Two Ladies Kitchen

What to expect

This is a small takeout counter on Kīlauea Avenue in downtown Hilo, not a café, so expect to order, pay, and leave with a box. Nora Uchida founded it in 1996 with her aunt and mother. Longtime workers Emerald Tuares and Clyde Ebanez later bought it and kept the original recipes, adding some new flavors. The case holds about 30 kinds of mochi, from fruit flavors like locally grown pohā to marshmallow, brownie, and Oreo, plus baked manju. Everything is made from scratch, and the line is often longer than the visit itself.

Know before you go

Order ahead

Strawberry mochi needs to be ordered in advance, and the shop often sells out, so call (808) 961-4766 before you go.

Hours

Hawaiʻi Magazine’s 2024 profile lists 10am to 4pm, Tuesday through Saturday, with Sundays and Mondays closed. Confirm by phone, since hours can change.

Eat it fast

Mochi is perishable, and the strawberry mochi won’t last two days. Don’t refrigerate it, because it turns hard, so plan to eat it the day you buy it.

Payment

Reviews describe it as cash only, so bring cash.

Parking

Street parking downtown can be hard to find, and there’s usually a line, so budget extra time.