Visit Anchorage: South Restaurant + Coffeehouse

Our hotel provided a free breakfast buffet, but on our last day in Anchorage, I suggested we go out for brunch, so we went to South Restaurant + Coffeehouse. 

We dined in the restaurant side, and ordered:

Vegas, Baby! Omelet

This omelet consisted of honey-cured bacon, roasted garlic, red onion, tomato, avocado, pepperjack, ranchero sour cream, and pico de gallo.

Sourdough Pancakes with Side Bacon

Sourdough is very significant to Alaska's history, so we had to try the Sourdough Pancakes.  You could definitely taste the tang in the pancakes. 

Death by Bacon

I love bacon, so this sandwich was the obvious choice.  It had simple, quality ingredients that made it delish - egg, bacon, arugula, cheddar, and maple bacon aioli.

Chorizo Burrito

You can add ranchero, salsa verde, or both for extra. 

Service was a bit on the slow side because there was a huge mishap with a table next to us, and a lot of attention was being spent on them, but the food was good.

After we ate, I went over to the coffeehouse side to pick up some sweet treats to go.

Walnut Brownie

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie

McNeill Bar

Oatmeal Scotchie

Turtle Bar

The fresh baked treats were great!

South Restaurant + Coffeehouse
11124 Old Seward Hwy

Anchorage, AK 99515

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Westman Cafe Open in Kōʻula in Ward Village

Get the Souffle Pancakes!

Some of you die hard brunch fans may remember when Westman Cafe was open in Waikiki in the former Bills Sydney location. I remember enjoying their souffle pancakes so I was excited to have them again at their new location in Kōʻula in Ward Village. 

The cafe is bright and modern and also offers patio seating. On the menu for breakfast and brunch are signature toasts, souffle pancakes, a variety of french toasts as well as island plate options of omelet, shakshuka, loco moco, and more.

Located by the kids park

Bar seating and tables

I ordered the avocado toast for myself and the souffle pancake for the table which usually has a cook time of 20-25 minutes. We were all surprised when the star of brunch showed up first. The server explained that sometimes there will be an extra order of souffle pancakes being made and we were the lucky table. They were airy and delicious. I really could have eaten them by myself.

Avocado Toast

French Toast with Bacon and Eggs

Souffle Pancakes with lemon sauce

Japanese Style Morning Meal

We had a lovely experience and the service was also very good. Parking can be an issue as it gets crowded on the weekends. Reservations can be made on Open Table.

Westman Cafe

1000 Auahi Street 

Honolulu, HI 96814

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Visit Las Vegas: Broken Yolk Cafe

Hash Skillet

During a weekend trip to Las Vegas, we had brunch at the Broken Yolk Cafe. The go-to spot for breakfast and brunch has five locations in Las Vegas. We visited the Town Square location and while we waited for a table, we went shopping at the nearby Total Wines. 

The menu is extensive, but I loved that you could get a side of almost everything. I love to have sweet and savory so I was happy I could order my favorite avocado toast, but also satisfy my craving for pancakes!

Smoked Salmon Avo Toast

Classic Avocado Toast

Side Order Lemon Ricotta Pancake

Although it was busy, the service was awesome. Great spot for a casual and affordable brunch. 

 

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YogurStory - Great Brunch Spot

Ube Pancakes

YogurStory has been at their Keeaumoku location for a couple of years now, but I have only just visited. Parking can be a little tough to find because the restaurant gets busy! To avoid a wait, you can add your name to the waitlist via Yelp app. 

The restaurant is bright and spacious. Lots of good vibes with friends and families enjoying brunch and time together. Even though it was busy, our server was friendly, attentive, and never rushed us. 

I ordered the breakfast pancake combo that came with eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes. Simple, but so delicious that I decided I needed to eat here more often!

Breakfast Pancake Combo

Eggs Benedict

Loco Moco

Open daily from 7am to 3:30pm, YogurStory is a great option!

YogurStory

745 Keeaumoku St Ste 100 

Honolulu, HI 96814

   

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Brunch at Deck. Waikiki

Tokyo Style Pancakes

My friends and I met up for a casual breakfast in Waikiki. The plan was to meet at Hawaiian Aroma Cafe at Waikiki Walls so I parked at the Zoo and walked over. I enjoyed my large drip coffee as I waited for my friends to arrive. We ultimately decided to enjoy the open air view at Deck. Waikiki so we walked over. When we arrived, it was pretty busy on a early Sunday morning as they were also hosting a private event, but service was friendly and we were seated quickly.

My friend and I shared the Tokyo Style Pancakes and Avocado Toast while another friend ordered the Paniolo Loco Moco. The pancakes are fluffy, ricotta-souffle pancakes that are made to order so be aware it will take a minimum of 15 minutes to arrive. Our meals were delicious and I really enjoyed the pancakes. We had a great dining experience and I think it was partly due because we beat the lunch crowd so I advise to dine before brunch for a more relaxing experience.

Avocado Toast

Paniolo Loco Moco

Deck. Waikiki

Third floor of Queen Kapiolani Hotel

150 Kapahulu Ave

Honolulu, Hawaii 96815

   

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Koko Head Cafe

I finally got a chance to go to Koko Head Cafe - my first visit ever since they've moved to their current location at the former 12th Ave Grill.  

Dumplings All Day Wong

The Dumplings All Day Wong consisted of boil beef gyoza in a Parmesan pho broth.  Everything was so delish - we wished there was more broth!

Koko Moco

The Koko Moco was served atop crispy garlic rice and accompanied by tempura kimchi.  We loved the tempura kimchi!

Strata

The Strata was a generous serving of a savory bread pudding with zucchini, bacon, Oaxaca cheese, and grilled jalapeno topped with a poached egg and salsa Rona. 

Service was excellent, and we had a fab brunch!

Koko Head Cafe
1145C 12th Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 732-8920

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Guieb Café (Kalihi)

This past weekend, my friend and I decided to check out Guieb Café in Kalihi — a small, local-favorite brunch spot that’s been on our radar for a while. We arrived mid-morning and ended up waiting about 10 minutes for a table. Not bad, considering the café's size and apparent popularity among locals. 

We ordered two dishes to share: the Ube Haupia French Toast and the Golden Fried Chicken with Poi Mochi Waffle (an extra $3 upgrade).

The French toast was visually stunning — ube anything tends to be Instagram gold — but flavor-wise, it leaned more toward subtle than standout. It wasn’t overly sweet, and while the ube was present, it didn’t steal the show. Still, it was a fun dish to try.

Now, the golden fried chicken? That was the star of the meal. The skin was perfectly crisp, and the chicken stayed juicy and flavorful all the way through. As for the poi mochi waffle, I honestly couldn’t tell it was made with mochi flour. I even double-checked with the staff to confirm we got the right one. It was fine, but not memorable — especially considering the $3 upcharge.

Portions were generous, and the staff was friendly and welcoming throughout our visit.

Would I come back? Probably, especially for the fried chicken. Just might skip the waffle next time.

Open Daily 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

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Guieb Café, Kalihi

1311 North King Street

808-913-2131

 

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Visit Anaheim: Great Maple

In Pixar Place you'll find Great Maple, an upscale sit-down eatery that I was pleasantly surprised with.  It's actually a chain restaurant, and I thought the ambience was so lovely and the food was great.

And the portions - huge!!  

I also love that they serve brunch daily!

Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich

Chilaquiles

Buttermilk Pancakes with Chocolate Chips and Side Bacon and Eggs

The Buttermilk Pancakes were a stack of four fluffy pancakes.

Smoked Bacon Scramble

I had the Smoked Bacon Scramble, which included cheddar and tomatoes.  It was topped with avocado and chives, and served with a sour cream and onion scalloped potatoes, along with toast.  It was a feast!  Everything was seasoned well and so satisfying.

Fried Chicken & Doughnuts

This dish included two enormous maple bacon doughnuts and two pieces of fried chicken.

Cereal Milk Doughnuts

I wasn't expecting the portions to be so huge, so I had pre-ordered the seasonal doughnuts to come out at the end, and they were huge too!  I'm not a doughnut fan, but these were delightful!  

Service was fine, although at times it did seem we were overlooked, but they could've been short-staffed.

Great Maple is definitely a great dining option!

Great Maple
1717 Disneyland Dr Suite 101

Anaheim, CA 92802

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Brunch at Straits Honolulu

Laksa Noodle Soup

Last weekend, we celebrated a birthday with brunch at Straits Honolulu. Straits is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves weekend brunch from 10am to 2pm. I love the upscale jungle vibe that Straits has going on and I was really happy with how our tables were set up in the back of the restaurant for our large group of 17. 

Right off the bat, our server warned us that staff was low and they were out of a few entrees. As to be expected, the food came out pretty slow. One friend's noodle dish didn't make it out of the kitchen before we all finished our meals so she asked for it to be packed up to go. The staff was very apologetic and tried to accommodate us as best as they could. If you can be patient, the food is great. I really liked my Hainan Chicken and my friends raved about the Laksa as well as the Straits Burger.

Beet Salad

Cobb Salad

Loco Moco

Hainan Chicken

Straits Honolulu

1060 Auahi St. #4

Honolulu, HI 96814

   

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Brunch at Kapa Hale

After hiking the Koko Crater Stairs one beautiful morning, we stopped for breakfast at Kapa Hale in Kahala.  We liked the vibe here - spacious, innovative menu, and friendly service. 

We shared three dishes and all were tasty and very satisfying! 

Naan Ya Business

Okonomiyaki Omelette

Avocado Toast

The naan was my favorite dish of the three. The bread was soft and the naan was very garlicky and the watercress was a nice addition!

Kapa Hale is open Wednesday through Sunday (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). 

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KAPA HALE
4614 KILAUEA AVENUE
808-888-2060

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Brunch at Mana + Pua SALT at Our Kaka’ako

Being a fan of Mana + Pua Haleiwa, I was eager to check out their new location at SALT at Our Kakaao. Mana + Pua Salt is located on the second floor with an open air dining room and the cutest vibes that are perfect for your Sunday brunch crew. 

We started off with duck fat fries and guava mimosas, but the cocktail menu looked stellar. Most of the group opted for Okinawan Sweet Potato Hash with red onion, sweet bell peppers, garlic, rosemary and local arugula topped with soft scrambled eggs. It was a hearty entree. I had the Brekky Sammy - served in a pan de sal with pork belly, sage, sausage, soufflé egg, white cheddar, and maple syrup. It satisfied my sweet-salty craving. 

Duck Fat Fries $8

Okinawan Sweet Potato Hash (GF) $18

Brekky Sammy $18

Grilled Prawns (GF) $22

Overall, I liked the ambience and I thought the food was reasonably priced. Next time, I would want to try a different brunch item like the Strawberry Miso French Toast or Ahi Katsu Sandwich, which was the manager's favorite and recommendation. The restaurant is also open for happy hour weekdays 3pm-6pm and for dinner.

Mana + Pua

324 Coral Street

Honolulu, HI 96813

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