Cafe Lani: feast for the eyes & tummy

Once you enter you are greeted with aloha both from staff and the word on the wall in the open bar.

The restaurant is open, and also showcases an open kitchen and bar, with tropical interior designs.

​Have you seen images of gigantic fruit parfaits, colorful bread baskets and beautifully composed dishes? So have I. Cafe Lani recently opened its doors at Ala Moana Center after months of visual teases, jaw dropping photos and hefty buzz on social media. The Japanese restaurant chain owner Pierthirty touts Cafe Lani as an all-day breakfast eatery with lunch, dinner, fresh baked bread and glorious desserts.

Since recently opening at Hawaii's largest and busiest mall in the state, the wait has been chatted about and long lines have also been reported. I happened to pop in with a girlfriend one morning, when there was ample seating, no wait and the service was actually quite good. Seeking something light, fresh and delicious I opted for fruit dishes instead of the egg soufflé or eggs benedict which was enticing. The couple next to me had simple breakfast items like eggs and omelette, which looked good, well portioned and each ate everything on their plates. Here's a look at what we had.

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I attempted to order the muesli but despite being printed on the menu they don't offer this dish. I instead opted for the fresh granola with tropical fruits and mascarpone cheese, or was it yogurt?

The server mistakenly brought me the acai bowl, so I took a photo of it. It's pretty huge for only $12

The fresh fruit and chia seed yogurt comes in a jar, along with many other items. It seems to be a thing there putting eggs, salads, fruits in a mason jar. It appears small in size but actually is a good portion. The mix of fruits with the chia yogurt was yummy, creamy meets citrus and crunch.

We got a side of bacon, which was two strips cut in half, cooked perfectly and added some salt to our palate.

Overall, I would return to Cafe Lani and I am actually looking forward to trying other things. The all-you-can-eat bread bar and pasta dishes look amazing. I also want to save room for dessert because those also look delicious. 

Cafe Lani - Ala Moana Center Level 2 Ewa Wing http://www.alamoanacenter.com/Stores/Cafe-Lani-Hawaii