Ruby Restaurant and Bakery

119 N Hotel Street,
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 523-0801

IslandGuy was off so we had to try this place without him.

APOO: My friend, who just came back from Baltimore to visit, told me about this place yesterday. They were rambling on about the delicious juk and the crunchiness of the chinese donuts while I sat quietly but drooling with total jealousy that they get to eat two of my favorite Hong Kong breakfast items on a work day! My cravings lead Death Metal and I to try Ruby for this Friday's Luncheon.
DMSC: It's a small restaurant that seats maybe 30 at the most. In the front there's a case with all kinds of baked goods. While we were having lunch, there was a guy frosting a cake in the back of the restaurant.
APOO: The restaurant had a great selection of bakery items, all of which are inexpensive. I saw my favorite paper wrapped sponge cake and chocolate swiss roll. The restaurant also had baked pineapple bao, red bean bao, and lotus bao. I came back a couple weeks later to try the bao and they were deliciously authentic.
APOO: These are the chinese donuts, or "yao tiu". I ordered this with the preserved egg and beef juk (photo below). It usually comes with pork but since I am trying to cut my pork eating, I told them to sub with beef instead. See, it's great knowing how to speak Chinese because you can tailor the menu to your tastes.
APOO: So awesome being able to eat breakfast during lunch time. More awesome eating juk with the yao liu. I have had better juk, in San Fran and Hong Kong. However, it brought back memories of how much joy a simple breakfast can be.
DMSC: I had the kau yuk, which was good. It had cabbage underneath. The texture was right and the flavor was good. It was served with jasmine rice on the side.