Minamoto Kitchoan at Ala Moana Shopping Center is a really niche Japanese oriented baked goods and collectibles store. Their items are high quality and authentic to their culture, making it worth their value. Staff was super friendly as well. These products would be a great gift choice, or for yourself to take home. I appreciate everything this store has to offer. It is located on the first floor just past the ABC Store. Thank you very much and God Bless Minamoto Kitchoan!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tammy Kurihara
Minamoto Kitchoan is a wonderful establishment for high quality Japanese Sweets. My first experience was a sweet one with the purchase of their chocolate daifuku. Me and my friends have been loving this shop ever since. My mother picked up something different for me a few days ago. The Gozenguri Rice cake. I enjoyed the mild sweetness of the Kuri (chestnuts) which are a favorite of mind along with white bean filling. Very delicate flavor that went well with my favorite Kuon matcha. ? Unfortunately unlike the great service I received with past purchases, my mother’s experience was different, she had reported to me that the salesperson was not very helpful. Too bad. But I’m very confident when I personally visit again myself, it will not be the case. I did, however, enjoy what she purchased for me and will be stopping by in the near future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
蓑田佳周
Sounds like a nice Christmas gift.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ellie Anne (loneokami)
The service I received at K. Minamoto was superb and I didn't expect anything less. The staff was extremely attentive and really knew their product... they helped me pick-out a perfect gift for my colleagues. The woman who assisted me was very helpful and pleasant and the gentleman who wrapped my gifts in the "furoshiki" did an excellent job. Everything was a little pricey, but I felt like every penny was well spent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
brent ciesliga
Really nice staff. We got the mochi and it was great, but it would have been nice to have a variety pack. For the process paid you could spend over $100 just for all the flavors and then be left with more mochi than you can eat before it starts going bad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Strawberry Mochi
cindy wong
They have baumkuchen my fav treat cake! Green tea and original flavors. Staff were kind to assist once I flagged their attention. Good souvenir to bring back home.
Myu F
The real Japanese goodies in Hawaii.This company is a well known traditional snack company in Japan.I love the cookies and peach jelly .
JaDee W.
This place is so cool. If you're into unique food experiences, this is the place for you. They had so many cool sweets and interesting flavors. Prices weren't bad either at about $4.50-5.00 per item. I got a couple things to try; most of them were peach and pretty good. I would say if you don't like mochi or jelly textured type things this might not be the best place for you. They do have some rice crackers and a couple cookie type items but for the most part it's jelly/ mochi/ items that should be frozen/ chilled. Staff was very excited for us to be there and was even more excited that we decided to purchase something. If you're feeling adventurous, go for it. Not everything was great but it was a fun experience.
Jared O.
Best manju I've ever had and the customer service was excellent!!! I wish I had bought more.
This is a high end Japanese snack or dessert shop. It's located in the middle of Ala Moana shopping mall. The items might be seasonal and they looked too pretty to eat sometime. Large selections of cakes, mochi, daifuku, baumkuchen, castella cake, etc. It's very well presented. Very classy decor. It's a chain as I have seen their other stores across US and other countries.
Lynn Kihara
High end seasonal snacks from Japan. If you're been to Japan and are looking for those flavors or treats that you miss you can get it here, but (like in Japan) these are treats and gifts that you give to others as souvenirs.
Tomi Tsukamoto
Lovely Children's Day display. The staff were friendly and helpful. Delicious, fresh treats from Japan.
Lyla D.
Have you heard the popular Japanese saying "Me de taberu Nihonjin (Japanese people eat with their eyes)"? The Japanese seem to place a lot of importance on the art of arranging food and its taste. This culinary artistry ethic appears to be on the same high level as French haute cuisine. On two recent occasions, we were tasked with getting deserts for my sister-in-law and my eldest sister's BFF to celebrate Japanese Girl's Day (Hinamatsuri). Minamoto Kitchoan came to mind as we usually pass by this Japanese confectionery while roaming around Ala Moana Center. We were drawn into the store because of its window displays, clean and organized vitrines with product representation, and collection of traditional Japanese dolls AKA ningyō. Upon entry to this store, the workers cheerfully greeted and acknowledged us. Right away, we knew both recipients would appreciate the presentation, natural fruit flavors that aren't cloyingly sweet like European, American or southeast Asian desserts, and textures of these Japanese confections. We took several minutes browsing around the store while one of the demure employees politely offered her assistance. We selected two twelve-piece boxes of white peach mochi and two five-piece boxes of sakuragoromo (sweet bean paste, mochi, and edible cherry blossom leaf encased in a Japanese-style crêpe) as our gift choices. The sales representative went to her store room to give us the freshly delivered product and reminded us to refrigerate the products since we wouldn't consume them immediately. Since we were gifting the mochi confections, we informed the sales representative that we'd advise the storage recommendation to the recipients. At purchase, the cashier gift-wrapped each box and placed them into a crisp paper tote bag. Both women gleefully appreciated our gifts, and I hope to try Minamoto Kitchoan's other seasonal or signature confections soon. We even registered for their rewards program since I know we'll be returning.
Travis N.
This place is a bit on the pricy side. 15 dorayaki for $60 doesn't feel like a good price, but the individual cost of $4 does mean the math comes out right. Cost is comparable to Big Island Candies across the way.I was able to get a new year lucky box there, and it was very good. Each item was individually wrapped, and they seem to specialize in japanese jellos, which are fruit flavored and not as heavily sweet or calorie heavy as us brands. Flavor was very good and included fruit pieces. However outside of a sale, it does make the wallet feel like crying. But a very good option if in need for higher quality omiyage, especially if the person has a nut allergy so the usual macadamia goods don't work.
Tons of great stuff!!!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Minamoto Kitchoan at Ala Moana Shopping Center is a really niche Japanese oriented baked goods and collectibles store. Their items are high quality and authentic to their culture, making it worth their value. Staff was super friendly as well. These products would be a great gift choice, or for yourself to take home. I appreciate everything this store has to offer. It is located on the first floor just past the ABC Store. Thank you very much and God Bless Minamoto Kitchoan!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Minamoto Kitchoan is a wonderful establishment for high quality Japanese Sweets. My first experience was a sweet one with the purchase of their chocolate daifuku. Me and my friends have been loving this shop ever since. My mother picked up something different for me a few days ago. The Gozenguri Rice cake. I enjoyed the mild sweetness of the Kuri (chestnuts) which are a favorite of mind along with white bean filling. Very delicate flavor that went well with my favorite Kuon matcha. ? Unfortunately unlike the great service I received with past purchases, my mother’s experience was different, she had reported to me that the salesperson was not very helpful. Too bad. But I’m very confident when I personally visit again myself, it will not be the case. I did, however, enjoy what she purchased for me and will be stopping by in the near future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Sounds like a nice Christmas gift.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service I received at K. Minamoto was superb and I didn't expect anything less. The staff was extremely attentive and really knew their product... they helped me pick-out a perfect gift for my colleagues. The woman who assisted me was very helpful and pleasant and the gentleman who wrapped my gifts in the "furoshiki" did an excellent job. Everything was a little pricey, but I felt like every penny was well spent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really nice staff. We got the mochi and it was great, but it would have been nice to have a variety pack. For the process paid you could spend over $100 just for all the flavors and then be left with more mochi than you can eat before it starts going bad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Strawberry Mochi
They have baumkuchen my fav treat cake! Green tea and original flavors. Staff were kind to assist once I flagged their attention. Good souvenir to bring back home.
The real Japanese goodies in Hawaii.This company is a well known traditional snack company in Japan.I love the cookies and peach jelly .
This place is so cool. If you're into unique food experiences, this is the place for you. They had so many cool sweets and interesting flavors. Prices weren't bad either at about $4.50-5.00 per item. I got a couple things to try; most of them were peach and pretty good. I would say if you don't like mochi or jelly textured type things this might not be the best place for you. They do have some rice crackers and a couple cookie type items but for the most part it's jelly/ mochi/ items that should be frozen/ chilled. Staff was very excited for us to be there and was even more excited that we decided to purchase something. If you're feeling adventurous, go for it. Not everything was great but it was a fun experience.
Best manju I've ever had and the customer service was excellent!!! I wish I had bought more.
Restaurantji Recommends
This is a high end Japanese snack or dessert shop. It's located in the middle of Ala Moana shopping mall. The items might be seasonal and they looked too pretty to eat sometime. Large selections of cakes, mochi, daifuku, baumkuchen, castella cake, etc. It's very well presented. Very classy decor. It's a chain as I have seen their other stores across US and other countries.
High end seasonal snacks from Japan. If you're been to Japan and are looking for those flavors or treats that you miss you can get it here, but (like in Japan) these are treats and gifts that you give to others as souvenirs.
Lovely Children's Day display. The staff were friendly and helpful. Delicious, fresh treats from Japan.
Have you heard the popular Japanese saying "Me de taberu Nihonjin (Japanese people eat with their eyes)"? The Japanese seem to place a lot of importance on the art of arranging food and its taste. This culinary artistry ethic appears to be on the same high level as French haute cuisine. On two recent occasions, we were tasked with getting deserts for my sister-in-law and my eldest sister's BFF to celebrate Japanese Girl's Day (Hinamatsuri). Minamoto Kitchoan came to mind as we usually pass by this Japanese confectionery while roaming around Ala Moana Center. We were drawn into the store because of its window displays, clean and organized vitrines with product representation, and collection of traditional Japanese dolls AKA ningyō. Upon entry to this store, the workers cheerfully greeted and acknowledged us. Right away, we knew both recipients would appreciate the presentation, natural fruit flavors that aren't cloyingly sweet like European, American or southeast Asian desserts, and textures of these Japanese confections. We took several minutes browsing around the store while one of the demure employees politely offered her assistance. We selected two twelve-piece boxes of white peach mochi and two five-piece boxes of sakuragoromo (sweet bean paste, mochi, and edible cherry blossom leaf encased in a Japanese-style crêpe) as our gift choices. The sales representative went to her store room to give us the freshly delivered product and reminded us to refrigerate the products since we wouldn't consume them immediately. Since we were gifting the mochi confections, we informed the sales representative that we'd advise the storage recommendation to the recipients. At purchase, the cashier gift-wrapped each box and placed them into a crisp paper tote bag. Both women gleefully appreciated our gifts, and I hope to try Minamoto Kitchoan's other seasonal or signature confections soon. We even registered for their rewards program since I know we'll be returning.
This place is a bit on the pricy side. 15 dorayaki for $60 doesn't feel like a good price, but the individual cost of $4 does mean the math comes out right. Cost is comparable to Big Island Candies across the way.I was able to get a new year lucky box there, and it was very good. Each item was individually wrapped, and they seem to specialize in japanese jellos, which are fruit flavored and not as heavily sweet or calorie heavy as us brands. Flavor was very good and included fruit pieces. However outside of a sale, it does make the wallet feel like crying. But a very good option if in need for higher quality omiyage, especially if the person has a nut allergy so the usual macadamia goods don't work.