It reminds me of my childhood, actually—my mom used to make pistachio cake sometimes, using pistachio pudding mix.

Lady M Liliko‘i Crepe Cake. Photo: Melissa Chang

Liliko‘i Crepe Cake ($11.50/slice)

Diane: I really like the tartness of the liliko‘i; it’s refreshing, and it makes it less sweet. It tastes almost like cheesecake. It’s smooth and something that I could finish if I had it for dessert.

Melissa: Whenever I come to Waikīkī Tea and can’t decide what I want, I order this liliko‘i crepe cake. I love the slight tartness as a contrast to the layers of cream.

In the end, the decadent richness of the cakes got to me, and I couldn’t sleep until much later than normal that night, likely from a sugar high. But I get it. I see why Lady M’s crepe cakes are so prized. They’re gorgeous and intricate with their meticulous layers of crepe and cream. Sugar high aside, they’re a treat I’ll still indulge in occasionally. Thanks, Lee Anne, for inspiring me to sample a LEGEND.

234 Beach Walk, (808) 886-6000, @ladym.waikikitea