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    Howard’s

    5.0 (32 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    Seafood and sausage gumbo!
    Lauren M.

    Located in Alakea Plaza (on Alakea and Hotel, next to AC Hotel), Howard's has delicious lunch specials! It used to be a small convenience store, but they took over that space. My favorites? Seafood Gumbo (normally Wednesdays) and Taco Salad (normally Fridays)! Be sure to call ahead to see if they have! You can call after they open at 8am and then pickup your food between 11am- 1pm. They also have some snacks as well as a fridge of grab-and-go sandwiches and salads. Cheers to Howard's!

    Chinese chicken salad
    Angela W.

    I haven't actually been to Howard's in person but we have been ordering lunch from them recently because it's so good and affordable. From whatvI understand this is a hole in the wall under the escalator. Parking is basically non-existent as this is downtown and they probably rely on foot traffic from the offices during the weekday only. Every day their menu is different but there is some kind of rotating schedule of specials. For instance, they only have nachos every 3 weeks. I wait with baited breath until then as the last time I tasted my co-worker's nachos it was amazing. Very homemade, large portions. I've had 4 salads and all were super yummy: Italian, beet, and Chinese chicken salad and taco salad. The portions are huge. Just wish they could post their daily menu on Instagram or a website.

    Beef Stew
    Cassandra H.

    I've had this place on my lunch list for a while since I work downtown but it's rare that I actually go out to eat. I finally got to try so I checked their IG first like other Yelpers suggested and their special was beef stew and clam chowder. Since I take a late lunch around 1 pm I called ahead to make sure that they had beef stew left. The man who answered said they only had minis which was fine with me. I took a short walk there and it was a really tiny store in the lobby of the Alakea Corporate Tower. For the mini it came out to just under $15. I believe the only difference between a mini and regular from pictures I've seen is that the regular comes with a side of corn and Mac salad. The mini portion was very generous and I was able to make 2 meals out of it. The stew was flavorful and the meat was fall apart tender. It looked like they do have some ready made items and drinks for sale as well. They also open for breakfast. They do have some seating outside of the building but I decided to go back to my office to eat. I will be back to try their other items in the future.

    Portuguese bean soup
    Crystal R.

    Tucked away in a little corner of the Alakea building is this amazing little shop. I have heard of this place from my fellow colleagues multiple times but never had the chance to try their meals out until recently and now I begin to regret not going here sooner! Their menu always changes daily and depending on what is on the menu and the time you head over there, you might miss out as they make only a limited amount. And that is what makes this place so good. The owners definitely take pride in putting out their meals as you can taste it in every bite. I had the chance to try out their Portuguese Bean Soup and their famous Seafood and Sausage Gumbo (both times I ordered, I was the last one to get it). Both dishes were jam packed with savory flavor with a medium to hot kick of spice. I'm all for the spice so that definitely made my taste buds go crazy! Service is amazing too! They are super friendly to everyone and welcome all to a friendly atmosphere. Since this is a small little shop in an office building, there isn't a place to dine in. But luckily you can either eat outside or take it back to the office for you to indulge. As mentioned, their menu changes daily so it is best to check out their Instagram page for their menu. If there is something you really want, I suggest you either go early or phone it in to secure your order. Overall this is a great find and I can't wait to go back to try out what other home cooked meal they will be offering.

    Beet Salad
    Lily F.

    I love this place which serves great food with good portions and affordable prices. My favorite is beet salad with pieces of chicken. I haven't been able to try some of their daily specials which are posted weekly on their IG page but I hope to.

    Seafood and Sausage Gumbo
    Justin R.

    23AUG2023 I got "Seafood and Sausage Gumbo" from Howard's. I believe it's the best "Gumbo" on island. It reminded me of how SF food truck gumbo use to taste before it started tasting like cigarettes. I told my wife I wouldn't be too critical despite coming from a place that is very famous for the dish. I was actually pretty impressed with the the thickness and color of the roux. It was almost like a gravy. There is no right way to make gumbo (inside joke) so I was delighted to see they DID NOT include tomatoes in theirs, but it does have okra. Once again the portion was generous and I was happy with the offering. Their Gumbo definitely put the other area Gumbos to shame (easily). P.S. I hear they run out pretty quick, so if you are interested it's probably a good idea to call ahead of time and make sure they still have it before you make the frustrating trek through the city in vain.

    Seafood Gumbo...
    Henry R.

    Have eaten here a few times...it's one out go to places when we are at work. I usually get the same stuff, that's my downfall...they chicken salad and taco salads are pretty darn good but my favorites here are the chowders and the seafood gumbo...both are full of delicious ingredients that just make it feel like a home cooked meal. The gumbo has lots of sausage, shrimp and okra....it's just damn delicious. They only have daily specials so sometimes they sell out...but the chowder and gumbo are worth it!

    Avocado toast (before 10am) and yogurt parfait (greek yogurt, strawberries and blue berries and honey by choice).
    Pua S.

    Avocado toast is my favorite they also make great salads and have great healthy Snack options. Every Now and again I treat myself to their Desserts when they have it i love lemon bars and theirs is good. Prices are so good for being in town!

    Thursday Lunch Special!
    Mikey K.

    Never disappoints always Yummo's & Onolicious great amount of food for the price awesome place & great service

    Strawberry Ice Cream Slushy, Grilled Cheese, Salad, & Tomato Bisque
    Kyle M.

    O'ahu is filled with amazing eats and hole in the walls. However, inch for inch, all things considered, Howard's tops them all. COVID-19: Traci and Troy wear masks at all times, and keep Howard's clean and tidy. SERVICE: Traci and Troy, the owners, are the nicest, friendliest, and warmest people you can come across. They are so welcoming, they make friends with everyone in the building. RESTAURANT: Howard's is a tiny, unassuming spot. It is located on the ground floor (NOT lobby floor) of 1100 Alakea Street, a high rise business building in Downtown Honolulu. It is easy to miss because it is tucked in a corner on the side of escalators, opposite the elevators and to the left of the escalators when walking in the front doors of the building. Howard's is take-out only without any seating, but you can sit outside in the building's courtyard or at tables down the block. FOOD: The menu changes every day. It typically includes salads, sandwiches, a daily soup, and a daily main entree. All of the salad dressings are homemade and amazing. My favorite is the blue cheese. The soups range from lobster bisque to clam chowder to seafood gumbo. They are thick, earthy, and soul-warming. The entrees range from furikake salmon to chicken luau to kalua pork nachos. Every dish is homemade and reminds you of eating at your mom's house. You can taste the love and care in every bite, including the side dishes. The preparation and execution is spot on. The portions are generous and leave you feeling happy and satiated. OVERALL: I've eaten Howard's around fifteen times and I've loved every dish! I love supporting these locals and feeling their love. Stop by Howard's for your lunch hour in Downtown or to grab food for the beach. They also provide catering, which is just as quality as the regular menu!

    Corn Chowder
    Sheryl S.

    Corn Chowder on Mondays... delicious! This was a $6 size. They also have a $7 and $14 size. The larger one is great to take home and will feed 2 people easily.

    Hamburger steak
    Mark S.

    Nice little lunch spot inconspicuously located in an office building. All the entrees I've tried has been good and the portions are generous. There's usually a few entrees of the day and they post their menu weekly. I like the panini's and soups they often have and the spaghetti salad that comes instead of mac. The family that runs it is also really nice.

    Taco salad with pico de gallo and tortilla chips

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    4 months ago

    'Ono food! Great price and good quantity! Love it! You're missing out if you don't try their specials!

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    3 years ago

    The service and the food is good. The workers there are really nice. I come here when I'm working around the area.

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    Love this place! Traci and Troy are the best and everything is delicious

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    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery

    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery

    4.4
    (895 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    I love Pipeline Bakeshops Malasadas! I have been to several Malasada places in Hawaii but | love…read morethere's the best for the following reasons: 1. the size of the malasadas: some restaurants tend to make their Malasadas smaller and when places do this it ruins the overall texture and quality of it. The bigger the malasadas size the more airy and fluffy and more bread layers that will be inside. 2. their malasadas always taste fresh and the same quality each time. 3. their malasadas don't feel oily or heavy at all Overall I would highly recommend this place for their Malasadas! I'm so happy to have found them. I can back multiple times on my trip. They also have other desserts too that I have yet to try. They have ice cream, cakes, and other desserts Also tip: if you are ordering a malasada also order a coffee or a matcha drink to go with it. The cinnamon sugar from the malasada just matches so perfectly with a drink this restaurant is also a nice place for walking! There's lot of stores and restaurants to walk around! I'm trying to remember but I think there was a book off that was not too far from here! If you either drive or maybe walk. Service: staff was super helpful and friendly while I was there. I was having an issue with my online order because my phone was being glitchy and they were so nice in helping :) Also wanted to note their branding is so cute!! They even sell merch items too

    Everyone knows to go to Leonard's for freshly made malasadas, and the constant crowds there attest…read moreto their quality and variety (review: https://yelp.to/jaduiZfQRq). However, there are many alternative malasada purveyors throughout Honolulu, so I depended on local vloggers to find the best ones. This one popped up often on YouTube, and as luck would have it, we were dining at The Pig & The Lady on the next block. How calorifically convenient. We took the opportunity to stop by for a pre-dinner snack since they closed at 6PM. It's a cute shop with multiple sweets including quite a selection of housemade ice cream and delectable mouthfuls called Cake Bombs (Photo 10). We decided we would be good and ordered one unfilled Malasada each. Dusted with various sugar flavors, they were just $2.65 a piece. I went for the Coffee, while Jamie chose the daily special, Cinnamon (Photo 6). They were soft and tasty, quite comparable to Leonard's albeit a tad smaller. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing since we had dinner ahead of us. However, we let temptation get the best of us and shared a $5.50 slice of the Ube Haupia Mac Nut Bar, a yummy combination of sweet potato and ube topped with haupia (coconut milk pudding) on a macadamia nut crust (Photo 9). Truth be told, it stole the show from the malasadas. FOOD - 4 stars... the malasadas were good, but that ube dessert was next level AMBIANCE - 4 stars...really a takeout operation with a lot of temptations SERVICE - 4 stars...very calm and orderly TOTAL - 4 stars...yet another spot for sweet Hawaiian decadence RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/U7YPblfoMP

    Photos
    Interior during Malasada Day / Fat Tuesday, 2/17/2026
    Interior during Malasada Day / Fat Tuesday, 2/17/2026
    1/2 dozen malasada
    1/2 dozen malasada
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    Jejubing Dessert Cafe

    Jejubing Dessert Cafe

    4.4
    (707 reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    Situated right off the parking lot before entering the Ala Moana food court. We skipped it at first…read morethen decided to try it after everyone was done eating inside. On the way back to the car we saw it again and decided to try the Strawberry Bingsu. Our party shared the bowl and loved it so much we decided to also try the Mango Bingsu. It was the perfect amount of fruits and sweetness to cool us down in the muggy afternoon weather. Good service. Clean dining area. Cute decor. Wish we had more time to try other desserts but we will definitely visit again when we're back in town!

    Good: Ordering is easy using a kiosk which provided clear instructions to the user. Quick service,…read moreeven near closing. At 8:30 pm, the place was packed, which is a great sign. Standard generous portion for a bingsu location, notably generous for an Ala Moana location. The location itself was free of insects despite being on a ground floor location with sugary desserts everywhere. Meh: The $14 (including 15% tip) dessert tasted too light and ice-like and appeared more translucent (rather than opaque white) than expected, leading me to think the milk was watered down, which may be how the establishment can make up the cost for the portion size while maintaining a spot in Ala Moana, especially given milk prices in Hawai'i, even if you're buying from Costco or direct from farmers. Also, tables were not cleaned after each party departed; that transparent puddle on your table might not be condensation and may instead be drool drops from the toddler who sat there before you. Overall: Good (not outstanding) experience. Knocked off 2 stars for combination of suspected diluted milk + unclean tables.

    Photos
    Injeolmi Bingsu
    Injeolmi Bingsu
    Mango sans the almonds
    Mango sans the almonds
    Matcha snow

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    Matcha snow
    Cha To Gelato Zen

    Cha To Gelato Zen

    4.6
    (176 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    I got a saemidori matcha with soy milk and strawberry puree. $14…read more It was naturally sweet from the strawberry and the matcha quality was amazing! So smooth You can choose the type of matcha you want there's 4 options i believe. Gotta try their gelato eventually! Kinda pricey so i wouldn't get it often but i was glad i got to try!

    Only the second visit to the tea and gelato bar by day, cocktail bar by night, establishment that…read moreis Cha to Gelato Zen. Dining area is small with 4 tables and bench seating as well as chairs. Counter seats six. Pay at the POS above the gelato display case. There is metered street parking, but being on Kapahulu Avenue...parking can be rough. This afternoon I dined in at the counter because it was hot outside, it must've been higher than 81 defrees F. I requested a double gelato - Matcha and Kinako, which came wiith brown sugar syrup. Excellent. Initial visit, I had a takeaway Soda Float: their June special. It was a white tea with white peach gelato...though it seemed more like a sorbet, but what do I know.... and yuzu syrup. You can customize your own soda float. July's gelato flavor is lychee. Hours are from 200p till 1100p, closed on Wednesdays. Actually, their hours are more differentiated than that, e.g., Fridays and Saturdays are open from 200p till midnight. After dark bar hours start at 600p. Staff is very courteous. Female employee was being trained...she was super busy today.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Tea leaves with some shoyu topping
    Tea leaves with some shoyu topping
    New friends

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    Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe

    Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe

    4.5
    (382 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    I needed to occupy myself after I dropped hubs off for his first cataract surgery…read more After doing some retail therapy at NR I had half an hour to spare. Hubs had to fast from 6 am for his 2 pm surgery so I thought he would probably be starving and would enjoy a delectable salt and butter roll from here. At $4.50 a piece I consider this a luxury for us. I found a close stall in the parking structure. A very cheerful polite male employee took my order. I had seen two occupied tables as I walked into the shop. Both had matcha drinks. Why not? I asked the young man assisting me, what's the best matcha drink? He said his favorite was banana matcha with extra banana foam. Okay I'll try it. He repeated it to the cashier. So popular there was a wait for beverages to be prepared. Soon enough mine was ready. I think Doc would enjoy this drink. This shop is a working bakery. Many yummy pastries displayed. Menu is posted high up above to choose from. Rather tiny shop with room for customers to stand in line to order and wait for drinks. Clean, busy with a few tables and chairs outside but pretty much in direct sun.

    one thing about me, imma have a matcha! Anytime, any day! The banana matcha is a top seller but I…read morealso love the rose matcha! I recently went and decided to branch out and try the taro latte and that was 100/10!! Definitely a new favorite. As for the baked goods, I am obsessed with their salt and butter rolls, red bean rolls and their japanini! I am a student nearby and try to get some during lunch or for breakfast but the only downside is they are always SO BUSY! (i mean good for them but man i hate waiting in the hot sun for 20 mins) other than that I really do like this bakery and cafe!

    Photos
    Coffee anyone?
    Coffee anyone?
    Cinnamon roll
    Cinnamon roll
    Coconut haupia bun

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    Coconut haupia bun

    Howard’s - desserts - Updated July 2026

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