Liliha Bakery
The Liliha area is a rare holdout against Honolulu's pervasive tourism and development. There are no tiki torches, no executive condominiums, no furikake seared ahi, just a neighorhood that has preserved some of its character from a previous generation. Liliha Bakery sits as an anchor right in the middle, serving up baked goods, diner food and their infamous coco puffs.
As you enter the glass doors, you are faced with a choice. To the left are the bakery cases, loaded with an impressive assortment of pastries and cakes. To the right is a long countertop with barstools facing a short order grill. I personally like coming to Liliha Bakery for breakfast at the counter, sidled up among the regulars, then grabbing something from the bakery cases "for the road." Just this morning, I ordered sweet bread french toast ($3.75), a side of bacon ($3.15) and a cup of coffee ($1.10) before picking up a coco puff ($1.15). It's not the best deal around, but the food is reliable and the service is friendly.
But I imagine you really want to hear more about the coco puffs ($1.15/ea or $11.40/dozen). Take a pastry shell, pump it full of chocolate pudding and top with a generous dollop of chantilly. Simple, but decadent and loved by many.
Here's where I ruffle your feathers: the coco puffs are almost too rich for my tastes.
Are you still with me? Please allow me to explain. The puffs are each about the size of a small guava, but with a supersaturation of chocolate-y goodness out of proportion to their size. The first bite is wonderful. The second is good. By the third, I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to finish it. The last bite is taken hastily before I have time to reconsider. I loved it, but it nearly defeated me. That's not to say that you won't be an instant coco puff addict-- most people are. If not, try the lighter haupia malassada, my personal favorite.
Either way, I have a growing conviction that everyone should pay a visit to the Liliha Bakery at some point, if for no other reason than to catch a glimpse of an older era in Hawaii. It's as if a thread strings back through history, connecting to people who were doing the same thing 55 years ago. Of course, it doesn't hurt to pick up a few pastries while you're there...
Other articles about Liliha Bakery you might like:
→ Hawaii's Big-time Bakeries - More information on the history of the bakery and the coco puffs in particular.
→ Liliha Bakery `Onokinegrindz visits Liliha Bakery for coco puffs.
→ Liliha Bakery Writeup at HawaiiStories about the appeal of Liliha.
Liliha Bakery
515 North Kuakini Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 531-1651
Open Tuesday 6am through Sunday 8pm (24 hours)
Closed Mondays
So I dropped in to say hi, and I got this response to my submission:
"Your comment was denied for questionable content."
Guess all that food talk was too racy! Anyway, great pictures, I will stop in from time to time for sure.
i got the same thing, and i agreed with you!
Sorry about the "questionable content" denials. My anti-spam checks got bent sideways. I've fixed them, uttering many curses against spammers in the process.
Hi Alan,
My grandmother was one of the little old ladies that worked at the counter until she finally retired about 10 years ago. The coco puffs are actually quite rich and it's really because of two things.
The first, is that the little dab of chantilly frosting on top has about a block of butter in it. The second, is that the chocolate filling also has some butter in it. I don't eat these too often, but I have to agree about the breakfast at Liliha Bakery. It's a reliable standby especially in the middle of the night!
Alan - Another place full of memories for me! Like you, the coco puffs are a bit much for me, though it's probably because I really don't have much of a sweet tooth.
Reid, your grandmother worked there? That's so cool. You can tell the ladies behind the counter have been working alongside each other forever.
Kirk, I do like sweets, but maybe the butter is what does it for me. I almost never have coco puffs, breaking from the norm for breakfast yesterday. Later that same day, a friend joined us for dinner. Guess what she brought along? A dozen more coco puffs! I ate one of course, and liked it.
OMG ... I sooooooooo miss my coco puffs. They're completely addicting, once you've had one you'll want more and more. Can anyone eat just 1 and walk away? Not me that's for sure. I've been stuck here in Northern Cali almost 4 years now and I hate it. No coco puffs, no plate lunches, no bentos, no pork hash, no portuguese bean soup from Anna Miller's, and no strawberry pie, also from Anna Miller's (just to name a few).
Someone above mentioned websites with recipes for coco puffs and W&M burgers but didn't put the site links. Can someone pleaseeeeeeeeeee send me a link to these sites? I'm begging please, please, pretty please, pretty please with sugar on top(better yet with 3 coco puffs on top). lol
Mahalo
Have a Blessed Day
Shea, I haven't tried this recipe to gauge its authenticity, but here's a recipe for cocoa puffs that looks like it could be just what you're seeking.