Drifted back to my hotel after an evening of anti-sobriety. I felt an urge to wander out into…read moreWaikiki on a side quest for something sweet and savory. It was about 10 and not much to choose from this late in the eve. Looked on Yelp and found a five-star spot that closed at midnight. A unicorn perhaps, or just paid social media BSers hyping up basura? And it was within walking distance. Let's go find out. MOSA is like in a backstreet off of the main Kalakaua drag. It's like a little hut with some outdoor seating out front. Simple menu that offers eight different flavors that you order in a cup or a crepe. Wanted something not too messy and just portable enough to eat from while walking back, so I got the cup. Got two scoops of ube and Kona coffe sprinkled with crushed mac nuts. DELICIOUS. Loved the texture...very creamy, almost chewy. Lovely textures. Flavors were on point, too. It's on the pricier side for ice cream, though, but I think it's worth it for what you're getting. Great stuff!

(4.5 STARS) Such a cute local ice cream stand! They're known for adding roasted peanut sprinkles to…read moretheir ice cream, and the crepe-style dessert seems to be their signature. I'll definitely have to come back to try that next time. // Single Scoop Cup (Kona Coffee) The single scoop comes in the cutest little flower pot with a tiny shovel spoon, which made it even more fun. The Kona coffee ice cream was incredibly smooth, rich, and creamy with a slightly stretchy texture that I really enjoyed. The roasted peanut sprinkles added a delicious crunch and subtle nutty flavor that complemented the ice cream perfectly. The service was also very friendly and quick! Overall, I really enjoyed it and would happily come back. While it didn't quite reach "must-have" status for me, it was still a delicious treat that's worth trying.

What can I say besides COME HERE AND COME EARLY!…read more We showed up at 5:34 AM and somehow I was STILL number 10 in line. After trying everything, I completely understand why Leonard's is such a staple. Everything comes out HOT, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The malasadas are obviously the stars of the show, but do yourself a favor and try a range of flavors! The guava was my personal favorite, while the macadamia cream reminded several of us of wedding cake, in the absolute best way. Don't sleep on the butter mochi! It's AMAZING, and the ube was a particular standout. Honestly, this is one of those places that absolutely lives up to the hype. Worth the early wake-up call, worth the line, and worth every calorie. Just go!

Soft and crisp malasadas!…read more We got the filled donuts with macadamia nut filling and guava filling. I was not the biggest fan of either of those fillings, but the dough itself was pretty good! It wasn't too sweet and I thought the flavor was overall nice on the dough. They seemed freshly made! Service was fairly quick! We ordered inside and then picked up the donuts outside.

I love Pipeline Bakeshops Malasadas! I have been to several Malasada places in Hawaii but | love…read morethere's the best for the following reasons: 1. the size of the malasadas: some restaurants tend to make their Malasadas smaller and when places do this it ruins the overall texture and quality of it. The bigger the malasadas size the more airy and fluffy and more bread layers that will be inside. 2. their malasadas always taste fresh and the same quality each time. 3. their malasadas don't feel oily or heavy at all Overall I would highly recommend this place for their Malasadas! I'm so happy to have found them. I can back multiple times on my trip. They also have other desserts too that I have yet to try. They have ice cream, cakes, and other desserts Also tip: if you are ordering a malasada also order a coffee or a matcha drink to go with it. The cinnamon sugar from the malasada just matches so perfectly with a drink this restaurant is also a nice place for walking! There's lot of stores and restaurants to walk around! I'm trying to remember but I think there was a book off that was not too far from here! If you either drive or maybe walk. Service: staff was super helpful and friendly while I was there. I was having an issue with my online order because my phone was being glitchy and they were so nice in helping :) Also wanted to note their branding is so cute!! They even sell merch items too

Review only based on the Malasadas. They are made to order so they come out fresh. They do not…read morecontain any fillings, so if you are looking for something Leonard's you may be disappointed. Haven't tried their other offerings, but will do so next time. Good location in Kaimuki, around other shops and restaurants. It is clean and bright inside. There isn't really anywhere to sit in the shop to eat, so you'll have to take it to go.

I'd never heard of bingsu prior to stumbling upon this cafe while in search of a cold treat to beat…read morethe heat. My immediate thought at first bite: WHERE have you been all of my life??!! This brought back fond memories of eating snow as a kid while growing up in the Midwest. This was a light, refreshing treat that wasn't overly sweet. I've been chasing the same quality of bingsu since returning home to ATL and the search continues. The cafe was clean, had ample seating, and service was good.

Jejubing has Korean style bingsu in the garage area of the Ala Moana mall. It's hard to find but…read morethe place is clean and modern. The service is ok. You order on a kiosk and they call your number a few minutes later. You bring your dishes back so there's almost zero interaction with staff. The mango ice was pretty good. Most of the mango was soft and sweet. The ice was, as expected, cold and sweet. It's refreshing but nothing extraordinary.

This is such a cute spot out for date night or girl's night out. The ambiance is clean and…read moreminimalistic. They are a sister company to their neighbor Aburiya Ibushi, so naturally after eating there, we came here for dessert. Immediately when you walk in, the order/cashier is right there. You have to order your items first and then go find a seat. During a busy night it's packed, so patience is key, as everything is made to order. We opted for a bar/countertop seat and it did not disappoint. We got to talk to the servers and see how everything is made up close. Everything was delicious from the hot and iced teas to dessert. My only suggestion is to remove any of your limited item signage or make a notation on the signage when you run out. We were so fixated on trying those new menu items and were sad to hear it wasn't available when we tried to order them. Overall, such a great spot for late night dessert.

Truly one of the highlights of our entire trip. The cocktails and dessert were incredible easily…read moresome of the best we had in Hawai'i. We ordered the Matcha Old Fashioned and Sencha Gin Soda, and both were so beautifully balanced. The Matcha Old Fashioned in particular was genuinely one of the best cocktails I've had in my life. Creative and unique without being overly sweet or having any one flavor overpower the others. For dessert, we had the Matcha Anmitsu, and WOW. The matcha flavor actually came through rich and complex while still feeling light and balanced. On top of the food and drinks, the ambiance was amazing and the service was excellent. Everything felt thoughtful and intentional from start to finish. An absolute must if you appreciate matcha, Japanese flavors, or a really well-made cocktail. A million out of 10 would recommend and until then ima dream about coming back.

This is the spot to go for shaved ice when in Oahu. There is a more famous place where all the…read moretourists go, but it's a drive, unless you happen to be in the North Shore already. You can also go to some shops in Waikiki but there service is meh and their prices are omg. Waiola Shave Ice is a local staple. It is tucked away in a neighborhood in Mo'ilili. They treat you like family and the service is speedy and with true Aloha spirit. The selection of flavors is great and they have any additional topping to offer you that you can think of. They do have a store to buy merch if you are into that and want a souvenir. They have a bench where you can sit and eat. There is also a decent parking lot but cars can only drive in one direction and need to back out to leave. I recommend parking at the local park that is a half block from here (check the signs for certain days/time where you cannot park), but it is a shady place with grass and trees to enjoy your goodies. Parking is more plentiful and easier to maneuver and there are plenty of places to sit. My family is a bunch of tough critics and this is now their new favorite spot to check out when we are in town.

Waiola Shave Ice has been operating since 1970s, which is a testament to how special their dessert…read morehas been for the people of Hawaii. I had this growing up as a kid, and I had to take my boyfriend who's not from the islands to experience the authentic shave ice that is not overhyped or converted into the tourist trap over the years. Although the portions are a lot smaller than I remember, the shave ice was still smooth like bingsu and the azuki bean were the "icing on the cake". Please support local & Wailoa Shave Ice so we can continue to enjoy their shave ice in the future.

I've been wanting to come here for months! I finally had the opportunity to! I'm so happy I did!…read moreThere was so much to choose from-pastries and drinks! My hubby missed out! Great excuse to go again! There was a line, but it moved quickly. You could tell which items were popular cuz their spot was empty. However, they were quickly replaced. Everything was delicious!!! I did bring some items to share with coworkers. I bought my breakfast and lunch from this quaint bakery. It took me back to my visit to Japan! Loved it! Will definitely be back!!!

A little taste of Japan right here in Hawaii!…read more Okayama Kobo is such a cool bakery that instantly transported me back to my trips to Japan! Everything has that authentic Japanese bakery feel, and the pastries are definitely worth the visit. My absolute favorites were the purple potato puff and purple potato bun--so delicious! The matchas are also ON POINT! No matter what time you go, there always seems to be a line, and now I understand why! The quality and flavors speak for themselves. If you love Japanese bakeries, this is definitely a must-visit. Will definitely be back for more!

I tried their brand new item the Tofu Black Sesame Frappe. Wow! It was so delicious! I also did not…read morefeel bad drinking it after running because it had so much protein from the tofu which is what it's made out of. The tofu on the bottom made it similar to a coffee jelly drink with tofu as well as the strong hints of black sesame throughout the drink. I highly recommend trying it if you want to drink something that doesn't make you feel guilty after! Also to note I felt so full after drinking this drink LOL! That Tofu packed on a lot of protein and kept me full felt really energized after as well! Their bubble waffle is forever my favorite with a perfect crunchy outer and fluffy inner. I only go here for bubble waffles. Ambiance is so clean, bright, and cute. It definitely reminds me of a cute cafe you'd find in Korea! Definitely stop by :) it's one of my favorite cafes to visit.

Cute place for a coffee or a sandwich…read more Got the egg sando with avocado. Had very high standards because egg sandos are one of my favorites and I have fond memories of all the delicious variations I had in Japan (read: 7-11). This one was different and fresh. It came on a toasted bread and they artfully layered in thick avocado slices. That being said, it's no seven eleven sando because the bread was not soft and airy, and the egg sando was just not quite the same. Matcha was ok.

After seeing Bush at The Republik, our friends suggested dessert before heading home. Frost City…read morewas their choice and my wife and I happily agreed having never been there before. The place was busy at 10:30 p.m. and we were clearly then oldest customers in the space by at least 25 years. LOL. But that didn't stop us from enjoying a delicious strawberry and mango shaved ice. Wow was that thing good. Service was great, the restaurant was clean and the energy was high. Free parking in the lot in the back too never hurts. Fun spot for a late night treat. We'll definitely be back again.

I wanted to take my girls out for a sweet treat and decided to take them here…read more This was our first time to this establishment but we've had shaved ice cream before. My daughters opted for a combo: strawberry and mango and the other just Nutella. All flavors were great and mimicked the real thing. The portions are generous and prices are fair. I chose the Taro ball soup with milk. I enjoyed it but prefer real taro. It was light, chewy and not too sweet. Parking is provided in the back of the building with amole seating inside. In all, I would come back to try their other flavors.

Came here around 11 and they were already out of a lot of flavors…read more We were lucky to get the mango though! Wanted to try strawberry. The mango mochi is for sure worth all the rave. It was the perfect bite of mochi and the mango was sweet and fresh. Service was friendly and fast despite the line out the door. It's very small inside and can only fit about 10 people at a time.

Not sure if this is really worth the hype. I came 3 times…read moreto get the mango mochi. The first time I arrived at 11am and they said they were sold out. The sign said they have it everyday at 11am. I came the next day at 11:05am and they said they were sold out and already sold 100. How is that possible if it's only available at 11? Very confusing. They said people were upset so they decided to try preorders for pick up the next day. So I ordered 2. Came back the third day to get it finally. Each one is $8 and pretty large. The mochi was great but the mango wasn't ripe. One was riper than the other but the one that wasn't really wasn't. A bit disappointing.