Two soft serve spots opened at Ala Moana. So let's compare

One's luxe, the other's in a grocery store. Which should you get?

By: Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Oct 23, 2018
: kelli@frolichawaii.com : @kellishiromabraiotta

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I was scrolling through my Instagram feed last month when I spotted kawaii pictures of a new soft serve at Ala Moana Center. The shop: Aloha Confectionery, on the third floor just past Ann Taylor on your way to Target. 

Aloha Confectionery opened in September.

A few days later another soft serve popped up on my Instagram. This one was also at Ala Moana, inside Foodland Farms at HI Steaks.

The Fruity Pebbles milk soft serve is a permanent feature at HI Steaks.

Game on! I set out on a quest to see which soft serve was better. Aloha Confectionery's is around $8 if you get the most popular and expensive option, which comes with your choice of soft serve (milk tea, fresh whole milk or swirl), a waffle cone in the color of your choice, assorted toppings (chocolate garnishes, marshmallows and more) and the bakery’s signature chocolate-dipped shortbread cookie. 

The HI Steaks soft serve is more reasonably priced at just over $5. This one comes in a plastic cup — 5 to 6 ounces of Fruity Pebbles milk soft serve topped with colorful crushed bits of Fruity Pebbles cereal.

The winner? Watch the video. But I’ll give you a big hint: I would definitely spend $8 on the Aloha Confectionery soft serve again. 

Aloha Confectionery's milk tea / fresh whole milk swirl in a pink waffle cone with various toppings.

Here are some facts about this new shop’s soft serve:

  • Toppings, shortbread and other items are made from scratch, like most of the other treats in the bakery
  • The fresh whole milk flavor is similar to vanilla
  • All waffle cones taste the same (they have a slight cinnamon flavor) — just the colors are different
  • Toppings like petite chocolate sticks and marshmallows change daily — it all depends on the staff’s preference, so you probably won’t get the exact same creation twice
  • Aloha Cookie soft serve, which comes topped with a chocolate-dipped shortbread cookie, is the most popular option. Shortbread cookie flavors include lilikoi, blueberry and vanilla
  • There’s a small chocolate malt ball at the bottom of each cone so you won’t have to worry about leakage — no matter how hot it is outside.

Aloha Confectionery
1450 Ala Moana Blvd. 
Ala Moana Center
Instagram: @alohaconfectionery