Liliha Bakery

Best coco puffs in town. You have to try them to complete your Hawaii experience. The line is always long. But they are very efficient. I hardly ever waited for more than 10 minutes. They open 24 hours a day and has a diner on the side too. more

Liliha Bakery celebrates its, what, 55th anniversary this year? This is definitely an old time local-kine bakery and coffee shop that remains as ever popular and relevant today. I love the patisseries and bakeries that have opened up in and around Honolulu in recent years, but Liliha Bakery is still one of my favorites. I think the attraction is definitely their coco puffs (the cream puffs are also nice). I’m not kidding when I say the bakery probably sells thousands of these each day. They’re always busy, so expect a wait. But it’s well worth it if you have the patience. If you’re there for the puffs, and you don’t want to wait in line, keep it short by grabbing a prepackaged box of coco puffs in their freezer. I also love their cinnamon twists, pies (custard, but pumpkin during the holidays), and cakes (mmm … chantilly). If you’re feeling daring, dabble with their haupia filled malasadas. Their donuts might not have the melt-in-your-mouth texture of Krispy Kreme, but these are good ol’ style donuts. I also must recommend the coffee shop. They must have only about a dozen, or so, seats, and like the bakery there’s likely to be a line, but the fresh from the grill and buttery goodness of their menu is worth the wait. Your food is cooked in front of you on their grills. I love their Hamburger Steak, as well as their Country Style eggs scramble and their Steak and Eggs. The pancakes are also huge and delectable. My girlfriend loves their Grilled Cheese Sandwich. And most items on the menu come with a buttery dinner roll with jelly (whatever that stuff is, I want to take it home with me but its not for sale). I swear, I think their secret is the butter. When I was younger, I’d go to Liliha Bakery’s coffee shop after a night out for a meal to wind down. Here’s where the open 24-hours is really convenient (with the exception of Mondays). But the shop definitely attracts a local crowd and the old timers are great to talk story with while you’re enjoying your food. more

I've been ordering cakes from Liliha Bakery for almost ten years now and they are consistently good at what they do. Their chantily cake is pretty famous and very tasty, I might add. Their other pastries are also very good and many people recommend their cream puffs. I'm not exactly a big fan of cream puffs, so I can't say much about it. They also have a cafe/diner next to the bakery which serves very good food as well and big portions. Their butter roll with strawberry jam is a nice appetizer - very soft and melts-in-your-mouth kind of buttery. i usually order the hamburger steak when i'm at the diner. liliha bakery is great overall, but there are some downsides. after a few days, the pastries aren't that good anymore, so i would only recommend buying what you plan to eat within the next day. it's hard to find parking on most days and completely impossible on holidays and their diner menu is somewhat limited (or maybe i have been there so many times that i feel there isn't much left for me to try.) It's open 24 hrs with the exception of Monday when they're closed. very reliable if you're hungry and looking for a place to go at 2am! more

Everyone knows about the coco puffs, but have you ever tried the Haupia Chocolate cake? The bakery has a sign that says that if you enjoy haupia chocolate pie, then you have to try their cake. It’s heavenly. It’s made of the lightest chiffon cake with a layer of haupia crème in the middle, topped with chocolate dipped maraschino cherries. You have to try it – they run out of it on the weekends. more

Located in Liliha, the parking is not very big but cars are always moving quickly so with a little wait you can get parking. As you enter throught he glass doors, you notice that the area to shop is just one room big with 2 glass counters showing off the desserts. Although it does not seem like much, what attracts customers is that the desserts are always consistent. They do come out with some new things such as the haupia malasada, but a favorite is the chocolate dobash cake. The prices are very reasonable as well. I've been going here for over 30 years and it seems that the taste and flavor has always been the same. You can count on getting the same great product with great customer service. To make things for, you grab a ticket with a number and wait until your number is called. Then the servers are quick to get you what you want, total your purchase, and have you get in line where there is a single cashier set up to ring up the purchases. The place is always crowded and the employees are always smiling. It is a place I have gone to as a child and where my children go to now for great desserts. more

Even though they are well-known for their cocoa puffs, try one of their hamburgers off their grill at the counter - it's greasy and delicious - especially after a night out on the town! The pancakes are also good - but nothing beats those cocoa puffs. Makes it worth standing in line - and these are a must if you are visiting friends and relatives on the neighbor islands! more

You won't believe if I tell you this because I couldn't believe it either. This bakery is open every day 24 hours except for Tuesday (I think) and it is PACKED at all hours of the day and night. I have driven by at 8AM, 11AM, 8PM, 9PM and 11PM and that bakery is filled with people. It's crazy. I had breakfast there once and had to wait in line for their small over the counter style dining. For under $6, my Loco Moco was huge. Of course, I always pick up Coco Puffs for friends and coworkers but I haven't lately because I didn't want to stand in line. Oh yah, they don't take credit cards! more

The cocoa puffs are definitely the best on the island. I too could have one everyday. However their cakes are still awesome. They ah this rainbow guava cake that is to die for. It is like an agel food cake covered in frosting topped with a thin layer of a guava syrup. Also, all the layers in the middle are different colors. It is definitely one of my favorite cakes. Also, the cocoa puffs are a common favorite that are brought to potlucks. So if you have lived in hawaii for more than five years you've probably had one of these. more

This bakery has been around for a long time. They sell freshly baked pastries such as ecclairs, donuts and puff pastries. Many of my friends buy puff pastires filled with chocolate for the office staff or for family and friends on the neighbor islands. more

A Local Favorite more

I went here for the first time last week after someone told me about their coco puffs. He couldn't really explain what they were, just said to try one... so I ordered 2, in addition to a lilikoi malasada. The coco puff was ok but a little too rich for me. The malasada was LOADED with filling... I had to remove some because it was also just too much. Maybe it was just an off day for me. I usually live for sweets and treats. The wait was a while but at least they have a system in place (take a ticket, etc). I'll have to go there again to try their other goodies... it'll take several visits to get through their selection. more

Ever been to a potluck and saw little cream puffs with an orange frosting on top? Those were undoubtedly Coco Puffs from a little bakery in Liliha, cleverly named Liliha Bakery. Filled with chocolate pudding and topped with a chantilly frosting, Coco puffs are a popular dessert. Both fresh and frozen are available, depending on your immediate needs. Unfortunately (because they are so addictive), they aren’t cheap -- each one of these chocolate goodies will set you back 90 cents. Plus you’ll need to bring cash as credit cards are not accepted. When I went in the late afternoon, the store was very crowded an it took almost 20 minutes to stand in the order line; order my Coco puffs; stand in the payment line; and finally pick up my box. In addition to the bakery (and, yes, they do offer other desserts including great cakes), there is a counter where meals are served. I've heard the pancakes are incredible, but need to be eaten hot at the counter. more

Just like any bakery with it's sugary pastries and such, this is the bane of all who try to watch their carbs. This place even moreso because of one product--the famous coco puff. For me, i'd go one step further and say it's the mysterious buttery frosting on top of the coco puff. That stuff is so addictive that if they only sold that, i'd probably eat it like ice cream. Sure it's good when it's covering a cream puff filled w/chocolate pudding rather than cream (the coco puff) but it's so much better by itself. Whatever it frosts, whether it be their coffee cake or german chocolate cake, is catapulted to divine status. And the rest of their offerings ain't too shabby as well...especially their frozen waffles (or batter to make the waffles yourself)--they make eggos taste like cardboard (though they'd probably taste good w/the frosting). more

This is my favorite bakery for stuff that's bad for you. The Coco puffs have been a favorite for years and what many of you may not know is that their custom cakes are great. I frequently use them for my kids birthday cakes. The butter cream cake is a lot like a giant "light" buttery pound cake, its lighter than a pound cake, but you can still only eat a couple of slices... even if you're a pig like me :) hahahaha more

Lihiha bakery is a local favorite to buy pastries. It features comparable prices for many pastries. You can find cakes, bread, donuts, malasadas, and my own personal favorite of cream puffs. People come from around the island just to sample their famous cream puffs. Longs are often late, but the service is still rather fast. more

Located on Kuakini Street, this bakery always wins my tastebuds over. I always come her for the donuts, ecclairs, and puff pastry. It has been her for a very long time so its not a fancy bakery...its just so popular. Many people come here from the neighbor islands to buy puff pastries and bring them home to their families and relatives. I just enjoy their pastries and friendly service. The prices are not as high as some of the other bakeries located in central Honolulu. more

Liliha Bakery is, hands down, the best bakery on the island. The bakery is usually pretty crowded with its counter patrons and other people order cakes (or any one of the many delicious treats they serve) for special occasions. The prices are reasonable, and even if it is pricier than some other places, it is almost always well worth it. The pastries and cakes and breakfast meals they serve are delicious and mouth-watering. You must try their famous (deservedly-so) cream-puffs, which are heaven on earth! (I’m also very fond of their German chocolate cakes.) Customer service is excellent; the servers are v. friendly and fast in getting orders done. I don’t know their exact schedule, but on some days, they are open until very late (like to 2 am), so it’s a perfect and welcoming place to get a delicious midnight snack. Highly recommended! more