The 16 Must-Visit Bakeries in O‘ahu

Paalaa Kai is a bakery renowned for its standout creation. Don’t get sidetracked by the other items in the display — simply order the snow puffy, a pastry that’s almost as airy as cotton candy, filled with cold custard and finished with a drizzle of chocolate ganache and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. For the best textural experience, enjoy it chilled.

A must-try at this Filipino bakery, originally from California, is the ube cheese pandesal. Its exterior is coated in crunchy breadcrumbs, just shy of burnt, surrounding a fluffy, vibrant-purple bun that hides a creamy cheese center. While other bakeries have their own takes, none can match Valerio’s.

Some of the finest cakes on O‘ahu are served right inside a bowling alley. Highlights at the Alley Restaurant include the zesty lemon crunch cake and two variations of chocolate cake: the airy Mama Miya’s, featuring chocolate chiffon and mousse, and the indulgent Chocolate Insanity, which boasts six layers of rich cake and frosting. Chef Shane Masutani, a former member of the Diamond Head Market & Grill team, brings some familiar treats, but Alley offers enough distinctive desserts to justify a dedicated visit.

With over 30 years of history, Lee’s Bakery is renowned for its custard pies, selling nearly 3,000 of them each Thanksgiving. Before the pandemic, the bakery did not accept preorders, leading to hours-long waits outside (including instances of customers camping overnight), but now you can preorder a pie. For the best experience, grab one right after 8 a.m., when they come fresh from the oven. Even when chilled, the pie remains delightful — featuring a silky smooth custard, just firm enough for slicing, nestled in a flaky crust.

Five years ago, Liliha Bakery launched poi mochi donuts, which are fluffy yet chewy rings that have nearly reached the popularity of the shop’s long-time best-seller, coco puffs — cream puffs filled with chocolate pudding and topped with chantilly frosting. Liliha also features a variety of beloved traditional Hawaiian bakery treats, including ensaimadas, doughnuts, and filled malassadas.

Artizen, a bakery and café created by the husband-and-wife duo Michelle Karr Ueoka and Wade Ueoka of MW Restaurant, has recently relocated to a luxury car showroom. Whether you’re shopping for a flashy new vehicle or not, be sure to stop by Artizen’s pastry counter, which regularly features a rotating selection of cakes, including Michelle’s creative takes on local favorites like strawberry Jell-O chiffon cake and the nostalgic tricolor rainbow cake. Be sure to try the chocolate buttermilk cake as well.

This Hokkaido-based bakery offers a self-serve experience. Choose from an array of sweet and savory delights, including an pan (a baked bun filled with sweetened azuki paste) and curry pan (a doughnut stuffed with Japanese beef curry). The shokupan bread is as soft as marshmallows, while mochi treats like black sesame mochi doughnuts and chocolate mochi bread provide a satisfying chew.

This bakery specializes in Japanese cakes that are light, airy, and less sweet than traditional Western desserts. Top picks include the classic Japanese strawberry shortcake—made with layers of sponge cake, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries—and Mont Blanc, a dome of chestnut whipped cream on chestnut paste, resting atop an almond sponge. But don’t overlook the delightful croissant sandwiches and jelly drinks.

This Japanese dessert shop is renowned for having the finest strawberry roll in town—a fluffy sponge cake wrapped around a cloud of whipped cream and fresh strawberries. It’s so airy that one slice may leave you wanting more; getting the entire roll is the way to go. While La Palme D’Or excels with traditional treats, Kulu Kulu is known for its creative offerings, such as the playful ‘loco moco,’ which mimics the classic Hawaiian dish, featuring a cream puff as the hamburger patty, caramel sauce as the gravy, and mango jelly and whipped cream fashioned into a sunny-side-up egg.

Located within Waikiki’s International Marketplace, this cafe serves as a branch of B. Patisserie, the renowned San Francisco bakery known for popularizing kouign amann in the U.S. Discover their layered, caramelized sugar pastries in various flavors such as black sesame, liliko‘i bostock, and a rich chocolate-banana-almond croissant.

Fernando Paez, affectionately known as Nanding, arrived in Honolulu from the Philippines in 1996, initially selling his baked goods at bus stops. Today, Nanding’s Spanish rolls are so popular that they can be found in 7-Elevens throughout the state. However, for the best experience, it's recommended to buy them fresh from the bakery, where the soft rolls are served warm, allowing the buttery, salty-sweet centers to ooze through the brown paper bag.

Diamond Head Market is a cherished bakery in Honolulu, attracting locals for its blueberry cream cheese scones, which resemble muffin tops, and the lemon crunch cake. This cake features soft layers of cake infused with lemon curd and is topped with crunchy toffee bits, providing a delightful mix of textures and a balance of sweet and tart flavors.

Owner Chris Sy, noted in the Alinea cookbook for his commitment to excellence while working alongside Grant Achatz at Trio, brings that same meticulous approach to the breads and pastries at Breadshop. Alongside a selection of traditional country breads and croissants, he incorporates local Hawaiian flavors into creations like furikake focaccia and a croissant filled with spinach and taegu (candied codfish). Pastries are offered in curated boxes, but during the pandemic, all orders must be placed online in advance.

Local fruits from Hawai‘i are sadly scarce in Honolulu's bakeries, but Harley Tunac aims to change that. Together with her fiancé, Jason Chow, a butcher and Dinogo Young Gun, they met at the now-closed Aina in San Francisco and returned to Honolulu at the end of 2019 to launch a butcher shop and bakery. After the pandemic shifted their plans, they now offer meats and pastries at Kaimuki Superette on Sundays. Chow's creations feature in Tunac's savory offerings, like Kualoa Ranch ham and cheddar pastries, as well as house-made pork floss and scallion Danish. Check their Instagram for the weekly menu, which may include Manoa Chocolate croissants, kumquat doughnut twists, or pirie mango buns.

When visiting Pipeline, make sure to try a malassada, freshly fried to order. It's light and fluffy yet substantial, especially delightful when coated in li hing, a tangy plum powder. If you have room for more, indulge in the cake bomb, a mini Bundt cake available in flavors like strawberry guava. Pipeline also offers an outstanding pumpkin crunch dessert, featuring a pecan crumble crust layered with pumpkin filling and a generous topping of whipped cream.

This beloved local bakery in Kailua features the highly sought-after spinach shokupan, a soft, green-flecked Japanese sandwich bread that often sells out by early morning. Another must-try is the mochi an pan, a delightful bun filled with sweet azuki paste and chewy mochi. For a savory option, the salmon and spinach roll topped with cheese is a delicious choice.