Visit Osaka: Soft Serve at Doutor

One night, walking back to our hotel, one of my kids wanted soft serve.  Thankfully, soft serve is not hard to find in Osaka, and after walking around for just a few moments, we found a sign for soft serve at Doutor Coffee, a coffee shop chain throughout Japan.

They had various other sweets as well, but the kids all wanted ice cream.

The kids got Matcha, Brown Sugar, and Chocolate syrup drizzles, and it hit the spot.

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Banan Shave Ice and Beach Treats

We're fans of Banan soft serve so we had to check out their newest location in Waikiki - on the beachside of the Waikiki Shore Condos next to Fort Derussy. 

Banan Shave Ice and Beach Treats offers shave ice with tropical syrups made from locally sourced fruits and no artificial flavors. They also serve their famous banana soft serve that is made from locally grown bananas in housemade waffle cones and tacos!

Cade enjoying a waffle taco and Emma enjoying a blue lemonade shave ice. 

I was extra and ordered the double rainbow off the secret menu! There's soft serve under the shave ice! Check out their IG for updates! 

Banan Shave Ice and Beach Treats

2161 Kalia Ave

Honolulu, HI 

 

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Thrills Soft Serve

My boba obsessed daughter and I missed the last time Thrills was serving their milk tea soft serve with boba so when they brought it back again, we made it a priority.  And we were not disappointed. The boba was perfectly chewy and the milk tea soft serve tasted like the real thing.  The cost of happiness was a mere $6.50 plus tax. They also offer up their soft serve which is made from scratch daily in cups, cones, and pints. You can also get ube lattes. 

Located at 510 Piikoi, the shop is totally IG worthy and the service was friendly and quick. They also offer customers a stamp card. Check out their IG for special flavors. 

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Ube Soft Serve at Tiny TV - Ohana Hale Marketplace

After having lunch nearby, @melissa808 and I decided to walk around Ohana Hale Marketplace.

While there we saw Tiny Tadani at his Tiny TV stand, where he offers Niu Brands's vegan ube soft-serve!

He gave us both a sample.

I never used to like ube anything, but I have since grown to enjoy it. 

The Ube Soft Serve was light and refreshing, and not overly sweet.  It was just what I needed after a heavy, savory lunch.

Whether you are on a vegan diet or simply want a healthier sweet treat, check out the Tiny TV booth!

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Kapispa Kapiolani Spaghetti House Revisited!

Last month I visited Kapispa a few days after they opened, and regretted not getting the dessert (read about it here).  So I came back a month later, with the goal of trying the dessert this time around!

We arrived right before 11:30 to ensure that we'd get a table (they only take reservations for parties of 10 or more). There was a handful of others waiting outside with us, so if you want to get in on the first seating for lunch, I suggest you plan on arriving just before 11:30 like how we did!

The salad and soup bar was complimentary with our meal - I wonder how long they will offer it for free - it's such a great deal!

Our waiter was a good salesman, as he subtly persuaded us to try the Torikara (fried chicken) by saying they only had 3 orders left (how can that be when they just opened?!). How could we say no, especially when since it was fried chicken.

It turned out to be a great decision. Our order came with 5 decent-sized pieces of fried chicken breast. It was one of the moistest chicken breasts I've ever had.  Each order of chicken comes with one dipping sauce for free.  We tried the wasabi ranch, which paired well with the fried chicken.

As for our entrees, this time around I tried the mushroom and bacon.  It was tossed in a shoyu/dashi-based sauce which was very light and subtle. 

There were at least four different kinda of mushrooms, as well as chopped pieces of bacon. I wish the bacon was cooked to a crisp.

 My friends each ordered the Tarako, Shimeji, and Squid pasta. The sauce was much creamier than the sauce that came with my pasta .. if you're into creamy sauces, you may like this one.

And I did save room for dessert this time around!

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We shared the black sesame pudding with matcha/vanilla soft serve - it was delicious and I wish I had ordered my own!  The pudding is pretty thick - I would say adding the soft serve for $3 is a must to enjoy this dessert.

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New Honolulu Dessert Shop: Malu Honolulu

As soon as I saw pictures of this super cute kimbap and dessert shop located inside the Sam Sung Plaza, I knew I had to make it a part of my weekend plans!  Of course I wanted to try their taiyaki soft serve, but their cute little crepe cakes had faces and were also calling my name.  Unfortunately we came from lunch and no one wanted to share the cute crepe cakes with me.  

With the taiyaki soft serve, you have your choice of one topping and one sauce. It was really good, but I think the soft serve would be better if it was creamier.  My daughter opted for a green tea jelly drink and it was very good. I could really taste the matcha which I didn't expect.  

The staff was super nice and sent over some strawberry dorayaki for us to sample! 

It was very yummy! Malu Honolulu has a ton of other desserts that I can't wait to try like their shave ice with strawberry foam. I saw it on their IG and it looks dreamy! 

They are open daily at 11am except for Thursdays.

Green Tea Jelly Drink

Samples of the Strawberry Dorayaki

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Ube + Vanilla

If you're in Kaimuki and craving a cool, tasty treat, stop in Chocolate + Vanilla for some Ube + Vanilla soft serve!

I'm actually not a fan of ube, but the ube and vanilla swirl was so yummy!

You can get either flavor on its own, and also add toppings!

I want to try the Vanilla Root Beer swirl!  

Thank you Ube + Vanilla for the sweet treat!
 

Ube + Vanilla
Chocolate + Vanilla
1115 12th Ave

Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 737-2462

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Visit Barcelona: Rocambolesc for Ice Cream

For super creamy ice cream in Barcelona, visit Rocambolesc located right on Las Rambla, Barcelona’s main street through its city center.  This street is a huge tourist attraction dotted with souvenir shops, hotels, and restaurants. Think Kalakaua, but so much bigger. 

My daughter and I ordered soft serve in a cone with toppings. She went with vanilla and I had the apple pie. I should have asked for a sample because it was too sweet for my taste, but I couldn’t stop eating it because I just loved the creamy texture. Up to three toppings are included in the price. 

A perfect treat to enjoy while you take in the city’s sights.

A line is always a good sign. 

I liked Lauren’s vanilla so much better. Don’t be sad like me. Ask for a sample! 

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Taiyaki Soft Serve Round-up

Somisomi Ah-boong $5.95

This year probably sets the record for number of ice cream shops that opened in Hawaii.  Thank goodness a few of those were taikyaki ice cream shops!  I've tried all three and my favorite is Somisomi, located in Ala Moana Shopping Center.  I just love their light and crispy cone!  The ice cream is also super creamy.      

Gimme Chills Taiyaki Ice Cream $5.95

The taiyaki ice cream at Gimme Chills is also yummy, but the cone was more crunch like than chewy.  Located in the Samsung Plaza, they are open daily from 10:30am -10pm and until 11pm on the weekend.  Gimme Chills also serves up Bingsu, rice cake sticks, honey toast, and frozen smores!   

Kokoro Café Shaka Boom $6.50

While technically not a taiyaki cone, the shaka-boom is like a fun cousin.  Located in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center's food court, Kokoro Café fills their shaka shaped waffle cone with tropical flavors like dole whip, coconut, and acai berry.  While I enjoyed the shaka boom, I liked their Over the Rainbow mochi-pop so much more.   

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Aloha Confectionery

There have been a handful of soft-serve ice cream establishments popping up on Oahu, mostly concentrated in the Ala Moana and Waikiki areas. Today I visited Aloha Confectionery, which is located in the Ala Moana Center, 3rd level near Target. 

I instantly fell in love with this place when I first entered, as did my sons.

They made a bee-line to the wall that had small boxes of assorted candies. They love anything gummy! 

I, on the other-hand, was initially drawn to the displays of fish-shaped shortbread cookies. 

The individually wrapped cookies come in an assortment of flavors, and are tastefully pre-packed in hard boxes that are perfect for transporting to the mainland to give as omiyage. During my visit, they offered samples of several of the shortbread cookies, and they were delicious.  

 Aloha Confectionery also sells cupcakes, which may look familiar to many of you who live on Oahu, because the owners of Aloha Confectionery used to own/operate a bakery specializing in cupcakes in Aiea called Sugarlina.

But what I really came here to try is the soft serve ice cream. They offer two flavors (fresh milk and milk tea).

If you want it in a cone (which is great for Instagramming), you'll pay an extra $2 for it. 

I skipped the cone and ordered the "Aloha Cookie" with a swirl of milk and milk tea ice cream.  It came with some toppings (marshmallows, pieces of chocolate, and shortbread cookie). 

I liked the creaminess of the ice cream - it was nice and thick and didn't melt quickly. However, it was a little bland for my taste buds. It did taste better when I added chunks of the brownie that my friend bought from the shop. :)

I wouldn't come back for the ice cream, but I would definitely return for the cookies and cupcakes!

ALOHA CONFECTIONERY

1450 ALA MOANA BLVD. (LEVEL 3 NEAR TARGET)

(808) 943-8550

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New to Ala Moana: SomiSomi

$5.95 ah-boong or $3.75 in a cup. 
You can also ask for the ah-boong in a cup so that you can take your time eating the soft serve. 

Just opened last month is SomiSomi, a popular soft serve ice cream chain from California.  They have opened their first Hawaii location inside Ala Moana Shopping Center, next to Curry House outside of Makai Market.  They have just two items on their menu: Ah-boong and Taiyaki.  The ah-boong is the fish shaped cone that is lighter and crispier than taiyaki and filled with your choice of filling and then topped with your choice of soft serve and toppings.  Their taiyaki is thicker and chewier and can be filled with cheddar, custard, nutella, red bean, or taro. 


I loved everything about the ah-boong.  I gobbled up the super creamy milk and oreo swirl and then quickly devoured the cone lined with red bean.  I liked that it was crispier and thinner than taiyaki.  I felt like it was a better balance for dessert.  I brought home custard and red bean taiyaki for my kids.  As expected they were soggy, but a couple minutes in the toaster oven and they were perfectly crispy.  They were also really good and reminded me of my summer in Taiwan where I first enjoyed the street food.
     

Taiyaki: 2 for $3.50 or 5 for $7.95

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New to Royal Hawaiian Center: Kokoro Cafe

Shaka-Boom from Kokoro Cafe

Located in the food court at the Royal Hawaiian Center, Kokoro Café is causing quite the stir on social media sites!  The most popular menu item they offer is called the Shaka Boom, a super cute shaka waffle cone filled with your choice of filling and topped with soft serve ice cream and assorted goodies.  For the fillings you can choose from chocolate cream, sweet red bean, or coconut haupia.  After that, pick your soft serve flavor:  pineapple dole whip, creamy coconut, super acai berry, or classic vanilla bean.  Some of the flavors can be swirled.  Finally, top off your IG-worthy shaka boom with your choice of fun toppings of cookie bites, sprinkles, fresh fruit, cereal, and/or sauces.  Just be sure to take the picture of the shaka facing the right way! 

The other menu items Kokoro Café offers is the Mochi-Pop, Dole Whip Float, and POG Frozen Slush.  I couldn't leave without picking up a Mochi-Pop for the kids.  Over the Rainbow, is one of Kokoro Cafe's most popular flavors and I can see why because it was very yummy!  The mochi waffle is glazed with white chocolate, fruity pebbles, and rainbow sprinkles!  My kids loved it! 

If you are looking for something sweet, definitely make a stop at Kokoro Café!  

Pineapple-Vanilla swirl.

Over the Rainbow Mochi-Pop

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Visit Las Vegas: Milk Bar

Christina Tosi is the chef, founder, and owner of Milk Bar.  She is a two time James Beard award winner, creator of the naked cake trend, and one of my chef idols.  I first visited one of Milk Bar's New York locations 3 years ago to try the famed crack pie.  When I found out there was a Vegas location, I went on a mission to try their super popular cereal milk soft serve.    

Located inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, you won't be able to miss their adorable pink neon signage.  I sampled two of the three flavors of soft serve they were currently serving and to my surprise, I didn't care for the cereal milk flavor.  I thought it tasted like old milk.  But I did really enjoy the fruity cereal milk flavor.  I ordered a small ($6 - toppings extra) and topped it off with sprinkles and cornflake crunch (the real winner).
 
Also on the menu are cookies, cakes, cake truffles, pies, and shakes.  The staff was super friendly and helpful.  Great place to satisfy the sweet tooth.

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Waikiki Japanese Soft Serve Round Up

I've finally visited every popular Japanese soft serve shop in Waikiki!  If you haven't, here's a handy guide.  

Matcha Café Maiko -  Located a few doors down from Marukame Udon and across from the International Market Place, come here if you are a true matcha aficionado.  The matcha flavor is the strongest and most authentic to those found in Japan. 

Maiko Special Matcha Parfai

Nana's Green Tea - Located in the Waikiki Yokocho, Nana's offers the most extensive menu featuring matcha and hoji soft serve, parfaits, lattes, chocolates, sundaes and frappes.  You can also get teas, coffees, juices, and even chazuke. 

Hoji Shiratama parfait and my daughter had the soft cream anmitsu

Matcha Love - Come here if you love black sesame ice cream!  Haven't seen black sesame soft serve anywhere else.  Located in the Mitsuwa Market on the second floor of the International Market Place. 

Kulu Kulu - For coffee lovers, you must have the Kona coffee soft serve.  It's only available at their Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center location.  If you take your coffee with cream, try the Kona Coffee (made from 100% Kona coffee) and Maui Vanilla twist.   

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