Liliha Bakery has been in business for over half a century. If you have a serious sweet tooth, this landmark bakery is a “must do” for anyone looking to explore local cuisine while in Honolulu. I would like to add, if you are on a diet, one visit to Liliha Bakery and you could be in trouble! But what the heck, if you are going to cheat – this is the spot to indulge!
This neighborhood bakery and coffee shop famous for its coco puffs, was founded on Oahu in1950 by Roy and Koo Takakuwa. So what are these coco and cream puffs you ask? In a word – heaven!
The family keeps all the recipes very guarded, however we do know that the “puff” uses a special pastry shell. The coco version is injected with a chocolate pudding filling and topped with a Chantilly frosting that is extremely buttery and sweet. The cream version is filled with custard and topped with chocolate. These are not treats for those watching their waistline, as the bakery goes through 150 pounds of butter a day. A spokesperson for the bakery stays away from words like “fat” and “high calorie” preferring to use the term “high-energy food” when describing the products.
While the bakery sells a variety of other baked goods such as cakes, pies, pastries and breakfast – the top seller by a mile, is the coco puff. On an average day, Liliha sells 250 to 300 DOZEN of its signature puffs. That breaks down to over 3,000 chocolate injected puffs selling at a little over a dollar each. The aim at the bakery is to keep nothing on the shelf for more than four to six hours. So you can rest assured everything is fresh.
Local custom here in Hawaii is to bring in a box of coco puffs to work to share with your co-workers. Or if you really want to be popular, bring a dozen to a dinner party for desert. I encourage you to make a trip to this historic sweet spot and while there – be sure to pick up a box of coco puffs to go! For more information or to place pre-orders call 808.531.1651 www.lilihabakeryhawaii.com
