Famed Japanese Bakery Brings Fluffy Breads and Pastries to Honolulu
Japan-based Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café opens in Ward Village on Oʻahu.
There’s no shortage of Japanese bakeries in Hawaiʻi, from the popular Brug Bakery on Oʻahu to Patisserie Nanako in Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island.
The breads are light and fluffy, the pastries delicate and gorgeous. It’s obvious why we’re all so addicted!
Now there’s a new Japanese bakery in Ward Village, a restaurant and shopping district near Ala Moana Center in Honolulu. Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café, with locations in Japan and California, opened on Nov. 15 on the corner of Auahi and Kamakeʻe streets.
Pastries at Okayama Kobo & Café, which opened its first Hawaiʻi location in November 2023.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
The popular Japanese bakery chain was founded by Tsunetaka Kawakami, who started his career working in a small chain of bakeries. He went on to open his own business, with two Okayama Kobo locations in Japan and two stores in California. He’s also consulted on the openings of more than 200 bakeries throughout Japan.
This 817-square-foot bakery is the chain’s first in Hawaiʻi—and, from the line that snaked out the door on opening day, it’s already a hit.
What sets this bakery apart from others is that all of its breads and baked goods are made from flour imported from Hokkaido, a northern prefecture in Japan. In addition, the bakery doesn’t use additives or preservatives, and everything is made fresh.
The yakisoba coppe is sure to be popular in Hawaiʻi.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
Signature items include the salt and butter roll, baked pan filled with Japanese curry, strawberry milk cream croissant, matcha mochi anpan and fluffy Japanese-style sandwich bread.
In the future the bakery plans to unveil specialty pastries that will only be served at this Oʻahu location.
A cinnamon roll topped with cream cheese.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
Other tasty items include cinnamon rolls with a cream cheese topping, slices of French toast dusted with powdered sugar, and the Japanini—a panini filled with bacon, tomato, shiso leaves, cheese and Japanese mayo.
It also serves a variety of coffee and tea drinks, like a matcha sea salt cold brew, sea salt taro latte and matcha rose latte.
The bakery is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café, 310 Kamakeʻe St., Unit 06, Honolulu, okayamakobousa.com/honolulu, @okayamakobohawaii
