Chip and Cookie

Too bad this place is closed now. Good news is that you can still buy them online (and also buy in the raw dough format if you’d like).

Ack. Two saturdays ago I went by there and noticed that they took the signs down. Wally is done over there. They relocated to the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, second floor, in Waikiki. Not sure if that’s gonna be any better for his business. I’m sure it’s muy expensive overhead and I don’t see it doing brisk business over there either. Good luck Wally, you’re still one of a kind.
**Same day update: Double-​ack! Now I found out from the Chip & Cookie FB page that he’s closing up shop at Royal Hawaiian as well on Saturday August 14^th. I heard Wally is going to be there to thank everyone who supported the business. All merchandise is 50% off and cookies are 20% off. It figured — that 2^nd floor of the RH Shopping Center is like a ghost town. Hang in there Wally!

Bite-​sized bits of FUN are what these cookies are. Got a ½ pound mixed bag of chocolate chip, the flavor of the month (chocolate chip peanut butter) and the butterscotch pecan (I think my favorite). These tiny cookies are deceiving because while they’re small that empty bag sneaks up on you fairly quickly. However, these treats are made with only natural ingredients with ZERO trans fat or hydrogenated oil, unlike the Honolulu Cookie Company. (Was that a shameless jab at that overrated establishment?) Needless to say this is fun store and I love the fact that Wally’s other passion for kids’ literacy is a significant part of his business.
Now onto the review of the store/​customer service, deserving of 2 stars. I really wish that 1) this place was closer to me and I could go more often and 2) that Wally was there so I could meet the undoubtedly more pleasant employee. My friend and I came here and were greeted with an apathetic, seemingly uninterested girl working behind the counter who didn’t even offer us a sample. I had to ask for them. And when I asked for the breakdown of the prices she somehow subsided her irritability and told me the price of the bag I wanted. Finally, in my mixed bag I realized (only when I got home and opened them) that she gave me the wrong cookies – the chocolate peanut butter cookies instead of the oatmeal raisin ones that I asked for. Unfortunately her attitude was a huge downer for what I’m assuming is usually a fun, upbeat experience in this store, especially with what everyone says about Wally himself. I’ll give this spot another chance and HOPE to meet the genius behind these little desserts, but today, poor customer service is the way the cookie crumbled…

I frequent this place everytime I’m in Hawaii. I will pick up a mixed bag of cookies a day. This is Wally Amos’s place, «Famous Amos», and there is a good chance that you’ll see him behind the counter baking cookies. They have a wide variety of cookies but I usually get the macadamian nut cookies, they are pretty damn good. It is right across from the Lani Kai Juice bar which is another fav.

I surely would love to meet Famous Amos, but this review is about COOKIES — not the magnate that sells them.
I found these to be too greasy and lacking in something that the store bought Famous Amos have. Too bad. They’re pretty pricey at $ 3+ for ¼ lbs. Well it is Kailua after all.

Some establishments are brought down by poor customer service, some are brought up by good service. Few are defined and exalted by its people and owners like Chip and Cookies. Don’t believe me? Take your or your relative’s kids down to the store on a Saturday and you’ll be sure to meet the owner, Mr. Wally «Famous» Amos.
In all my years on Hawaii, I’ve never met a more personable and friendly person. He personally greets all the customers and shows a genuine interest in everyone. It’s infectious. Wally Amos is a local institution, without a doubt.
On Saturday’s you can see him promoting his pet project: literacy. Every week Wally hosts a children’s book reading, right in the store. We stopped in there with my friends’ 3 and 6 year old kids and the reading was the highlight of their day, for sure. Wally is so good at holding their attention (as well as the adults) with his delivery and exuberance. It’s impossible to not enjoy yourself in his store.
One day, when the kids are grown up and we’re walking around the Kailua Mega-​Mall and Spaceport we’ll all remember fondly, «Remember when Wally Amos used to read to us in his little cookie shop?» Go get your memories now.
Oh, and the cookies are awesome! Especially the toffee/​pecan.

I was walking along Kailua Road and was drawn in by the smell of cookies. Now I don’t know if they were actively baking any cookies, but the sweet aroma pulled me in. It smelt so good. The girl at the counter seemed friendly enough and she offered samples. Oooh, samples! But I stood firm and only tried one of each cookie. They were good, not the best, but good. But then again, I haven’t met a cookie I didn’t like. We bought some cookies to share at home, but we ended up eating them all before we got home! Next time I will get the bag sealed! And just so I don’t give into temptation, I make sure I walk the other side of the street so I can’t run in and get some samples.

Quite possibly the BEST cookies you will ever eat.
After coming back home I had to bring some back for friends…10 1lbs bags and did not hear one complaint. The cookies are freshly made and have the perfect blend of cookie and chocolate. I am a fan of the plain chocolate chip.

Spent a week relaxing in Hawaii drivng in old Kailua town, when we passed a cookie store off the main commercial strip. We decided to stop and upon walking in, a nice friendly man greeting us in the old Hawaiian style of ‘ohana (family). As it turned out to be the original Famous Amos, Wally Amos, I enjoyed a nice conversation, munching on samples of his cookies, and talking about life. The cookies were smaller but quite delicious and the staff were very helpful. They do weigh by the pound but allow you to mix and match the cookies anyway you want. Butterscotch Chocolate Chip was tasty as well as Chocolate Chip Pecan.
They also had some nice souvenirs (clothing, books, etc) and there is also a way to contribute to a non-​profit established to help reading and literacy in schools
Overall it was a great way to enjoy part of the afternoon, enjoy the wisdom and knowledge of a seasoned local and still enjoying the old style Hawaii I knew growing up.

For a quick cookie fix this place is hard to beat…
Yes, they are on the tiny side but that’s what makes them so good. You can pop them in your mouth and not feel that guilty. l Unless of course you can’t just have 1 and finish off ½ a pound in one sitting. I’ve heard this feat was done a few times in the past.
They even sell the raw dough mixture but I’d rather have someone else bake them for me.

I dont really like these cookies. they need more salt or something. its a cute store and famous amos was there in his watermelon hat when we bought the cookies. i wont be going back. but the smells are good when you walk by.

As I approached Chip and Cookie, I saw a tall, thin, elderly black man wearing a red top hat walking out of the store. I thought to myself «That’s kind of weird.» Then I saw the same black man and top hat on the posters that were all over the store and windows. OK, duh! I get it, that’s the owner. Little did I know that I had just seen Famous Amos! Christ, I didn’t even know he was still alive or even a real person! lol I have to say I am star struck =D
Other than that, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed by the cookies despite the fact that this place was featured on Food Network and is owned by none other than Famous Amos himself. I walked into the cookie store, and I saw all these small little cookies before me. Ok, cool, where’s the big ones??? None, but now that I know whose store this is it makes sense as Famous Amos doesn’t make big cookies. He’s famous for his small, bite sized chocolate chip cookies. Still, it would have been nice if they made big, chewy ones like Mrs. Fields. I ended up getting a ¼ lb. of the Butterscotch Chip with Pecans and the plain Chocolate Chip cookies for just $ 2 and some change. Honestly, they were just «OK» for me. They were not the soft chewy kind. Maybe because I went there a bit late, but the cookies were a bit hard, and they definitely did not taste fresh and warm out of the oven as other reviewers mentioned. However, I still think it’s cool to have seen Famous Amos, and tried his fresh made cookies. That’s good enough for me :-)

Five stars, really? All the cookies taste like the Famous Amos ones except warmer. It makes sense because Wally Amos owns the store, but I just don’t think the cookies are out of this world. I’m a fan of the big, chewy, soft, undercooked cookie that’s why.
Three stars for a great value at around $ 2.50 a quarter pound. These cookies are kind of dinky, but I don’t have high expectations for them – especially in Hawaii.

These are the best darn little cookies I’ve ever eaten. During the week we visited my aunt and uncle in Kailua, we ate about 2 lbs of them. Then we took another pound with us. Then we went online and ordered 2 lbs to be sent to my aunt and uncle as a thank you gift. They also thought the cookies were delicious. We still talk about how much we miss eating those cookies. YUM!

I met Famous Amos. I didn’t realize it until I saw the poster on the wall, but I did! Okay, why I thought it was cool to meet the creator of Famous Amos is beyond me, but I did. He was really nice. He was handing out cookies as we walked into the store.
They gave lots of samples and I started buying all sorts of delicious cookies. Evil, evil, evil! Luckily they ship, so living far away doesn’t mean I will have to go without.

if you like famous amos, but want a slightly chewier cookie, visit chip and cookie! the chocolate chip with macadamia was my favorite (but you can sample all of them!)
note: they sell the cookies by weight!

I give the smell alone 3 stars. The place is run by Famous Amos of Famous Amos cookies. It’s such a cute store with not only cookies, but some fun children’s books and notions to boot. You can order the cookies by the pound at the store. I couldn’t decide which of the five flavors of cookies (chocolate chip, butterscotch chip with pecans, chocolate chip with pecans, chocolate chip with macademia nuts and oatmeal raisin) so I got a pound of each one. Even after eating them, I still don’t know which I like best. But I must admit, for ambrosia so sweet, the cookies were very affordable. I think the experience would only have been better had I been able to meet Famous Amos himself.

Ever heard of Famous Amos? Did you know they kicked Amos out for wanting to use better ingredients? Did you know he started another store in Kailua selling his delectable cookies?
Yeah, they are good. I made the mistake of trying them, now I am forced to trek over to the store and feed my habit. The cookies are disarmingly good, they don’t look like much, but trust me when I say eat with caution.
Chip and Cookie is all about reading, so check out their books, shirts or toys too. They also have reading time, so bring your keiki for a real treat.