Menupedia is an independent reference. Not affiliated with any restaurant listed. Menu data reviewed May 2026 — confirm with the official source before ordering.
Menupedia
Hawaiian Malasada Bakery · Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu HI

Leonard's Bakery Menu Honolulu — Malasada Prices & Flavors 2026

Leonard's Bakery has been the heart of Honolulu's malasada tradition since 1952 — a third-generation Portuguese-Hawaiian family bakery on Kapahulu Avenue that turned a simple immigrant doughnut into one of Hawaii's most beloved food traditions. The line outside is part of the experience.

MalasadasHonoluluHawaiiPortugueseBakery
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Sample · $

Signature items

Malasada (Plain)$1.35
Malasada Pop — Custard$1.65
Malasada Pop — Haupia$1.65
Malasada Pop — Li Hing$1.75
Bag of 6 (Plain)$8.10
Jump to: What Is a Malasada? Menu Highlights Flavor Guide Visiting Tips Best Value Picks How We Compare About Leonard's Full Menu FAQs

What Is a Malasada — and Why Is Leonard's the Original?

A malasada is a Portuguese fried doughnut — a round ball of eggy, yeast-leavened dough deep-fried until golden and rolled in granulated sugar. No hole, no glaze, no filling in the original version — just warm, pillowy dough with a slightly crispy sugar crust.

Leonard's Bakery popularized the malasada in Hawaii in 1952, when the Rego family brought their Portuguese baking tradition from the Azores to Honolulu. The original product was the Pao Doce (sweet bread), but the malasada became the star. Today Leonard's is credited with establishing Malasada Day on Fat Tuesday — a Hawaii tradition where lines stretch around the block for fresh-fried malasadas on Shrove Tuesday.

The filled "malasada pop" was a Leonard's innovation — piping custard, haupia, dobash, guava, or li hing cream into the dough created a product that took the original to another level and spawned dozens of imitators across Honolulu.

How to Visit Leonard's Bakery

A practical guide for first-timers visiting Honolulu's most celebrated bakery.

  • Arrive early — the 5:30 am opening gets the first batch of the day, the shortest queue, and the hottest malasadas
  • Order one plain to eat immediately — before you order your box, eat one fresh plain malasada warm from the fryer; it is the benchmark experience
  • Try haupia — if you are going to try one filled variety, make it haupia; it is the most distinctly Hawaiian option
  • Order in quantity — malasadas are $1.35; a bag of 12 is $16.20. There is no reason to leave with fewer than you think you need
  • Avoid Fat Tuesday unless you love lines — or arrive before 6 am if you do; lines reach 2+ hours by 8 am
  • Eat within 30 minutes — malasadas cool and lose their texture; they are at their best within minutes of frying
1952Year Founded
$1.35Plain Malasada
5+Filled Flavors
5:30amDoors Open

Fat Tuesday at Leonard's — Hawaii's Malasada Day

Why Fat Tuesday?

The Portuguese tradition of eating malasadas on Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras) came to Hawaii with the Azorean immigrants who worked on the sugar plantations. Leonard's helped establish the tradition in Honolulu, and it has since become a Hawaii-wide celebration with lines at every malasada bakery in the islands.

What to Expect

On Fat Tuesday, Leonard's opens early and operates in overdrive mode. Lines begin forming before dawn; the bakery sells thousands of malasadas throughout the day. The plain and filled varieties sell equally well. Arrive before 6 am to avoid the worst queues — or embrace them as part of the Hawaii cultural experience.

The Leonard's Truck

Leonard's operates a Malasada Truck that circulates Oahu and appears at events, markets, and festivals throughout the year. The truck serves the same menu as the Kapahulu bakery. Check Leonard's website or Instagram for the truck's current schedule — it often appears at Ala Moana, Ward Village, and community events.

Pao Doce — The Original

The Portuguese sweet bread (Pao Doce) was the founding product of Leonard's Bakery in 1952 — before the malasada became the star. Available in small ($4.50) and large ($8.00) loaves and as individual rolls ($2.50), it is a soft, eggy, golden-crusted bread that makes exceptional French toast or a standalone breakfast.

Best Value Picks at Leonard's Bakery

The most value-efficient orders at Honolulu's most beloved bakery — from the $1.35 classic to the best bag-size for groups.

  1. 1Malasada PlainThe best $1.35 you will spend in Hawaii$1.35
  2. 2Custard Filled30-cent upgrade that most regulars make$1.65
  3. 3Haupia FilledLocal coconut filling — quintessentially Hawaiian$1.65
  4. 4Bag of 6 PlainShareable bag, perfect price for a group$8.10
  5. 5Portuguese Sweet Bread RollGreat bakery addition for $2.50$2.50

Leonard's Bakery vs. Other Honolulu Malasada Shops

How the original compares to other beloved Honolulu malasada destinations.

Leonard's BakeryAgnes' Portuguese Bake ShopChampion's Malasadas
Est. Year195219522005
Plain Malasada Price$1.35$1.40$1.45
Filled Malasada Varieties5+44
Li Hing FlavorYesNoYes
Haupia FlavorYesYesNo
Original Honolulu LocationYes (Kapahulu)Yes (Kalihi)Kiosk only

About Leonard's Bakery

Leonard's Bakery was founded in 1952 by Leonard and Margaret Rego, Portuguese-Hawaiian immigrants who opened a small bakery on Kapahulu Avenue to share the baking traditions of their Azorean heritage with Honolulu. The Pao Doce (sweet bread) was the original product, but the malasada — a plain fried doughnut from the pre-Lent Portuguese tradition — became the item that defined the bakery for the next 70+ years.

The Rego family has operated Leonard's for three generations. The bakery has expanded its space and equipment over the decades but has maintained its original location on Kapahulu, just a few blocks from Waikiki. The continuity of the recipe and the family's presence behind the counter is a large part of why Leonard's retains a loyalty that newer competitors cannot replicate.

Leonard's is credited with establishing Malasada Day in Hawaii — the Fat Tuesday tradition of eating malasadas before Lent. What began as a Portuguese-immigrant custom has become a statewide celebration embraced by people of every ethnic background in Hawaii, and Leonard's remains at the center of it every year.

Full priced menu

Leonard's Bakery — complete menu with prices

All malasada varieties, breads, and drinks with current prices. Data reviewed May 2026. Prices may vary — confirm with the bakery.

Common questions

Leonard's Bakery Honolulu — frequently asked questions

What malasadas are, best flavors, wait times, Fat Tuesday, prices, and visiting tips for Hawaii's original malasada bakery.

What is a malasada?
A malasada is a Portuguese fried doughnut — a ball of eggy, yeast-leavened dough deep-fried and rolled in sugar. Unlike American doughnuts, malasadas have no hole and are typically eaten fresh and warm. Leonard's Bakery introduced them to Hawaii in 1952, drawing on the Portuguese immigrant community's baking traditions. Today they are an iconic Hawaii food, as closely associated with the islands as shave ice or plate lunch.
What is the best malasada filling at Leonard's?
Custard is the most popular filled variety — a rich vanilla cream that pairs perfectly with the warm, eggy dough. Haupia (coconut milk pudding) is the local favorite for its distinctly Hawaiian flavor. For adventurous first-timers, li hing (sweet-salty plum) is the quintessentially local choice that you simply cannot get anywhere else.
When is the best time to visit Leonard's Bakery?
Early morning (5:30–8 am) delivers the freshest product with the shortest wait. Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras) is the busiest day of the year — lines start forming before dawn and the bakery sells thousands of malasadas. Weekend mornings have longer queues than weekday mornings. The malasadas are made throughout the day, so mid-afternoon visits still get fresh product.
How long is the wait at Leonard's Bakery?
On a typical weekday morning, expect 5–15 minutes. Weekend mornings can be 20–40 minutes. Fat Tuesday lines can exceed 2 hours — locals arrive before 6 am. The line moves steadily as malasadas are cooked in constant batches.
Can I order malasadas in advance at Leonard's?
Leonard's accepts large advance orders for events and gatherings — call ahead for bulk orders. Walk-in orders are always the freshest as they are cooked to order for smaller quantities. No online ordering is available; the bakery is cash-and-card walk-in for standard orders.
How much does a malasada cost at Leonard's Bakery?
Plain malasadas are $1.35 each. Filled malasada pops (custard, haupia, dobash) are $1.65. Guava and li hing fillings are $1.75. A bag of 6 plain malasadas costs $8.10. A dozen plain malasadas is $16.20. These are among the best-value baked goods in Honolulu.
Where is Leonard's Bakery located?
Leonard's Bakery is located at 933 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816. It is in the Kapahulu neighborhood, close to the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki. Ample parking is available in the lot. Bus route 14 stops nearby. A Leonard's Malasada Truck also operates at various locations around Oahu — check their website for the truck's schedule.
Is Leonard's Bakery good for vegetarians or vegans?
All malasadas are vegetarian — they contain eggs, milk, and butter but no meat. The Pao Doce (sweet bread) is also vegetarian. The products are not vegan due to eggs and dairy. No gluten-free options are available as malasadas are a wheat-flour product.

More restaurant menus on Menupedia

Full menus and guides for restaurants and bakeries across Hawaii and the mainland — from Honolulu classics to national destinations.

Browse the directory