Just sweet enough | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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PHOTO BY KELLI SHIROMA BRAIOTTA

Kinmeyaki (two for $9)

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PHOTO BY KELLI SHIROMA BRAIOTTA

Assorted bao ($4.15 each)

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PHOTO BY KELLI SHIROMA BRAIOTTA

You can switch out regular boba for jumbo boba in any drink

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PHOTO BY KELLI SHIROMA BRAIOTTA

Peach, orange and lemongrass tea ($6.99)

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If you’re craving a dessert that isn’t super sweet, check out these Asian-inspired snacks.

Waba Snacks — which shares a space with sister company K-MEX HI — is known for its kinmeyaki, the Korean version of taiyaki, the Japanese fish-shaped cake. This version is a little bigger and the batter is made with tapioca, resulting in a chewier, mochi-like texture. All treats are made to order to ensure freshness.

Kinmeyaki (two for $9 or four for $16) come with sweet or savory fillings like red bean, custard, Nutella and banana, cheddar and mozzarella, and more. Red bean is the most popular filling. Keep an eye out for seasonal flavors.

Waba Snacks
961 Kawaiahao St., Honolulu
Instagram: @wabasnacks

Rabbit Rabbit Tea Hawaii now offers cute bao ($4.15 each) that are steamed every morning. There are six different shapes to choose from with flavors like taro, caramel paste, plain, azuki bean with mochi, and brown sugar.

Taro and azuki bean with mochi are the most popular. These bao buns are designed to be eaten immediately, but you can always re-heat them if you want to enjoy them later.

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Rabbit Rabbit Tea Hawaii
2700 King St., Honolulu
808-492-1870
rabbitrabbitteahi.com
Instagram: @rabbitrabbittea_Hi

You can now get the “world’s largest boba” in Hawaii.

Tiger Sugar’s jumbo boba balls are made from coffee and jelly. The texture is similar to Jell-O (unlike chewier tapioca boba balls). Customers can substitute drinks with regular boba for this jumbo-sized option.

Popular drinks include black sugar boba with chocolate malt milk and cream mousse ($5.97) and matcha black sugar milk with cream mousse ($6.21).

Tiger Sugar
Various Locations
tigersugar.co
Instagram: @tigersugarhawaii_

King’s Tea

Newly opened King’s Tea offers a variety of milk and fruit teas, fresh juices, shakes and sugarcane drinks. The shop uses housemade boba for its beverages.

Bestsellers include King’s milk tea ($7.50), kumquat jasmine tea ($5.99), dragonfruit sugarcane ($7.99) and lychee fruit tea ($6.99).

King’s Tea also offers snacks like spring rolls ($3), banh mi ($10.99) and bao ($5).

King’s Tea
1409 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu
808-348-7700
Instagram: @kingsteahawaii