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🍨Desserts·Honolulu

Best Desserts in Honolulu

Honolulu's dessert scene is one of the most exciting on Oahu, spanning everything from classic Hawaiian shave ice to Italian-style gelato, Korean bingsu, and tropical soft-serve. I pulled together the best 56 spots worth knowing — starting with my own verified picks, then rounding out the list with the area's highest-rated options.

4 visitor-rated1 Nate-recommendedUpdated October 2026
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The ranking

30 desserts in Honolulu

Boba Bing
2$

Boba Bing

Ala Moana·Waffles
Verified visit

Home of the OnoWaffie and authentic Korean bingsu. Waffles: $6 each, $20 for all 4. Bingsu: Strawberry, Mango, or Adzuki Bean ($11.95/$16.95) with Dave's Ice Cream. Open daily 11am–8pm (hours may vary). Inside Midtown Eats.

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Penny's Waikiki Malasadas
35.0(1)$

Penny's Waikiki Malasadas

Waikiki·Bakery

Waikiki's go-to malasada spot with gourmet flavors like ube, lilikoi, and haupia cream. Boxes of 3 run $9-11, perfect for sharing. Open early for breakfast malasadas.

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Sin Ice Stir
45.0(1)$

Sin Ice Stir

Waikiki·Shave Ice
Verified visit

Chef-curated shave ice in Waikiki with 44 housemade syrups. All items $10 with ice cream base, premium toppings, and ocean views at Twin Fin Hotel.

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Castaways Ice Cream--Moiliili
52.0(1)

Castaways Ice Cream--Moiliili

Moiliili·Food Store
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7Gradi Gelato
6

7Gradi Gelato

Kakaʻako·Food Store
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Aloha Icelabs - Shave Ice in Dukes Lane, Waikiki
7

Aloha Icelabs - Shave Ice in Dukes Lane, Waikiki

Waikiki·Food Store
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Aloha Whip
8

Aloha Whip

Food Store
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Asato’s Waikiki
9

Asato’s Waikiki

Waikiki·Food Store
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Banan Kaimuki
10$

Banan Kaimuki

Kaimuki·Food Store
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Banan Waikiki Beach Shack
11

Banan Waikiki Beach Shack

Waikiki·Vegan Restaurant
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Cha to Gelato Zen
12

Cha to Gelato Zen

Kapahulu·Cafe
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Cloud Nine Cafe
13

Cloud Nine Cafe

Kakaʻako·Cafe
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Gecko Girlz Shave Ice and Ice Cream Shop - Waikiki, Hawaii
14

Gecko Girlz Shave Ice and Ice Cream Shop - Waikiki, Hawaii

Vegan Restaurant
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Gelatissimo Waikiki
15

Gelatissimo Waikiki

Waikiki·Dessert Restaurant

Gelatissimo Waikiki brings dessert to Waikiki. Family-friendly casual dining.

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Haleiwa Town Shave Ice
16

Haleiwa Town Shave Ice

Waikiki·Food Store
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Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream
17

Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream

Hawaii Kai·Food Store

Ice cream shop featuring flavors imported from Hawaii such as Kona coffee & macadamia nut.

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Ice Monster Hawaii
18$

Ice Monster Hawaii

Waikiki·Food Store

Contemporary counter-serve stop for Taiwanese shaved ice in flavors such as papaya or matcha.

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IL Gelato Cafe Kahala
19$$

IL Gelato Cafe Kahala

Kaimuki·Dessert Restaurant

Dessert hub crafting gelato in traditional Italian & Hawaiian flavors, plus paninis & waffles.

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IL Gelato Cafe Waikiki Royal Hawaiian
20

IL Gelato Cafe Waikiki Royal Hawaiian

Waikiki·Brunch Restaurant

Dessert hub crafting gelato in traditional Italian & Hawaiian flavors, plus paninis & waffles.

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IL Gelato Hawaii Waikiki Lewers Street
21

IL Gelato Hawaii Waikiki Lewers Street

Waikiki·Breakfast Restaurant

Dessert hub crafting gelato in traditional Italian & Hawaiian flavors, plus paninis & waffles.

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IL Gelato Hyatt Waikiki
22

IL Gelato Hyatt Waikiki

Waikiki·Brazilian Restaurant

Dessert hub crafting gelato in traditional Italian & Hawaiian flavors, plus paninis & waffles.

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Island Vintage
23$

Island Vintage

Waikiki·Cafe
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Island Vintage Shave Ice - Royal Hawaiian
24$$

Island Vintage Shave Ice - Royal Hawaiian

Waikiki·Food Store

Cozy kiosk offering traditional shaved-ice desserts, frozen yogurt & build-your-own açaí bowls.

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Junbi Waikiki
25$$

Junbi Waikiki

Waikiki·Cafe

Junbi Waikiki brings cafe to Waikiki at a mid-range price point. Casual and welcoming atmosphere.

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Kith Treats Hawaii
26$$

Kith Treats Hawaii

Waikiki·Food Store

Tucked into Waikiki, Kith Treats Hawaii serves food store at mid-range prices. Look for takeout — known as a well-loved spot.

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Kokoro Cafe
27

Kokoro Cafe

Waikiki·Food Store

Busy counter serve in Royal Hawaiian Center for soft-serve ice cream with toppings in a unique cone.

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Lahaina Shave Ice
28

Lahaina Shave Ice

Waikiki·Food Store

Snug, unpretentious cafe with bright decor, offering innovative shaved ices & monthly specialties.

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Lappert's Hawaii
29$$

Lappert's Hawaii

Cafe

Relaxed local chain serving coffee, homemade ice cream & baked goods featuring macadamia nuts.

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Magnolia Ice Cream & Treats
30$

Magnolia Ice Cream & Treats

Waikiki·Food Store

Tucked into Waikiki, Magnolia Ice Cream & Treats serves food store at budget-friendly prices. Look for takeout — known as a solid pick.

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At the top of the list is Dave's Ice Cream At The Ilikai, a specialty shop I recommend and one that earns the NateEatsHawaii badge on this page. Known for imaginative flavors like kona coffee and lychee, it's a quintessential Honolulu ice cream experience. Beyond that, spots like Boba Bing in Ala Moana — home of the OnoWaffie and authentic Korean bingsu — and 7Gradi Gelato round out a list that has something for every kind of sweet tooth.

Spots I recommend are marked with the NateEatsHawaii badge on the page, so you can always tell which places come with his first-hand stamp of approval. Whether you're after a beachside shave ice in Waikiki or a late-night gelato run in Kapahulu, this guide has you covered.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the best dessert spot in Honolulu?

my top pick is Dave's Ice Cream At The Ilikai, a specialty shop celebrated for creative flavors like kona coffee and lychee — it carries the NateEatsHawaii verified badge on this page. The broader list of 56 spots also includes highly rated options for gelato, bingsu, shave ice, and more.

Where can I find affordable desserts in Honolulu?

Honolulu has plenty of wallet-friendly sweet options — shave ice shops like Aloha Icelabs in Waikiki and Gecko Girlz Shave Ice are popular choices for a light, affordable treat. Soft-serve and ice cream spots like Banan in Kaimuki and Waikiki are also well-regarded for casual, reasonably priced desserts.

How is this Honolulu desserts list put together and is it kept up to date?

This is a curated BEST guide — my personally verified picks appear first, followed by the top-rated dessert spots in Honolulu drawn from the NateEatsHawaii catalog of roughly 1,900 Oahu restaurants. The list is reviewed and refreshed regularly to reflect new openings and updated ratings.

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