Desserts That Carry You Off to Cloud Nine

Brothers Junichiro and Ryojiro Tsuchiya have brought Sakura Restaurant from Waimanalo on Olomana Golf Course to Waialae Avenue, and fans of the establishment will be happy to know that the food is still just as good and the desserts are even better!

Ryojiro makes his own version of whipped cheesecake, and that makes for a tasty Chocolate Cheesecake ($6). The cheesecake also comes in Berry ($7) and Caramel ($6).

The house-made cheese-cake sits atop a bed of cheesecake crust that Ryojiro also makes in-house.

According to Junichiro, who serves as general manager, the cheesecake has been a popular item on the menu for many years.

Because the whipped cheesecake is so popular, Ryojiro decided to add it between two slices of French toast to make Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast ($9.95). Slices of fresh strawberries sit among the whipped cheesecake, and the French toast slices make it easy to eat.

With four heaping helpings on each plate, this is one dessert you’ll definitely want to share with friends. In fact, Junichiro says that young adults especially enjoy this dish.

“We have a happy hour, and during happy hour they drink and then they eat this.”

It’s not hard to see why patrons find this dish so appealing. You really do get the best of both worlds: warm freshly-made French toast with cooled whipped cheesecake.

Matcha Green Tea Tiramisu ($7) is served with four pieces of sweet potato tempura and azuki bean cream.

“It’s very different,” Junichiro says. “It’s a tiramisu style, but with a green tea base. The azuki beans go well with the green tea.”

He also says to dip the sweet potato tempura into the tiramisu and azuki bean cream.

The ensemble is topped with a traditional Kyoto-style brown sugar syrup.

Each dessert is a hearty helping of sweetness, which makes all of it great for sharing. And in a world where food is the foundation for great conversations, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sakura Restaurant

3008 Waialae Ave., Honolulu
259-7100
Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (lunch), 5 p.m. – Midnight (dinner and late night) Sunday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (lunch), 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. (dinner and late night)
Closed Mondays