Hua Mochi Aloha

 Sometimes the best food discoveries happen completely by accident. I was heading to Kahala Mall with my coworkers to grab lunch when a bright pink food truck parked along Kilauea Avenue caught my eye. I had no idea what it was, but I knew I had to walk over and check it out.

Turns out, it was Hua Mochi Aloha, a local vendor that regularly pops up at the KCC Farmers Market on Saturdays and the Mililani Farmers Market on Sundays. I had somehow never heard of them, but clearly plenty of people have — they’re known for their fresh mochi stuffed with whole strawberries.

Once I learned that, choosing what to order became very easy. I went straight for the classic strawberry mochi and also bought two of the strawberry chocolate. At $5 a piece, it’s definitely on the pricier side for mochi, but I don’t mind paying a little extra when something is genuinely good.

And these were good. Soft, chewy mochi on the outside, fresh fruit inside, and just the right amount of sweetness. Not something I’d splurge on every week, but absolutely worth trying at least once — especially if you’re a mochi lover or just appreciate a fun local treat.

I’m glad that pink truck caught my attention. If you ever spot Hua Mochi Aloha around town or at the farmers markets, give it a try!

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Paniolos Hawaii at Kahala Mall

I recently met a friend at Kahala Mall for lunch to check out Paniolos Hawaii's newest location. It was his first time at Paniolos ... I have been to the location in Kailua numerous times. 

This location in Kahala Mall is located near Starbucks, you can't miss it.  

It's similar in concept to Subway and Pieology - you basically get to create your own meal - whether it's a burrito, taco, or bowl.

My friend created a burrito - look at the size of it!

He added cilantro brown rice, black beans, free range chicken, and a bunch of toppings. 

I created a bowl with grilled steak, black beans, chopped romaine lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, corn salsa, and added guacamole (extra charge).

I really enjoyed this bowl of goodness and stretched it out over two meals! 

The ingredients were fresh, and the servings were generous. 

When you're craving fresh Mex on-the-go, check out Paniolos Hawaii!

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PANIOLOS HAWAII
4211 WAIALAE AVE
808-735-8335

 

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Il Gelato Cafe - Kahala Mall

I've been to other Il Gelato Cafe locations (Pearl Highlands and Haleiwa), but I recently went to the Kahala Mall location for the first time!

There was a nice variety of flavors to choose from, but I ended up with my fave - Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramel.  I loved the sweet and salt combo, especially the ribbons of caramel!

It was the perfect treat to end an eventful night.

Even though kid sizes are not listed on the menu, they do offer them, so if you're craving just a scoop, be sure to ask for the kid size!

Il Gelato Cafe
Kahala Mall
4211 Waialae Ave

Honolulu, HI 96816

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Seven Senses Spa Review

Treatment Room

Hawaii Mom Blog was invited to visit Seven Senses Spa located in the Kahala office center for a complimentary massage to experience their spa.  Their spa concept is "beyond massage" where they offer an array of massage styles ranging from deep tissue, lomi lomi, shiatsu, and more.  

When you enter, you are immediately greeted by a wall of dark wooden planks inspired by hot springs in Japan and transported to a place of zen.  After I checked in, I was greeted by my therapist, Kim, and shown the room.  Kim discussed with me what I wanted worked on and any places to avoid.  During the massage she checked with me on the pressure, but it was already perfect.  For me, Kim combined deep tissue and lomi lomi and it was amazing. My neck and back gets sore from my office job and sometimes tight from hiking. I could really feel her working the areas where I needed it most and it felt like the tension was being rubbed away. I highly recommend booking with Kim, but it's great to know that Seven Senses Spa state all their therapists are extremely knowledgeable in therapeutic massage and have a passion for helping others.

This hall leads to zen.

Seven Senses Spa offers 60 minute, 75 minute, and 90 minute massages as well as package specials at very reasonable prices.  If you are in the market for an outstanding massage and you don't have a need for a relaxation room or sauna, then Seven Senses Spa is perfect for you.    

For more information, see their website.

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The Counter Custom Burgers in Kahala is Now Locally Owned and Operated

 

This award-winning restaurant features delicious bites such as burgers, salads, shakes and more. Photo courtesy of The Counter.

HONOLULU, Hawaii. (October 26, 2020) – The Counter Custom Burgers® has recently changed ownership and will now be locally owned and operated by University of Hawaii graduate Jon Muranaka. The Counter is well known for its create your own burger option that allows customers to experiment with more than one million burger combinations.  Muranaka has a wide and varied background in the restaurant industry, lending his expertise in marketing, data analytics, and business development to some of Honolulu’s most prolific restaurants, ranging from fine dining to fast food. From Top of Waikiki to the International House of Pancakes and Burger King, Muranaka has worked with independent business owners and franchisees to help them get the most out of their marketing and operational dollars. He’s now using that knowledge and experience to grow his own restaurant during one of the most challenging times in history for restaurants. “I’ve always loved working in the restaurant and food industry, so when the opportunity came along to purchase The Counter, I had to take it. This is my first business to own, but I have a strong background in many aspects of the food and beverage industry, so this was a natural progression that combined my interests and experience,” Muranaka said. The Counter first became popular in Honolulu when it opened in 2009 thanks to some of the big names that were attached to it including actor Daniel Dae Kim and popular restaurateur DK Kodama. Since then The Counter’s guiding mission of challenging the traditional burger joint has remained steady throughout. The Counter Custom Burgers® gives diners a fresh, unconventional approach to creating the ultimate burger, offering over a million possible burger combinations with a choice from eight proteins, 11 distinct cheeses, 33 signature toppings, 20 unique sauces, and 11 types of buns or fresh greens. Those proteins include two vegan options, one being the Impossible®  which was introduced to Honolulu by The Counter, along with non-traditional proteins like bison and mahi mahi. Of course, beef is the most popular burger option, and The Counter offers some of the best beef out there with their hormone- and antibiotic-free Angus. Diners can choose the temperature for most of the proteins, as well as the size, which is weighed after it’s been cooked. In addition to the custom burgers, The Counter offers signature burgers that highlight some of the most popular burger combinations, all of which can be turned into a bowl, for those who want to ditch the bun. Other main course menu items include salads, sandwiches, chili, and more, with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options, plus a well-rounded dedicated kids menu. For diners looking for local kine options, the loco moco and teriyaki burgers make great choices. And though the burgers are the focus, diners won’t want to miss out on some of the other elements that help The Counter stand out: their appetizers and hand-scooped milkshakes. Appetizers like fries (plain, parmesan, chili/cheese, and sweet potato), buffalo cauliflower, loaded tots, and chicken wings start the meal off perfectly. The options for shakes are nearly as endless as for the burgers, with seven signature shakes, four boozy shakes, and a create your own shake menu with 14 items to choose from rounding out the meal. The Counter also offers a full service bar with cocktails, local brews and a selection of wine. From enhanced cleaning protocols, to contactless ordering and payment, to curbside pick-up, The Counter has placed great emphasis on ensuring guests are able to enjoy their meal, safely. The Counter is best experienced in person at their Kahala location (4211 Waialae Avenue), with a friendly vibe, open floor plan, and a welcoming bar that’s great for drinking draft, local craft beers. For those who aren’t quite ready to return to in-house dining, there is a variety of delivery and take out options available, including easy online ordering. And yes, the milkshakes are available for take-out, as are their family meal deals and beer and wine options.

About The Counter Founded in 2003 by Jeff Weinstein, The Counter®’s mission was to challenge the traditional burger joint. In partnership with Craig Albert, the Culver City, California-based brand grew into more than 40 domestic and international locations. The Counter® offers a fresh, unconventional approach to creating the ultimate burger, offering over a million possible burger combinations with a choice from eight proteins, 11 distinct cheeses, 33 signature toppings, 20 unique sauces and 11 types of buns or fresh greens. The Counter® offers a full-service, casual dining experience in an inviting space with industrial décor and upbeat music. Most recently, The Counter was acquired by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Kahala Brands one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of nearly 29 fast-casual and quick-service restaurant brands with approximately 3000 locations in 35 countries.   For more information about The Counter®, visit www.TheCounter.com.

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Goma Tei - Kahala Mall

Even though I enjoy Goma Tei's ramen, I usually order non-ramen items when I dine there.

I was recently at the Kahala Mall location, and I ordered Chicken Tatsutaage, and asked for Ginger Sauce on the side.

Chicken Tatsutaage

The ginger sauce actually goes really well with the chicken wings too.  If you love ginger sauce and fried chicken, try it! 

Back when I worked at Aloha Airlines, a nearby restaurant at one of our office locations would have a secret "Aloha Special" - fried chicken wings + ginger sauce, that was a huge hit amongst employees. 

I love that Goma Tei has a Keiki Ramen, which is very reasonably priced.

Keiki Ramen

One of my kids wanted to eat curry instead, so luckily they also offer an add-on Mini Curry Rice as an option if you order an entree (it's a pretty generous serving!).

Mini Curry Rice

Tan Tan Ramen

Gyoza

Service was great, and you can be sure I'm getting chicken and ginger sauce again the next time I'm at Goma Tei!


Goma Tei 

Kahala Mall
4211 Waialae Ave

Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 732-9188

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HydraFacial now available at LAVISH Nails Wax and Lash

Complimentary treatment was provided by our sponsor. All opinions are entirely my own.

I can count on one hand the number of times I've gotten a facial in my 40+ years of life. It's not that my face doesn't need deep cleansing, because it really does. But, I don't have the patience to lie there for an hour (and now that I'm a mom, I don't have the time either!), and the extraction part of facials is just downright so painful that I would always ask myself why I'm paying all this money just to get tortured to the point where I'm on the verge of tears!

After experiencing a HydraFacial at LAVISH in Kahala Mall, I can honestly say that I am both a believer and fan of this gentle, yet effective treatment for facial skin.

HydraFacial uses patented technology to cleanse, extract, and hydrate your facial skin. The magic is all in this machine you see in the picture below. The machine consists of a handheld device that has different tips and various skin care solutions, all in one machine. During the facial, different tips are used, and different solutions (serums) are applied.  

So here's how my first HydraFacial experience went down .... first the technician Cassie (who I adored!) instructed me to put on a spa wrap towel, since she would be doing some work on my neck and upper shoulder area in addition to my face. 

Then she took some "before pictures" with a camera that was attached to the HydraFacial machine, so that the photos would pop up instantaneously.  

Then I slipped under the covers and so began my 30 minute facial.  

There were essential three steps:

1. Cleanse + Peel: manual cleansing of the skin followed by the first of three VortexFusion treatments (think of it as a gentle vacuum delivering a solution onto the skin while at the same time sucking up the dead skin cells). 
2. Extraction + Hydrate: first a mixture of glycolic and salicylic acids was applied to my skin. Cassie had warned me that there might be a slight itchiness associated with this serum, but for me, it was very faint and definitely tolerable.  Then Automatic vortex suction cleansed the pores of my skin. This is usually the most painful part of a regular facial, but thanks to the vortex-extraction nozzle, this was painless! It's like a little vacuum that sucked the whiteheads and other debris from my skin.
3. Fuse & Protect: Specific skin solutions and a serum of antioxidants, peptides and hyaluronic acid is infused into the skin with the VortexFusion tip to nourish and protect it.

With HydraFacial, at the end you get to see what was extracted from your skin. I'm not sure what it should look like if you have good skin or not-so-good skin, but Cassie said it didn't look that bad, so I'll take that as a good sign! 

There are different "boosts" available for an additional cost, that are designed to do things like reduce wrinkles, minimize the appearance of dark spots, brighten skin tone, etc. Also available for an additional fee is LED light therapy.  These add-ons may extend the time of your treatment.

Would I do this again? Absolutely. The treatment was quick, painless, and my skin felt GREAT afterwards. My skin was definitely smoother post-treatment and felt ultra-clean. While it is a tad more expensive than a traditional facial, I am willing to pay a little bit more money to avoid the painful manual extractions!

If you want to check it out for yourself, head to LAVISH at Kahala Mall.  They are conveniently located inside the mall next to California Pizza Kitchen and across from Macy's.  There's plenty of parking at the mall, the facility is clean, and Cassie is an awesome esthetician!  As of the date of this post, LAVISH does not have the HydraFacial pricing and information on their website yet, but you can call them at (808) 528-4748 to inquire. The 30 minute facial that I received today is currently priced at $150. 

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Lunch at The Counter

Every now and then, especially when I'm stressed out, I crave a fat, juicy burger. One of my favorite places to get one of these stress-relievers is at The Counter in Kahala Mall.

One recent Saturday afternoon, we brought the boys to The Counter although the service was slow, it did not disappoint.

Our order of the Fifty-Fifty (fried onion strings and shoestring fries) came out first, much to the delight of one of our sons who LOVES french fries. The fried onion strings are my favorite - the batter is delicious.

The Kid's Combos came out  next - chicken tenders and fries for one ...

grilled cheese and apple sauce for the other.

There was a long wait for our 1/2 LB Bacon BBQ burger to arrive, and when it did, we demolished it in seconds. 

Since we told them we were going to share the burger, they cut it in half and delivered it on separate plates. Here's a cross section of the burger - cooked medium rare and stacked with more of my favorite fried onion strings, crispy bacon, and tillamook cheddar cheese. 

 THE COUNTER
4211 Waialae Avenue
(808) 739-5100

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The Counter - Kahala

Since I had to do some shopping in the Kahala area, our family decided to have lunch at The Counter.

The Fifty-Fifty - Sweet Potato Fries & Crispy Onion Strings

Stacked B.L.T. with Avocado

The Counter Burger

Kids Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Fries

Caramel and Chocolate Brownie Ala Mode

There are actually 3 different versions of The Fifty-Fifty, and we opted for the Sweet Potato Fries and Crispy Onion Strings since our kids' meals already came with fries.

They were really good, and came with 3 different sauces (Hickory BBQ Sauce, Buttermilk Ranch, Horseradish Aioli).  My middle son couldn't stop eating the onion strings, and my youngest kept eating the sweet potato fries!

I had the Stacked B.L.T. with Avocado.  The sourdough bread and roasted garlic aioli really made it stand out from other BLTs I've had elsewhere. 

My husband had The Counter Burger, which consisted of sharp provolone, lettuce, mushrooms, onion strings, tomatoes, and a vinaigrette.  He loved it. 

The dessert, although yummy, was quite pricey.  $10 for the brownie and ice cream ($7 for just the brownie) - I've had bigger, fancier desserts for a lot less.

Although the food did take a while to be served, we did notice there was a sign mentioning something about how the food is made fresh so don't expect it to be rushed out, so that made the wait tolerable - and the food did indeed come out fresh and delicious.

Service was great, and so was the food, but next time I'm skipping dessert!

The Counter
4211 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816 
(808) 739-5100

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