Taste of Hawaii , Island Food crawl (Day #2)

Our second day exploring the flavors of Oʻahu was just as mouthwatering as the first. From warm, sugary pastries to beachside local eats, we continued our food crawl across the island with one goal: to uncover the most unforgettable bites Hawaii has to offer.

This day brought us to the heart of Honolulu, up through the breezy North Shore, and even into the hidden corners of coastal towns—all while tasting dishes that captured the soul of the islands.

Get ready for more ono eats, local favorites, and hidden gems. Let’s dive into Day 2 of our Hawaiian food journey.

🌴 Urban Appetite is back on the island—come taste your way through paradise with us!

A Taste of Hawaii: Island Food Crawl – Day 2

Stop #1 – Leonard’s Bakery, Honolulu

Before setting off to explore the lush east side of Oʻahu, we made a very essential stop in Honolulu—Leonard’s Bakery, home of the legendary malasada. And let’s just say, this little pink-box stop turned out to be one of the sweetest highlights of our island food crawl.

🥖 A Sweet Portuguese Legacy

Leonard’s Bakery has been a Honolulu staple since 1952, when Leonard Rego and his wife Diane brought a beloved Portuguese tradition to the islands. What started as a small neighborhood bakery is now a must-visit destination, famously known for its malasadas—Portuguese doughnuts that are fried to golden perfection and rolled in sugar.

The bakery’s main shop in Honolulu has all the retro charm you'd expect from a place that’s been slinging sweets since the '50s. Think vintage diner vibes with its iconic neon signage, soft pastel pink branding, checkered floors, and that old-school bakery counter stacked with cookies, pies, and pastries. It's warm, welcoming, and full of nostalgic energy that feels like stepping into a delicious time capsule.

🍩 The Main Event – Malasadas

While Leonard’s offers a variety of baked treats like cookies, sweet rolls, and Pão Doce (Portuguese sweet bread), the malasadas are the real star of the show—and trust us, they live up to the hype.

We ordered one of everything—how could we not? From the classic sugar-dusted original to the warm cinnamon-coated and luscious filled versions, each malasada was pillowy soft on the inside with a perfectly crisp outer shell. Flavors like chocolate, macadamia nut, and guava offered tropical flair, but the standout for us was the haupia (coconut cream). One bite of that rich, silky coconut filling and you’ll know exactly what we mean when we say: it tastes like Hawaii in pastry form.

🌴 Sweet Spot in the City

We grabbed our famous pink box full of goodies and enjoyed them just outside the shop, watching the morning buzz of the city move around us. Whether you stop by the flagship location or catch one of their adorable Malasadamobilesscattered across the island, the experience is always warm, personal, and undeniably tasty.

💡 Urban Appetite Tip: Get there early—we recommend arriving right before opening to beat the crowds and get your malasadas fresh out of the fryer. The line gets long fast, and they can sell out of certain flavors, so arriving early ensures the full experience without the wait.

This was easily one of the best desserts we had during our food crawl—and that’s saying something. Leonard’s malasadas are small, but they’re bursting with flavor, filled with heart, and crafted with tradition. They’re not just a treat, they’re a full-on experience.

We definitely recommend making a stop here—it’s not just a must… it’s a MUST when visiting Hawai‘i.

Stop # 2– Adela’s Country Eatery, Kāneʻohe

After a morning indulging in sugary clouds of joy at Leonard’s Bakery, we set our sights on something heartier and soul-satisfying. Our next stop took us deep into the lush Windward side of Oʻahu to a hidden culinary treasure—Adela’s Country Eatery in Kāneʻohe.

Tucked away in a modest strip mall, this family-run restaurant might not catch your eye from the road, but what’s happening inside is nothing short of magical. This is the kind of place where word-of-mouth reigns supreme—and trust us, the locals do not gatekeep this spot.

👩‍🍳 A Local Legacy, Crafted with Love

Adela’s was founded by longtime friends Adela Visitacion and Millie Chan, whose dream was to support local Hawaiian farmers while crafting deeply flavorful, handmade noodle dishes that honored both innovation and tradition. Their commitment to using locally sourced ingredients—like ʻulu (breadfruit), taro, and moringa—has made them beloved stewards of the island’s culinary soul.

The moment you walk through the door, the scent alone is enough to make your stomach do a happy dance. Waves of garlic, butter, seafood, and sizzling herbs hit you like a warm hug from grandma. You can peer into the open kitchen where you’ll see fresh noodles—bright purples from ube, deep greens from moringa—being hand-pulled, hung, and cooked to order. It’s an art form, and you’re watching the masters at work.

🍜 How to Order: Your Build-Your-Own Bowl Experience

Ordering here is interactive and fun—like creating your own symphony of flavors. Here's how it works:

1. Pick Your Noodle: Choose from options like ube, avocado, ʻulu, taro, or classic angel hair. Each one offers a different texture, color, and subtle undertone of flavor, paying homage to the richness of Hawaii’s natural produce.

2. Choose Your Sauce: From creamy coconut crème and rich garlic butter Alfredo to oyster, stir fry, or tomato, the sauces are well-balanced and full of bold flavor.

3. Top It Off: Add proteins and veggies—chicken, shrimp, tofu, broccoli, or whatever your heart desires. Each topping is seasoned and cooked with care.

We opted for a heavenly combo: angel hair pasta tossed in a luscious garlic butter Alfredo sauce, generously topped with plump, garlicky shrimp and juicy, tender grilled chicken. Every bite was a flavor explosion—the garlic infused the sauce perfectly, not too overpowering but just enough to dance on your palate. The Alfredo brought a creamy richness that hugged each strand of noodle, and the proteins were seasoned and seared to perfection, adding depth and a satisfying bite.

There’s something comforting and nostalgic about this meal—it tastes like it was made for you by someone who reallycares. The portion? Absolutely massive—this dish could easily feed two or even three hungry island explorers.

🍰 Sweet Finish + A Nostalgic Sip

We couldn’t resist finishing our meal with a slice of ʻulu pie—a silky, subtly sweet dessert made from breadfruit that felt like the island version of a custard pie. Earthy, creamy, and not overly sugary, it was the perfect follow-up to our rich and savory noodles. We paired our plates with classic Hawaiian Sun tropical punch, ice-cold and packed with nostalgic island flavor.

📍 What to Expect

Adela’s is laid-back and filled with charm. The friendly staff made us feel like part of their ʻohana, offering helpful suggestions and walking us through their menu with pride. Seating is limited, and the location is in a small plaza—parking can be tight, but you’ll find some street parking nearby if needed.

📝 Urban Appetite Tip:

Come early to avoid the midday rush, especially on weekends. Some of the most popular noodles (like ʻulu or ube) tend to sell out quickly. Also, portions are BIG—so come hungry or bring a friend to share!

If you’re searching for a spot that embodies Hawaii's farm-to-table spirit, celebrates family, and serves food that feeds both your belly and your soul—Adela’s Country Eatery is your place. It’s bold, fresh, and full of love in every forkful.

Urban Appetite Approved—and as always:🌴 Come along with us for the next bite of paradise.

🍨 Waiahole Poi Factory

After wrapping up an unforgettable tour of Kualoa Ranch—a must-do if you're looking to immerse yourself in the beauty, culture, and cinematic landscapes of Hawaii—we took the advice of one of the best tour guides we’ve had, Austin, and made a short 20-minute drive to a spot that’s cherished by locals and absolutely worth the detour:

Waiahole Poi Factory.

This humble roadside shack may not look like much at first glance, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in soulful, heritage-rich flavor.

🌺 A Legacy of Aloha & Culture

The Waiahole Poi Factory is more than just a dessert stop—it's a living piece of Hawaiian history. Originally opened in 1905, it began as a poi factory and store serving the rural Waiahole community on Oahu’s Windward side. After being closed for several years, the space was revived in the early 2000s by a local family with the mission of preserving traditional Hawaiian food and art.

Today, it operates as both a restaurant and cultural center, staying true to its roots by using locally sourced ingredientsand maintaining time-honored cooking methods. Its motto?"Hanai i ka ai, hanai i ke aloha" — “To nourish with food, to nourish with love.”And trust us—it shows.

🍧 The Sweet Lady of Waiahole

Let’s get into what we really came for: dessert. And not just any dessert—the legendary Sweet Lady of Waiahole.

This dreamy bowl features a warm, house-made kulolo (a chewy, rich dessert made from taro and coconut milk), topped with a heaping scoop of creamy haupia-flavored ice cream. The balance of warm and cold, soft and dense, sweet and earthy—it’s the ultimate sensory experience.

👉 So what’s kulolo?

Kulolo is a traditional Hawaiian dessert made from taro root (also known locally as kalo) and coconut milk, steamed until it becomes soft, sticky, and cake-like. It's subtly sweet with a naturally earthy flavor, and when served warm, it becomes almost caramelized.

👉 And haupia?

Haupia is a classic Hawaiian coconut pudding that's cool, creamy, and mildly sweet—like a scoop of tropical heaven. When made into ice cream, it becomes rich, refreshing, and just the right contrast to the warm kulolo beneath it.

Every bite of the Sweet Lady feels like you're tasting Hawaii itself. The local ingredients, the traditional preparation, the way the flavors linger on your tongue—it’s as authentic as it gets.

🍌 The Tahitian Sweet Lady

We also ordered the Tahitian Sweet Lady—a warm banana po‘e (a thick pudding made from bananas and coconut) topped with the same delicious haupia ice cream. This one had a bolder tropical punch, with the banana bringing in a fruity sweetness that paired beautifully with the creamy coconut notes.

Think banana bread meets coconut cream pie, all bundled in a bowl of pure Aloha.

🍽️ A Local Gem, Not to Be Missed

Aside from desserts, Waiahole Poi Factory also serves up authentic Hawaiian lunch plates—succulent kalua pork, grilled fish, chicken long rice, and of course, fresh poi made in-house. But if you’re short on time (or stomach space), make this your dessert stop and thank us later.

🌴 Urban Appetite Tip

Get here on a weekday or earlier in the afternoon. Since this is a small, family-run spot and a local favorite, lines can form quickly—especially after Kualoa Ranch tours. Parking is limited, so be patient or consider coming in a small group.

Also, don’t skip the gift corner—they sell handmade crafts and cultural items from local artisans.

✅ Urban Appetite Approved

Waiahole Poi Factory isn't just a dessert stop—it’s an experience. If you’re looking to taste the true essence of Hawaii, this is it. The Sweet Lady of Waiahole lives up to every bit of hype, and then some.

🌺 Add this to your must-eat list—seriously, don’t leave the island without it.

Until the next bite... Come hungry, leave Hawaiian. 🌴🍴