The next time you’re on the Valley Isle — and craving something sweet — these three bakeries are worth the drive:
Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop features a full-on café menu in a comfortable, family-friendly dining room, but no experience is complete without its savory and sweet pies.
Savory pot pies include chicken ($13) — chicken breast, peas, carrots, kale and homemade chicken gravy — and beef and potatoes ($15), which includes in-house roasted beef, fried potatoes, beef gravy and creamy horseradish on the side.
The dessert pie selection includes flavors like banana cream, apple crumb, chocolate haupia, coconut cream and chocolate mac nut ($10 each). Banana cream is the most popular flavor, but the peanut butter pie is my personal favorite ($10). Complete with a crumbly graham cracker crust, cream cheese and peanuts on top, this creamy dessert is downright decadent.
Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop, 820 Olowalu Village Road, Lahaina, 808-662-3600, leodas.com
Komoda Store and Bakery
Fun fact: Komoda Store and Bakery has been serving the Maui community for more than 105 years. The business’s original location — as a coffee station and general store — first opened in 1916.
Currently located in quaint Makawao, the store is known for its stick donuts, cream puffs, malasada sticks and cinnamon rolls. The stick donuts and malasada sticks are a must for any first-time customer. If you have a serious dessert craving, go for the malasadas with a vanilla cream filling or the cocoa puff with chocolate custard.
Komoda Store and Bakery, 3674 Baldwin Ave., Makawao, 808-572-7261
Momona Bakery and Coffee Shop
Located in Kahului — and conveniently close to the airport — Momona Bakery and Coffee Shop specializes in medialunas, or Argentinian croissants. Medialunas are softer and denser, compared to flakier croissants, and the bakery’s dulce de leche flavor is signature treat.
Other popular treats include cinnamon rolls and almond croissants. The creamy chocolate croissant ($7.75) — crispy, flaky and buttery on the outside and filled with a luscious chocolate pastry cream — is one of my favorites.
The bakery — which opened in early 2023 — also offers sandwiches, savory pastries (including empanadas) and beverages, ranging from cold brews and lattes to smoothies.
Momona Bakery and Coffee Shop, 7 E. Kaʻahumanu Ave., Kahului, 808-214-5389
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
