'āina - upscale Hawaiian food but lets talk about DOUGHNUTS!!
Boozy brunches always makes me happy. 'Aina is a perfect place for a lazy weekend morning. Generous bartenders know how to put your body and mind at easy with a proper bloody mary. But lets talk about malsadas!
What are malasadas? They are the Portuguese version of a doughnut. They are egg-sized balls of yeast, flour and butter that are deep fried and then coated with granulated sugar. There are all sorts of variations, with or without fillings.
'The folks at 'āina fill their malasadas with guava custard and coated in coconut sugar. While we associate saccharine pleasures with doughnuts and custard, these are not. The filling is perfectly sharp to compliment the soft pouffy (sp?) pillows of pleasure these doughnuts bring.
Yes, their spam musubi "ssam style" is excellent. Their taro french toast is awesome. But for today, I don't care about anything other than the fresh malasadas in front me. Perfect for Fat Tuesday or any day for that matter.
Nota Bene: Make the malasadas as your first order. Also, given the crowds, it may take a while to get through the door. I brought a book to enjoy under the morning sun. Your patience will be rewarded.
'āina Dogpatch
900 22nd Street
San Francisco, CA 94017
+1.415.814.3815
ainasf.com
Kent is a management consultant who has spent years traveling for work. His refuge is looking for the perfect meal so that he can reproduce it at home with his wife and friends.
