Best Desserts in Waikiki
Overview
〰️
Overview 〰️
Waikiki, Honolulu
From Island Vintage Shave Ice to Halekulani’s Signature Coconut Cake, Waikiki is home to numerous desserts that are bound to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here are seven of the best places to get dessert in Waikiki!
Island Vintage Shave Ice
〰️
Island Vintage Shave Ice 〰️
Coconut Island
Hawaiian Rainbow
Exterior of Island Vintage Shave Ice
Island Vintage Shave Ice is my favorite spot to get Hawaiian shave ice in Waikiki. It’s a small kiosk at the Royal Hawaiian Center off of Kalakaua Avenue and there is usually a long line in the evening. Like other shave ice places on the island, they use fresh fruit syrups that do not taste artificial at all. I always get the Coconut Island, which is coconut and mango, and it’s the perfect sweet treat to cool off on a hot day.
Matcha Stand Maiko
〰️
Matcha Stand Maiko 〰️
Matcha Soft-Serve in a Cup
Matcha Soft-Serve in a Cup
Matcha Soft-Serve in a Waffle Cone
Matcha Stand Maiko is a great place for matcha soft-serve, drinks, and desserts. They have locations in other parts of the country like the Bay Area, but the one in Waikiki is the original and from my personal experience offers the best quality matcha. Their matcha soft-serve is some of the best I’ve had and it’s a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth while cooling down from the heat!
Nana's Green Tea
〰️
Nana's Green Tea 〰️
Hojicha Soft-Serve with Warabimochi
Matcha Warabimochi Parfait
Exterior of Nana’s Green Tea
Nana’s Green Tea is another amazing spot for matcha desserts. It’s located inside of the Stix Asia Food Hall in the basement of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza. They have matcha and hojicha soft-serve, parfaits, and lattes. I really like their hojicha soft-serve, but I would personally skip their matcha soft-serve because I find it to have an overly subtle matcha flavor compared to Matcha Stand Maiko. On the flip side, I really enjoy their matcha parfaits.
Ice Monster
〰️
Ice Monster 〰️
Fresh Mango Sensation
Matcha Sensation
Black Sesame and Cookies & Cream Sorbet
Ice Monster specializes in Taiwanese-style shaved ice and is a good spot if you want something different from the Hawaiian shave ice at other places like Island Vintage Shave Ice. Rather than shaving the ice and then pouring the syrup over it, Ice Monster infuses the ice with their flavors prior to shaving it. The end result is incredibly soft and creamy. I really like their Fresh Mango Sensation and their Matcha Sensation.
Liliha Bakery
〰️
Liliha Bakery 〰️
Display of Cakes, Green Tea Puffs, and Coco Puffs
Display of Butter Rolls and Poi Mochi Donuts
Exterior of Liliha Bakery
Liliha Bakery has multiple locations on the island including one on the third floor of the International Market Place in Waikiki. They are famous for their coco puffs, but my favorite item is their poi mochi donuts, which are glazed and have a fun, chewy texture. Liliha Bakery is also a restaurant with an extensive menu, but the bakery itself is definitely the highlight.
Hula Pie at Duke's or Hula Grill
〰️
Hula Pie at Duke's or Hula Grill 〰️
Hula Pie
Hula Pie
Exterior of Duke’s Waikiki
This next one is not a place, but rather a specific dessert you can order at Duke’s or Hula Grill, which are sister restaurants located at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort. Their signature Hula Pie is macadamia nut ice cream with chocolate cookie crust, hot chocolate fudge, macadamia nuts, and whipped cream. The slice they give you is huge so definitely share one if you’re going with a party of multiple people, but I assure you it will go away faster than you think!
Halekulani's Signature Coconut Cake
〰️
Halekulani's Signature Coconut Cake 〰️
Coconut Cake at Orchids
Coconut Cake from Halekulani Bakery
Exterior of Halekulani
If you’re dining at Orchids or House Without A Key at the Halekulani Hotel, be sure to end your meal with this dessert! Halekulani’s Signature Coconut Cake is a light, coconut-infused sponge cake with amaretto pastry cream and a dusting of coconut flakes. It’s perfectly light, creamy, and melts in your mouth. If you aren’t dining at one of these restaurants, you can get the cake at Halekulani Bakery at the Halepuna Waikiki, an upscale boutique hotel owned by Halekulani.
