Leonard's Bakery

When I landed in Honolulu and made it to Waikiki Beach our tour guides couldn’t stop talking about Leonard’s. I also couldn’t stop seeing this pink box that I needed to know more about. Once I knew it was all connected to the Masalada Donuts I was to try as one of Hawaii’s staple snacks — I had to get there! Service flowed as I ordered inside and waited to receive the famous donuts outside as they called my number. I got original, cinnamon, and Li Hing—YUMMY!!! I loved the history and was excited to try this staple snack. They are a must try. I didn’t get any with fillings, I’m generally not a fan, but I hear ONLY get the original.

Leonard’s bakery was very good. There was a long wait but it was pretty good. Overall it tastes good because they are very chewy. They are very filling so for me 2-3 per person was good enough. The day I was there, there were some wild chickens in the parking lot :) I liked the original malasadas the most (cinnamon flavor was very light and the guava was a “no” from my whole families rating) Would I go back again ? Absolutely !

Leonard’s is always excellent and well deserving of its reputation! I typically order a dozen or a half a dozen and decided to get a dozen this trip for my best friend’s birthday. I don’t remember having a pre-order option the last time I visited (5-6 years ago?), but it was a game changer for this trip. I was able to schedule a pickup time and selected all the flavors I wanted in advance, and it allowed me to skip the massive line and crowd outside (none of whom had preordered). Highly recommend ordering in advance!

We visited this spot because it’s a popular tourist attraction. We ordered two flavored malasadas: macadamia and guava. The price was reasonable, and they were freshly made, but the filling was disappointing—just a small squirt inside. There’s a small parking area out front, but it’s very tight and hard to find a spot. You place your order inside and pick it up outside at the window using your ticket number. It’s worth trying once for the experience, but there’s nothing particularly special about it. Honestly, we’ve had better pan dulces on the mainland USA. It’s just a touristy thing to check off your list if you’re in the area.

The place is legendary and it didn’t disappoint. You order inside and then wait outside to be handed your order through the window. People from all walks of life flock here. The ice coffee was crisp and cold. The haupia malasada was fantastic and delicious. The guava malasada tasted a bit of artificial flavors though. You can’t go wrong here no matter what.

The malasadas are so yummy! They're made to order, so there's a short wait, but it's worth it for soft, fluffy, and warm malasadas. I tried one of every flavor—some of the fillings were hard to distinguish, but overall, they were delicious. My favorites were the plain (no filling), coconut, chocolate, and guava. Highly recommend stopping by for these fresh treats!

The cinnamon sugar malasadas were the bomb! Lightly/ thin crispy outside coated generously and the inside was a pillowy, airy inside making these donut like treats delicious. Not overly heavy or super greasy. I preferred the regular non stuffed ones. We also tried the guava and chocolate filled ones which were good but the cinnamon sugar ones definitely stole the show!! Very efficient ordering counter in the inside with pick-up outside. Would recommend these!

Best malasadas ever. Every order is hot and fresh. Absolutely delicious. A must stop if you are on the island. This place will be very busy considering how great they are so parking can be cumbersome but be patient and you will get parking and it will be worth it. You order inside and get your number wait outside line is long but it moves fast and is prepared fast so wait is not long. Staff is friendly we get the original the custard and the chocolate filled.

Delicious, puffy, warm malasadas! It's hard to beat the *original* location with a recipe unchanged for years. Parking is limited and if you're in a hurry, I suggest ordering ahead for pick up. Note: there is *tons* of merchandise - sweatshirts, hats, etc so if you're looking for a souvenir, look no further!

The malasadas were absolutely delicious, especially fresh and piping hot. The outer layer had a crisp--maybe even slightly crunchy--texture, while the inside was perfectly doughy and chewy, making them incredibly addicting. The cream filling was thick, flavorful, and full of rich, oozy goodness. The light sugar coating complemented the not-too-sweet dough perfectly, adding just the right amount of sweetness.

Leonard's Bakery is a must try Malasada place in Oahu. There's limited parking, but there's a lot in the complex. Inside, there's a place to order from the pastry case, but if you just want malasadas, you order and pick up from the window like a drive-thru. There isn't really seating indoors, but the wait isn't long and the staff is nice. The Portuguese donuts are the right amount of sweet and fluffy. There's also a wide variety of unique flavors to pick from. The donuts are a bit expensive, but definitely worth the price. I'd try this place at least once if you're visiting Hawaii!

A Hawaii staple, I went here for the first time in years and love the change in the operations. Now you order inside with pick up for your malasadas called outside, it definitely stream lined it and made the process pretty quick. I love the stuffed one and the custard was definitely a winner. Usually I'm a haupia girl but there was just something about it. My friend ended up coming here twice even because they loved it so much. Merch and inside was cute.

Yummy Portuguese donuts. This is an original location of Leonard's Bakery. Small amount of parking. Always busy line. Their malasadas are chewy, soft, and superbly, heavenly sweet. Recommended if you've never tried.

Delicious I guess donuts. There's a long line out front which is a testament of how delicious these litto donut cakes are!

The famous Leonard's Bakery with their delicious malasadas is a must try! Order first and then your order will be called from the window when ready. So that means lots of people milling around just outside, which is perfect for being entertained by the chickens roaming in the parking lot. In all seriousness, the malasadas are truly amazing, and definitely eat it fresh because trying to save a few for the next day was not a great idea. The best part is biting into the doughnut which was like a soft pillow. My favorite is just the original coating with custard filling. All the other fillings we tried were true to the flavor but the star was definitely the donut itself.

Good stuff malasaldas are their specialty place is packed but the service is fast a must try when in Oahu

Is it a touristy spot? Yah. Is it worth it? Also yah. There's a reason they've been popular for so long. There's a line because they make it fresh, which I appreciate a lot. It's definitely a must-visit type of place (aka not just a tourist trap). They have their own parking lot, but it does fill up because they're popular. As for the malasadas, it has a very crispy, thin outer layer. Not a lot of dough, which is perfect. It is very different than the other malasadas I've had elsewhere that have more fluffy buns. I did enjoy it a lot, and I can see how they deserve the other 5 stars. (My personal criteria for the 5th star would be - is this place amazing enough for me to want to go out of my way for it / would I be happy revisiting this place multiple days in a row / if the place has great food + amazing customer service, so yah that last star is pretty subjective).

Classic joint in Waikiki. Made to order, piping hot and delicious. Several options of different fillings but the basic sugar and cinnamon is go-to. Yeah, it's a donut but it's worth the stop.

This is the place to go for Malasadas fresh. I ordered 2 and it was still warm. Great with iced coffee. Service was very fast and efficient even though the line was out the door

The hype is real here! Leonard's has been on my bucket list for awhile since my last visit to Hawaii and I finally got to try it this time around. I got the macadamia milk custard, lilikoi, guava, and haupia. My favorites were the macadamia milk and guava. The filling was delicious and outside was crispy and the inside was fluffy. There is nothing like it elsewhere and is a must stop! Parking is horrendous and there's only like 5 spots.

Hands down best donuts with cream. Paczki- like. LOVE it!!!! Great service and parking up front.

How can you go wrong with fresh fried dough filled with different fillings?! Honestly the best masaladas on the island. The flavors we tried: haupia, cinnamon custard, custard, dobash (which is kind of like chocolate), and guava. Guava was by far my favorite, the fruitiest! The only downside is you can't tell which masalada is which too well if it is in a large box. Be warned, the parking lot is very small. You can also place your order online and pick up at the takeout window. Spot is super popular, so line is generally always long! Be patient because they fry them fresh!

Leonard's NEVER disappoints. It's a staple and ALWAYS on the go-to list when visiting Oahu. You really can't go wrong with any of the flavors, but my favorite is the custard with plain sugar! (Cinnamon sugar is also an option). When I'm in the mood for something a little sweeter, I opt for the chocolate filled (or both LOL) They package them in their famous sturdy pink boxes, perfect to take on the beach or even on the plane ride back home! Note: there's a minimum you have to order to get the box, otherwise you have to pay for it, but who ever wants just a couple?! The line may always seem long, but trust me - it goes fast.. but also 100%, so worth the wait ;)

Leonard's Bakery lived up to the hype! While there was a bit of a wait, it was well worth it. The malasadas are incredibly delicious - chewy, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. I found that 2-3 per person was plenty. A highlight of my visit was encountering a flock of wild chickens roaming the parking lot! Who can resist warm malasadas? I couldn't pass up the opportunity to grab half a dozen while in the area. They are the best when they're piping hot straight from the fryer. The ordering process is efficient: you order first and then wait for your treats to be freshly made. The filled malasadas are perfectly balanced - the guava filling is bursting with flavor, while the haupia filling is subtly sweet. And if you prefer a simpler option, the classic cinnamon sugar coating is perfect. Leonard's Bakery is an absolute must-visit when in Honolulu.

I first tried their malasadas from one of their food trucks and instantly fell in love. That's when I knew I had to have them one more time before leaving Oahu. So, at 6 am before my flight, I drove to Leonard's Bakery location to try all their flavors. My ranking (all puffs, the filled malasadas): 1. Macadamia Nut 2. Chocolate 3. Haupia 4. Ube (this was the specialty flavor they offered at the time) 5. Custard 6. Guava You line up inside/outside the bakery to order your goodies. Afterward you get a number and wait outside at a window for them to call your number. At this location you can buy bakery items besides just malasadas, but most people were just ordering boxes of donuts. No seating here, but there is a large parking lot so you can enjoy your malasadas immediately in the car. These came out so warm, so fresh, and so delicious. The next time I'm back in Oahu, I know what my first stop will be.

Amazing donuts (malasadas) in Waikiki area. Long line but it moves fast. Very popular and once we had their warm donuts in the parking lot we knew why. They are freshly made and with tropical stuffings such as guava, coconut haupia, macadamia etc. Don't eat them at home. Eat it in the parking lot itself when it is warm. Lots of people were eating in the parking lot itself like us.

Highly recommend this bakery. I ordered 2 dozen of yummy goodness and it was worth it! I got a variety of flavors: Original Cinnamon Coconut filled Guava filled Macadamia filled Custard filled It was all worth the calories. This box was attacked by my family and little monsters within minutes. Love the taste when it's fresh and it's also good heated up the next day. Long, of course, at this location. But as long as you are patient, you will get your well deserved sweet reward. Small parking lot in the front. Service was good. Staff super friendly. Definitely my go to spot while visiting Oahu.

Leonard's bakery was a perfect way to end my vacation in Hawaii! Right when you're pulling into the parking lot and you see the old neon light sign, you get hit with a wave of nostalgia and realize how long this establishment has been standing. When I walked in I immediately panicked, because all I saw was cupcakes in their display cases. I asked the cashier if they had run out of Malasadas and to my delight, she told me that they make them in the back from scratch for every order. Imagining the hot fresh Portuguese donut in my hand. I must admit I ordered one of every filled type they have. Plus one cinnamon sugar. All of them were delicious. The guava and macadamia nut flavor were my favorites. Eating them hot and fresh out the box really makes all the difference, so don't hesitate to stuff your face right outside the door as everybody else was doing it too!

so so yummy! they're so fresh and warm with a delicious filling! you order your donuts inside first and then there's a pick up window outside. we got our donuts was super fast!

YUMMY!!! I had high expectations from all the hype people I knew gave and boiiii did they uphold those expectations. Fluffy, sweet ( and sour) goodness. I am still thinking about them back in San Antonio. I wish we had one here! We did quite the box of samplers lol. We did - Li Hing - cinnamon - original - guava filled - macadamia filled - chocolate. The place was PACKED and for good reason. Service was pretty quick and for sure a well oiled machine with the ordering inside and the pick up outside.

The Malasadas are all you could hope for! The Lillikoi was our favorite and the lines was worth the wait and moves fast!

Stopping at Leonard's is a must on your trip to Oahu! They are famous for their "malasadas" or fried yeasted pastry coated in cinnamon & sugar, often filled. Its bigger than a beignet; it lacks the hole of a donut. We came around 1015am on a Saturday and got parking right away (although the parking lot is limited). The line was short, service was friendly and fairly quick. The ambiance is retro. We asked the employee what her favorite malasada was and she enthusiastically chose guava filled malasada, whereas her colleague interjected saying "mac nut filled malasada was the best--- we couldn't choose so we got both! Plus a cinnamon malasada, which was crispy sweet on the inside with a fluffy eggy interior. The guava was a subtle fruit sweet custard inside (careful, it will drip onto your shirt!); the mac nut tasted almost like a rich nutty icing interior-- I enjoyed all 3!

I have been coming here since I was a kid. Same location. Same excellent malasadas. Same pink box and logos. What can I add of value to all of the other reviews? Some things that surprised me this past visit: This place is organized! With a bit of a Disneyland'esque queue, the line moves efficiently and peacefully. A feat. Once you get to the counter, you give your order, pay and then wait outside for your number to be called. Genius. You can easily stop here on the way to the airport from Waikiki. We were worried this was not a good idea, but we were in and out in about 20 minutes with our dozen hot malasadas and the best souvenir for our son back at home. They have lots of cute merch! Got some adorable stickers, a t-shirt and a reusable tote bag to carry everything home in. Smart marketing on their part. Everything was as good as I remember from childhood. Same small, local feeling. Same delicious and absolutely unchanged pockets of doughy goodness. A happy family still working here. An absolutely easy experience.

What can you say about an iconic restaurant? I heard so much about this restaurant that I wanted to make sure we got in to get some of their baked goods. The first day I drove by the line was wrapped around the building so I knew it had to be something had to be either really great or everybody was just trying to see it the second day I was like oh my we got online later that day. The line moved quickly. You go inside the store. There's a menu on the wall and you choose your items you pay and then you step outside and wait for your order to come up inside. The restaurants are the bakery. I should say it's like stepping back in time, the colors, the glass cases , the displays were all from a different time. And it was just very iconic. The Malasadas come in so many varieties and they are made to order. Love that! I got two of the original andtwo guava. They come out nice hot and fresh and are delicious especially with the cinnamon sugar coating. They're very fluffy and light.

Iconic is how I would describe this place, but you already know that. It's always hard reviewing a place so well known, so I'll try to add something new. The reason it's 4 stars for me is because the filling isn't super amazing. For example, the chocolate one is good but the chocolate taste.. fake? Idk, if it was a rich dark chocolate I'd say 5 stars but it wasn't the best. Overall, it's still a must stop on your Hawaii trip.

My family is on island visiting and we stopped here before we started today's adventure. I love the vibe of Leonard's and I can see why it is so popular. I have some interesting food allergies and when I asked about the ingredients of the malasadas the young lady at the register was on top of it in finding. Upon finding out that I was i able to have the malasadas, I ordered two cinnamon ones. They were nice, warm, and moist. They were delicious. I dod not get any pictures of them because I was so excited to ne able eat them that they were gone before i thought to do so. My family enjoyed their malasadas as well. I will definitely be back!

I'm OBSESSED with this place! I tried their malasadas and immediately bought a shirt. They're the best malasadas I had our whole trip and have ever had in my life. So fresh, perfect textures and flavors... how I wish I lived nearby. The haupia was by far my favorite but the regular custard was also awesome. I would order like 10 haupia if I could go back right now. Anyway, if you're in Honolulu area you HAVE to go!!

So hot and fresh. Soft but crispy to bite into. Try the flavor of the month, lemon, it was really good, not sweet at all.

Add Leonard's to your list of things to do when you visit Oahu! I now know why people wait in line for their famous Malasadas! They are delicious! I arrived super early and did not have a long wait. They have a variety of flavors and some souvenirs available for purchase. I bought myself a tshirt that was a pretty shade of red and oh so soft. Now for the good stuff! My favorite was their classic Malasadas. The are served warm and soft. Went well with my coffee. I ended up eating a few. I also had their guava, custard, macadamia and dobash (chocolate filling). All of them are delicious. It just depends on your preference. They are all worth a try. You will not be disappointed. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Definitely give this a try. You won't be sorry.

This is a must visit, especially for those that are visiting Hawaii for the first time. I've tried all of the different flavors and my personal favorite is just the plain sugar or the cinnamon. The fillings are good and worth trying as well. There's usually a line but the service is pleasant and it usually comes out hot which is great!

It's old. Plain. Historic. They know what they have and there's no need to mess around with the interior when your malasada game is on point. Don't be deterred by the line; it actually goes by pretty quick as they have two people manning the cashier stations. Large signs are displayed throughout which helps the crowd figure out what they want before ordering. Don't be that person holding up the line! THE FOOD. - Original | Sugary sweetness. Came out piping hot and was incredibly soft and fluffy. - Guava | The guava filling oozes out in a sweet, sticky mess. - Pineapple | Tart and sweet with citrusy notes. - Coconut | The coconut flavor is subtle but distinctly there. - Macadamia Nut | My favorite of the bunch. Sweet and nutty flavors. - Chocolate | Pretty good chocolate. Rich, but not over doing it. - Custard | It almost tastes doughy? I thought this would've been my favorite, but it wasn't. THE PARKING. The tiny parking lot gets full and you may have to circle around before a spot opens, but spots do open up as there is no dining space to hang out and eat these little fried things. COMING BACK? 100%.

Visiting Hawaii for the first time! Everyone I knew recommended this place, so went to try it out myself. We went around 5pm, so there was no wait. We ordered 6 malasadas of all the flavors. Unfortunately, we were only able to try the cinnamon sugar and custard malasads :( These Malasadas are so fresh and hot when it comes out! When biting into it, it's airy and fluffy. The cinnamon sugar was amazing. The custard was really good as well, and had a ton of filling.

After we came down from Diamond Head we knew we needed to get some breakfast. We passed the famous Leonard's on the way there, so we headed straight there after. Really can't miss the sign. Very tough to get parking, even around 8AM (especially if you're in a van). The line surprisingly wasn't too bad, it was just me and my family placing orders. The outside area was a little busy but orders were being churned out fast. My wife and I wanted a little of everything so we ordered 5 malasadas (original, cinnamon, li hing, haupia filled, and guava filled) along with a tote bag and a t-shirt because I am a sucker for merch. Only took about 5 minutes for each of our orders. Ours came out hot out of the fryer and were trying to wait until we got back to our hotel to go in. Very light and fluffy. Great flavor, not super sweet. Our favorites were the cinnamon and the guava filled. Solid malasadas/donuts, pretty straight forward. Glad we tried them but I probably wouldn't get so many. The staff here was super friendly and worked hard to get everything out fast. I would come back for a quick sweet breakfast with a coffee.

So I've had malasadas, even ones from Leonard's, many times in the past, and they've always been good- light, sweet, usually still warm. However this time around I picked them up myself and ate the first one right there in the parking lot and omg it's an entirely different experience. I now understand the cult following. I had the basic cinnamon and the custard filled puff which also came dusted with cinnamon. Both were great, but the basic is the one I plan to return for - light & crispy exterior, which I think doesn't really survive any travel time hence the lack of wow in previous experiences. Totally worth the extra gym time...

Over the many years of visiting Oahu and enjoying all of its many great eats, Leonard's remains one of our favorites! There are definitely good malasada places but for our family, Leonard's is just a cut above. Their freshly prepared malasadas--unfilled or filled--are delicious with a great sugar-coated exterior, the right amount of chew, and of course, the right level of sweetness in the dough and optimal fillings. What more could you ask for? We try to be patient to avoid burning our tongues but it never works as we devour them right away in the parking lot. Looking forward to getting back to Oahu as soon as we can!

This was a great place to go for dessert or a snack the unique flavors and doughnut like texture was just perfect I highly recommend this bakery to anyone who loves doughnut's and a good time.

Nothing beats this place one of a kind. Came here at least 3 times on my trip fast easy and always hot. Which we had something like this back in CA but the ones here just don't taste the same. The chocolate ones are just the best I could eat 10 of those.

As you step into Leonard's Bakery in Honolulu, you're instantly welcomed by the warm, mouthwatering aroma of freshly fried dough and sugar. This comforting scent is like a prelude, hinting at the delicious experience that awaits, especially if you're here for their famous sugar-dusted malasadas. The original sugar malasada is a treat that's as simple as it is delightful. Each one is fried to golden perfection and then generously coated in sugar, creating a sweet, slightly crisp exterior. But the magic really lies in the texture, these malasadas are incredibly fluffy and soft, so airy that biting into one feels like biting into a sweet cloud. The inside is pillowy and warm, practically melting in your mouth while the sugar provides a delicate crunch, balancing the softness in a way that makes each bite feel indulgent yet light. Made fresh to order, each malasada is handed to you piping hot, which only enhances the experience. This freshness lets the dough's flavor shine, and the sugar adds a gentle sweetness that doesn't overpower but rather complements the richness of the donut itself. Leonard's original malasada shows that sometimes, the simplest ingredients come together to create something truly extraordinary. This isn't just a donut; it's a piece of island heritage, capturing the essence of Hawaiian comfort food with every sugary, airy bite. Leonard's sugar malasada is an unforgettable experience and a must-have for anyone visiting Oʻahu, offering a taste that's pure, nostalgic, and thoroughly satisfying.

Malasadas!? I spent more money than I had expected to here (oops). All good though, cause we bought a half dozen malasadas for the hotel valet staff as a thank you. You can order literally anything here and it'll be good. I'm not a big fan of crème filled anything, so it wasn't really a surprise to me when I ended up liking the plain malasadas the best. We did order and try a few of the other malasadas as well and they were delicious. They're on the sweeter side for those with a big sweet tooth. They also have merch (tote bags, stickers, etc) so don't forget to pick something up to take home (if you're not already taking home malasadas).

While vacationing in Hawaii, I decided to stop by the famous Leonard's Bakery at 6:00am!!! The stores open up at 5:30am and there was no line. I choose to get the custard Malasadas, macadamia Malasadas, original and cinnamon. The donuts were fresh and warmed. The filled Malasadas were my favorite because it wasn't too sweet and the right amount of filling. If you are in area give them a try!

This place gave me a retro type of feel here. No seating but the customer service was fast and friendly. Got myself a chocolate maldalada it was so warm and fresh that I had to get 6 more. This is a tourist spot so a lot of people will be here and parking is tight so be prepared to have someone go out and get the product. 10/10

Fast service. The donuts are very nicely loaded but very sweet!! Tried several flavors. The original is probably the best

Best time to go here when theres not much people is early morning.If you dont wanna deal with packed crowd.Everything us made fresh taste so yummy.

I asked the locals if I should really go to try it, they said yes, but that we needed to go to the original location, not the trucks. We went and got half a dozen and six different flavors. Honestly, it lives up to the hype. It is so good! Best way to eat them is when receiving it. The lines can get really long. We were fortunate to arrive when there were only a few people in front of us. When we finished with our order, and walked outside for our malasadas, the line was getting around the building. I absolutely loved the original, custard and haupia. The place is definitely a hype when going to Oahu and everyone will recommend. It's very understandable now that we went to give it a try. Highly recommend it!

Great find great donuts. Very cute small store and friendly service. Was fun to learn about the history of the place. Great flavor of donuts

Classic, popular Malasada location with unsealed cheap prices. Comparing with Penny's Malasadas, both are quite different but almost equally good! October 2024 flavor of the month was pumpkin, but didn't try. + Cinnamon Sugar Malasada ($1.85): freshly fried, exterior is nicely crispy. Inside is very fluffy (8/10)

Leonard's already has close to 10k reviews, so it honestly doesn't need another one. But I'll give one anyways. Leonard's serves a great malasada - light, chewy, doughy goodness with a sprinkling of sugar, and choose your own adventure with the filling. I've tried guava, coconut, macadamia, and banana. My favorite is guava, but you can't go wrong. Parking is scarce, but if the line isn't too long, you might be able to risk parking on a side street to make a quick pit stop. The line goes by reasonably quickly, though, so you could also have one person waiting in the car.