This can easily be one of my favorite casual coffee and pastry shop if not for the operating hours which is dependent on the mall hours. Do note that they serve real food and specialize in HK dishes as well but for this particular visit, we only ordered coffee, French toast and their Bo Lo buns. Bo Lo buns are like bread with crispy crust on top and filling inside. Ordered the classic Bo Lo bun, Bo Lo BBQ pork bun, Coffee Bo Lo bun and Bo Lo red bean bun. Of the four, I would recommend the BBQ bun with its meaty and saucy filling. Pair it with Yuan Yang which is tea and coffee combination and your afternoon will be complete.
Patricia Veronica Jasmin
+5
Honolulu Café's started in 1940 when it opened its first store in Hong Kong that serves egg tart, coffee, milk tea, buns and mouthwatering comfort dishes. They're regarded as the first and original Hong Kong café dining concept, it had been a must that every traveler would visit the cafe for a gastronomic experience.
I like the Bo Lo Bun, egg tart and the rest of their pastry selections. I was thinking of a Christmas give away, I think this is one good option to gift if same-day.
I love food adventures. When I passed by this restaurant, I checked on their egg tart. I'm surprised that it's made up of 192 layers of crust.
If you're into Hongkongnese cuisines, you'd better write this restaurant down on your list. From pastry selections, to curry, to noodles, rice and baked spaghetti. This restaurant will bring you back to the old Hong Kong.
I love the food. Place is great. I'll definitely recommend this to some of my friends.
One the best things that captured me here is the selection of food that they offer.
I went here last time with my family since we got curious on why the restaurant had so many people. When we got in, we're briefed of the best sellers and we have given it a try.
I must say I got astonished on the restaurant interior and the food. For its price, I'll give it a 5/5.
Went here for brunch and was very satisfied with the quality of food, the service, the cleanliness and vibe of the place. The food is basic and simple but definitely tasty! They have a limited menu but you’ll surely find a favorite meal here that you’ll come back for.
Been wanting to try Honolulu HK Cafe too, and nowwww since I'm just around the BGC area, why not try them out also!
First, we ordered some Hot Lemon Tea and Hot Honey Lemon Tea. I kinda didn't expect the taste of their Hot Honey Lemon Tea bcus I think it might be much better if it's a cold drink (maybe). But I loved their mains! My new fave is their Deep Fried Prawn with Salted Egg Yolk! When I tasted one of the prawns, I almost forgot my freakin' nameeee. It's just so good! While their Curry Beef Brisket tasted familiar to me, maybe alike from an Asian resto at Makati?
Would love to come back soon and try out their Fried Noodles and Steamed Rice in Casserole!
Whenever I visit Honolulu HK Cafe, I always remember their Coffee Bo Lo Bun or their Egg Tarts but they offer more than that. They also have dishes that are good for sharing and satisfying at the same time.
My favorites are their Beef Brisket Curry and Salted Egg Prawns. They consistently taste the same ever since I tasted them. Also their Salted Egg Prawns were flavorful not just on the outside but also on the inside.
For take-out, I do recommend their Buns and Egg Tarts. Their Buns has a crunchy top and at the same time the bread is tender. The Egg Tarts are not sweet at all and I could appreciate the egg filling itself.
Buns buns buns! If you love coffee buns, you'll love this place since they offer different flavors of baked buns. My personal favorite is their coffee bun and what sets this apart is the coffee glaze on top. The glaze gives a slight crispy sweetness when you bite into the bread.
It has the right amount of sweetness so it's good for all ages. Service was quick for takeout as we arrived after lunch.
When looking for a casual meal with HK favorites, Honolulu Cafe is SM Aura offers various Cantonese dishes and baked goodies.
FGDO Recommends:
Egg Tart - this is their specialty, a little too egg so it can come across as a bit heavy.
Coffee Bun - This is my favorite, its light and has that good coffee taste.
Salted Egg prawns - Crispy shrimp drenched with a salted egg sauce
Curry Balls - Their squid balls are huge and their curry sauce was also good.
Overall, they have good baked good and Cantonese dishes, the price point can be a bit steep though.
Ria Pe | RIA_litybites
+4
Rating of 4 is for the food. Good quality, tasty, enjoyed all the dishes we ordered. The salted egg prawns are delicious. Their curry sauce is always a hit with me, love to drown my rice with it! So I recommend you order any dish with curry sauce, there are lots of protein variants to choose from. I also love their spare ribs even if it might not be filling enough if you’re very hungry because a large part is the actual rib/bone.
But not everything is cheap here, depending on what you order, you can end up with a pricey bill. Also, the place is small. So if I were to rate the price point and the space, I would give it a 3.
The good thing though is you can mix and match the pricier items with the less expensive ones so you can enjoy the food here without hurting your wallet hehe.
Servers are attentive and efficient.
Egg tarts were delicious! Crisp, creamy and soft. The bo lo buns were just average.
Sadly, the tarts were quite expensive (more than Lord Stow’s!) so will not be a regularly consumed treat. Hope they launch a promo. Also, the packaging paper of the pastries were so thin that it rips so easily and your food can fall out.
This place is amazing! This was the first time I dined in. I used to think honolulu hk cafe is only good for their bo lo bao and egg tarts, but boy was I wrong! Everything we ordered was good! The stir fried noodles had a smoked wok flavor which reminds me of hk, the porkchop was perfectly crispy on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside. The beef curry was also soft and falls apart. The spareribs was perfectly seasoned!
Will definitely come back here! Everything here is worth a try! Specialy if you miss authentic hongkong comfort food!
The ambiance of the place has Hong Kong vibe on it. I will recommend the Bo Lo Coffee Bun, great snack with Iced Milk Tea or Iced Coffee. Hope the next time I visit, I will try the famous Egg Tarts. 💯
We went here when they were still on a soft opening. It was jam-packed on a Sunday night. We ordered their Egg Tarts, Coffee Bo Lo Bun, and drinks. I had tried the Hong Kong Coffee with Condensed Milk and it was comparable to what I had when I was in HK. More than the pastries, they also offer HK dishes if you crave for one.
The place is a Chinese restaurant and a bakery all in one. You should try the egg tarts. They also have decent rice meals that are all affordable.
Random noodle craving yet I don’t know why we end up at Honolulu café. We Ordered Hong Kong style noodle soup and Stir-fried Hong Kong noodle. Both were good. Has this very Chinese taste. As per my fiancée who stayed in Hong Kong for almost a month, the taste was authentic. I wonder if some memory did flashback (like how cartoons and anime). Lol
We also had deep fried spareribs— It was tough. The meat was a bit hard to chew. Also the bone and meat ration was not that okay.
By the way, on our visit there was this staff that randomly snatch the menu while I’m reading it. I didn’t know why he did that, but what I’m sure was, I find it rude and I didn’t appreciate it.
Hong Kong Style Noodle Soup with Fried Egg - Php198
*topped with —
Stir Fried Hong Kong Style Noodle with Pork Chop in XO Sauce - Php268
Deep Fried Spareribs with Salt and Pepper - Php288
Seasonal Vegatables Sauteed with Garlic - Php238
Honolulu Eat Tart - Php50
📍 Location: Ground floor, SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
As usual...First order of business is to have the Iced Red Bean w/ Milk (P130). This is what I always order when I'm in Honolulu Cafe. It takes me back to my younger years in the early 90's. Nostalgic drink for me. :DI gorged the Honolulu Egg Tart (P50/piece) the moment it was served. I do suggest eating it while it is hot & fresh so you can enjoy it's taste. :D
For an appetizer, I go for the Curry Fish Ball (10 pcs. for P198.00). quite pricey tbh but the curry taste covering the fishball is so good! :>
For the mains, I suggest the following:
- Deep Fried Prawn w/ Thousand Island Sauce (P488)
- Beef Brisket (P328) - Savory curry taste and super tender beef!
- Stirred Fried Noodles w/ Scrambled egg w/ shrimp
If you also want to carbo load, go with order their Bo Lo BBQ Pork Bun (P60)!!!
Enjoyed eating in Honolulu Cafe as always. Nice service from the crew too! :)
P.S.
Got no pictures because I was taking videos of the food. Haha!
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Honolulu HK Cafe is a Bakery and Chinese Food Restaurant in one.
Serving authentic HK Cantonese-Western cuisine for a long time now. They are already famous in serving the flaky glorious Egg Tarts which I personally love too!
They share the same recipe here as what they have in HK. So Filipinos would surely love what most Chinese liked about this Cafe.
Since Pinoys love eating Rice, these viands for sure are a definite must try...
Deep fried Prawns with thousand Island P488,
Baked Spaghetti wd porkchop in tomato sauce P298 and the best
HK Curry in Casserole Beef Brisket I've tried so far. Also Deep Fried Spareribs with Salt & Pepper P288 is recommended.
Have a plate of Curry Fish Ball P198 or choose from Soup or Fried Noodle and Baked Spaghetti for appetizers or Snacks.
Enjoy rice meals or simply have a cup of authentic HK Milk Tea or Coffee with condensed Milk.
Pair it with Coffee Bo Lo Bun wd Butter P70 or Pineapple Bun. You could also grab your share To Go for they have so much breads to choose from.
I'd definitely come back for another exciting dining experience!
The bright yellow Hong Kong-style egg tarts were part of my childhood. Honolulu HK Cafe brings us all the best comfort food that Hong Kong has to offer and more! They recently opened a new branch in SM Aura, and we got to try some of their bestsellers, as well as new innovations. [Read More]
I was invited to Honolulu HK Cafe a few weeks after they opened their first branch in SM Aura, around the end of February. I was also going to Hong Kong a few days later, so I thought that I would check out the original, too.
HONOLULU COFFEE SHOP Hong Kong (Wan Chai Branch)
On our way back from an early dinner at Kam’s Roast Goose in Wan Chai, we walked to Honolulu HK Cafe, which was on the same street (Hennessy Road). We always walk past it on the way to Kam’s after getting out at the Wan Chai MTR station Exit A4 – I remembering noticing that the bakery takeout section was popular with the locals and the breads are almost sold out every time. The bakery doesn’t look like much — it literally looks like a neighborhood panaderia here in Manila in the 1980s 😀
huhu tried this on a whim kasi bago pero omg dito ko ata natikman pinakamasarap na fried noodles ever.
I ordered their hk stir fried noodles with pork chop and xo sauce
OMG
Nakuha nya yung perfect timpla ng sweet, salty at savoury. Hindi nakakaumay naubos ko. Tama lang na matabang yung pork chop kasi malasa na yung noodles
268 medyo mahal, good for 1 lang pero masarap e!
It’s my first time trying Honolulu HK Cafe and it really reminds me of Hongkong especially the Egg Tarts.
Tried their rice meals as well and the price is very reasonable
Trying a new restaurant is always fun for me. Our favorites: Deep Fried Chicken with Orange Sauce, Yang Chow Fried Rice, Stirred Fried Hongkong Style Noodle with Porkchop in XO Sauce. Have a Honolulu Egg Tart for dessert. Wash it all down with cold Ovaltine. Looking forward to coming back to try other menu items.
@maniladiningdiary
Tita N and I enjoyed the food here. The Curry Fishballs, the Flat Noodles, the Sweet and Sour Pork and Yang Chow all stood out. But it was the BBQ Pork Bun I fell in love with (and the batch we had were newly-baked at that time!).
What turned me off was the service. The predominantly female staff was clueless to what they were supposed to do. Clueless big time.
Good thing that I enjoyed the food that I was able to turn a blind side to the bumbling ladies. Oh yes, the Iced Hongkong Milk Tea I will not order again. I didn't like it.
(sorry, no pictures)
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I am new to indulging in international food fares and restaurants more well known abroad. I have yet to try the original stuff outside the country but I am quite thankful I am able to enjoy them here locally with my fellow foodie family.
I was able to check out the newly-opened Honolulu HK Cafe in SM Aura. I was told this was big in HongKong and they are well known for their sinfully rich pastries, specifically the egg tarts. I was crossing my fingers that I'd be able to enjoy these and not look like a nincompoop to this new food. Boy, was I a sucker for the pastries, and I am craving for them now as I write this review!
Honolulu HK Cafe is known for serving these vibrant creamy Honolulu Egg Tarts (P50), the warm delicious Honolulu Bo Lo Bun with butter (P60), and the appetizing Crusty BBQ Pork Buns (P60). These are all baked fresh and served in limited quantities every day!
The Honolulu Egg Tarts had a flaky crust, beautifully done, browned and evenly baked, while the egg custard inthe middle was smooth and had a glisten to it, very inviting! I had to try some and, sure thing, I fell in love at first bite! Can't wait to get a whole box to take home to share to the family!
Another must-eat is the Crusty BBQ Pork Buns. They have soft snowy tops, and give off a buttery mellow scent, and once I cut into it, you'll know you'll get full even with the ample size of it. The pork filling was delicious, and does not seem to overpower at all. Another great recommendation for some takeaway!
Last of the pastries served was the Honolulu Bo Lo Bun. It's golden brown, topped with a sweetened flour and butter crust, and with a huge slab of butter sandwiched in. At first, I did not know how to eat it, but we carefully spread the cold butter on the warm bun and finally tasted the pillowy soft goodness of the bun itself. I like the different textures of the cold butter, soft flourbutter crust, and the warm bread combining to give this one of a kind pastry. Again, take note of this when you plan to get some pastries home for the weekend!
Honolulu HK Cafe also boasts of their dishes served in covered casseroles to keep them hot and savory.
Try their HK Curry Beef Brisket (P268), a dish best shared with friends who love rice and are not judgmental. Hahaha I swear, I was on the verge of asking for rice to get all that inviting curry sauce in the bowl. The curry looks spicy but definitely creamy and mellow. Again, rice is key. Haha
The Baked Rice with Minced Beef Bolognaise (P298) will make you sigh and say Thank you. It's the comfort food you seek at the end of a work day. With tons of melted gooey cheese on top of a bed of warm rice, and a layer of minced beef in tomato sauce, this is a must-try treat!
I was also able to try mouthfuls of the Steamed Rice with Chicken and Mushrooms, and the one with Chinese Sausage and Wind-Dried Meat. Both rice casseroles scream carbs but you can't stop eating them because of the perfect combination of umami goodness (from the mushrooms) and unique taste (from the Chinese sausage).
Noodles are also a definite staple here in Honolulu HK Cafe! From comforting breakfast fares to a full-on smoky beef hofan-inspired noodle dish, Honolulu HK Cafe has choices for everyone.
The HK Style Noodle Soup with Fried Egg and Luncheon Meet calls to mind a relaxed morning coupled with a great breakfast. The soup is nice and comforting, and the serving size is good too.
The Stir Fried HK Noodle with Pork Chop in XO Sauce is made more delightful with bean sprouts. The addition of the pork chop is ingenious.
The Baked Spaghetti with Pork Chop and Tomato is different take on serving good old Spaghetti. Pork chop was tender, and pasta still al dente. This is HK style so no sweet sauces for kids here.
The Stir Fried Flat Rice Noodles with Beef were tempting, as it has slivers of tender beef doused in that aromatic sauce. Get a big forkful the flat noodles too to complete the experience.
Honolulu HK Cafe is a must-try for those who are as adventurous like me when it comes to food. Each dish on their menu is carefully selected to show HongKong's blend of cultures and flavors. Perfect for the traveler who misses the taste of HK or simply someone who loves good food, familiar tastes and ambiance, and a great dining experience.
📌Honolulu HK Cafe
Lower Ground Floor, SM Aura Premier, BGC, Taguig
#honoluluhkcafephilippines
#chizbun
#chizbuneats
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Hong Kong food is a delightful mix of Cantonese East and European West and for those of us who haven’t been there yet, Honolulu HK Cafe can take us on a bread and food trip to this food wonderland. It’s a nice sign that our foodscape is expanding that we have well-known HK cafe brands setting up shop in the country and giving us a taste of their world and history.
We started off with their breads and pastries and from there, even yummier fare. The egg tarts (P50) had a nice, flaky crust and a light, creamy and custard-y filling. I would’ve liked it to be sweeter but this is great for those who don’t like things too sweet. Now, the BoLo Pork BBQ Buns and the BoLo bun with butter (both P60) are winners in my book. Crusty, sweet-ish exterior and pillowy bread are my weakness. These, with the cold Ovaltine drink I ordered, were more than enough to make my tummy and tastebuds sigh with happiness.
But wait, there’s more! Honolulu HK Cafe also serves noodle and rice dishes, and snacks too! Some of their hits were:
* the Chinese Sausage Rice - at just P198, this tasty dish has that fluffy rice, sweet chorizo and other yummy meats.
* Steamed rice with Chicken and Mushroom (P198) - filling and savory, this makes for a nice, light lunch.
* Hong Kong Curry in Casserole Beef Brisket (P328) - I’m glad this tasted like Japanese Curry with is sweeter and not as overpowering as the Indian and Thai curries. There’s chili oil to give it a little kick but I loved this dish (with a lot of rice). The beef was tender as well, which is always a plus.
* Baked Rice with Pork Chop and Tomato Sauce (P298) - meat, tomato sauce and melted, ooey-gooey cheese on top of rice is always a winner for me. Pair this with….
* Deep Fried Honey Garlic Spareribs (P288) - Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, the salty, earthy garlic was a nice contrast to the sweetness of the honey.
* Deep Fried Prawn with Thousand Island Dressing (P488) - the prawns were succulent with a tangy and crispy coating. A tad pricey but yum!
* Beef Hofan - this was one of the best we’ve tried. Firm noodles, crispy veggies, tasty sauce and tender beef.
* They also have spaghetti with pork chop. Do note that this is cooked like the Japanese’ Pasta Naporitan which uses tomato sauce or tomato ketchup, hence the more tart taste and very unlike the more full and earthy-flavored Italian or American (or even the sweet Pinoy) versions we are so used to. Unless you’re a fan of Spaghetti Naporitan (or Napolitan) from Japan, you might not like this dish much. But the cheese on top more than makes up for it. :)
Definitely will be going back for those buns, Ovaltine and amazing dishes soon. BGC peeps, you are so lucky you have this right at your doorstep at SM Aura
The Bo Lo Bun is the bomb. Probably one of the tastiest and fluffiest breads i've had ever. Their Chicken Curry and Fried Rice were good too! Giving it a 4 because the egg tart though did not meet expectations.
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HongKong Egg tarts is a classic favorite of mine so when there's a new place raving about their egg tarts, I'm sure my feet would carry me there in heartbeat. Egg tarts are like people. They are the same species but very different from each other. With Honolulu HK Cafe's take on their egg tarts, it's a different make and taste from other establishments offering the same fare. It's not sweet and cheesy. It is light and you could taste the egg and milk, so it's not overpowering any other flavours except the basic ingredients an egg tart is composed of. The pastry is thin and flaky, just the right amount to hold the custard.
Enough about the egg tarts. Let me get on with the other dishes they offer that are worth raving about. Number one on my list is the Beef Curry. It's the right blend of spiciness, perfect for the person who doesn't like the burning sensation chilis tend to give. The beef was tender and easy to chew. It's best paired with a cup of rice or two, no make that three.
Number two on my list of their must try is the Beef Hofan (or ho fun). If you don't like to eat rice, get this noodle dish instead. It's richly flavoured but not overpowering. The noodles are intact and chewy, the kind you cook in good stir fry. The beef strips are thinly sliced and loaded in the dish so if you're sharing this dish, fear not, the beef is aplenty, no need to fight over who gets to have a piece.
For drinks, try their Iced Yuan yang (mixed tea and coffee) and cold Ovaltine. If there's comfort food, those two are comfort drinks.
I've sampled their other dishes, although all of them tasted good and authentic Chinese cuisine, the three I've mentioned are worth spending your money over.
The place isn't fancy. It's a casual dining place similar to local fastfood interiors. Prices are affordable and not intimidating.
NEW INTERNATIONAL BRAND ALERT!
Honolulu HK Cafe, a famous brand in Hong Kong just opened in SM Aura a couple of months ago. Synonymous with its 192 layer flaky egg tart, this more than 70 decade old tea house is also known for their savory rice and noodle dishes....
So far our first experience in this restaurant is so good. What I love on this restaurant is the authenticity of the food especially the egg tart. In terms of customer service thier are very accommodating despite of a lot of customers on that day.
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First off, the restaurant is not that big but well lit, clean and the staff is friendly and acommodating. But the most important part of this review is of course, the food.
Before the main dishes, they served us their famous egg tart, Bo Lo Bun with butter, and their savory pork bun. I am a sweet tooth so I really loved the Bo Lo Bun which kinda melted in my mouth. I paired it with Hot Yuan Yang (Mixed Tea and Coffee with condensed milk). Just perfect!
Among all the food served, four caught my discriminating palate. Number one on my list is the Beef Brisket bathed in flavorful curry sauce. Cannot be eaten without rice, really! It is that good! Next is the Stir fried flat rice noodles with Beef. We really thought its Beef Hofan. The smoky noodles with beef and veggies are just heavenly! The Deep Fried Prawn with Thousand Island Sauce reminded me of Sweet and Sour fish which is tangy and syrupy sweet. This should also be taken with rice. Last but not the least is the Hongkong Style Dried Noodle with Pork Chop in Spring Onion Sauce. It is like our Pancit Canton with a smoky taste plus your choice of meat as a topping.
Is this Cafe worth coming back to? Definitely! It is budget friendly too. Better than having to travel to Hongkong or China just to have a bite of their best sellers.
Hey foodies, want some deliciously egg-citing news? Hong Kong’s best egg tarts have finally arrived in Manila at Honolulu HK Cafe. Located at SM Aura BGC, Honolulu HK Cafe was established in 1940 as Honolulu Coffee Shop in Hong Kong which is most famous for their egg tarts. In fact, I’ve heard their egg tarts were so highly anticipated that they were sold out when they first opened. And things are about to get even more egg-citing. Honolulu HK Cafe also offers a full menu of breads, rice meals, noodles that will surely tickle your hungry palates. So read on to check out our personal favorites at this new cafe in the heart of BGC.
My parents and I were very satisfied on our first try in this branch. Good customer service and the authenticity of their items were superb. Very tasty food and pastries. Will definitely wait for their future branches and excited to try them out again.
The famous bun is really the star of this new Chinese restaurant. It’s so soft and fresh and bounces in your mouth. It’s how bread should be. Smells good too!
Egg tart - 1 star. It tastes like raw egg.
Sweet and sour pork is a must-order in all Chinese restos and Honolulu’s did not disappoint. I finished the plate alone.
Their curry explodes with so much flavors. We loved how it was served in a pot and still hot. The smell is so authentic as well.
Milk tea is a thumbs down for me. It’s pricey when I can get a cheaper milk tea which I can enjoy more. It tastes bland. Try their other drinks that has condensed milk instead.
Staff - 2 stars. Not very friendly and accommodating. If only I wasn’t too eager to try a new place, I would not be patient enough with their staff’s attitude. They made us feel like we don’t belong there and that they’re too busy to spare you some time for customer service. Not worth the service charge.
Christian Pena (Techbeatph)
+5
Honolulu HK Café a fantastic mix of North Asian(Cantonese) cuisine with a touch of South Asian(Indian) and Western favorites.
We recently visited the newly opened Honolulu HK Cafe at the SM Aura in BGC. The cafe is located at the lower ground floor. You can’t miss it the have an amazing display of freshly baked goodies right at the front of the cafe.
We were treated to an amazing mix of flavors. Simply put the cafe took us on a culinary journey around Asia. The cafe originated from Hong Kong which gives it the Cantonese heritage that it has the offer an amazing baked pork bun which in my opinion is better than the one you can get from the Michelin Star restaurant which is also from Hong Kong.
I was a bit surprised when they served us dishes with Curry. But boy did they nail the curry. I have been to India and tasted authentic curry, but this one is easily better than some of the curries I have eaten there. Easily in the top three.
The other dishes were also outstanding. But also the start of the show is the egg tarts which were simply mind blowing. The crust was fantastically flaky and the filling tastes divine not to sweet.
Now to answer if I will comeback here and eat here again?
Absolutely not only will I comeback and eat here again but will be dragging all of my friends and Family along to share the joy of the Honolulu HK Café.
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Honolulu Cafe is one of the cha chaan tengs or traditional tea restaurants in Hong Kong. It was established in the 1940's and became famous for their delicate, fragrant and flaky egg tarts and "stocking" tea and coffee wherein a real ladies'undergarment was used to filter their beverages. The expats in HK, however, grew very fond of the bo lo bun or "pineapple" bun. No, there is no pineapple jam or flavoring used, it's just that the crust resembles a pineapple's skin.
Early this year, I frequented their Hennessy Rd branch in Wan Chai which was featured in the 2010 HK film "Crossing Hennessy." I usually had the bo lo bun with butter and a HK Style coffee for breakfast or I would take it with Macaroni Soup accompanied by ham and scrambled eggs in a breakfast set.
Imagine my surprise when I was ready to proceed to the basement parking and I saw the local branch of Honolulu Cafe at the Aura. They opened January 5, this year. Memories flooded my head, that even though I am full from Providore and Bono, I just got to have a taste of their pineapple bun again.
Immediately, I told the charming Ashley that we would have the Bo Lo Bun with Butter, Bo Lo Bun with Red Bean, Egg Tart and the HK Style Coffee with Condensed Milk.
The Bo Lo Buns here tasted better than the ones I had in HK because they were freshly baked, crusty on top and chewy and buttery on the inside. Signature of HK teahouses is you'll see a thick square of butter in the bun somewhat like a cheese slice, they don't bother to spread it, but it's part of the whole eating experience.
I love hopia and anything with red bean so the freshly baked Bo Lo Bun with red bean floored me. It was so simple, yet so delicious for me.
Tai Cheong Bakery and Honolulu Cafe are the frontrunners for egg tarts in HK because they are delicate, flaky and not overly sweet. It is said that their crust has over 100 layers contributing to the flakiness. Personally, I prefer the Portuguese influenced egg tarts of Macau like Lord Stow and Lillian's because they have fuller flavor.
Flavor is something not lacking in their coffee, especially the one with condensed milk. It was strong and creamy with the right sweetness as is, no need for sugar.
The influx of foreign brands has been crazy these past years. We've welcomed several establishments that we used to include in our itinerary whenever we go abroad. And one of the newest brands to find its way to our shores happen to be the oldest tea restaurant in Hong Kong. Hello, Honolulu Café. Honolulu Café's story began in 1940 when it opened its first store in Hong Kong serving egg tart, coffee, milk tea, buns and mouthwatering comfort dishes. Regarded as the first and original Hong Kong café dining concept, it is not surprising that a stop here is a must for every traveler up for a gastronomic experience.
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Hongkong's Honolulu Cafe has opened its branch in Manila . Located at the Lower Ground Floor of SM Aura Premier .
Way back in 1940, Honolulu Cafe started as an ice cream parlour . Nearly 80 yrs on, the company now has stores in Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan as well. Renowned for its signature egg tarts ,and the cafe also serves its house blend coffee.
Last February 28, I was one of the lucky food bloggers that was invited to attend a foodie event at Honolulu HK Cafe.
When you got into their store , you'll immediately see the pastry stand . They offer different delicious breads. Crusty BBQ Bo Lo Bun (60 pesos) and Luncheon Meat and Egg Bun (60 pesos per piece).
Honolulu Café is well known for its flaky pastry especially their famous egg tart . It's a must try here ! They also offer a promo. Box of 6 is 300 pesos and box of 12 is 600 pesos .
The ambience was really neat and nice 👍. This is a kind of cafe that you wish to go to .
For the Drinks , they have Hongkong Style Coffee (hot/cold) , Hongkong style coffee with condensed milk , Hongkong style Milktea , Hongkong Style Milktea with Condensed milk , Yuan Yang (Mixed tea and coffee ) . Prices are from 120-130 pesos .They also offer lemon tea , Honey Lemon, Watercress Honey , Iced Red Bean with Milk , Ovaltine , San Miguel Pail Pilsen. Soda in Can and bottled Water.
They also offer other dishes that will satisfy your cravings.
All in all it was a great food experience. The cafe was painted colour yellow which gives a nice ambience , food was delicious and prices are worth it and staffs were friendly and attentive. Will definitely back to try other dishes and of course I'll be back for the egg Tarts!
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This international brand has been around for almost 80 years! The first ever branch opened in Hong Kong and back then it was known as Honolulu Ice Parlour. Their best selling products in the 1940s still stand today, lead by their famous flaky Egg Tarts and boldly sweetened Hong Kong style Milk Tea.
In the Philippines, Manila is Honolulu Cafe's choice for the inaugural branch. It is located at the ground floor of SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. They are also in other Asian countries like China, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia.
The frontage of the SM Aura store is easily noticeable to passers-by. It is filled with modern pastries, buns and freshly made Egg Tarts which will have a limited supply every day. Honolulu Cafe here also serves savory items- from baked rice to soup noodles, an authentic line up of Cha Chaan Teng concept in Hong Kong.
On this media invite, their warm and welcoming staff served us a feast as they let us indulged almost 20 different items. Since I was still full from a food crawl the night before, I only got to enjoy a few of Honolulu Cafe's specialties.
What stood out for me were spiced up Curry Fish Balls, a perfect appetizer or snack; a uniquely curated Deep Fried Prawn with Thousand Island Dressing, deliciously saucy Hong Kong Chicken Curry in Casserole and their filling, well-prepared Steamed Rice with Chicken and Mushroom in Casserole.
If you are a fan of noodles, another worth having is the Stir Fried Flat Rice Noodles with Beef. It is a complete plate of protein, veggies, and seasoned carbs. If you want a soup variety, the Hong Kong Style Noodle Soup with Luncheon Meat and Fried Egg is a safe bet.
Since it's a cheesy loving world, they have that dairy too here. Check out Honolulu Cafe's line-up of Baked Rice/ Spaghetti. They have it in Chicken Rice, Portugese Style, Spaghetti with Minced Beef and Spaghetti with Pork Chop in Tomato Sauce. You can even request for more cheese if you want!
So no need to travel far to experience the modern Hong Kong cuisine. If you will be in BGC, I highly recommend a visit, may it be for brunch, lunch, snack or dinner. Don't forget to get a bunch of Egg Tarts or any of their buns for pasalubong.
I tried the beef curry brisket and the bread bun they sell outside the store. The flavors of their curry was excellent, good portion, served hot. The bread too wasnt bad. Ended up buying a box for takeout
this place looks very promising. they're up against tough competition with the likes of dtf and thw but i think they would do well since they offer items not found in other similar restaurants. they have quite an extensive selection on the menu si that's definitely a plus for them.
i would like to make special mention to aivee, the staff who waited on our table. she had excellent interpersonal skills. very good service.
I was in the area for another event, so before heading home, i decided to stop by to try an Egg Tart and see for myself if it is as good as they claim it to be. Sadly, there was none available and was told they was a 30 minute wait time. Since i was in a bit of a hurry (trying to avoid the traffic rush) asked for a box of 6 Bo Lo Pork Buns. For 60pesos it sure looked really enticing from the display case. The box was filled, buns were inconsistent, since some were larger than the others. Soft sweet bread with a crunchy topping similar to a cookie crunch. The pork filling though was not enough to flavor the entire bun. Still a good buy for 60pesos. A nice afternoon snack. Hopefully on my next visit i can try one of their HK Egg Tarts.
Their HK milk tea and coffee are legit! Sadly, they were already out of egg tarts so we didn't have those to pair with our drinks, but it was already less than an hour before closing time so that was understandable. We'll probably return to taste those when we happen to be at SM Aura again.
Saw posters of this all around SM Aura and I just had to try it.
Whenever we go to HK, all bakeshops have "bo lo bao" which has the thick kinda sweet layer on top of a bun like the one they're selling here in Honolulu HK Cafe
Ordered the following:
Egg Tart- I prefer Macau egg tarts more than HK egg tarts, it's just a personal preference
HK Milk Tea- You NEED this in your life I swear
Bo Lo BBQ Pork Bun- very good but you have to ask them to warm it for you! Way better! :P
Food is nothing out of the ordinary but the Pineapple "Bo Lo" Buns are as good as what you can get in Hong Kong. Get the one with butter. Wasn't able to try their egg tarts because they only serve it until 6PM which is kinda stupid to be honest. The restaurant needs to rethink about this move if they want to make more sales.
Edit: Egg Tarts is close to Hong Kong taste but the milk tea is nothing like HK. It's too sweet and the tea is too light. They obviously adjusted it for local palate. Crispy pork bun is very good.
The new restaurant boast of Hong Kong quality and taste. Ordered their bake Chicken rice and it’s really tasty and the same as the one in Hong Kong. The plate is a bit shallow so serving size and price ratio may not be of best value. This place can succeed if they continue their consistency and use the same imported ingredients and method like the one in Hong Kong!
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These new places pop up like... well, like restaurants in Manila. Quite fast! I haven’t visited SM Aura for a few days and there we go, we have a new guy.
The name is deceiving because this restaurant is not Hawaiian. It’s ok, the food is good, though.
I can’t provide the name of the main meal I had (noodles) because their menu is not on Zomato yet. That said, it was more of a soup. Lots of egg, nice juicy shrimps, flavourful noodles.
The bun was quite interesting. Crunchy on the outside but soft inside. That said, it was a bit undercooked because I smelled margarine.
The coffee claimed it had condensed milk but to be honest I didn’t feel any. I don’t mind strong coffee but this one was not even strong, more like extra bitter.
They also forgot to serve an egg tart. To be honest, I also forgot about it because I was already full. The egg tart was deliciously puffy.
They forgot about us likely because there were foodies at the other table who were taking pictures of food. They were being given new meals constantly. Who knows, maybe one of those pictures will reach Zomato.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
We went here and unfortunately they were having a food photoshoot as well as an interview. They were only on their soft opening so I guess they're still gearing up to the real opening. With that being said, our food took a while to arrive which wasn't delightful. However, they did have some redeeming points:
HK style curry fried chicken with spaghetti- The chicken was awesome and very succulent. It was not dry at all! The skin didn't have any breading but it was crispy kinda like a Peking duck. I loved it. The spaghetti, however, was a different story. It was really sweet. Like 5x sweeter than Jollibee's spaghetti. I didn't really like it so I dumped a bunch of chili on it which improved the taste a lot.
HK Coffee with tea- I fancied this drink! Although it's exactly as it is, the flavor was good. Kinda sweet, kinda earthy, kinda bitter, kinda creamy. For person who doesn't drink coffee, this is a good alternative to plain and sugary milk teas.
Last but certainly not least, the Egg Tart- I was quite disappointed that out tart was served late. As in terribly late. We were not told that they were still in the oven and the wait would be long for a single tart. We finished eating and even gone to the restroom and they still didn't have the tart ready. Buuuut... It was surprisingly good. It wasn't too sweet not too eggy. The custard was very rich and not too firm. The crust wasn't just one hunk of dough. It was flaky.
Overall, it's a good restaurant with a lot of room for improvement on its service. Keep on keeping on, Honolulu!
Must try! 🤙
Price: 4 stars (affordable, sakto yong presyo sa amount ng serving)
Food: 5 stars (masarap, sulit!)
-Stir Fried Flat Rice Noodles with Beef
-Honolulu Egg Tart
-Hong Kong Style Milk Tea (cold)
Ambiance: 5 stars (maganda ang ambiance, malamig at relaxing)
Staff: 5 stars (mga polite and maasikaso)
#rainjoeifoodventures #honolulucafe
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