Malasadas are popular in Hawaii due to their 19th-century introduction by Portuguese plantation…read morelaborers, becoming a staple treat. These fried, sugar-coated dough balls, often filled with custard or haupia, are beloved for their fluffy texture and association with tradition, especially "Malasada Day" (Fat Tuesday). And Leonard's Bakery malasadas are popular in Hawaii because they are served fresh, hot, and fluffy, establishing the Portuguese doughnut as a staple island treat since 1952. Founder Leonard Rego pioneered commercializing them, creating a cult following for the crisp-on-the-outside, doughy-on-the-inside treats. There's nothing like a nice, hot, and fresh malasada. At $2.20 each, there's just no point resisting. Twinsie "Auntie" Nadine C. dragged me here, told me where to take the Instagram shot, and the correct stance to tear into these pillowy fried dough balls. Yum.

Coming as we're intrigued looking at how many people we randomly bumped into, carrying their iconic…read morepink boxes. The line in front of the store was always super long but surprisingly moving super swift. The store didn't have sit-down space but a lot of people enjoyed their orders right in front of the store as it's indeed highly recommended to enjoy while warm. Their iconic items were surely the Malasadas, basically fried sugar-coated doughnut, which came in the option of unfilled (default) and filled. We got the ones filled with Chocolate and Macadamia Nut custard. They're lusciously fluffy with just right sweetness for the filling. Worth trying for the experience.

Dare I say it... Donut King Hawai'i might have some of the best donuts on the island…read more Everything is always so fresh, soft, and seriously delicious. You can taste the difference. My personal favorites: maple bacon, strawberry sprinkle, chocolate sprinkle, cinnamon crunch, and of course, you can't go wrong with a classic glazed. Service is just okay, but honestly the donuts more than make up for it. For each donut, it's a bit on the pricier side, but totally worth it for the quality. The parking lot can also get a little crowded. If you're craving a solid donut, this spot hits every time.

Still one my favorite donut spots. I have not tried everything, but I do enjoy the standard…read morechocolate glazed donut and the maple bacon. Gets that sweet and salty without being too sweet. The staff is always nice and I have yet to have a bad experience here after coming a couple dozen times.

This was about my fourth or fifth time at Holey Grail Donuts, and it never disappoints. I picked up…read morea four pack with the hot single, strawberry fields, chocolate crunch, and lilikoi. The hot single is a classic and still my favorite. It's simple but so good, especially when it's fresh and warm. The strawberry fields and lilikoi were both really flavorful, and the chocolate crunch had the perfect texture. They still taste great even after cooling down at home, but they're definitely on another level when you eat them fresh. The service is always really good, and there's plenty of seating, which makes it easy to hang out and enjoy your donuts. Definitely a spot I keep coming back to when I'm in the area!

I was down on that side of town and had a hankering for Holy Grail Donuts. If you've never been,…read moreyou're missing out. I don't really have a sweet tooth-I'm a no icing, no frosting kind of girl. I wouldn't dream of eating a cinnamon roll with icing, that's a no for me. But their donuts are delicious all the same and can definitely scratch the itch if you do have a sweet tooth. As someone who's vegan, it can be hard to find a dessert I actually feel good about, and this is one of those places. Everything is taro-based and cooked in coconut oil, which I really appreciate. Just a heads up-all of their donuts are taro donuts. The flavors come from the toppings, so if you see something like a strawberry one, the donut itself isn't strawberry--it's the topping. Their offerings change, ( they do have their core donuts that don't change-and I usually go for one "naked"--no glaze. Sometimes I'll get the honey and sea salt one. Right now they have a seasonal donut called Black Sabbath that's black sesame, brûléed banana. Every time I've been in, I'm greeted right away, and there's plenty of free parking. They get your order out super quick. If you don't want a whole donut--or you're eating in your car and don't want to make a mess--their little donuts called Holeys are the perfect pop-in-your-mouth option. The place has always be well kept and clean - and they have a very spacious, and equally as clean, bathroom. They also have an app where you can check the menu, keep track of your rewards, and manage gift cards, which makes it really convenient. Also, if you're not signed up for their rewards program, do it. You're basically passing up free donuts if you don't. Give them a go, share your experience and if your taste buds celebrated. SYOY! Deb B

Greta service. Great workers. Gonna miss them at Kahala! Amazing donuts. Wishing them nothing but…read morethe best!

(Desserted 06/01/23 TU @ 12:30pm & 11/29/23 WE @7:30pm): You may feel a bit "purvy" in this donut…read moreshop! I was initially drawn to Purvé Donut Shop because of its name. I loved donuts (especially apple fritters), so like a moth to a flame, I was pulled in to scratch that itch and soothe my curiosity. Founded in 2018 by Nicholas Cornford and Brian Zabian, through trial and error, they perfected their one-of-a-kind donut experience... a mix of music, vibrant visuals, personal customer service, fresh-to-order products, and memorable donut names. Would I shower their donut shop with praise, or would I feel a bit dirty and pervy!? PURCHASE(S) Na-Na-Nut Buster Donut ($3.25): Haupia glaze lei'd with macadamia nuts and a chocolate banana drizzle, the haupia was a bit faint, the macadamia nuts were plentiful, and the chocolate banana drizzle was aromatic and flavorful. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=J1RzbO29Oda8hgUFHIxzeA The "Jimbo" Donut ($3.25): Cinnamon sugar pounded into a caramel apple pie, this was the closest to an apple fritter, so I had to try it. Although it wasn't quite like a fritter, each ingredient stood out and paired well together. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=8q6KJoSr8Tq9iH0mhnARFw Unicorn Butt Sneeze Donut ($3.25): Lemon glaze butt sneezed with Fruity Pebbles, this was a crunchy lemony sweet mess from start to finish, and I loved it! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=KZWyOnAVf7H46uf5BRQnMA Brion Crying Sticker ($3.00): Simply cute! Purvé Logo Sticker ($3.00): I loved stickers and usually stuck them on the walls of other establishments, usually breweries. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=b90JRXfTPWMOcempMQEgWw Ladies Small Unicorn Pooping Donuts Tanktop ($25.00): I wished they had this graphic in an adult t-shirt! Alas, I bought this for a friend who wore it often and proudly! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=VRQTy9xdmynya4VwHYJm2w It's OK Cause It's Your Dog Peanut Butter Glaze Raspberry Drizzle Donut ($3.25): Peanut butter glaze soaked with raspberry slobber, this was a peanut butter's fan's wet dream... and probably a dog's too, if it was safe for them to eat! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=euoKuHhYXNFJUvTvT2pyaQ "Weekly D" Lotus Biscoff Cookie Butter Glaze & Oreo Donut ($3.25): This weekly mystery donut was a combination of my two favorite cookies while the butter glaze was cavity-creating sweet and thick! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=7JZ3P0ozys95783u1SZFcQ SERVICE Greeted by a friendly young man behind the counter, he gave me some background about who they were, what they did, and explained some of the options. After I absorbed it all in and studied the choices, I placed my order, watched them craft each selection, and minutes later, my order was beautifully packed and ready for consumption. Everything was short and sweet which was all I needed - mahalo! PARKING (FREE) Located within the Ku'ono Marketplace outdoor shopping center, they shared a medium but tight parking lot with several businesses such as J. Dolan's, KAHALA MKT. by Foodland, Wholesale Unlimited Express, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and more, finding a spot could be difficult (I found a spot). Otherwise, I didn't believe there was any parking available along the main drag on Wai'alae Ave. (Lunalilo Freeway) - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A spacious layout with a donut display bar somewhat in the middle of everything, a large counter area where you placed your order and was able to watch your donut get crafted, a small merchandise section close to the entrance, and you were smacked with colorful murals https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=fZNVWtPpm4ccs__LrXjwyA that surrounded you. Plenty of natural lighting came through the large front wall windows and doors while electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=g1zkn1bB8Ev8ObCNYLymYg ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I had fun at Purvé Donut Shop, and would love to eventually try all of the different creations. Each donut was unique in flavor and style, was a pleasure to devour, and it was easy to eat more than one. The prices were comparable with other decorative ones I've had, and the service was calming and welcoming. Plus, it was always a pleasure to support a mom & pop small business. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $50.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STAR

I live in Aiea, for years we've been without a doughnut shop!!…read more Island Glaze showed up a couple of years ago and I am thrilled! I really enjoy their glazed doughnuts, they taste like Krispy Kreme to me! I have cruised through the other choices and liked several of them! They do a good job with their fruit flavors. Strawberry, guava, and passion fruit were yummy! Peanut butter and jelly was good too! The people there are always eager to please and very friendly, even when I can't decide what I want to try! The shop itself is bright, there are places to sit and areas for kids to play! More importantly the shop smells heavenly and the doughnuts are fresh!!

Walked in telling myself "just one donut"... yeah okay Next…read morething I know I'm holding a box of 6 like I showed real restraint. My inner fat kid was already side-eyeing me like "we both know that's not enough." That glazed donut though? Unreal. Soft, moist, and that glaze is straight disrespectful. Like melt-in-your-mouth, why-am-I-eating-this-so-fast kinda good. I took one bite and immediately started doing the math on how fast I could turn around and grab more without looking crazy. Halfway through the box I was already mad at myself. Who buys 6?? That's not a quantity, that's a warm-up. Should've got 12 and saved myself the emotional damage. Only reason it's not a 5/5 is because now I'm sitting here donutless, thinking about going back like a man with unfinished business. Next time I'm letting the fat kid make all the decisions

MENU UPDATE- 2026 Customer service is amazing. Very…read morewelcoming and informative with the menu & best items.

@fortunefoodfinds: "If you DO-NUT know, you can find banana fritters here! You read that right, I…read morecame across n' scored the last banana fritter that KAMEHAMEHA BAKERY in Kalihi had for the day n' also picked up our usual go-to poi malasada, strawberry malasada, orange malasada, n' da kiddies chose a glazed donut, donut twist, n' chocolate covered long John. When you get the last one, it's like the feeling that you won!" SERVICE: fully staffed INTERIOR: when you enter the line forms to the left n' moves across to the right, narrow space, no dine-in just pick up n' go, canned soft drinks n' bottled water are available for purchase that are located in the fridges to the far left. EXTERIOR: next door to Ubae in Kalihi WAIT TIME: right under 10 mins from entering to leaving PARKING: free lot OVERALL COMMENTS: it's been years since my last visit n' I usually come for the poi malasadas so when I saw that they had one banana fritter, I had to have it! I've only had a banana fritter in Cali so this was a nice surprise. Bc it was banana mixed with apple, it had a hint of banana flavor. Crunchy n' glazed exterior with a very soft n' cinnamon interior. The malasadas are always tasty. Out of the poi, strawberry, n' orange, the orange has the most flavor come through. Ofc my kids highly enjoyed their donuts. Prices are really good on all the items we got ranging between $1.55 - $2.12; we spent right under $12 for everything. Will be back again!

Everything prepared with Love here You can tell that the bakers and cooks enjoy and take pride in…read moretheir work, deliciousness tastes like it Service is genuinely kind; consistently smiling whether from behind the dining counter or wonderful pastries and chantilly cakes or poi donuts Ohh how they are experts at making poi donuts : Liliha Bakery has the most moist tender flavorful POI DONUTS try the poi donut - do-nut eat just one! I dare you to try eat just one! Must have 2? (I confess, I've eaten 3!! Such a warm Ohana feeling when you dine in and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere whether Larger location Pearlcity or their original mostly take out location favorite counter/kitchen service It's like good therapy coming here!

There's something quietly electric about stepping into Liliha Bakery on Kuakini, It's not just a…read moremeal, it's a front-row seat to a Honolulu classic in motion. Their famous pancakes, fluffy, golden, and just the right kind of indulgent, paired with a hearty omelet that hits that comfort-food sweet spot. The coffee keeps things grounded, rich and reliable. And the service? Warm, attentive, and genuinely local. But the real magic lives in the back. Watching the bakers at work feels like peeking behind the curtain of a show, trays sliding, hands moving with purpose, decades of tradition humming along in real time. It's equal parts diner, bakery, and local legend. You come for the pancakes, but you stay for the rhythm of it all.

I stopped by here yesterday morning with my dad for a morning snack. We were staying in a hotel…read morenearby and had walked by Donut King Waikiki a number of times, and their donuts always looked great. So on this morning, when we had some free time, we decided to stop. The shop itself is rather small, with a couple of large display cases filled with donuts and a few small tables tucked into the corner. For my pastry on this morning, I chose the coconut croissant donut. From the time I stood in line until I was out the door was less than 5 minutes. My donut here ended up being quite good as it was light and you could really see the lamination in it. The coconut flakes on top added a nice flavor. The sticky glaze was fantastic as it reminded me of caramel and helped keep the coconut from falling off. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. I enjoyed my donut here and was definitely eyeing the ube coconut cake donut as well.

Any donut store with a line in the morning is worth having a look, right? Even if you're in…read moreHawaii, there's no reason to assume that donuts should not be the cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast. During our recent trip to Waikiki, we set out on foot with the sun to see what we could see. The quixotic blend of homelessness in front of the Fendi store really drove home the duality of this place. But that's also a different review... As for Donut King, he may well be the actual Monarch of Fried Dough. A delectable selection of fresh donuts, still warm inside on a couple of them, and melt-in-your-mouth soft. My usual chocolate old fashioned was particularly good here... is that a hint of coconut oil? Or did I just have a little Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen on my fingers before I ate? No one knows. And at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that this place is a cool little donut shop that made me feel like a local when I walked in. Service with a smile, regular ol' donut prices instead of weird designer pastry mark-ups, and plenty of Aloha. Worth the trouble of trying to find parking, but even better if you're on foot, and can walk off that little bit of sweetness.

Stopped for breakfast and grabbed some pastries to go for later. So many good breakfast items to…read morechoose from like chocolate chip Mac nut waffle, porky belly items, Mahi Mahi & eggs plate, etc. The butter rolls they bring before your meal are so delicious we ordered some to go! Food: - Smoked pork belly Loco moco - two eggs plate - one half papaya - Butter rolllllls to go for a charge so good

Having awesome experience at the Pearl City Liliha and in love with their butter mochi, we made a…read morecome back to the Waikiki one for the savory food. It was a nicer space that looked newer as well but the service was unfortunately super slow. We needed to call the servers for multiple times before our order was finally picked up and it took awhile before getting our food ready. Then we also weren't given the butter roll until we asked (deep frowned). Fortunately the Loco Moco made it up as it's so filling, the beef hamburg was juicy, and the gravy was well-seasoned with perfectly cooked sunny side up. The butter roll did earn it's spotlight being so fluffy and aromatic especially served warm and fresh!

If you're more into lighter Malasada and other sweets, you have to give this place a try. I got to…read moretry their cinnamon Malasada with some pimples on them. It must be from their fryer or something. Nevertheless it was light, fluffy, fresh, warm to my tummy. We also got the hazelnut cake. Cake texture with coconut like flavor (I maybe wrong) with chocolate like hazelnut flavor coating. Also light and good. I saw ice cream too. Gotta try that next time. You can street park or Kaimuki municipal parking across the street.

Everyone knows to go to Leonard's for freshly made malasadas, and the constant crowds there attest…read moreto their quality and variety (review: https://yelp.to/jaduiZfQRq). However, there are many alternative malasada purveyors throughout Honolulu, so I depended on local vloggers to find the best ones. This one popped up often on YouTube, and as luck would have it, we were dining at The Pig & The Lady on the next block. How calorifically convenient. We took the opportunity to stop by for a pre-dinner snack since they closed at 6PM. It's a cute shop with multiple sweets including quite a selection of housemade ice cream and delectable mouthfuls called Cake Bombs (Photo 10). We decided we would be good and ordered one unfilled Malasada each. Dusted with various sugar flavors, they were just $2.65 a piece. I went for the Coffee, while Jamie chose the daily special, Cinnamon (Photo 6). They were soft and tasty, quite comparable to Leonard's albeit a tad smaller. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing since we had dinner ahead of us. However, we let temptation get the best of us and shared a $5.50 slice of the Ube Haupia Mac Nut Bar, a yummy combination of sweet potato and ube topped with haupia (coconut milk pudding) on a macadamia nut crust (Photo 9). Truth be told, it stole the show from the malasadas. FOOD - 4 stars... the malasadas were good, but that ube dessert was next level AMBIANCE - 4 stars...really a takeout operation with a lot of temptations SERVICE - 4 stars...very calm and orderly TOTAL - 4 stars...yet another spot for sweet Hawaiian decadence RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/U7YPblfoMP