I've had Lee's famous custard pies and custard pumpkin pies and they are assuredly creamy, smooth perfection. But today I tried their mochi cakes, 2-inch rounds of mochi encrusted with pastry and piping hot from the oven! Oh my, I have a new favorite dessert! Light and delicious and not too sweet, the consistency of this delectable is a winner! Woo hoo! read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - Mochi cake - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Custard pies are the best! It was nice that the employees get to have Thanksgiving off but sad for us, so we went to get our pies early! They were delicious! read more

Four stars because I am in love with just one slice, or even one bite of Lee's peach-pear pie! More slices of their pies, and I may just bump this up to five stars! I've had this place bookmarked during my first few months living on island. More than two years later, I finally trekked here all for one reason--Pi Day! Note that I haven't even tried any of their bestsellers (you gotta phone in your order a day in advance; learned that the hard way), that I've only had one slice (I was too full to get a second slice, otherwise...), and that I've only visited Lee's once. Imagine if I sank my teeth onto a slice of their custard pie, ate more of that peach-pear pie, and made multiple trips! Yes, just one bite of that pie was already enough to serve as my inspiration to write this review. In short--I love Lee's pies! I'm no expert baker and I'm surely not a pie person (somehow, 3.14 is the only day I really think of pie), but I imagine there are two components of a pie that are make or break--the FILLING and the CRUST. As the peach-pear pie was readily available on the morning of Pi Day for me to purchase, I assumed it wasn't popular enough to require phone reservations. Boy, was I wrong, and the crust of this pie had an amazing flavor and texture! Words fail, but I can say that if the crust for this pie is mind blowing, I can only imagine how the "phone order" pies taste! Off the top of my head, custard and peach pies require phone orders. I can't recall what other flavors also require phone orders. I was exhausted from working a night shift, followed by morning rush hour traffic to reach Chinatown and Lee's, so I didn't snap a photo of the "phone order" menu. The last two years, I frequented another local pie shop for my Pi Day tradition. I may have found a new traditional spot! Though, the former location is great for innovative flavors, better parking, and more convenient location. Lee's is like the grandmother of pies; the other location is like her modern, creative grandchild. Hands down, I will return...maybe not during a morning commute though! I am also debating on joining the local tradition of lining up at Lee's well before sunrise to pick up a custard pie next Thanksgiving just for the experience and to impress my family and friends on the next Thanksgiving feast. Despite the lack of parking, or the traffic, or the mildly disorganized method of serving customers in line (may I suggest a "ticket number" method? Be assertive or customers will cut you in line haha!), I absolutely LOVE pie from Lee's Bakery. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - Braved morning rush hour traffic for some pie on Pi Day 2019! - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This place is legit-make sure to call and place your order in advance. They are always busy- but it's worth the drive to downtown

=== 1. VERDICT/VALUE Tucked away in the constant shuffle that is Chinatown, Lee's is the place to come for good buns, great pies, and cheap breakfast bentos! === 2. FOOD So much has already been said about the goodness that is Lee's so I'll stick to the key points this Thanksgiving season: - Call ahead to reserve a pie! - Why? On Thanksgiving, the crazy wait starts the day before, goes through the night, and on 2017, only died down around 3:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day. - If you like light-tasting egg tarts, you're going to love their custard pie! - If you like pumpkin pie, you're going to like the custard-like texture of the pumpkin that doesn't taste too sweet and has just a hint of cinnamon - nothing overpowering! - Quality doesn't come cheap, but these pies are worth every bite... - Most fruit pies are $13.50 (blueberry is $16); custard is $14.50. === 3. SERVICE It's a takeout counter, so service is decent and fast for that; speaking English works; speaking Cantonese is better. === 4. ATMOSPHERE You can't sit back and enjoy any pastries in a place that the 80's probably forgot to take with it. It's standing room only while you peruse the pasties and place your order. There's no number system so pay attention to the traffic and approach the pastry bar for goodness when it's your turn! Parking is interesting - you may find street parking on Maunakea, or you might have to use the city parking garage across from Lin's Leis. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - Pumpkin Pie ($13.50): egg-tart like consistency with a hint of cinnamon - awesome! - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Okay, I'm a fan and a believer! Saw reviews about Lee's and wanted to surprise my family with pies for Thanksgiving. The line was nuts and people were waiting over two hours. So bad idea for trying to go to a bakery that is acclaimed for the best custard pie on the island. I went back on Christmas day, found no line and was able to get a custard and pumpkin custard pie. The custard: silky, perfectly sweet but not overly, crust was firm but flaky, held its consistency even after a day and a half. They do take preorders as they can run out with their popularity. Can't wait to try other flavors. read more

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excellent custard pie! it's so good, the only custard pie I eat. It's definitely worth a walk into Chinatown.

The auntie was very sweet when we called in 5 custard pies to-go. It was last minute and we asked for it to be ready in 30 mins. Not only were we greeted with a warm smile, our pies were equally just as warm. They have THE BEST custard pies, we're from the Big Island and we made it a must to grab some before heading back home. Also if you're looking for a quick treat their Hot Dog Bun and Ham & Cheese Buns were a delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

The best custard pies fresh outta the oven and ready to sell after 8am or 9am call first to check and to reserve them! also the long johns is a must y'all won't regret it read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - Just a pic for my post - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a takeout bakery with fantastic pies. The lady at the counter is very sweet. Take cash. They accept credit cards but charge a fee for it. read more

For so many years, on Thanksgiving day I watch the news to witness all these people standing in a long line from 4 am to get pies for this special day. How can a pie be so good that people were willing to waste their holiday and stand in line for pies. So I went on a mission to find these pies but also get 8 people's opinions on the pumpkin, custard and pumpkin/custard combo. I bought one of each pie, divided them and delivered it to 8 different households to give me their vote. The owners had a solid system of taking your order. Only phone number required so they have your contact information and won't mix up on names. Genius. They were very helpful as I explained what taste testing I was conducting. So the votes are in from 8 parties: 6 votes for custard 1 vote for pumpkin 1 vote for the crust Heard going in the early morning for warm custard will set off you to have the best day. So there you have it. I did the Thanksgiving pies taste challenge. Winning Pie is Custard! read more

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The last time I was here the pies were about $13.50 each and now they're $15. I'm not complaining about the price I just need to come more often! Because I couldn't decide on the pumpkin or custard I got the pumpkin custard combo! As a bonus it just came out of the oven! If more people at my house at custard I would have gotten that one. I don't want to be super piggy and eat the whole pie alone. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - pumpline custard pie - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We got lucky, they just had a batch of custard pies out of the oven... Can't beat it, soooo yummy! This is the best I've had. Creamy custardy with a not too thick crust! Hopefully you can get a fresh one. If you in the neighborhood or if you want you can call ahead to have them hold one for you! A lot of the time you go there they are sold out of the custard pies. They are a small shop next to "Golden Place Seafood Restaurant" [also know for their $2.69 dim sum plates]. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - The best custard pie - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Wow! First time trying here. All I can say, Hong Kong Bun is ONOLICIOUS. Reminds me of a Spanish roll but bigger. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Best custard pies EVER! Yummers! This is a small place that can get busy, esp during the holidays. But so ono! Go get one and enjoy a slice or two (guarantee 2 slices per person!). read more

I came here to buy a pie. Though I should have left with more than a pie. I actually called ahead to place an order to pickup a pie since it is preferred. It was a Sunday so parking on the street was a plenty. Clarification. It was Sunday morning and parking on the street was a plenty. read more

Best custard pies on Oahu! Very creamy and large size. Service is great! The owners are nice and pleasant. Parking is tough to find, price is on the higher side, but it is worth it. read more

Best custard pie in town! Custards - pumpkin is awesome too. Should pre/order that. Also get a variety of other pies.

There's an on-going debate as to which custard pie on Oahu is the best... As an experiment, for a potluck, I bought three pies from three different bakeries. To make a long story short, Lee's won unanimously for its taste (sweet & rich), texture (smooth and thick), and crust (crisp and tasty)! It's no wonder why there is such a long line for pies during the holidays! PARKING: free street parking in metered stalls on Sundays, holidays, and after 6:00pm. There are also municipal lots. ENVIRONMENT: this is Honolulu's Chinatown AND a hole-in-the-wall, so be alert - the pavement may not be smooth in some areas. The people may not be the wealthiest... There's a mix of locals and tourists. Everyone from all walks of life shops here! FOOD: Besides Custard Pie, during the holidays, look for the Custard Pumpkin Pie! I took it to a dinner where there were 8 of us - everyone got a slice and gobbled it up! Nom nom! The pastries are yummy, too - may I suggest the Hong Kong buns? SERVICE: Hit and miss... I asked for Custard Pie once, and one woman said they had one more left. The cashier said they had run out. The first woman looked behind some pies on a shelf and found the last one... If you need something for a potluck, a pie from Lee's would be most appreciated! People know good quality and will think that you spent a long time in line for them! read more

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So the 3rd time is da charm!!!! After coming here the last two times to try & secure a custard pie..............the 3rd time was my golden ticket to Custard Pie heaven!!!! CUSTARD PIE COMMAND ME!!!!!!!! Wait, I'm hallucinating from the euphoria of the Custard Pie I just ate this afternoon!!! Why did I come here? Well, my Yelp buddy - Da FAMOUS Auntie Nadine C. told me that after she did a taste test of a few Custard Pies from various bakeries, Lee's Bakery & Kitchen turned out to be the bakery with the winning Custard Pie!!!!! Now don't get me wrong...........I don't doubt Auntie Nadine's palate as she is always spot on, and legit on her finding of da grindages! I am a loyal fan of Ani's Bakery - Custard Pie..............I love Ani's so much...........if you ever look up Ani's on Yelp, you'll even see a pic of me holding up that delicious Custard Pie!!!! But as a true Custard Pie connoisseur, it is my duty to investigate the Custard Pie at Lee's Bakery & Kitchen today! Although I've had Lee's Custard Pie many moons ago (pre-Yelp dayz), it's been just too long, and I really don't remember anything about how good the Custard Pie was over here at Lee's! After buying my Custard Pie ($14.50) at Lee's Bakery & Kitchen today..........I am happy to report to you folks that the Custard Pie at Lee's is LEGIT YO!!!! The Custard was so creamy and buttery smooth, and the crust of the pie was firm and not too thick (they kept the crust to a minimum)............the perfect ratio of Custard, to Pie Crust!!!! Da more Custard = Me happy! The taste of the Custard was deeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious!!!! The custard was not overly too sweet, and the texture of the Custard was very, very good!! AIYAH!!!! YIKES!!!! Now I'm torn about my favorite Custard Pie joint!!!!! In conclusion, I guess I will have to say............ Now I have (2) favorite bakeries to go to, to get a good Custard Pie!!! Lee's Bakery & Kitchen, and Ani's Bakery makes my favorite Custard Pies!!!! read more

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Love their baked manapua. I always order them by the dozen and to bring it bake to Vegas.

Custard Pie $18. This is the most delicious pie. Got the last one on Saturday around 1130am. It is best to call ahead and reserve your pies to ensure you get one. There is no parking so it is also best to have someone drive you so you can hop out. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - Custard Pie $18 - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Bought a custard pie still the same thing crust and filling tasty. I remember from the 80swhen the father ran the business. Same quality and customer service A class act hard to beat. read more

I came in as my last stop before returning back to New York to get some goodies for friends and family. I bought macadamia nut cookies, brown sugar pineapple buns, hong kong bun, and coconut jin duis. I couldn't resist but eat the hong kong bun on the plane. It was very sweet and buttery! I was definitely surprised by the quality and if I visit Hawaii again, will definitely try out their pies. :) My friends loved the macadamia nut cookies and the rest of the pastries were just as delicious. The owners were also extremely kind and helped me with directions to the airport. Thank you so much! read more

My family has been coming to this bakery for generations and it's good to see them still up and running through the pandemic. All staff is wearing masks and gloves in back and masked cashiers in front. Phone orders are encouraged but order early because they can run out of pies and often have to make three or four batches just to keep up with daily demand. This custard pie is the greatest custard pie on the planet. A lot of times the display cases are empty because they sell out so fast. I don't have any pictures of the inside because the shelves are always empty whenever I go. You got your pigs in a blanket, ham and onion roll, fresh buns, mini custards, tarts etc etc etc. Metered parking on Kekaulike Street or in the lot at the back of the building which shares with Golden Palace Seafood and the other stores and shops in those buildings. Walk up the alleyway and hang a left. read more

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Ran in for a famous custard pie but they don't come out till 8am ... ran back around 10am and got a hot fresh out of the oven pie ! We took it to a friends place and they all enjoyed it and many comments on it being the BEST they've had!!! So they live up to the "famous" for sure ! It is on the main King Street in Chinatown so I recommend you have someone drop you like I did .. by the time they go around the block you're ready to be picked up ! Sweet lady at the counter and friendly baker filling the shelves ... we will be back to try the other goodies they offer ! read more

PARKING you have to find street parking when you go here. i think you could probably park in the lot at the back of the building, but you have to pay FOOD custard pies are amazing. i get the smaller individual sized tart versions. i love the rest of their baked goods as well. you have to go early though. if you go after lunch theres slim pickings left they also have some bagged baked goods near the window, like cookies and breads. read more

I know they're known for their custard pie's but that not my thing but I do love their Chinese wedding cake. Although it's called a "cake," it's more like a flaky crusted buttery manju with mochi inside. Ohhh it's soo good!!! I actually got it when it was warm once, it was amazing!!! Parking could be a pain depending on when you go. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - Chinese wedding cake - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This bakery gets really busy during Thanksgiving so I wait till Christmas to buy my pies and I bring them to the Christmas parties instead. During Thanksgiving the wait time in the line is more than 1 hour. They are known for their custard pie which is baked fresh. I high recommend placing an order for the pies in advance and then coming to pick. I've tried to walk in and buy a pie before and I was told I had to order it, so I ordered it and came back an hour later for pick up. Even if you're coming to pick up, you still have to stand in the line. Some people try to cut and just go to the front but the staff tell them to stand in line. The custard pie is my go to item and it's $14.50. It's best to eat it on the day you pick it up. The bakery also sells pies in other flavors like pumpkin custard, apple, peach/pear and blueberry. In the glass cases, they have pastries like pineapple bun, custard danish, twist donuts and breads. The best place to park when you come here is the Marin Tower parking lot because Chinatown rarely has street parking. The Marin Tower parking lot is 1-block away and their rates are reasonable. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - custard pie - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I love custard pie and my friend was near Lee's Bakery one day, so she bought me one. I've heard about their custard and custard pumpkin pies and their long lines for Thanksgiving, but I didn't have a chance to grab a pie from there before. When she gave it to me, it was still hot. It was soooo good - nice and thick and creamy. Can't wait to try their custard pumpkin. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - Custard Pie - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We look skyward and reach for it. Sometimes its easy as, other times we get our fingers in too many then need to shut our hole eat it humbly. Yep, we're talking PIE and what an incredible pie it is. For decades, Lee's Bakery has been synonymous with one thing, the best custard pie on Oahu. What's not to love? Flaky, lightly salty, lard based crust. Rich, creamy, Hong Kong style, lightly sweetened custard made with more egg yolks than whole eggs and whole milk; no nutmeg. Think a giant dan tat; errr, Portuguese egg tart (PET). Phenomenal! Not to be out shown, the apricot pie. Heavy, loaded with apricots but a very minimal amount of pectin / gelatin stabilizers. The thin, flaky crust adds richness and saltiness to the naturally sweetened fruit. A personal favorite. They do make a wide assortment of "Hong Kong" style pastries including PETs (mini versions of the custard pie using pie crust instead of the traditional puff pastry) and custard buns, most, yeast based. They are delicious fresh but lacking the greatness of when the bakery was at it's original location. There is something to be said for decades of micro strain yeast buildup in the brick walls to give a unique flavor to a bread. Well worth the calorie splurge. Tips: 1. If you aren't psychic and don't want to wait an hour or more for a pie, go on a Sunday before 8am else, even with a phone order, expect a wait (up to an hour). 2. Will power required. Let the pies cool to room temp before eating them. They need to set. read more

I've been a patron of Lee's Bakery for 30+ years now as the owner's wife and my mom were good friends. Yesterday I picked up a custard pie as I was going to a friend's house. As I walked in I only saw apple pies but asked if they had custard. Was advised they just came out of the oven so they were very HOT. In the past I bought one that also came out of the oven and jiggled it too much while transporting it back home were the custard filling shattered. This time I was extra careful to carry the pie to my car and drove extra slow to prevent the custard from shattering again. When it was time for dessert, the custard pie was in pristine form and we all enjoyed it!!! It may now cost $12 per pie but my tummy was happy. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - the label on the box... - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The very best Custard pie that my family always buys! So delicious that you can't eat just one slice but more slices hits the spot! Whatever they add ingredients too it, makes it delicious. read more

Bought a pumpkin custard pie on Monday for Tuesday. The crust was just as crisp as if we had it on Monday. The pumpkin custard mix was milder than a full on custard or pumpkin. Delicious! This is not our first time at Lee's so expectations are high. They delivered. Thanks Lees. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen is an unassuming hole in the wall. You could easily pass it if you were in a rush, but you would be sorry, because they know their way around a pie. There is a reason why before Thanksgiving people wait for hours in line all day (and night) to buy 10 pies at a time! Often when you walk in the pies are still steaming hot so they poke holes in the pie box lid. This is a critical period for your pie! Make sure you let it cool well ventilated so the steam doesn't make your crust soggy and don't put it straight into a refrigerator for the same reason, you want a still crispy crust! Whether it's one of their fruit pies with a double crust: peach, peach-pear, or apricot; or single crust: custard, pumpkin, custard-pumpkin; you can't go wrong. My entire family agrees Lee's makes the smoothest, tastiest custard pie on the island and their peach-pear is made with fresh pears. There are other pastries and things the bakery makes, the chocolate chip cookies are pretty good and packaged for easy giving away, but really, if you go to Lee's, get a pie. read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - In this box is the custard pie version of a warm hug. - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I love Custard Pie and recently heard that Lee's makes one that is delicious and coveted. I decided to go to Chinatown on a Saturday morning and pick one up. I got there around 8:30am and the woman who helped me was so nice. I was in luck as there were still two Custard Pies in the display case. I brought the Custard Pie home and it was still warm. That first piece was melt in your mouth good. I then put the Pie in the refrigerator and shared some of it later with family. Even cold the Pie was delicious. The crust of the pie is perfect. I have to go back and try some of their other baked goods. Best Custard Pie in my book! read more

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen - This Custard Pie is so good! - Donuts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

They have an awesome pumpkin custard pie! Best pies in the State. There's no comparison! Wish they had another location other than where they are. read more

Delicious custard pies and danish! Reminded me of Deelite Bakery's pies. It's our 1st stop when we fly in from Kona.

On my way out to visit some friends I decided to run a taste test on what I've read are the two best custard pies on the island. Lee's vs St. Germain's. So I grabbed one of each and drove over where we proceeded to each give our judgement on which is superior. Personally I feel that St Germain's comes out on top. The taste is just slightly more eggy and it definitely has a more solid consistency with a firmer and more tasty crust. This also seemed to be the consensus with everyone else. One separate thing I do like about Lee's a lot is their pumpkin custard pie which is basically the two pies baked in layers into one. It makes for a nice balanced taste between the two flavors. Overall Lee's is a good bakery that is moderately priced and has a decent selection of pies and pastries. I think it is "A-OK". read more

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I went in the afternoon on Thanksgiving and their was only 5 people in line. The guy taking the orders was very grouchy. I understand you had a long day but thats not how you should treat customers. It's the same thing every year and you know what your getting into. Also I was charged wrong and didn't realize it until I looked at my receipt. So I loss $20 read more