The shop itself it located along one of the more industrial streets that doesn't have sidewalks, and only had a couple of parking spots. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The shop itself is small and doesn't have any seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's attached to K-Mex HI which is right next door! They do made to order Korean kinmeyaki that uses more of a mochi dough, and they have different options for fillings. I love the individual labels for each of the flavors! Because of the mochi dough, each individual fish is pretty heavy - I definitely recommend splitting on. It comes out crisp, but if it sogs up you can definitely revive it in the air-frier. A bit on the pricier side but good quality. read more

waba snacks - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I remember this place when it was at Ohana Market Place. My mother-in-law loved going there because it reminded her of her childhood back in Seoul. We stumbled upon this location by accident - just driving around downtown heading to eat at Asahi Grill. Well - we decided to pick up some dessert and surprise my m-i-l. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love how this place is decorated first of all. It is cute and adorable![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The owner is such a nice lady. We picked up 4 kinmeyaki that was made-to-order and kept the box open to keep it crisp and for it to cool down while driving to my m-i-l's place. She was so happy to see her surprise - a red bean kinmeyaki - and had the hugest smile on her face. She reminisced about her childhood while eating her Waba snack - enjoying it thoroughly. I love how something simple yet satisfying can bring joy and uplift a person. Mahalo Waba Sancks! read more

waba snacks - Menu - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I heard about Waba Snacks from social media and it really is such a cute hidden gem! They are known for their kinmeyaki which is like a crispy fish-shaped filled waffle similar to taiyaki. I ordered the 4 pc kinmeyaki and chose custard, two Nutella banana and the flavor of the month which was matcha cream cheese. The kinmeyaki was soo yummy! Hot and crispy with a sweet filling. I think my favorite might be the custard one. All of the flavors were pretty good though. The lady working there is sweet and I can tell she really puts quality and care into making the food. I was the only customer there at the time so I didn't have to wait too long probably around 5-10 min. But since it looks like it's only her working up front and if there's a lot of people you might have to wait a bit but it'll be well worth it! read more

waba snacks - 4 pc kinmeyaki - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We love Taiyaki. After SomiSomi closed down we don't know where else on the island selling Taiyaki. Here we are! Found our new favorite Taiyaki spot. read more

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The owner was super kind and (at the time I visited) offered an option to combine flavors, so I chose the custard and sweet potato! [[HIGHLIGHT]]I waited in the cute little eating area they have and once it was ready, I dug in instantly![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Super warm, sweet, and savory all in one crispy/crunchy package! Really recommend coming here if you love taiyaki/desserts in general! - Miguel Morales Photography read more

waba snacks - Sweet Potato, Honey, and Custard (@miguelmoralesphotography on Instagram) - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My husband bought some kinmeyaki while we were across the street at the vet. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a small shop where you buy and go.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking is limited, so it's a good thing we were already parked for our appointment. It is made to order, so it is nice and hot. You can choose your filling. My husband got Nutella and banana, sweet potato, Oreo, and Oreo mochi. The lady was nice enough to make the Oreo mochi flavor special for him. The batter is a mochi batter, which I like. It gives it a chewy texture to counteract the soft filling. I will definitely be back here again. read more

waba snacks - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Friends brought me to Waba Snacks when we met up in Kakaako. The owner is so sweet and prepares everything with consideration and care. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The shop is small but the seating area is cozy and feels like you're in someone's home[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] - we perused her mini aquarium and Korean skin care products while we waited for our taiyakis. It was just the owner working that days and the taiyakis (wabas?) were well worth the wait! SO crispy on the outside and flavorful on the inside. Even my dad liked it, and he doesn't usually like those kinds or snacks/desserts. I think the sweet potato honey and cream cheese jelly were my favorites - but all so good. Can't wait to go back! read more

waba snacks - Small menu ensures quality! - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Waba is close to home - literally a little more than a block away. We'd visited a handful of times before and have never been disappointed in the quality of this snack. There are really only two parking spots in front of this shop, so I assume most people will waltz over after having a beer at the nearby brewery or browsing the other good eateries in this tiny block. Freshly made to order, you have a handful of flavors to choose from. Our typical favorites are the cheese and the other, custard. In about 5-7 minutes, you have this extra hot, crispy-edged, mochi waffle-like dessert. It takes a few minutes to cool off as well so if you don't want your mouth to go numb for the next few hours, I'd suggest you wait at least 3-4 minutes before taking your first bite into the delicious lava hidden inside. My only issue was getting sticker shock at the prices. We'd just gotten back from Japan where a taiyaki was no more than 1 usd each and here, we're looking at something over $4 each. Granted, this alternative tasted much better, but 4x the price is hard to swallow. For myself, just another one of those places we'll list as an occasional treat. read more

My breakfast in Kaka'ako, Honolulu, Hawaii... I've wanted to support this small business since I saw their Instagram post on June 8, 2023, about being burglarized. waba snacks was robbed of cash, and the shop needed repairs - especially the front window, which was the point of entry. As soon as I was able, I stopped by the cute shop on Kawaiaha'o Street and parked along the street. waba snacks does have a few free parking spaces in the front and in front of K Mex HI, their sister store next door. The waffle machine wasn't ready at 10am when they opened, so the young man gave me a takeout menu for K Mex HI, and showed me how to get there through the back door. I was to return in 20 minutes when the machine was ready. Later, when I returned, the friendly aunty took my order. She remembered me and gave me a complimentary soft serve swirl ice cream because I came back. Thank you! The kinmeyaki (Korean-style taiyaki) are sold in a pair for $9 or 4 for $16. I got the fish-shaped waffles stuffed with Red bean (sweet azuki paste) and one stuffed with Purple potato and Honey. I liked them both because they weren't too sweet. I appreciated that they were served fresh & and hot, and the edges were crisp. The dough inside was soft, warm, and chewy like mochi. Yum! This cozy open-air shop had cutesy decor. The two aquariums in the dining area were kind of ironic. I felt like the fishies were watching me! I noticed that skin care products are available for purchase. The young man laughed when I pointed it out, and he said it was "kinda random". I liked the laid-back, quiet atmosphere. I sat in front of the electric fan and watched a couple of doves stroll in and out. I'll return and maybe get the Flavor of the Month kinmeyaki next time. June and July featured Oreo Cookie Flavor. I wonder what August Flavor of the month will be... read more

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Freshly made Kinmeyaki...a Korean taiyaki Another biz from Ohana Hale Marketplace is now found tucked away in the midst of Kawaiahao Street just look for the Barbie pink painted building a lot shared with K-Mex Hi (formerly known as Tacoholics) parking is right beside waba snacks along the fence so you may enjoy the fun and vibrant vibe. These cute snacks are sold 2 for $9 and 4 for $16 and the choices are yummy! - Red Bean - Custard - Sweet Potato & Honey - Cream Cheese & Jelly (Grape or Strawberry) - Nutella & Banana - Cheddar & Mozzarella - Flavor the Month (July is Oreo) You're given a number while you wait and while we waited the sweet lady had asked if we wanted a sample of her Soft Serve (Vanilla, Chocolate or Swirl) and oohhh immediately it was swirl and how sweet and smart to have given us a taste as it was just the perfect cool snack not too sweet but very cooling as brain freeze starts to set in, it's served in cups (8oz and 12oz) which is topped with Korean multi-grain powder and fresh fruits so you know that's gonna be it the next time. Now here's our Kinmeyaki all boxed up with cute labels right above the item so you know which one is which, she leaves all the crispy edges as she says it's the best part to snack before you dig in and indeed it really is lol! I got a couple for me an mom "Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jelly while my bestie got Red Bean, Sweet Potato & Honey and two Nutella & Banana. It's not as super bready like taiyaki more like pancake like consistency so when it cools down it can get doughy but the filling was just the perfect pairing and we both enjoyed them. Thank you! read more

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This place advertise Taiyaki as Kinmeyaki and I'm still confused as to why. I couldn't find what Kinmeyaki means. It's a small store with some sitting area located across from Hana Koa Brewing company. Two parking stalls are right in front of the store or you have to find street parking. For 4 Taiyaki, it was $17. It is made to order and it took 30 minutes. I think there was 2 orders before ours and somehow the person who ordered after us got their order before us. No big deal. As for the Taiyaki, it was crunchy outside, almost like it was fried or temperature was super high. I did like the azuki bean paste filling but I prefer Somi Somi over this place. Perhaps my expectation was too high after seeing so many high reviews. read more

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On Kawaiahao Street (across from Hana Koa Brewery), there is a small storefront that sells Kinmeyaki. Two stalls in front. I wandered over to see what Kinmeyaki was and got confused by the signs. The pink bldg is for the kinmeyaki and there's a Korean Mexican restaurant in the back but there are ads for both posted in front. I asked the lady working there if this was the Korean version of Japanese taiyaki and she seemed to sigh. She must be asked that question repeatedly, so don't ask her that question. She did say that her kinmeyaki is bigger, based on koi fish and has different texture and flavors than taiyaki. Flavors are sweet or savory. Kinmeyaki is made to order and she recommends you eat it right away or that day. There is seating inside and outside. 2 for $9 or 4 for $16. I didn't see an option for buying one. I tried the Sweet Potato and honey and the Nutella banana. They came out piping hot! I appreciated that she placed a wee label with each fish telling which flavor was which. The kinmeyaki was crispy on the outside with a chewy mochi like texture inside. I loved the Sweet Potato and Honey. Good ration of filling to batter. The banana nutella was too sweet for me but if you are a nutella fan, you'll love this one. The sweet potato one had a crispy mohawk in the fish shape. The nutella had a distorted fish shape but I didn't mind. More crispy parts to snack on! I want to go back and try the other flavors! She also does limited time special flavors and posts it on IG. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cutest place ever with the nicest owner![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I used to come to this place when it was still at the Ohana Hale Marketplace and tracked them down when they relocated here. I love taiyaki and this is my favorite place on the island to get it. I got the custard, red bean, cream cheese and jelly and sweet potato and honey flavors. My favorites were the custard and red bean! The taiyakis came out piping hot but was very crispy and light without that too much of that doughy taste. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I got mines to go since there is only 2 parking spaces right outside and a few small tables inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you're in the mood for taiyaki or something different for dessert, I recommend checking this place out! read more

waba snacks - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We tracked them down to Kaka'ako after the Ohana Marketplace on Ward got demolished. It was our favorite snack place to get taiyaki and we were so bummed thinking they'd be gone forever! Thankfully we watched a vlog from Felix and Amanda on Kaka'ako eats and lo and behold- there was Waba Snacks! We high tailed it down and after a few wrong turns, eureka! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a small little shop tucked away among industrial buildings.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Best landmark would be to look for the bright yellow Boccocino building- it's nearby. Look for the pink sign on the fence. It has 2 parking spaces in front. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Inside there's an area to enjoy your snacks with 4 tables and outside a table and chairs while you wait.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Same flavors we remembered- Nutella and banana, red bean, custard, cheddar and mozzarella, cream cheese with either grape or strawberry jelly. Same sweet Korean lady. These aren't the small taiyaki you get at other places- they're big! For those who don't know what they are, taiyaki are like waffles stuffed with red bean or potato, grilled in the shape of fish. The outside is mochi so they're more chewy in texture. We got our staples -cheddar and mozzarella and custard. The flavor of the month was pizza so we got that too as well as the cream cheese and grape jelly. You need to wait about 5-10 minutes because each are made to order. Word of caution, they come out piping hot and the inside filling can do your tongue damage! The pizza filling was a hit- there were tiny little pepperoni discs, pizza sauce and stringy mozzarella cheese yum! Get this one for March. The custard filling is rich and creamy and the cheese combo is very tasty! The cream cheese and jelly was just right amount of sweetness. Get at least two! 2/$9 or 4/$16. FYI- pay with cash to avoid the 3.75% merchant charge. BTW, the owner's daughter has a Mexican/ Korean fusion place down the lane behind the store. Used to be Taco-holics at Ohana marketplace now it's called K-mex. Pretty good too! read more

waba snacks - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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3.5 stars saw the banner across from Hana Koa brewing and thought we'd get some. The Korean style taiyaki didn't come out as the picture in the banner. The fillings however are delicious. I would come back for the sweet potato, nutella banana, and cheese read more

Get ready to hear about the most adorable hidden gem in Kakaako! This place is a dream come true for all the foodies out there! Their Taiyaki (Japanese) style Kinme Yaki, made to order by the sweetest Korean aunty, is a unique and unforgettable experience that I've never had before, even in Japan where I grew up! We ordered four flavors - Chocolate & Nuttera, Cream cheese with strawberry jam, Sweet potato with honey, and Custard Kinme Yaki - and let me tell you, they were all absolutely delicious! The crispy and slightly sweet exterior paired with the creamy and soft filling inside was a match made in heaven. So if you're in Kakaako and looking for a fantastic snack spot to chill for a minute, you simply cannot miss this place! read more

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Finally waited till they opened! Located slightly diagonally right across from Ala Moana F45! I have had taiyaki's in numerous places, nyc, LA, Japan....but I think this has to be the best one I have had! Wayyy better than Somi Somi (of course minus the ice cream part) It's made to order and takes roughly about 7 mins per order. It comes super fresh! The edges are crispy crunchy and the insides are just moist and mochi-like enough that makes for a great texture. I ordered the custard and red bean flavors since it's $9 for 2. I liked both of them! Both flavors are not overtly sweet and it's just to my taste! (Definitely catering to the more Asian level of sweetness!) Right in the back there is a newly opened taco place with Korean marinated meats as well. The menu for K-Mex HI is the last picture. There are a few parking spots to the right of the store and shared between this taiyaki store front and the taco place in the back. I will definitely come back to try the tacos and quesadillas! read more

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Check out this spot if you got a sweet tooth! Everything was perfect and fresh. Really friendly staffs working awesome. Definitely will be back for sure! read more

This is another gem in the kaka'ako area that sells Korean-Hawaiian styled taiyaki aka kinmeyaki, all made to order (7 minutes). The taiyaki are much larger than the standard Japanese kind and come with mostly sweet filling options but there was one cheese option if you are in a savory mood. The taiyaki was super crunchy/crispy on the outside but soft and pillowy on the inside, almost a mochi-like texture, and there was a generous amount of not-too-sweet filling. Really the perfect dessert/snack. It was $9 for 2 large taiyaki and I'd say that was a decent deal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There are several small tables for sitting in a very interestingly decorated dining area with lots to look at.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was very kind and polite. Will return! read more

waba snacks - Ube and custard - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Have been looking for Taiyaki here for AWHILE! I was so excited to finally find this place! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a small cafe but it's very beautiful![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The woman who took our order was very sweet and I'm so glad she told us about the Guava and cream cheese option! THE BEST!!! I had craved the red bean one for some time and I wasn't disappointed! It's crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside! read more

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Finally after somi somi closed, this place is perfect! I haven't tried anything authentic, only somi somi so I didn't really know what to compare it to. However, I really liked it! We got the Nutella and banana one and the august special which was haupia. It's 2 for $9 and 4 for $16. They also have soft serve ice cream for $8 which was a little much, would be nice if it came with ice cream. Parking is a bit hard but you might be able to find street parking. Nonetheless I love supporting small businesses and it was really good I will definitely be back again! read more

waba snacks - Ice cream and Nutella and banana - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've been to their original location at Ohana Hale Marketplace and wanted to try their new location. I walked from a friend's place nearby because I absolutely did not want to deal with the possibility of not being able to find a parking stall. Especially due to the fact that this area is pretty known for bad parking. They have a cozy seating area inside as well as cute pink decor. The lady who makes everything is very chic and immediately started making my order as soon as I paid. It took around 10 minutes for 4 kinmeyaki. They were crispy and soft - I tried the custard and sweet potato/honey and enjoyed the sweet potato/honey! I also paid 50c extra for the box and the sticker labels she puts on it are really kawaii. I think taiyaki is more bread-y and kinmeyaki is definitely more chewy, crispy and mochi textured (which i love. i love anything mochi). I'm not sure if I'd brave the traffic or parking for another kinmeyaki but I definitely will come back if I'm in the area! read more

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Found during a visit to the Rice Factory! Fish bread? I'm in! And so happy we stopped to try! So many flavors to choose from! Decided on custard, sweet potato honey, azuki, Nutella banana, andcream cheese and jelly. These are so delicious, filling and satisfying. Made to order so small kine wait but way worth it! And if you didn't eat lunch yet, go next door to K-Mex for the best bulgogi burrito!! Get the hot sauce too! read more

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Bungobang aka Korean taiyaki! Note: fish waffles do not contain or taste like fish. These freshly made fish waffles are crispy, soft and delicious. The batter is reminiscent of mochi waffles. There's a variety of fillings to choose from (red bean, custard, sweet potato and honey, cream cheese and jelly, nutella and banana, and cheddar and mozzarella). I chose Nutella banana and custard. The warm, crispy waffle paired with the creamy filling is heaven. The two fish waffles stand alone were very filling. I heard there was a pizza flavor, but I must've missed it. It's 2 fish waffles for $9 or 4 for $16. I got to try the waffles on a different occasion. It was warm and crispy topped with whipped cream and fruit. My only wish is that the whipped cream was as fluffy as the one I had while studying abroad in South Korea. I'll definitely be back for more! Thanks for reading my reviews! Let me know what I should try next! read more

The bungeoppang is incredibly delicious--richer and more flavorful than in Korea! It has a more premium taste, whether it's the cheese, red bean, or ube filling. Even the budae-jjigae and samgyeopsal on the side are absolutely tasty too! read more

Waba snacks used to be at the old Ohana market place and we found this little gem once again!! I'm so happy because we now have a taiyaki place on island. Waba's taiyaki is no ordinary taikyaki, the pastry has a mochi like consistency and it gets more and more addicting with every bite. You can find them across hana brewing company in ward. Don't forget to visit their neighbor k-mex hi that offers a variety of Korean-Mexican fusion grubs. read more

waba snacks - Yummy Taiyaki! - Specialty Food Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I just returned from Japan and am sooo craving hot, crispy, not too sweet, steamy taiyaki! Taiyaki, for those unfamiliar, is a sweet treat that was first sold in Japan in 1909. The original snack was called a imayagawaki, red bean paste wrapped in flour-skin. The owner of the Naniwaya Sohoten store found it difficult to sell his imayagawaki so he decided to make the treats into the shape of a Tai, an expensive fish reserved for the wealthy. The concept took off and taiyaki became a Japanese sweet staple. So back to my review: I was surprised that the shop is run by a darling Korean lady. Huh? I assumed it would be a Japanese run establishment. After looking up the connection between Korea and taiyaki, I learned that taiyaki was introduced to Korea during the Japanese colonial period. You'll now find taiyaki as a common street food in both countries! The place is darling! Super clean and PINK (love!) and adorned with white peonies everywhere! There is even a peony wall with a blinking neon sign for selfies! Waba Snacks sells hot taiyaki with an assortment of fillings but I was on a mission for the traditional red bean paste version. I have to be fair in my evaluation of the treat; it wasn't the same as the ones in Japan. Since I've never had a Korean version, I can't really say if it hits the mark. Unfortunately for me, the taiyaki was different than what I desired. The outer waffle of this version tastes more like a buttered pancake than a waffle. It was oily (perhaps due to the butter?) and the batter wasn't fully cooked. The "an" (red bean paste) was sweeter than the ones I had in Japan. I ended up tossing more than half of my treat. But don't let my experience deter you! Give it a try if you've never had either version, or if you're craving Korean taiyaki known as "bungeo-ppang". The place is adorable and as I mentioned, the lady is a sweetheart! Venue & ambiance: 4-stars (for a casual establishment) Parking: 2-stars (only one stall and at least it's free) Taiyaki: 3-stars OVERALL: 3-stars read more

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I know this is Korean and so it's not the same as "taiyaki", but it's the *crispiest* "taiyaki" I've ever had! An order comes with 2 and we got 2 of the nutella + banana combo. It was nice and hot, gooey, of course yummy, and the edges were crispy. Other options were cheddar cheese, jam + cream cheese, custard, chocolate and more. Definitely a treat worth coming back for! read more

Was looking for a dessert place during lunch time while I was in the area and came across this cute shop. Their taiyaki is 2 for $9 so I got the sweet potato and Nutella banana. They are made fresh and came out quickly. They use a mochi batter which was good. I preferred the Nutella over the sweet potato. I felt like the sweet potato was kind of bland. I would go back to try the red bean one. read more

amazing service, amazing menu- tasty and a must go!!! The owner is a sweet and wonderful lady. Its tucked in on the back roads, but go check them out! read more

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Cheese, strawberry cream cheese, red bean & banana Nutella! All 4 were so delicious and the texture on this batter is to die for. Perfect chew and super light breading. If I had to choose, it'd be banana Nutella. Gotta try it! read more

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The batter itself was dry. Crispy only on the edges but the rest was like dry cake. Its $13.50 for 6 pieces and you get to choose 2 flavors. I chose flavor of the month which was cookie butter and my second choice was red bean. Both fillings were just ok. Dont know what I was expecting but, it just fell flat of my expectations. The filling on the cookie butter on all 3 of my taiyaki appeared to have leaked out cus there was hardly any filling. The red bean were fine. I guess I thought these taiyaki would be similar to a stuffed bubble waffle but it was not. I've been meaning to try this place out cus they look good however, these are a pass for me. read more

We were at Hana Koa across the street, saw this place and decided to try it for dessert. It was SO GOOD! I think this may be the best taiyaki I've ever had (maybe because it's the Korean-style version?). Perfect consistency, crispy edges, chewy inside. And not too sweet or heavy! It was delicate and delicious. We got three different flavors (4 total = $16): -red bean -sweet potato -Nutella My favorite was the red bean, my partner liked the sweet potato, and our other friends liked the Nutella the best. They were all so good and we demolished them so quickly that I didn't get a chance to take a picture. I wish I had another one right now. We will definitely be back! read more