When looking for a new restaurant to visit in the Aloha State, you undoubtedly look for three things: mouthwatering food that will satisfy your taste buds, a warm and welcoming ambiance, and an unforgettable experience. While the Hawaiian Islands are home to countless incredible restaurants that match this description, today we’re featuring a charming little cafe that serves the best crepes ever.
From delicious dessert crepes to savory breakfast creations, you don’t have to travel to France to find gourmet crepes. Welcome to Crepes No Ka ‘Oi, one of our favorite local eateries.
Serving up an eclectic mix of local gourmet crepes since 2008, Crepes No Ka ‘Oi got its start selling tasty creations at farmers’ markets, fairs, and festivals across Oahu.
All topped with fresh, homemade whipped cream, you’ll love their sweet dessert crepes that come filled with everything from strawberries, bananas, and cinnamon apples to chocolate, nutella, powdered sugar, and caramel.
Don’t have much of a sweet tooth? That’s okay: Crepes No Ka ‘Oi makes more than a dozen savory crepes with a variety of unique flavors, from pizza, reuben, and cubano crepes to crepes with mushrooms, brie, smoked salmon, roasted macadamia nut pesto, and so, so much more.
Savory or sweet, you’ll want to enjoy a nice beverage with your meal and Crepes No Ka ‘Oi certainly delivers. Discover coffee drinks and gourmet and loose-leaf teas as well as beer, wine, and mimosas.
To find current, up-to-date hours and take a look at the extensive menu, visit the Crepes No Ka ‘Oi website. Have you ever tasted these scrumptious crepes before? What’s your go-to order?
The açai bowl may be considered a fad on the mainland, but once this delicious superfood blend was introduced in Hawaii, everyone became instantly obsessed. There is nothing quite like enjoying an açai bowl full of açai berries, fresh fruit, granola or oatmeal, and a drizzle of honey for breakfast or as a post-hike meal. While you’ll find delicious açai bowls across the islands, our favorite comes from Haleiwa Bowls, a small, charming hut on Oahu's North Shore that serves up smoothies and the best açai bowls in Hawaii. Let’s dig in.
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Housed in a charming shack in the laid-back town of Haleiwa on Oahu's north shore, Haleiwa Bowls is the best place on Oahu to grab an açai bowl.
Featuring a grass roof and rich wood tones surrounded by lush flora, this locale is quintessentially Hawaiian and is overflowing with charm and aloha spirit.
Essentially a thick açai-based smoothie, these mouthwatering açai bowls are typically topped with fresh fruit, granola, and honey - and they will not only satisfy your sweet tooth but also makes for the perfect superfood meal on a hot summer day.
While you'll find açai bowls across Oahu, those from Haleiwa Bowls are made with fresh and organic produce and contain no added sugar or preservatives.
With three classic açai bowl options as well as more than thirty topping and botanical supplement options, you can craft an açai bowl that fits your tastes perfectly.
Strawberries, bananas, papaya, raspberries, blackberries, coconut flakes, chia seeds, honey, and granola are just a few of the toppings you can choose from at Haleiwa Bowls.
You’ll also find more than 10 different smoothies on the menu, including classic açai smoothies blended with fresh fruits and creative concoctions like the Dirty Paniolo, which is made with banana, cold brew coffee, almond or peanut butter, cacao powder, and almond milk.
How gorgeous does this Blue Cloud smoothie made with banana, raw dates, brazil nuts, coconut butter, blue majik spirulina, and almond milk look? Your Instagram followers and Facebook friends will be in awe!
So, next time you hit the beach and need a power up (or a tasty treat), you simply can't go wrong with some of the best açai bowls in Hawaii from Haleiwa Bowls. For more information, check out the Haleiwa Bowls website or follow Haleiwa Bowls' Facebook page.
Whether you live on Oahu or are visiting from a neighboring island or even the United States mainland, there’s little we recommend more than escaping the hoards of tourists and heading inland - to the heart of the island. And while there is so much to love off-the-beaten-path, here between the Ko’olau and Waianae Mountains, in the small town of Wahiawa (population: 17,122), you will find one of the islands’ best small businesses: a local watering hole that is as much about community as it is about coffee.
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Welcome to Surfers Coffee, a scrumptious slice of paradise that’s just waiting to be discovered.
Upon first glance, this Wahiawa storefront may not look like much, but as soon as you step inside, you’ll be greeted by a light, airy space that is as eclectic as it is cozy. The smell of gourmet java will delight your senses, and your coffee cravings will soon be satisfied.
From drip, pour overs, and French pressed coffees to lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, and more, there’s something for everyone here at Surfers Coffee - and because most Surfers baristas are Stumptown-trained, you will enjoy a high-quality cup of coffee every single time you visit.
If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll want to check out Surfers’ underground menu where you’ll discover a variety of sweet drinks. Not a coffee drinker? Tea and chai are also served here at Surfers Coffee, and if you’re hungry, you’ll want to try the mochi waffles or an acai bowl - they are both massive crowd-pleasers!
But it’s not the handmade espresso drinks, tasty pastries, and acai bowls, or laid-back atmosphere that make Surfers Coffee special: it’s the story and mission behind this venture.
"When we began in 2011 we were fully volunteer-run and never could have imagined the support and growth that would come over the next decade!" said Surfers Coffee manager Michael Duy. "We are constantly adapting and growing, but with all of that growth we never lose sight of [our initial goal]: being more than a cup of coffee."
Surfers Coffee is owned and operated by Surfing The Nations, a non-profit organization founded in 1997 by Tom and Cindy Bauer that started with a simple idea: “surfers giving back.”
According to their mission statement, the organization strives to "equip the next generation to pursue a radical lifestyle of selfless service and meeting needs in communities globally."
The storefront used to be a bar, and in fact, the entire block of buildings was once connected to the sex industry in Wahiawa - but in an attempt to revitalize the community, Surfing The Nations came in and transformed each of the buildings into what is now a surf shop, ice cream parlor, vintage store, sandwich shop, woman’s boutique, and Surfers Coffee.
This one-of-a-kind coffee shop not only gives back to the community in a variety of ways but has succeeded in creating a space where everyone feels welcome - including the homeless community.
"We believe that our success comes from our relentless pursuit of the highest quality experience for our customers," said Duy. "From the moment they walk in, we want them to be welcomed into their home away from home, met with a warm greeting, and served a high-quality product. We welcome and love all who come through our doors!"
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With plenty of outlets to charge your laptop or phone and local artwork lining the bright walls, you’ll feel right at home here at Surfers Coffee. Whether you visit infrequently or every day, this charming coffee shop will quickly become of one your favorite places on the island.
Whether a customer or employee, there is so much to love about Surfers Coffee and the community they have worked so hard to cultivate over the last decade.
"Baristas form lifelong friendships between other staff members, but also form special bonds with our customers. It’s amazing to see people having quiet time in the mornings or large groups of military personnel from the local bases enjoying their acai bowls. Families spending a Saturday morning together, or couples attending our open mic nights," said Duy. "The relationships formed remind us why we dedicate ourselves to a high-quality experience."
In addition to serving as a gathering place for all walks of life, Surfers Coffee is always looking for new ways to give back.
Last year, the owners helped fund the Studio R dance studio opened by Surfing The Nations that offers free dance classes to youth and other community members free of charge. "We strive to be more than a cup of coffee in all of our interactions with customers and are always looking for additional ways to support the community," said Duy.
Embodying the Aloha Spirit in everything they do, Surfers Coffee serves up one of the best coffees you'll ever taste, but more importantly, they make the community of Wahiawa - and the entire island of Oahu - better.
For more information about Surfers Coffee Bar, including their hours and menu, visit their website or follow them on Facebook. You can read more about Surfing The Nations here. Have you ever been to this Wahiawa coffee collective before? What’s your go-to order? Sound off in the comments.
Is there another local business you’d like to see featured at Only In Hawaii? Nominate them here! And be sure to follow Only In Hawaii on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know about news, events, and must-visit attractions in the Aloha State.
