Honolulu Coffee Co. opened its newest location, Bakery on King, earlier this year on South King Street. As my boyfriend and I walked toward the light green building housing it, we came across a beautiful mural by local artist Boz Schurr, which offered the perfect message: “Treat Yourself.” And that’s exactly what it feels like dining at Bakery on King.
The business — which serves as the main bakery and kitchen for Honolulu Coffee Co.’s 12 cafes statewide — is led by director of culinary operations Brian Sung, a classically trained pastry chef and a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu.
I could tell just how popular this location was because the line was out the door. But let me tell you, it was worth the wait! As we neared the cashier, we got a clear view of the delectable, handcrafted pastries and breads the biz has to offer.
We tried the chocolate brownie croissant ($7.85), kimchi Spam croissant ($7.85) and lilikoi croissant ($7.85).
The chocolate brownie croissant, which was topped with powder sugar and a piece of chocolate, had the perfect flakiness to it and wasn’t too chewy. I enjoyed the croissant itself before getting to the chocolate brownie at the center, which elevated the pastry even more.
The kimchi Spam croissant was also delicious. It was crispy on the top, which complemented the airy, soft bread inside well. That first bite had my taste buds tingling as this treat was on the spicier side. We decided to save the lilikoi croissant for later because we’d also ordered the three cheese grilled cheese ($16.95) and omurice ($17.50).
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The omurice boasted fried rice and a savory kalua pork enveloped in an egg omelet and topped with Honolulu Coffee Co.’s signature coffee demiglace. The sauce was on the sweeter side, so it balanced the savoriness of the dish.
The three cheese grilled cheese included cheddar, gruyere and provolone; was sandwiched between the biz’s housemade sourdough bread; pan-seared with cotija cheese; and served with kettle chips. I was salivating as soon as the waiter placed this dish in front of us. The bread was massive and so fluffy, and all the cheeses blended so well together. The kettle chips added a nice crunch. I definitely had to take this home as leftovers as the sandwich was so huge and filling — plus, I wanted to save room for the aforementioned lilikoi croissant.
While both the chocolate brownie and kimchi Spam croissants were divine, the lilikoi croissant was our absolute favorite.
My boyfriend took one bite of it, and looked at me with big wide eyes, saying, “This is the winner.”
He was right. It was a nice tart treat that was balanced perfectly with the sweetness from the toasted marshmallow on top. The granola gave the pastry a nice crunch.
I recommend eating this on a plate with utensils, as the lilikoi oozes out of the pastry. We ended up tearing off pieces of the croissant and dipping them into the lilikoi sauce. It got a bit messy, but it was so worth it. This was easily our favorite item of the day and perfect ending to our meal.
But, of course, who can go to a Honolulu Coffee Co. location and not order its renowned beverages?
I got my go-to favorite, the Kona Frost Mocha ($9.75), and it did not disappoint as it was an exceptionally hot day. This drink is not too sweet and was blended to perfection —as always.
My boyfriend ordered the iced strawberry matcha ($8.75), which wasn’t too sweet so you could taste the matcha.
I was happy to visit this new eatery and see myself coming back soon. It made me wish I lived in town so I could stop by every morning.
“We want guests to experience true local hospitality, where the warmth of aloha meets the craft of our farm-to-cup Kona coffee and fresh-baked pastries,” says Honolulu Coffee Co. brand manager Chasity-Mae Real. “Hawaii is such a tight-knit community, and our hope is for the Bakery on King to be that welcoming gathering place for everyone.”