Last Updated on May 23, 2023 by admin
While you’re in Hawaii, you’ll definitely be spending time at the beach. But while you’re in Hawaii, you should also make time to try some of the island’s best food. Specifically, you should visit Leonard’s Bakery! The bakery specializes in making malasadas, which are Portuguese-style donuts. The bakery is world-famous, with celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Dwayne Johnson attesting to the deliciousness of the baked goods at Leonard’s Bakery. We recently visited Leonard’s Bakery on our trip to Hawaii, and we thought the malasadas were out-of-this world. We’re so glad we left our resort in search of these delicious donuts. In this post, we’ll share our full review of Leonard’s Bakery in Honolulu.
Be sure to see all our articles about things to do in Hawaii!
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How to Get to Leonard’s Bakery
Address: 933 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816
Leonard’s Bakery is located in Honolulu on the island of Oahu.
The bakery is located just north of the Ala Wai Canal. If you’re staying on Waikiki Beach, it’s about a 1.7 to 2 mile walk or drive. If you drive, make sure you follow all parking regulations. The parking lot at Leonard’s Bakery is very small, and you can get ticketed if you park on the street and block a driveway. (It’s fine to park on the street, just make sure you’re parked in a legal area.)
I didn’t have a rental car the day I went to Leonard’s Bakery, so I took a ride service to the bakery and back to my resort in Waikiki. It was about a 10-minute drive and $15 each way, but it was worth it to get to the Leonard’s Bakery and try their legendary malasadas!
Leonard’s Bakery Food Truck Locations
Leonard’s Bakery also has several Malasada Food Trucks, which are called Malasadamobiles™. If you can’t make it to their main bakery, there may be a food truck closer to you.
They are typically located at the following locations (subject to change):
- Waikele Shopping Center
- Pearlridge Shopping Center
- Koko Marina Shopping Center
- Windward Mall Shopping Center
Check the current locations and hours of the food trucks.
Tip: If you’re looking for flights to Hawaii, I recommend checking the SkyScanner website to see the best prices for your dates of travel!
| See our Hawaii itinerary to help plan your trip! |
What are Malasadas?
Malasadas are Portuguese-style yeast-leavened donuts. They don’t have holes in the middle. Instead, they are large rounds of delicious fried dough. They are slightly crispy on the outside, and warm and fluffy on the inside.
Malasadas are especially popular in the Portuguese island of São Miguel. The name malasada translates to poorly cooked because of the crisp exterior and lightly cooked interior.
About Leonard’s Bakery
Leonard’s Bakery was opened in 1952 by Leonard Rego, whose grandparents immigrated from Portugal to Hawaii. He and his wife, Margaret, decided to bake malasadas one day for a Portuguese holiday at the suggestion of Leonard’s mother. It turns out that they were a huge hit, and they became a regular staple at the bakery. You can read the full timeline of the history of Leonard’s Bakery, which is also posted outside of the main bakery’s window.
Tip: Take a look at the Go City Oahu all-inclusive pass. You’ll be able to save money by bundling multiple attractions on the island!
What to Order at Leonard’s Bakery
Leonard’s Bakery creates lots of amazing baked goods. When we visited, we tried the malasadas and the malasada puffs (which are malasadas filled with flavored creams).
I interviewed both of my Uber drives about their favorite things to eat at Leonard’s Bakery, and they both said the original (plain sugar) malasada was their favorite. I ordered one original malasada, and I have to say it was one of our favorites also!
We also tried the cinnamon sugar and li hing malasadas at Leonard’s Bakery, which were both delicious.
Because we love trying new foods, we decided to also order one of each of the malasada puffs listed on their menu. We literally ordered one of each flavor for the ultimate taste test. (For the record, we shared them with our family!)
When we visited Leonard’s Bakery, the malasada puff flavors were:
- Custard
- Dobash (chocolate)
- Haupia (coconut)
- Macadamia Nut
- Guava
- Featured Flavor (lilikoi when we visited)
After much deliberation, our favorite items from Leonard’s Bakery were the original malasada, the guava malasada puff, the dobash malasada puff, and the haupia malasada puff. My mouth is watering just thinking of them!
You can also check out the full menu at Leonard’s Bakery.
How Much Do the Malasadas Cost at Leonard’s Bakery?
When we visited Leonard’s Bakery, the cost of a malasada was $1.50 and a malasada puff was $1.95. We tried one of each flavor, and we paid less than $20 to try them all!
You can also order malasadas online and have them shipped to any of the Hawaiian Islands, Washington, Oregon, California, & Nevada. Just check out their online store. We think a box of malasadas would make for a great souvenir to a loved one back home!
How Long Does it Take to Order at Leonard’s Bakery?
When I visited Leonard’s Bakery in the early morning, the line was short with just a few people ahead of me. However, both Uber drivers told me that the line can be extremely long. They said that sometimes the wait is over an hour long! My recommendation would be to arrive super-early, if possible, to try to avoid the crowds.
If you’re planning on making a large order at the Kapahulu Avenue store, you can call ahead for pick-up and skip the line. You’ll need to order at least two dozen malasadas, and you’ll have to place the order at least one hour in advance.
Our Adventure at Leonard’s Bakery
I woke up really early one morning to bring back a box of Leonard’s malasadas to my family at our resort. (One advantage of traveling with a toddler is early wake-ups!)
I arrived to Leonard’s Bakery a bit before 7am on a weekday. There were people standing outside, but that was not the line. They were waiting for their number to be called to pick-up their malasadas. Inside, there were just a few people ahead of me.
I ordered a box of malasadas and waited outside for about 15 minutes. The malasadas were made fresh-to-order. I brought the warm box home to my family, barely succumbing to the urge of sampling them on the way back to the hotel. When I arrived back at our hotel, we quickly devoured the entire box. (If you have a longer commute, you can choose to purchase an insulated bag to help keep them warm.)
Overall, it took me about an hour to take a ride share to the bakery, order at the bakery, and return back to our resort in Waikiki. I was lucky that there was hardly any line when I went, so it could take you a lot longer if you visit Leonard’s Bakery at a different time!
Where Else Can You Find Malasadas in Oahu?
Malasadas are a super-popular fried pastry in Hawaii. We saw them being sold in plenty of places. We ordered malasadas from the Wiki Wiki Market at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort. They were also delicious!
Here’s a few more places you can find them:
Best Hotels in Honolulu
We recommend staying in Waikiki when you visit Honolulu. You’ll be steps away from the beach, and you’ll have a dazzling array of restaurants and shops within walking distance.
| See our full review of our stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort here! |
Luxury Hotels
- Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort: When we visited Waikiki in 2022, we stayed at the Ali’i Tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The Ali’i Tower is the most luxurious tower on the resort property, and it has its own private pool, lounge, and check-in. The Ali’i Tower has ocean-view and oceanfront rooms, and it’s just steps away from the beach and lagoon. We wrote a full review of our stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village here.
- Halekulani Hotel: This luxury 5-star hotel has a beautiful pool overlooking Waikiki with a mosaic floor of 1.2 million pieces of glass tiles. The hotel also offers daily surfing demonstrations.
- The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort: This is another 5-star located right on the beach with two pool options. (Plus poolside cabanas!)
Moderately Priced Hotels
- Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel: This hotel is located within walking distance of the beach, as well as other attractions such as the Honolulu Zoo and Kapahulu Avenue.
- Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach: Waikiki Beach is just a 3-minute walk from this hotel. This hotel also offers daily complimentary breakfast.
Budget Hotels
- Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki Hotel: This hotel is located just a few blocks away from Waikiki Beach. There’s also a small outdoor pool.
- Ilima Hotel: This hotel is just a couple of blocks from the beach, and it has free parking.
What to Pack for a Trip to Hawaii
When you visit Hawaii, expect to spend a lot of time at the beaches! Here’s a few things I recommend bringing:
- Portable Charger: We like this cell phone charger because the cord is embedded. (That’s one less thing to search for in your bag!) This charger will let you charge your phone when you’re out exploring. You don’t want to run out of battery while you’re on the go, because you don’t want to miss a photo opportunity.
- Waterproof Phone Case: Protect your belongings with a waterproof phone case.
- Quick Dry Towel: This is perfect for hikes where you wouldn’t want to pack a bulky towel from the hotel. It’s easy to throw into a beach bag.
- Flotation Strap: If you’re going to be snorkeling or surfing, and you want to bring a camera or GoPro, you should make sure you have a flotation strap. That way, if you drop your equipment, it won’t sink to the bottom of the ocean.
- Water Bottle: Stay hydrated while you’re out in the sun! We like this water bottle because it’s insulated and will keep your water cooler for longer.
- Vacation Hat: Protect your face from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat.
- GoPro: A GoPro will let you take amazing underwater footage. We highly recommend getting one if you want excellent underwater photos and videos!
(Click on any of the above images for current pricing and shipping information.)
Summary: Our Visit to Leonard’s Bakery in Honolulu
If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, we recommend stopping by Leonard’s for some freshly fried malasadas! We were glad we ordered a box on our last day in Hawaii. We ordered one of every type of malasada on the menu so that we could do a proper taste test. Our favorite malasadas at Leonard’s Bakery were: the original malasada, the guava malasada puff, the dobash malasada puff, and the haupia malasada puff. Enjoy!
If you enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in the following articles:
- 53 Things to Do in Honolulu, Hawaii
- The Best Hawaii Itinerary for Your Trip to Oahu
- 22 Foods You Have to Try While in Hawaii
- Full Guide to Waikiki Beach
- 21 Things to Do in Honolulu with Kids
- Review of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
- Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon: A Hidden Gem in Waikiki
- How to Spend a Day at the Dole Pineapple Plantation
- The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden: A Lush Tropical Garden in Hawaii
- Full Review of the Luau at the Royal Hawaiian
- The International Market Place: An Outdoor Shopping Mall in Waikiki
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please see individual websites embedded in this post for the most current trip-planning information.
