Liliha Bakery at 515 N Kuakini Street in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a bakery and diner that opened in 1950 in the Liliha and Nuuanu area north of downtown. It is one of the longest-running local-style bakeries on Oahu and is a point of pride for residents, who treat its pastries as a nostalgic benchmark. The shop combines a bakery case with a coffee-shop style counter, so visitors can either take pastries to go or sit down for a full local breakfast.
The signature item is the Coco Puff, a small cream puff shell filled with chocolate pudding and topped with a thick layer of chantilly cream. It is the pastry most people associate with the name, and boxes of Coco Puffs are a common gift to carry between islands or to the mainland. The chantilly cake, a sponge cake with the same light cream topping, and soft butter rolls are other well-known items. The diner side serves traditional island breakfast plates, including pancakes and eggs with the usual local sides, at prices that remain low for Honolulu.
The dining atmosphere is old-school and unfussy. There is a counter with stools and a few tables, service is quick, and there is no dress code. The soundscape is lively, with regulars chatting and orders called out. It is not a place for a long, quiet meal, and there is no wine or cocktail program; coffee and simple soft drinks are the standard beverages.
Reservations are not taken. Orders are placed at the counter, and the bakery is known for lines that can run from twenty minutes to an hour, particularly on weekend mornings and in the late evening after events, when Coco Puffs are in demand. Visitors who only want pastries can usually move faster by ordering from the bakery case rather than waiting for a diner seat. Prices are modest, with a bakery stop costing a few dollars and a full diner breakfast around US$5-15 per person. The original shop on Kuakini Street is the one most travelers mean when they cite Liliha Bakery, and hours generally run from early morning into the afternoon, so confirm times before making the trip from Waikiki.
| Price | $ (about $5-15 per person; US$5-15) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily, typically early morning to mid-afternoon at the original shop; confirm before visiting |
| Reservations | Walk-ins only; no reservations taken; order at the counter |
| Address | 515 N Kuakini St, Honolulu, HI 96817 |
Signature dishes
- Coco Puffs
- Chantilly cake
- pancakes and eggs breakfast
- butter rolls
Good to know
- Known for
- 1950 bakery famous for chocolate-pudding Coco Puffs topped with chantilly cream; lines can run 20-60 minutes
Location
515 N Kuakini St, Honolulu, HI 96817
21.3226, -157.8590 View on map
Highlights
- Coco Puffs: chocolate-pudding cream puffs topped with chantilly cream
- Chantilly cake and butter rolls from a bakery open since 1950
- Classic local diner breakfast with pancakes and eggs
- Original Kuakini Street shop in the Liliha neighborhood
Tips for visiting
- Order pastries to go from the bakery case to skip the longer diner queue.
- Go on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend waits that can reach an hour.
- Buy a box of Coco Puffs and keep it level and cool; the cream topping is delicate.
- Diner breakfast is far cheaper than a Waikiki hotel breakfast, with plates around US$5-15.
- Allow transport time from Waikiki, as the shop sits north of downtown.
When to visit
Weekday mornings have the shortest lines. Weekend mornings and late evenings are the busiest.
Accessibility
The shop is a street-level bakery and diner with counter seating. Visitors using wheelchairs should confirm access to the seating area on arrival, as space is tight at busy times.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Coco Puff at Liliha Bakery?
A Coco Puff is a small cream puff shell filled with chocolate pudding and topped with chantilly cream. It is the bakery's best-known pastry.
Can reservations be made at Liliha Bakery?
No. The shop is walk-in only, with orders placed at the counter.
How long is the wait at Liliha Bakery?
Waits can run from about twenty minutes to an hour at busy times, especially on weekends. Ordering only from the bakery case is usually faster.