Every few years, I like to go to Honolulu and eat favorite foods just like the locals do every day.
Known for long wait times in Waikiki, Eggs ‘n Things, the check in person at the restaurant on Saratoga Road, told my cousin Ann and me that the wait would be an hour. Happily, the wait was shorter and we were seated upstairs after climbing a narrow wooden staircase.
The restaurant servers are on top of taking orders and serving food quickly. And the size of the meals are huge.
One of the specials of the day was corned beef hash loco moco, but I ordered the pork chop with pineapple which came with a side of their famous pancakes. The wait time had been definitely worth it as we were very full.
I had the best malasada in Hawaii at Leonard’s. Hot from the fryer and filled with custard, it was divine. Customers arrive from 5:30 am until 10 pm to get their snack, and wait patiently until the fryer turns out the orders. Malasadas are a Portuguese donut without a hole, and Leonard and his family began producing them in their bakery in 1952. The hard decisions are choosing the flavors of the sugar coating and fillings of guava, coconut, macademia or plain custard. For best taste they have to be eaten hot!
Oh yes, I’m cuckoo for Coco Puffs at Liliha Bakery. These old fashioned puffs have a tender shell and hold the creamy filling bite after bite. They say the puffs are “magical” and the Coco Puff with creamy Chocolate is “world famous”.
Puff after puff I had to agree!
Eggs n Things 343 Saratoga Rd (and other locations) www.eggsnthings.com
Leonard’s Bakery 933 Kapahula Ave (and other locations) www.leonardshawaii.com
Liliha Bakery 580 N. Nimitz Hwy (and other locations) www.lilihabakery.com