The Best Bakery in Oahu 2023

Welcome fellow Oahu tourist!

A trip to Oahu is incomplete without trying the decadent baked goods on the island’s many local bakeries. Forget plain cakes, scones, and biscuits; Oahu’s bakeries incorporate classic Hawaiian flavors in their pastry, like lilikoi (passion fruit), pineapple, poi, and more. 

Some of Oahu’s bakeries have been operating for decades, having become institutions locals love and frequent on the island. 

My boyfriend has a major sweet tooth, and from wandering Oahu’s streets, we’ve tried a lot of their freshly baked specialties. 

From the best Hawaiian malasadas, donuts, and cream puffs to savory bakes, we’ve tried them all. To make it easier for you during your visit to this gorgeous island, I’ve rounded up some of our top recommendations here in this article!

So let’s get started on exploring the best bakeries in Oahu!

Leonard’s Bakery – Best Cake Bakery in Oahu

Leonard’s is an Oahu favorite, family-run bakery that’s been around since 1952. Their iconic pink boxes are a staple in Hawaiian households, filled with hot and fresh malasadas – Portuguese fried dough coated in powdered sugar. 

There’s always a big line outside Leonard’s storefront location, so they have a few food trucks around Oahu serving their freshly baked goods. Catch the trucks outside Oahu’s shopping centers like Waikele, Pearlridge, and Koko Marina, and get your fill of sweets without waiting in line. 

Their malasadas come with various delicious fillings like custard, chocolate, haupia (coconut cream), macadamia, and a seasonal flavor of the month, all coated in cinnamon sugar or li hing (dried plum) powder. 

Their classic flavors, and crowds of locals outside this bakery, prove that Leonard’s is the best bakery in Oahu.

• They have other great items like Pao Doce Bread, pastries, coffee cake, pies, and savory wraps. 
• You can get the fried dough without any sugar dusting on request from the bakery. 
• A dozen malasadas cost nearly $21. 

Address: 933 Kapahulu Ave Kalanianaole Hwy/Lunalilo Home Road Intersection, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.

Liliha Bakery – Best Japanese Bakery in Oahu

With several locations in Oahu, Liliha Bakery has been a local favorite for 65 years for its excellent bakery plus diner-style breakfasts. They’re usually crowded during the day, but the service is quick, and a table clears up soon. 

Liliha is most famous for its delectable cream and coco puffs, filled with custard cream and matcha (Japanese green tea) fillings. Also, try their range of fried pastries like lilikoi and haupia malasadas, poi-flavored mochi, and croissant donuts – all baked fresh and perfectly sweet. 

Liliha Bakery serves breakfast favorites like the original loco moco, Portuguese sausage with eggs, and Mahi Mahi with eggs, which are super delicious and filling. 

We love Liliha Bakery for its homely baked goods and flavors, and you will, too, after trying their confectionery.

• Their service is quick, and the waitstaff is accommodating. 
• They also serve delicious lunch and dinner. 

Address: 515 N Kuakini St, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.

Ted’s Bakery – Best Bakery North Shore Oahu

You’ll find Ted’s Bakery tucked away on Sunset Beach on Oahu’s North Shore. However, the far-off location doesn’t stop locals and tourists from coming here for delicious desserts and savory breakfast options. 

Ted’s is most famous for its Chocolate Haupia Pie with rich, dark chocolate custard, coconut pudding filling, and whipped topping in place of cream. The dessert is so iconic that the bakery sells its packaged version to-go.

Other great baked items include the range of cream pies, pineapple macadamia nut cheesecake, and glazed donuts. Also, try their warm breakfasts like the garlic shrimp plate, loco moco, and omelet fried rice. 

The baked classics at Ted’s never disappoint, which is why they’re the best bakery in North Shore Oahu.

• The bakery is in a beautiful area with breathtaking views of Sunset Beach.
• You can get baked goods to-go or dine in at the bakery’s small dining area.

Address: Address: 59-024 Kamehameha Hwy, Sunset Beach, Oahu, HI. 

Kamehameha Bakery

What looks like a small, unassuming bakery from the outside is an Oahu favorite spot for poi-filled donuts and malasadas. Operating since 1978, Kamehameha Bakery is famous for the delicious purple poi filling of its malasadas and other baked goods. 

We became big fans of their baked items after a local introduced us some years back. Also, the bakery is never too crowded, and you can get piping hot, fresh Malasadas within minutes of arriving. 

They have a variety of baked goods, so try the Taro rolls, haupia malasada, apple fritters, chantilly rolls, and glazed donuts. Their dough is fluffy and chewy, like biting into a rich cloud!

Whether it’s your first time in Oahu or the fiftieth, a stop at Kamehameha bakery is a must. 

• Kamehameha Bakery has reasonable prices, and the service is friendly and quick. 
• The bakery is in an industrial area, with many good food spots nearby.
• There’s parking available outside the bakery. 

Address: 1284 Kalani St, D106 City Square Shopping Center, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.

Pipelines Bakeshop & Creamery 

A walk down Waialae Avenue in Honolulu reveals lots of great eateries and bakeshops, but Pipelines Bakeshop & Creamery is the one you want to walk into (and never leave.) Opened in 2015, their pastry chef experiments with homely comfort flavors like chocolate, haupia, and fruits with an elevated touch.

Although they’re famous for freshly baked malasadas, their homemade ice cream had us sold – rich, creamy, and chock-full of baked mix-ins like cookies, brownies, and caramel toffee. 

Try their Malafrozada ice cream flavor in a scoop, or get the best of both worlds with an ice-cream-filled malasada. My boyfriend also tried their passion fruit ice cream bar, which tasted so fresh and creamy.

You’ll fall in love with Pipelines’ desserts and make it your go-to sweet dessert spot in Oahu.

• They also sell ice cream in pints and as cakes. 
• Parking is tricky outside the bakery, so it’s best to walk here instead.
• They ship the malasadas nationwide. 

Address: 3632 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.

Wrapping Up: The Best Bakery in Oahu

Oahu’s bakeries prepare baked goods in large quantities daily for the crowds of tourists and locals to consume. Their baked items stay fresh for days, so you can pack these with you and fly them home to the family. 

You can find authentic Hawaiian delicacies in every bakery, with fresh fruit flavors like pineapple, passion fruit, strawberry, and dried powders like matcha and plum incorporated in most items. 

Whether you want a hearty breakfast, dessert, or snack, the best bakeries in Oahu have you covered!

Last Updated on February 7, 2023 by Brigitte