For years, Liliha Bakery has been a famous Hawaii landmark. This little bakery and restaurant nestled in the heart of Honolulu’s Liliha neighborhood is famous for coco puffs, but there’s lots of other great food to try here too. And now, Liliha Bakery Waikiki is bringing its coco puffs and other delicious treats to Hawaii’s most bustling area.
Where Is Liliha Bakery Waikiki
Liliha Bakery has five locations on Oahu. Its Waikiki location is on the 3rd floor of the International Marketplace. This is a great spot for such an in-demand restaurant. After all, International Marketplace is in the heart of Waikiki, right on Kalakaua Avenue.
And the restaurant has lots of indoor and outdoor space, allowing it to serve even more hungry visitors and locals who are after coco puffs, Loco Mocos, and other enticing entrees for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
What Should I Order?
Wondering what to order when you visit this iconic restaurant? Definitely get a coco puff, the bakery’s most iconic offering.
Liliha Bakery Coco Puff
Every Liliha Bakery – including the one in Waikiki – is a pastry machine when it comes to pumping out thousands of those chocolate-filled puffs – easily selling 7,000 in a single day. The oven’s fired up by 2 a.m. and doesn’t stop working till 10 p.m.
Bite down through each savory layer of the coco puff – the chantilly frosting, the flaky outer crust, and finally, the creamy chocolate inside – and you’ll know why so many have gone cuckoo for Liliha coco puffs.
It also made a television debut on Hawaii Five-0, perched on the hood of a car in the opening scene as Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim) explains to Danno (Scott Caan) what a coco puff is. But what he doesn’t mention is that it was really the chantilly cake that first made Liliha Bakery known in the community. And it wasn’t until someone had the great idea 40 years ago to add a dab of chantilly frosting to the coco puff, making it an instant hit…how’s that for a little family secret?
Are you a Hawaii 5-0 fan? Check out a Hawaii 5-0 location tour here!
Other Pastries
Liliha is a full-service bakery, so you aren’t limited to coco puffs. Cream puffs of all flavors line the shelf – green tea is a popular option for those who aren’t in the mood for chocolate.
Liliha Bakery Waikiki also serves up fresh hot malasadas, an array of donut flavors (including poi mochi donuts), cupcakes, scones, and other pastries. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the place to be.
And you don’t have to dine in to enjoy their pastries. Their counter service allows you to take a sweet treat to go. However, you can order a pastry along with your sit-down meal if you want.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Despite the name, there is more to Liliha Bakery in Waikiki than just their bakery. This is a full-service restaurant with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a bar. You could come here three times a day and have a different experience every time.
In the morning, you can enjoy pancakes, waffles, and savory items like steak & eggs or a Loco Moco (a Hawaii staple dish).
Lunch is a great time to grab a BLT, burger, or classic Hawaii plate lunch. And then come in later for cocktails, wine, or beer, along with great dinner options like Prime Rib, lobster tail, or fried chicken.
On our trips to Liliha Bakery, we usually get the sweetbread french toast, but tuna melts are also one of our favorites.
Those are some top options at the Waikiki Liliha bakery. Other locations have different options, and alcohol isn’t available at them all.
A Fresh Take on a Classic Restaurant
It’s not just those delightful coco puffs and yummy meals that have had customers coming back for the past 70-plus years. It’s the old-school dining experience that has given Liliha a unique 1950s ambiance found nowhere else in modern-day Hawaii.
The Original
At the original Liliha location, a bar-style seating area allows customers to get a raised view of the decadent dishes that are whipped up before them – bacon, omelets, and pancakes racing to the crispy finish line.
A spectrum of hungry customers hop on and off those bar stools every day; some return like clockwork, ordering the same dishes time and time again. You’ll see old-timers catching up over a cup of coffee, visiting families excited to try their first coco puff, and kids digging in their pockets for spare change to buy a sugary after-school treat.
Owners agree that it’s this loyal foodie following that has made Liliha Bakery what it is today.
Waitresses in hairnets and high-waisted aprons whiz past each other, taking orders as quickly as the cook fries up a sunny-side-up. And you know the cook’s good when his apron is still crisp and clean by late afternoon.
The orderly, old-fashioned style of cooking always leaves customers feeling a bit nostalgic, back at home in Mom’s kitchen, where the subtle sizzles and traces of flavors in the air can instantly salivate anyone’s taste buds.
Its History
The family-run business was started in 1950 by Roy and Koo Takakuwa, not as a bakery but as a tiny retail outlet that sold loaves of bread. The popularity of their baked goods outgrew the tiny store, prompting them to move to their current spot on Kuakini Street and to expand their selection of sweets and food items. When Roy passed away in 1985, their son, William, took over. In 2008, the family passed on their legacy to local entrepreneur Peter Kim, who’s devoted to carrying on the bakery tradition and preserving its character.
Liliha Bakery Waikiki
The Waikiki location of Liliha Bakery is a little shinier and more modern than the original locale. There’s the bar, and the cafe-style outdoor eating area. And the design has some chic elements. But it’s still not stiff, and it stays loyal to the most distinct parts of the original. A welcoming environment, classic food choices, and a diner-style experience that so many people love.
Liliha Bakery: Waikiki and Other Locations
Liliha Bakery Waikiki is open daily in the International Marketplace.
You can also find a Liliha Bakery nearby inside the Macy’s at Ala Moana Center. Other locations include one on Nimitz Highway, one in Pearl City, and, of course, the original in the Liliha neighborhood on North Kuakini Street.
Whichever location you visit, be prepared to wait in line. The wait’s always worth it, though, so have some patience and enjoy your time here.
Check out Liliha Bakery next time you’re in town and see for yourself why it’s such an integral part of our local community. With so many locations in Waikiki and Honolulu, Liliha Bakery is easy to add to your Hawaii vacation itinerary.
