Waioli Kitchen
If you’ve never been to this historic treasure in Manoa, you must go!
Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop just celebrated 100 years! It is tucked in the big beautiful green valley of Manoa, right next to the headquarters of The Salvation Army and just down the road from our chocolate shop at Choco le`a.
The scenery is breathtaking. It takes you back in time with lots and lots of seating outdoors and in the open air restaurant plus a private air conditioned party room. It’s truly a hidden gem.
The space is absolutely beautiful with great design details, encouraging signs, scriptures, and knick knacks, the people are the sweetest (run by a couple with a servant’s heart, who love the Lord, Stefanie and Ross Anderson) and the food is simply satisfying! Straight to the spot and not too much!
I personally always gravitate to their Breakfast Bowl, but you really can’t go wrong with anything! I’ve tried their açaí bowls, papaya curry salad, their burger and chips and still have more that I need to go back and try. And if you love pastries, those are great too! I love their chocolate croissants, banana bread, and you must must try their scones! It’s what everyone loves and it’s richly covered in a sugary glaze.
What’s unique about Waioli is the work opportunities this kitchen provides as well. Stef and Ross use their restaurant as a ministry, a social enterprise, and a second chance for others to receive workplace release training. What was originally used to train orphan women the skills of cooking, cleaning, and hospitality, is ow a vocational training ground for graduates of programs for the treatment of substance abuse disorders and for individuals release from incarceration.
If you want to hang out with rich history and the Manoa community (seems like all of the Manoa peeps make it a regular), make sure to check out Waioli Kitchen and Bake Shop! I absolutely adore this place in every way!
erin’s tip
Go when the weather is cooler with friends and make an afternoon of it with breakfast or lunch and slow down to enjoy the moment in rich, green, and warm Manoa! (Oh and get a scone to go for later!)
*No reservations. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 8am - 1pm with a lot of parking.
