Coffee, Egg Tarts, Bo Lo Buns and More at Honolulu HK Cafe, Now Open at SM Aura Premier

People have been lining up for their egg tarts and Bo Lo BBQ Pork Buns back in Hong Kong for over 79 years, and it's now here in Manila...

One of Hong Kong's oldest and iconic traditional tea houses, Honolulu HK Cafe, comes to Bonifacio Global City bringing their signature offerings of specialty tea and coffee beverages along with fresh-baked sweet and savory treats and comforting dishes to SM Aura Premier. From light snacks to hearty main dishes, a bite or a meal at Honolulu HK Cafe takes you back to the traditional tea house with their wide variety of tasty offerings. Come on in for a tasty peek...

Since it opened back in 1940 in Hong Kong, Honolulu HK Cafe now has branches in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and now the Philippines. Now you can experience the local cha chaan teng culture of Hong Kong style tea houses with its popular egg tarts, Bo Lo BBQ Pork Buns and noodle dishes at their very first branch at SM Aura Premier.

Known for their own exclusive blend of Honolulu coffee, Hong Kong "stocking" milk tea and a wide repertoire of pastries, buns and savory dishes, Honolulu HK Cafe reflects the traditional Hong Kong Cafe dining concept. Traditional hot and cold beverages alongside fresh-baked pastries and buns, Honolulu HK Cafe is the perfect spot for a light snack paired with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. The Honolulu Bo Lo Bun with Butter (P 60) is pillow-soft dusted with a sweet sugar and flour crust for both flavor and texture, perfectly finished by the velvety smooth layer of indulgent butter. 

The Bo Lo BBQ Pork Bun (P 60) is a more savory option filled with sweet and smoky barbecued pork...

...while the Crusty BBQ Pork Bun (P 60) offers the same savory richness with a lighter and crumblier soft bun. The buttery hints of the Bo Lo BBQ Pork Bun pair well with the bold notes of the filling, while the delicate texture of the Crusty BBQ Pork Bun make it an ideal option for a light afternoon snack with tea or coffee.

But it's the famous Honolulu Egg Tart (P 50) that clearly built Honolulu HK Cafe to its preeminent status as an iconic Hong Kong dining institution. The pastry shell is much lighter with several flaky layers holding the silky smooth egg custard...

...and one bite tells you why Hong Kong locals have been lining up for this indulgent treat for over 79 years. The flaky pastry shell sets it apart from the heavier consistency of other egg tarts, giving it a much lighter finish and bite. The custard isn't overwhelmingly sweet, with its smooth texture draping the palate with an indulgent richness. One more? Absolutely. 

The buns and pastries are best paired with Honolulu HK Cafe's signature Hong Kong Style Coffee with Condensed Milk (P 130). The bold and robust nutty notes of the proprietary coffee blend are perfectly tempered by the sweetness of the condensed milk for balanced flavors. You'll probably want another cup...

The founder of the iconic cafe envisioned serving a variety of dishes, including a fusion of east-west cuisine setting it apart from traditional tea houses. By naming it after the capital of Hawaii to give it a western sounding name, diners can expect some surprising yet comforting dishes like their Baked Rice and Spaghetti. The Baked Rice with Minced Beef Bolognaise (P 298) is one of those dishes you can only find at Honolulu HK Cafe. Imagine soft and fluffy steamed white rice draped with rich bolognaise and creamy cheese, it's comfort food fresh out of the oven. And it works. Keep this dish in mind when you're feeling just a bit hung over from the previous night's adventures. 

The Baked Spaghetti with Pork Chop in Tomato Sauce (P 298) is another dish that satisfies at Honolulu HK Cafe. The mildly sweet and tart hints of the savory tomato sauce with a slab of pork chop works just as well to make your day even better.

Other Hong Kong classics include the Deep-Fried Honey Garlic Spare Ribs (P 288) and Deep-Fried Prawn with Thousand Island Sauce (P 488) packing some serious flavors for a comforting meal. Other must-try dishes include the Deep-Fried Squid with Salt and Pepper (P 488) and the popular Sweet and Sour Pork (P 288).

If you prefer a lighter savory snack, the Curry Fish Ball (P 198) should do the trick. Much larger with a finer and smoother consistency, the delicate notes of the fish balls are perfectly complemented by the bold flavors of the curry.

Wash it all down with the refreshing Yuan Yang (P 130), a blended mixed tea and coffee beverage sweetened with condensed milk or just go old-school with the nostalgic Ovaltine (P 130) with its familiar malty flavors (check out their menu below for more thirst-quenching options).

Noodles are an integral part of the traditional Hong Kong Cafe dining experience, and Honolulu HK Cafe offers a tempting selection of noodle dishes from the simple yet comforting Hong Kong Style Noodle with Fried Egg (P 198) with a choice of Luncheon Meat, Pork Chop or Chicken Chop...

...to the Stir-Fried Hong Kong Style Noodle with Pork Chop in XO Sauce (P 268) with its deeper and vibrant flavors. The variety of noodle dishes is reassuring, and you'll always find that much needed noodle fix at Honolulu HK Cafe.

Not to be missed are Honolulu HK Cafe's Hong Kong Curry in Casserole like the Beef Brisket (P 328) with fork-tender beef covered in a thick and rich curry sauce, easily one of my favorites. The complex and richly layered flavors of the dish, from the brisket to the vegetables and the curry, combine for a lavishly sumptuous dish. Other equally flavorful curry options include Chicken (P 288), Pork Chop (P 328) and Seafood (P 338). 

But if you're really hungry, Honolulu HK Cafe's Steamed Rice in Casserole are sumptuous all-in-one casserole meals guaranteed to satisfy any hefty appetite like the Steamed Rice with Chinese Sausage and Wind-Dried Meat in Casserole (P 198) with the sharp flavors of the cured meats punching through with every spoonful...

...and the Steamed Rice with Chicken and Mushroom in Casserole (P 198) with the more subtle notes of chicken complemented by the earthy and nutty hints of mushrooms. Another tasty option is the Steamed Rice with Pork Ribs in Black Bean Sauce in Casserole (P 198). 

But you can't leave just yet without trying one of Honolulu HK Cafe's popular noodle dishes, the Stirred Flat Rice Noodles with Beef (P 268). The soft flat noodles deliver a flavorful chewy bite, each one draped in a sticky sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds. The tender beef and crunchy bean sprouts complete the flavors. Other tempting noodle dishes include the Stir-Fried Noodles with Spare Ribs in Black Bean Sauce (P 268), Stirred Fried Noodles in Supreme Soya Sauce (P 238) and Stir-Fried Flat Noodles with Scrambled Egg and Shrimp (P 268).

 That's what we had at Honolulu HK Cafe that day, but you can run through the menu...

...and find even more tasty options for a light snack with coffee or tea or a heavier meal for lunch or dinner. It's an authentic taste of Hong Kong's long-established tea restaurant culture pioneered by Honolulu HK Cafe since 1940, and you can now find it here in the metro, now open at SM Aura Premier...

Honolulu HK Cafe is located at the Lower Ground Floor of SM Aura Premier, C5 Road corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City or call 886-3333 for inquiries and more information. You can also visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/honoluluhkcafeph/.

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