Places to Eat in Hawaii

Afternoon tea is a must-do activity when in Honolulu. There are three main afternoon tea spots in the city, and we’ll take a look at the pros/cons of them all.

Many major cities may have more afternoon tea options, but no one does afternoon tea the way we do in Honolulu.

What makes afternoon tea in Honolulu special?

• Location/setting. Afternoon tea in Honolulu is almost always served on a veranda (similar to a porch or lanai), a half-indoor, half-outdoor seating situation. There are tradewinds (light breezes), you get some sun but also cocooned safely under a roof.
• Honolulu tea vibes captures an ideal combo of laidback and elegant.
• Tea often comes with ocean views! Sometimes even oceanfront ^_^

Below, we’ll take a look at the three main afternoon tea venues in Honolulu. They are all located within beautiful hotels. Here we go……

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KCC Farmers’ Market (Saturday mornings) is Hawaii’s most popular farmers’ market, loved by locals and tourists. These are my favorite food/drinks at the market. 

Welcome to the KCC Farmers’ Market!

This market is big and has GOOD food. But you must come prepared. Bring sunglasses and a hat. Make sure you have on sunscreen. The market is crowded. Crowded with local and tourists so patience is required. The rewards are worth it. Fresh grilled abalone, fried green tomatoes, bowls of phở, onigiri, sugarcane juice, and more….

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The Rice Factory on Oahu is a true Hawaii gem. Here you can get fresh rice milled on the spot alongside other Japanese treats like onigiri and ohagi.

The Rice Factory

I go back and forth between Hawaii and San Francisco often. And on every flight to SF, guarantee you can find a five-pound bag of rice in my carry-on suitcase. The rice is from The Rice Factory, and this is the main rice we eat at home in both Hawaii and SF. We keep many different types of rice (mochi rice! arborio rice! purple rice!) in the pantry, but this is our go-to, dinner-at-home rice. We love it very much. 

The Rice Factory has a tiny retail stop in Kaka’ako. The bulk of their business is restaurant wholesale (you can find their rice at served at MW Restaurant, Halekulani, Hy’s Steak House, etc.), but they have a devoted retail following……

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This is the tale (or should we say saga?) of the beloved Oatcakes from Starbucks / Costco / Honolulu Baking Co. The legend is real. And delicious. 

Starbucks Oatcakes are were a thing in Hawaii. For a long time, since mid-1990s.

After school, my friends and I often walked to Starbucks Manoa. We’d split a Frappuccino and each get our own Oatcake. When I went on a trip, we’d visit Starbucks on the way to the airport and get an Oatcake to tuck in my backpack. For just in case I got hungry……

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Afternoon tea at Halekulani Hotel, one of Hawaii’s best afternoon tea spots. We’re taking a detailed look at the menu, food (and tea!) offerings. Plus a few tips for your next visit.

Hong Kong is full of afternoon tea options. As is New York City. And London. And especially Singapore! But after you visit a few, they all start to feel the same. 

But Hawaii afternoon teas are very different from the rest of the world. The Hawaii spots have an ideal blend of ambiance, location (tea with ocean views are the norm), and that aloha spirit. That’s why I love afternoon tea in Hawaii.

While there aren’t tons of tea places in Hawaii (quality over quantity!), what we have is special……

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Avocado smoothies are one of my favorite things to drink, and Thang’s in Honolulu is where I go. Velvety and rich with local avocados and condensed milk, this tiny Kalihi shop makes some of the best fresh fruit smoothies in Hawaii.

I mention Thang’s avocado smoothies a lot in my old blog. Here, here, and here…just to name a few. Thang’s started as a Chinatown smoothie kiosk in the early 2000s. The owners were Vietnamese and made incredible fresh fruit smoothies. Soursop! Jackfruit! Durian! But the best was the avocado smoothie. They used fresh local avocados (half an avocado per drink), ice, and condensed milk……

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