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Writer's pictureNathanael Bueno

Hitting all the right buttons at the Button Up Cafe


Many people may not understand the concept of brunch. Well, here to set the record straight is the Button Up Cafe. This cute, casual eatery, resting alongside the Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City, offers a drool-worthy spectrum of delicious meals, from breakfast to lunch options. 


This location was opened in February 2016 and remains a busy spot for those looking to grab a bite (or three). The owner of Button Up Cafe, Brian Park, aimed to create a menu of substance and variety with a mix of Korean, American, and Hawaiian foods. Every dish the Ka Mana‘o team ordered was served with a generous portion and eye-drooling presentation that the Button Up Cafe is mainly known for.





If revenge is a dish best served bold, then order one of their monolithic French Toast desserts. Towered over on a plate that wishes it was sturdier, the Stuffed Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast serves a gluttonous amount of sweetness that will have the heavens reconsider you for committing such sinful greed. It is topped with a malicious amount of powdered sugar, whipped cream, and graham crackers, with only fresh strawberries to compensate for the processed indulgence. This dish is definitely a vengeance on your own body’s capacity. 


Our photographer, Tayshia, ordered the Stuffed Nutella Cheesecake French Toast with a side of Ube Ice Cream. “The French toast was my favorite to eat! It was unique how they stuffed the French toast with Nutella because I never had it before like that. I liked that it was a big portion for an affordable price. Then eating it with the ube ice cream together made it an even better experience to eat,” she adds.


Not only does the mouth eat, but the eyes, too. The presentation of the French toast is so bold and commanding, it could send transmission signals to the taste buds. Our graphic designer, Yolene, also ordered the Nutella iteration of the French toast, and she says, “The flavor of the cheesecake mixed with the Nutella was delicious. The proportions were perfect and they give you a lot of food!”





Glaring back at me from across the table were two eggs stranded in a sea of gravy poured over layers of savoriness. The loco moco plate ordered by our social media coordinator, Angel, was a delicious Hawaiian classic that the whole table wanted their hands on. “I thought it was good. [It] was a big plate, maybe not so worth $20, but it was still satisfying to eat. The gravy was superb,” she says. 


Our staff writer, Aiden, ordered the Poutine Fries, which was a delicious reminder of the endless variations of fries that can be enjoyed. “The fries did an excellent job staying true to their Canadian roots whilst also incorporating the spicy sriracha mayo, a welcome local twist!” he says. Another savory dish that stole the spotlight. “The dish proclaimed an ensemble of savory flavors, resulting in a melty mountain of gravy, cheese, and spicy mayo generously spilled onto the fries,” he adds.


There’s nothing more of a hassle than making breakfast and having to eat it, too. That’s why a breakfast sandwich is the most convenient solution, getting all the bites and flavors in at once. Our graphic designer, Jasmine, ordered the Breakfast Ciabatta Sandwich with applewood bacon, which had manageable layers that were perfect for convenient mouthfuls. “The mixture of provolone and applewood bacon within the ciabatta bread slices is worth savoring,” she says. 


The best part about Button Up Cafe is the restaurant size. It’s a pretty small dining space, which makes for an ideal dining experience to enjoy with those you care for most and perfectly intimate to catch up on gossip for the week without a distracting environment. With food that tastes as good as it looks, the Button Up Cafe is another space that many people would soon call a classic. There’s no doubt you have got to get your butt on down to the Button Up Cafe.



Button Up Cafe Hours:

Mondays: Closed

Tuesday-Sunday

8:00 AM - 1:30 PM.

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