Skip to content
How it worksAdd your verdict
Oʻahu

Is Liliha Bakery worth it?

Worth it if…Lives up to the hype · +91950 bakery and counter diner, home of the original Coco Puff, butter rolls and loco moco
Liliha Bakery
Liliha Bakery · Google Maps
Liliha Bakery
Liliha Bakery · Google Maps
Liliha Bakery
amglory5 · Google Maps
Liliha Bakery
Harry T · Google Maps
Liliha Bakery
Nate C · Google Maps

Worth it, with conditions. 4.6 stars from 4,800+ Google reviews and well-loved pastries, but the diner food draws some strongly negative reviews and Coco Puffs are polarizing.

Hype47How famous and hyped it is
Reality56Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
The gap+9Lives up to the hypeHow we score
4.6 ★ Google · 4,816 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first

Been to Liliha Bakery? Was it worth it?

One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.

Is it worth it for you?

Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 on a budget vote

Diner breakfasts and pastries are cheap compared with Waikīkī, and parking is free.

Why Reality is 56

Lives up to its fame3/54.6 stars from 4,800+ Google reviews and well-loved pastries, but the diner food draws some strongly negative reviews and Coco Puffs are polarizing.
Value for money4/5Cheap diner plates and pastries; reviewers compare it favorably with Waikīkī hotel breakfast prices.
Can’t get it elsewhere3/5The original counter is one of a kind, but the signature pastries are now sold at six locations, two of them in Waikīkī.
Easy to do3/515–20 min from Waikīkī with a small free lot and possible waits. Official hours for the original conflict.

What people loved

Coco Puffs, poi mochi donuts and butter mochi are the reasons to goOld-school 1950s diner counter where you can watch the cooks; reviewers say you feel the historyDiner breakfast (loco moco, pancakes, oxtail soup) is cheaper than Waikīkī hotel breakfastsGrilled butter rolls served with the meal are a favorite

What wore them down

Diner food is inconsistent; one recent review called the loco moco overcooked and over-saltedCoco Puff prices have risen, the chantilly divides people, and puffs may have shrunkTwo Waikīkī branches now sell the same pastries, so the trip to the original is mostly for atmosphereOfficial hours for the original location conflict; late-evening service is not guaranteed

Know before you go

See something out of date? Fix it right here.

Booking: Walk-in counter and diner; bakery items are takeout. Arrive early to avoid lines.

Founded1950, on Kuakini Street; all baked goods made from scratchSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
HoursGoogle lists daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; the official site also shows 6 a.m.–4 p.m. (coffee shop to 3 p.m.), so check before going lateSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Coco PuffChilled cream puff with chocolate pudding and chantilly frosting; original and green tea flavorsSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Other locationsSix on Oʻahu, incl. International Market Place and Waikīkī Beach Walk (opened July 2026)Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
ParkingSmall free lot and free street parkingSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
From Waikīkīabout 15–20 min by car (Liliha/Kalihi, near Helena's)Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
  • Monday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Thursday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Friday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Saturday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Sunday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

In their words

“You can feel the history in here.”
Andrew Gomez · Google review · 3 months ago
“The Loco moco is nasty. Overcooked meat with overly salted sauce.”
Evan Jin · Google review · 7 months ago
“After paying the same for 2 plain pancakes with coffee at the hotel, I've found the right spot to start the workday.”
Aaron Pasteris · Google review · 2 months ago
“The bakery on the left side of the establishment is on another level.”
Andrew Gomez · Google review · 3 months ago

Tips from people who went

No tips yet. Be the first to share one.

0/400 · no links · posts right away

Questions people ask

What is a Coco Puff?

Liliha Bakery's signature: a chilled cream puff filled with chocolate pudding and topped with chantilly, a buttery caramel-like frosting. Green tea is the other flavor.

Where is the original Liliha Bakery?

515 N. Kuakini St., Honolulu, where it opened in 1950.

Is there a Liliha Bakery in Waikīkī?

Yes, two: International Market Place (3rd floor) and Waikīkī Beach Walk (opened July 2026, 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily).

What are the original Liliha Bakery's hours?

Google lists 6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily, but the official site also shows 6 a.m.–4 p.m. (coffee shop to 3 p.m.). Call (808) 531-1651 before a late visit.

Is there parking at the original Liliha Bakery?

Yes, Google lists a small free lot and free street parking.

Better fits, according to people who went

Helena's — photo by Eddie KimWorth it if…Reality 59 +19Helena's★ 4.5Honolulu & Waikīkī · FoodA few minutes away; combine for a Liliha–Kalihi local-food outing (Tue–Fri).Leonard's — photo by Hanjong YooWorth itReality 71 −5Leonard's★ 4.6Honolulu & Waikīkī · FoodThe other famous Honolulu bakery stop, for malasadas, closer to Waikīkī.Pearl Harbor — photo by Christopher WilkinsonWorth itReality 90 −2Pearl Harbor★ 4.8Honolulu & Waikīkī · HistoryNPS memorial to the 1941 attack, with museums and a boat to the USS Arizona MemorialHoʻomaluhia — photo by Jeff NeeleyWorth itReality 76 +19Hoʻomaluhia★ 4.7Windward · NatureFree 400-acre city garden in Kāneʻohe with a lake beneath the Koʻolau cliffs

Sources

Verdict by The Hype Gap editors. No one paid for it. Facts checked Oct 16, 2026. How we score · Standards