Honolulu Coffee

Best for: Macarons and coffee
Location: Waikiki, Ala Moana, Downtown

Honolulu Coffee is similar to Island Vintage, specializing in Kona coffee beverages and sprinkled throughout Waikiki, catering to tourists who don't mind paying the price. While I tend to prefer the coffee at Island Vintage, Honolulu Coffee definitely has a better selection of pastries.

chocolate mousse in the shape of a cup!

Unlike Island Vintage, Honolulu Coffee has a branch in downtown, which is really convenient. Macarons during your lunch break -  need I say more?

peppermint macarons

So far, these are the macarons in the state. And these are no typical macarons. There are lilikoi, Hawaiian salt, and Kona coffee flavored macarons - only in Hawaii!

lilikoi, pistachio, and caramel & hawaiian salt maracons

pistachio, kona coffee, and caramel & Hawaiian salt

studying at Bishop Square

at the Moana Surfrider Hotel

JJ Bistro & French Pastry

Best for: Dessert
Location: Kaimuki
Foodgasmic dish: Chocolate pyramid

chocolate pyramid and a complimentary coffee-chocolate macaron

My family and I have been coming here since it opened about a decade ago. JJ has watched me grow up, just as I've seen his two daughters grow up. JJ is a master pastry chef, originally from Laos, educated in New York, and now famous in Hawaii due to his desserts. His most famous dessert is the one that I always get: the chocolate pyramid. This is a pyramid of chocolate mousse, sitting on a thin layer of dense chocolate cake and covered in chocolate powder. The whole rich concoction melts in your mouth. Foodgasm!

pistachio cherry brandy pastry and some coffee

There are, of course, many other desserts, all of which are less than $5. Ten years after opening, and we still haven't tried all of JJ's creations. But we haven't had a bad one yet. It is certainly difficult to try new things when you have already fallen in love with a few (isn't that life?).

Besides desserts, JJ's is open for lunch and dinner, both of which are French/Laotian fusion and pretty good, but desserts are definitely his specialty. JJ has expanded a lot since he first opened - more than double the size.

Lao pizza: chili basil chicken, onion, red bell peppers, and zucchini ($7)

Last night I brought my brother here for dinner to watch the Kaimuki Christmas parade. JJ's wife recognized Sam and me as soon as we came in and gave us some complimentary corn chowder, served in adorable penguin-in-a-suit bowls. I wasn't that hungry so I ordered the Laos pizza, with chili basil chicken, onions, red bell peppers, and zucchini. The crust was nice and crispy, and you can't go wrong with chili basil chicken. JJ is a pastry chef, so of course his pizzas would be perfect little pan sizes, like the ones found at Pizza Hut - but much better, of course. Sam had a pepperoni pizza, while Anthony had the House Special Pizza, with green curry sauce, chicken, onion, red bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant. Curry is an interesting ingredient to add to pizza. I like it, but I can understand why it might be a little strange to some people. Anthony was craving something crunchy, so he ordered the Baked Lobster Avocado, which came with three slices of French bread topped with lobster meat and mozzarella, surrounding arugula and an avocado aioli placed in the center. He got that crunch he was craving, and I got to eat baked lobster. It was a very good choice.

Baked Lobster Avocado: lobster meat with avocado aioli on French bread and mozzarella ($8)

 

For dessert, I disappointed my brother by ordering another chocolate pyramid. And coffee. Just black. You know a dessert is good when I don't add cream and sugar to the coffee.

red velvet, a chocolate pyramid, and two fruit pastries that I don't remember

Beachhouse at the Moana

Best for: Beachside Brunch, Dessert, View
Location: Moana Surfrider

There are people blocking my view!

This is my second favorite place for beachside brunching, after Plumeria. The Beachhouse is located at the Moana Surfrider, the oldest hotel in Hawaii. It's a beautiful, wedding cake-esque hotel. Speaking of wedding cakes, you will definitely see at least one wedding while you're here, which is to be expected.

Tahitian Vanilla French Toast

I usually order the Tahitian Vanilla French Toast ($16), which is served with whipped honey-rum butter. The toast has a bit of a crisp to it, which I love and makes me wonder if the batter contains some granola. My only complaint is that the beach is somewhat far from the tables. The outside portion (where I usually sit) is a long narrow patio, so only about 3 tables are actually right by the water. You can see the ocean, but there will be some heads blocking your view. Also, I'd like to see sand along with my ocean (hence the beach in beachhouse). However, the food, service, and general atmosphere make up for it.

Besides brunch, I also come here for dessert and prefer to sit on their low, cushy chairs closer to the entrance since you can't see the ocean at night anyway. Their Kona Coffee Spring Rolls ($11) are made with Kona coffee and chocolate in a crispy spring roll wrapper served with a grand marnier and white chocolate dipping sauce. You really can't go wrong with Kona coffee, chocolate, and grand marnier. Try their Dark Rum Creme Brulee (also $11), a vanilla custard infused with spiced dark rum and a torched caramel crust. Live music, great service, and delicious Hawaiian-inspired desserts are the perfect way to end a night in Waikiki.

Lewers Lounge

Best for: Dessert
Location: Halekulani

I can no longer leave Waikiki without ending the night with dessert at Lewers Lounge. This place is magical. I always take out-of-town guests here because it epitomizes Hawaii (oddly enough, without a view of the beach) - well, at least a certain part of Hawaii. I usually sit outside, at a setting that makes this space so special.

Halekulani is one of only two 4-star hotels on Oahu. That's pretty pathetic, considering how many hotels we have here, but that's besides the point. Since this restaurant is part of Halekulani, you know everything will be impeccable. The hotel is a white, elegant, low-rising complex with open halls that allow the soft island breezes to brush by. Sitting at one of the six tables at night, in the heart of Waikiki yet miles away from the hustle and bustle, staring into the clear sky... no wonder this is my favorite place in Waikiki.

When you arrive, you are greeted with cashews and pecans. Service here is top-notch, and by now the waitresses recognize me, as I am always finding excuses to dine here. I always order the Chocolate All the Way, which is a trio of chocolate cheesecake, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate brownie. It's not the most innovative, but it always tastes delicious, and you can't ask for a better setting. Each dessert is about $9. Their dessert cocktails are pretty good too, but I think I prefer the ones at Kahala.

Panya Bistro

Best for: Happy Hour, Japanese pastries
Location: Ala Moana

Japanese cheesecake and a mango-tini

I can't stand eating in shopping mall food courts (unless I'm in Singapore), so Panya Bistro is my default place when I get hungry for a snack. The atmosphere is chic, their Japanese pastry selection is large, and the food is a good deal.

On Sundays and Mondays they have all-day happy hours, which is kind of ridiculous. $5 cocktails and $5 appetizers. The cocktails are okay; the happy hour cocktails at Plumeria and Hiroshi are much better. Stay away from the martinis - they're basically sugary slush. The mojitos aren't too bad, but pretty weak.

strawberry lemondrop martini

$5 lychee mojito

As for appetizers, I usually order the gyoza, which, again, is only okay. The best food at Panya has to be the desserts. Their Japanese cheesecake reminds me that Asians do, in fact, make everything better. They also have a huge selection of bread pastries at the front. 
 

Japanese cheesecake with cream