The moment the plate hits the table at YogurStory, you’re staring at something that looks more like a dessert than breakfast — a stack of violet-hued pancakes draped in a glossy ube sauce that pools at the edges. It’s the kind of dish that stops conversation cold, phones come out, and suddenly everyone at the brunch table wants a bite.
Ube presence on U.S. menus grew 231% over four years.
That stat comes from menu-tracking data cited in a recent feature on the purple yam’s rise, and it tracks with what you’ll see across Hawaii right now: ube pancakes have become a genuine breakfast phenomenon. This article covers what ube actually is (it’s not sweet potato), the two restaurants doing it best in the islands, and how to make a solid version in your own kitchen — all grounded in what’s actually on the ground here.
Ube pancakes are a real Hawaiian breakfast category now, not a one-off novelty. You’ll find the best versions at YogurStory in Honolulu and Guieb Café across O’ahu — both worth the wait. The catch: you need to time it right, because weekend lines build fast. If you can’t make it to Hawaii, a DIY version using ube halaya and extract gets you 80% of the way there in about 30 minutes.
Breakfast lovers
Foodie travelers
Families
Whether you’re planning a Hawaii trip or just curious about the purple pancakes flooding your feed, the guide below walks through the ingredient, the top restaurant stops, and a home recipe that actually works.
| Block | What It Offers | Highlight | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| What Is Ube? | Ingredient background — flavor, nutrition, cultural roots | Sweet, nutty, vanilla-like taste; 231% menu growth | Understanding the craze |
| YogurStory | Ube Pancake Stack & Smothered version in Honolulu | Fluffy violet pancakes with velvety ube sauce | Brunch in Honolulu |
| Guieb Café | Ube Mascarpone Pancakes across multiple locations | $17 stack topped with fresh berries | Accessible island-wide stops |
| Making at Home | DIY recipe using ube halaya and ube extract | 30 minutes start to finish | Home cooks and meal preppers |
What Is Ube?
Ube is a purple yam — Dioscorea alata, pronounced “oo-beh” — native to the Philippines and cultivated there for thousands of years. It’s not a purple sweet potato, though the two get confused constantly. In appearance and use, ube sits closer to taro: a starchy root vegetable with a mild, sweet, nutty flavor that carries subtle vanilla notes. Most people encounter it in desserts — halayang ube (a sweet jam), ice cream, cakes, and bread rolls — but its leap onto breakfast menus is more recent.
Annual ube production in the Philippines, with more than 1.7 million kg exported in 2025 — primarily to the U.S.
The numbers help explain what you’re seeing on menus. Annual ube production in the Philippines sits around 14 million kilograms, with more than 1.7 million exported in 2025, mostly to the United States. That supply feeds a demand spike that’s pushed ube onto menus at Starbucks (Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato, Iced Ube Coconut Cream Shaken Espresso), Trader Joe’s (Ube Mochi Pancake & Waffle Mix, Ube Ice Cream), and Birch Benders (Ube Mochi Pancake & Waffle Mix). As of the most recent surveys, 27% of Americans have heard of ube and 13% have tried it — numbers that are climbing fast.
Nutritionally, 100 grams of whole ube delivers 120 calories, 1 gram of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and no sugar, plus calcium, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A. The deep purple color comes from anthocyanins, antioxidants linked to lower blood pressure and reduced heart disease risk. Worth noting: prepared ube desserts and pancakes often add sugar and processed carbs that cut into those benefits, so the whole root and the finished dish are different beasts.
Fresh ube is most available at Filipino markets or Asian grocery stores in the U.S., and Filipino bakeries and restaurants tend to offer the widest range of ube-based dishes. That’s where Hawaii’s advantage comes in — the state’s strong Filipino culinary influence means ube shows up in ways you won’t find on the mainland.
YogurStory — Honolulu’s Ube Pancake Destination
YogurStory sits at 745 Ke’eaumoku Street in Honolulu, and it’s the spot most responsible for putting ube pancakes on Hawaii’s breakfast radar. Step inside and you’re met with a clean, spacious layout that was recently renovated — large windows pull in natural light, and the tables are spaced wide enough that you don’t feel like you’re eating next to strangers. The vibe is polished but relaxed, the kind of place where brunch stretches into early afternoon.
The Ube Pancake Stack is the house favorite — a pile of fluffy violet pancakes crowned with a glossy ube sauce that’s sweet but balanced. The Smothered version takes that same base and doubles down on the sauce, coating the whole stack in a velvety layer that’s rich without being cloying. Both versions deliver the mild, nutty, vanilla-tinged flavor that defines ube, and the texture is noticeably lighter than standard buttermilk pancakes.
Beyond ube, the menu runs deep. The Eggs Benedict features perfectly poached eggs on thick-cut English muffins with a generous drizzle of silky hollandaise. The Prime Rib Loco Moco layers tender slices of prime rib over rice with a fried egg and savory mushroom gravy. The Short Ribs Loco Moco swaps in marinated galbi-style beef short ribs. Portions are large across the board, and the value holds up well — especially given the food quality.
Go early on a weekday to avoid the long wait times that build by 9 a.m. on weekends. YogurStory has its own parking lot out front, which is rare in this part of Honolulu — but it fills fast. Consider a rideshare if you’re staying in Waikiki. The tuxedo mocha and refillable black coffee are both worth ordering on the side.
The service is consistently described as warm and impressively organized, even during the morning rush. The crowd draws both longtime locals and visitors, which gives the place a steady, welcoming energy. If you’re only making one ube pancake stop on O’ahu, this is the one.
Guieb Café — Ube Mascarpone Pancakes Across O’ahu and Beyond
Guieb Café takes a different approach. Their ube mascarpone pancakes come in at $17, topped with a signature ube mascarpone sauce and fresh berries. The flavor is creamier and slightly more indulgent than YogurStory’s version, thanks to the mascarpone, and the berries add a tart counterpoint that cuts through the sweetness.
The café is family-owned and operated by the Guieb family. Ernesto P. Guieb Jr. started a catering business in 2006 that eventually evolved into the café concept. General manager Precious Guieb and her brother Ean, the back-of-house manager, run day-to-day operations alongside their parents. The menu is built around local-style comfort food and homestyle meals — the kind of cooking that feels familiar the first time you try it.
The first Guieb Café opened in Kalihi in February 2020, less than a month before COVID-19 forced widespread shutdowns. The family credits strong community support for getting through that first year. A second location followed in Wahiawa in spring 2021 (the largest store in the group), a third in ‘Aiea in fall 2022, and a fourth in Las Vegas in March 2025. The Las Vegas location is bigger than Kalihi but smaller than Wahiawa.
The menu also includes the signature “Fruity Pebbles French toast,” which was created in the family kitchen before making its way onto the menu. The café celebrated its five-year anniversary with specials including $11 meat jun plates and $12 firecracker chicken karaage plates. Future plans include launching catering at the Las Vegas location and possibly adding dinner service there.
Making Ube Pancakes at Home
If you can’t make it to Hawaii — or you want to recreate the experience once you’re back — ube pancakes are surprisingly doable in a home kitchen. The key is using both ube halaya (the sweet purple yam jam) and ube extract, which together deliver the color and flavor that define the dish. Coconut milk works well as a substitute for regular milk and actually enhances the ube’s natural notes.
Whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup ube powder, 4 tablespoons sugar, 4 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Set aside. Make sure your baking powder is fresh — old baking powder is the most common reason pancakes turn out dense.
In a separate bowl, whisk 2 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk (or coconut milk for a deeper flavor), 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1-2 teaspoons ube extract, and 2-3 tablespoons ube halaya until smooth. Separating the egg white, whipping it until fluffy, and folding it in at the end yields an even lighter pancake — worth the extra step if you have the time.
Pour the wet mixture into the flour mixture and stir gently until just combined. A few lumps are fine — overmixing develops gluten and makes the pancakes tough. The batter should be thick but pourable. If it looks too stiff, add a splash more milk.
Heat a pan or griddle over medium heat and add a mix of butter and oil (butter alone burns). Pour about 1/2 cup batter per pancake. Cook 2 to 3 minutes per side — flip when bubbles appear on the surface and the edges turn golden, then cook another 1 to 2 minutes on the second side. Flip only once.
Serve warm with honey, maple syrup, or an ube ganache (heat 1/2 cup heavy cream until simmering, pour over 1 cup white chocolate chips, let sit 1-2 minutes, whisk smooth, add 1/2 teaspoon ube extract). Other topping options: macapuno strings, grated mild cheddar, coconut jam, condensed milk drizzle, toasted coconut flakes, or whipped cream.
Cooked pancakes keep up to 3 days in the fridge or freeze well with parchment paper between layers. Reheat in a toaster, air fryer, or pan. The ganache reheats in 10-15 seconds in the microwave. For meal prep, make a double batch on Sunday and you’ve got breakfast sorted through midweek.
Finding Ube Pancakes in Hawaii — Practical Tips
The main challenge with ube pancakes in Hawaii isn’t finding them — it’s timing them right. Both YogurStory and Guieb Café draw real crowds, and weekend waits at peak hours can easily hit 45 minutes to an hour. Here’s what to know before you go.
YogurStory has its own parking lot, which is unusual for this part of Honolulu, but it fills by 8:30 a.m. on weekends. Guieb Café’s Wahiawa location is the largest and tends to have the shortest waits. The Kalihi and ‘Aiea locations are smaller and fill up faster.
When to Go
Weekdays are your best bet at both spots. Aim for 7:30-8:30 a.m. arrival if you want to walk in without a wait. Weekend brunch crowds start building around 9 a.m. and peak between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. If you do end up waiting, both restaurants handle the rush efficiently — the staff at both places are consistently described as organized and warm even under pressure.
How to Order
Portions are generous at both spots. The ube pancake stacks at YogurStory are easily shareable between two people, especially if you’re also ordering eggs or a loco moco. At Guieb Café, the $17 ube mascarpone pancakes are a full meal on their own. If you’re visiting with kids who might not love the ube flavor, both restaurants have strong non-ube options — YogurStory’s Eggs Benedict and Guieb Café’s fried chicken and waffles are solid backups.
Island Coverage
Both restaurants are on O’ahu. If you’re staying in Waikiki, YogurStory is the shorter drive (about 10 minutes). If you’re exploring central or north O’ahu, Guieb Café’s Wahiawa location is conveniently placed. The ‘Aiea location works well if you’re heading toward the Pearl Harbor area. None of the research covers ube pancake spots on the neighbor islands — if you’re visiting Maui, Kaua’i, or the Big Island, you’ll likely need to go the DIY route.
Before You Go — Ube Pancakes in Hawaii
What does ube taste like?
Mild, sweet, and nutty with subtle vanilla undertones. It’s closer to taro than sweet potato — earthy but not heavy, and noticeably less sweet than you’d expect from the vibrant purple color.
Are ube pancakes very sweet?
The pancakes themselves are moderately sweet. The ube sauce or ganache adds more sweetness, but the base pancake isn’t dessert-level. At YogurStory, the Smothered version is sweeter than the Stack — the sauce is generous but balanced.
Can I find ube pancakes on Maui or the Big Island?
The research doesn’t identify specific ube pancake restaurants on the neighbor islands. Your best bet is checking Filipino bakeries or Asian grocery stores for fresh ube pancakes, or making them yourself with ube halaya and extract.
What’s the difference between ube and purple sweet potato?
They’re different plants entirely. Ube (Dioscorea alata) is a yam; purple sweet potato is a sweet potato. Ube has a milder, more vanilla-like flavor and a denser texture. Purple sweet potato is sweeter and moister. The two are not interchangeable in recipes.
Is ube healthy?
Whole ube provides fiber, vitamins, and anthocyanins with no sugar. But ube pancakes add flour, sugar, and often butter or cream — they’re a breakfast treat, not a health food. The ube itself brings some nutritional value to the table, but the overall dish sits firmly in “occasional indulgence” territory.
Why Ube Pancakes Matter
What makes ube pancakes worth tracking down isn’t just the color or the novelty — it’s that they represent something real about Hawaii’s food culture. The islands have always been a place where Filipino, Japanese, Portuguese, and Hawaiian culinary traditions blend into something that doesn’t exist anywhere else. Ube pancakes are a recent chapter in that story, and they’re a good one. If you’re planning a trip to O’ahu, check out our guide to Hawaii’s best plate lunch spots for more of what makes eating here different from anywhere else.
References
RD.com. “What Is Ube?” Reader’s Digest, 2025. ↗
DailyWise. “We Found the Dreamiest Purple Ube Pancakes You’ll Ever Taste Right Here in Hawaii.” DailyWise, 2025. ↗
Aloha State Daily. “Guieb Family Take Their Popular Ube Mascarpone Pancakes and Fruity Pebbles French Toast to the Ninth Island.” Aloha State Daily, 2025. ↗
Philstar. “Breakfast Bonding Session: How to Make Ube Pancake.” Philstar, 2026. ↗
For more on Hawaii’s food scene, browse our guides to Hawaii’s best-kept culinary secrets and the irresistible charm of haupia pie. If you’re planning a luau during your trip, our luau etiquette guide covers the dishes you’ll want to try and the customs worth knowing before you go.
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