11 Sakura Treats to Try During Cherry Blossom Season in Honolulu

While Hawai‘i’s cherry blossoms are winding down now, sakura season in Japan begins in March. The adorable pink flowers herald spring and draw great crowds for hanami, or flower viewing, a time to picnic with loved ones under the fleeting blooms. To celebrate the season, eateries here are serving limited-time sakura treats that capture the salty, sweet, floral flavor of the cherry blossom.

Asato Family Shop

Sakura sherbet with strawberry jam ($6 scoop, $11.99 pint), matcha and strawberry sakura shave ice (part of the $58 tasting menu)

Two sakura specials will appear on March 23: Sakura sherbet with strawberry jam will be on the scoop menu at Asatos Waikīkī and sold in pints at the downtown Asato Family Shop. Matcha and strawberry sakura shave ice will be available as part of the three-course dessert tasting menu at Asatos Waikīkī (reservations required). They’ll be there for a week or while supplies last.

Asato Family Shop, 1306 Pali Highway, Downtown, and Asatos Waikīkī, Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach, 2424 Kalākaua Ave., Suite 113, Waikīkī, asatofamilyshop.com, @asatofamily, @asatoswaikiki

Photo: Andrea Lee

Dell’s Kitchen & Bakery

Sakura li hing mui cream soda ($8 with vanilla ice cream, $5 without)

Through April, Dell’s is serving up a cream soda mixed with housemade sakura and li hing mui syrups. The li hing comes out stronger, but you can still taste the sakura’s signature salty-sweet flavor. Salted cherry blossoms are placed in the drink.

1110 McCully St., Mō‘ili‘ili, dellskitchenandbakery.com, @dellskitchenandbakery

Photo: Andrea Lee

K. Minamoto

Sakura goromo ($4.80), sakura waffle cookie ($4.10), sakura mochi ($4.20)

The sakura goromo (pancake) and waffle cookie are springtime specials (while supplies last). The goromo essentially wraps up the parts of a sakura mochi—red bean, salted cherry blossom leaf and mochi—in a light pancake. The waffle cookie has a slight floral aftertaste from its sakura flavoring. Though sakura mochi is available year-round, it’s currently sold out after the Girls’ Day rush. Enter your phone number to earn points and get $10 off once you reach 100 points.

Ala Moana Center Level 1, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana, and Kāhala Mall, 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Kāhala, kminamotohawaii.com, @kminamotohawaii

Photo: Courtesy of Kulu Kulu

Kulu Kulu

Sakura cheesecake ($6.75), sakura strawberry mousse ($6.95), sakura peach shortcake ($6.95)

Kulu Kulu has three special cakes in March. The crust and azuki beans round out the sweetness of the sakura-flavored cheesecake. The shortcake is layered with sakura cream and peach jelly. The cherry blossom-flavored mousse has a fresh strawberry compote center.

Eaton Square, 438 Hobron Lane, Suite 102, Waikīkī, kulukulucake.com, @kulukulucake

Photo: Andrea Lee

La Palme d’Or

Sakura panna cotta ($7.50)

La Palme dresses up a mildly sweet and creamy panna cotta with sakura jelly that contains cherry blossom petals. This flavor is available year-round, but since it’s popular, it can sell out.

Ala Moana Center Level 2, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana, lapalmedorhawaii.com, @lapalmedor_hawaii

Photo: Andrea Lee

Matcha Café Maiko

Sakura soft serve ($7.30)

A flavor I look forward to every March, the sakura soft serve perfectly blends the subtle floral sweetness with a delicately creamy and refreshing base. You can get it in a cone or cup—if you get the cone, eat it fast since it melts quickly. Don’t forget to show your Hawai‘i ID for the 8% kama‘āina discount.

2310 Kūhiō Ave., #143, Waikīkī, matchacafe-maiko.com, @matchastand_maiko

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Andrea Lee is the digital editor of HONOLULU Magazine.