Punalu'u Bake Shop

Bakery · Naalehu

Punalu'u Bake Shop

Bakery · Naalehu

4

95-5642 Mamalahoa Hwy, Naalehu, HI 96772

Photos

Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null
Punalu'u Bake Shop by null

Highlights

The southernmost U.S. bakery, Punalu'u Bake Shop serves up fluffy malasadas, sweetbreads, and local treats in a lush garden setting with ample outdoor seating.  

Placeholder
Placeholder

95-5642 Mamalahoa Hwy, Naalehu, HI 96772 Get directions

bakeshophawaii.com
@punaluubakeshop

$10–20 · Menu

Information

Static Map

95-5642 Mamalahoa Hwy, Naalehu, HI 96772 Get directions

+1 866 366 3501
bakeshophawaii.com
@punaluubakeshop

$10–20 · Menu

Features

payment credit card
Tap to pay
outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@afar

"Sweets for Southernmost Bakery Goers For travelers who find themselves driving on the southern end of the Big Island, a stop at the Punaluu Bake Shop should be required. The shop is clean, has an outdoor picnic area, and has a case full of tremendously delicious bakery items. Malasadas are a Hawaiian favorite food and perfect for breakfast, but the bakery also sells sandwiches, ice cream, and some local souvenirs and kitchen items."

Best of the Big Island's Small Shops
View Postcard for Punalu'u Bake Shop
@afar

"Sweets for Southernmost Bakery Goers For travelers who find themselves driving on the southern end of the Big Island, a stop at the Punaluu Bake Shop should be required. The shop is clean, has an outdoor picnic area, and has a case full of tremendously delicious bakery items. Malasadas are a Hawaiian favorite food and perfect for breakfast, but the bakery also sells sandwiches, ice cream, and some local souvenirs and kitchen items."

Breakfast and Brunch on the Big Island
View Postcard for Punalu'u Bake Shop
@afar

"Sweets for Southernmost Bakery Goers For travelers who find themselves driving on the southern end of the Big Island, a stop at the Punaluu Bake Shop should be required. The shop is clean, has an outdoor picnic area, and has a case full of tremendously delicious bakery items. Malasadas are a Hawaiian favorite food and perfect for breakfast, but the bakery also sells sandwiches, ice cream, and some local souvenirs and kitchen items."

Where to Eat on the Big Island, Hawaii
View Postcard for Punalu'u Bake Shop
@afar

"Sweets for Southernmost Bakery Goers For travelers who find themselves driving on the southern end of the Big Island, a stop at the Punaluu Bake Shop should be required. The shop is clean, has an outdoor picnic area, and has a case full of tremendously delicious bakery items. Malasadas are a Hawaiian favorite food and perfect for breakfast, but the bakery also sells sandwiches, ice cream, and some local souvenirs and kitchen items."

Wood grain pattern
If You Only Have Three Days on the Big Island
View Postcard for Punalu'u Bake Shop

Foodieextreme Foodieextreme

Google
We stopped at this amazing bakery on our way to the black sand beach and absolutely loved it. It’s the southernmost bakery in the US and such a fun stop for the whole family. There was a long line when we arrived but it moved fast and was totally worth the wait. The setting is beautiful with gardens and plenty of space to relax. We got two chocolate malasadas and two eclairs—so fresh and delicious. The iced coffee and smoothie hit the spot, and the regular coffee was great too. We also picked up two loaves of sweet bread to enjoy for breakfast the next day and they were gone by morning. My two little girls were all smiles the whole time and said it was one of their favorite stops on the trip. Highly recommend for anyone passing through!

V S

Google
Lovely historic bakery on the way to Hawaii Volcanoes national park. The bakery is set in a beautiful garden with a charming outdoor seating. They offer a wide variety of freshly baked goods. We tried the traditional masalada, which was fresh but a little too sweet. We also tried different flavors of their macadamia short bread cookies. I especially loved the guava and coffee flavored ones. This bakery is a great stop to pick up freshly baked local bites for your roadtrip.

Vijay J

Google
Very friendly staff. They ran out of malasada but we tried the sandwiches. Pastrami was good. They also have a gift shop and neat restrooms. Super cool that it’s the southern most bakery in USA

vamsi C

Google
Punaluu Bake Shop is a fun stop mainly for the novelty—it’s the southernmost bakery in the U.S.! The place is cute with a wide range of pastries and treats, definitely a hit with kids. That said, the food itself is decent but nothing mind-blowing. It’s worth a quick visit if you’re passing by, but there are definitely better food spots on the island if you’re short on time.

Pebi

Google
The southernmost bakery in Hawaii—and in the entire United States—specializes in malasadas, a type of doughnut originally from Portugal. There are many flavors to choose from, and it’s definitely worth trying the less popular ones. Many people go for the classic, but “taro” for example is surprisingly delicious and even better than the traditional option. Whether filled or plain, there’s something for everyone: those with a sweet tooth can go for a glazed one. The bakery also offers eclairs, puff pastries, coffee, souvenirs, and much more. On weekends, be prepared for potentially long lines at the registers.

Yulily

Google
05/02/2025 (Fri) We stopped by Punaluʻu Bake Shop on our way back from Hilo. It’s known as the southernmost bakery in the United States, but the place felt more like a souvenir shop that also sells sandwiches, coffee, malasadas, ice cream, and packaged snacks. They have a wide variety of sweet breads, and we picked up a guava roll ($4.99), which was fluffy, subtly sweet, and very delicious.🌺 Their signature item, malasadas, are basically Hawaiian-style donuts.🍩 We tried three kinds: the most popular Bismarck ($3.29), Lilikoi Passion Fruit ($2.39), and Traditional ($1.99). Unfortunately, they were all a bit too sweet for our taste, and the texture wasn’t as fluffy as we had hoped. Sharing just three between the two of us felt a little heavy. That said, this is purely a matter of personal preference—it seems many people really enjoy them.😊✨ There are nice patio seating areas both in front of and behind the shop. We also tried two flavors of ice cream (Lemon Peel and Ube), but they were oddly already quite melted even before being served, which made them rather messy and hard to eat.🍧 Overall, it’s a fun spot to visit at least once, especially for first-timers. But unless you’re staying nearby, we probably wouldn’t make a special trip to come back.

Jerome Cooper

Google
I recently popped into this bake shop for a quick coffee and breakfast sandwich and I was happy I did. The coffee was delicious and so was the sandwich. They had plenty of parking and awesome outdoor spaces to enjoy your meal at. The service was friendly. I’d recommend checking this place out if you’re in the area. 🤙

jared dornak

Google
I would highly recommend stopping at this place. Up until this point I thought malasadas were just mediocre sugar coated donuts. However, this place had so many flavors and such good bread. I would definitely recommend coming. The sandwiches were mediocre. Definitely come here for the suites there’s plenty of seating and beautiful scenery.
google avatar

Ronna I.

Yelp
This is a good place to grab lunch or a snack. There's plenty of parking. The bakery line was super long so we grabbed prepackaged food. We got a bean filled anpan and a half loaf of the traditional sweetbread. Both were delicious. I did sneak a peak at the bakery case, and it did look good. Probably the reason for the long line. There's a gazebo with a few tables in a beautiful landscaped area.
google avatar

Leah H.

Yelp
Ok so I forgot to take pics of our food! We were so hungry we dove right in. This place gets busy, so be patient you are going to stand in line and wait for your food. All were kind and sweet. Love the garden areas to eat in. It was so lush and pretty. The gift shop was filled with such cute items. So you could have fun shopping while you wait. The sandwiches were small, pizza was a small frozen toast able one, same ones we have brought before. But the bread and baked goods!!!! Sooooo good! That is truly why you go here!! The bread pudding was amazing .
google avatar

Edina B.

Yelp
Lovely place, you can find here ice cream, drinks, fast food and lots of tasty donuts! It is crowded, but worth to stop by and grab some sweets. There is a restroom as well for customers and lots of parking spaces are available. You can also sit outside in the garden, it's a nice green environment.
google avatar

Sanna A.

Yelp
On our way to see the volcano we stopped at this popular bakery. Please call or check online. Sometimes they close early due to some activity in town. Normal hours from what I noticed is 8-4:30 pm? Cute little shop to stop for a quick rest; bathroom break; and getting a bite to eat before heading over to hike or check out beaches near by. This is closer to Hilo side or maybe middle of Kona and Hilo 4/5 for pastries .
google avatar

Malcolm C.

Yelp
Great place to stop and stretch your legs, full deli and bakery, lots of sandwiches, fresh baked breads, fresh Malassadas filled with fresh fruit and a gift shop. When we went they were very busy but didn't have to wait long, very friendly good service.
google avatar

Linda S.

Yelp
Wow. What a busy place for a Monday afternoon!!!! It is definitely a place to stop and try their sweet breads. We ordered 4 pastries and enjoyed all of them. The passion fruit - lilikoi malasadas is a must try. It's not filled and the icing is delightful. Can't wait to try the sweetbreads They have a gift shop and a food menu too. The place smells so inviting!! I'd definitely return!
google avatar

Sophia B.

Yelp
This bakery was one of the stops on our Princess Cruise excursion. We stopped here to use the restrooms - that were very clean and well stocked. Our tour guide also bought our lunch and a treat for us here. The treat was a donut - that was fabulous! The lines were long due to several busses stopping by. The line went pretty fast. The sandwiches were on Hawaiian bread and were so fresh and the perfect lunch. I'd definitely suggest stopping here if you're in the area. There is also a cute retail store to browse in.
google avatar

Liana R.

Yelp
Dear Punalu'u Bake Shop, Giving thanks to you today not only for being open on Thanksgiving but for filling our tummies with some of the best malasadas (guava for the win!) and turnovers (pineapple and coconut, yum!) we've ever had. Your grounds were beautiful, staff super-friendly and iced coffee delicious. Thanks again for the amazing Southernmost bakery experience! Xxo, Liana
google avatar

Misa T.

Yelp
I love all of the sweetbread options! The TARO and GUAVA are my favorites! The malasadas are decent. I've definitely had better and would prefer them to be fresh and hot. They're not as good when they're premade. I ordered the teriyaki chicken, chili rice, and a mango green tea. They have a cute little souvenir store too! There's outdoor seating to eat and it's a great place to stop before or after you go to the black sand beach!
google avatar

Will C.

Yelp
We stopped by here for lunch and to load up on some malasadas and ice cream. We were a little disappointed with the plate lunches as they were just okay. I got the shoyu pork and honestly it was just okay. I also thought it was expensive. However the malasadas and sweet bread was excellent. We got a few different flavors, but our favorite was the lilikoi. We also got some ice cream and really enjoyed it. Definitely stop by here for bakery.
google avatar

Gabby A.

Yelp
My family stopped here on the way to Volcano National Park, and I was glad to be capable of visiting such an iconic Big Island institution. The service and the vibes both in and around the shop were great. I enjoyed my chicken cutlet with rice and mac salad and thought that it was good fuel after a few days of a lot of swimming and walking. The pastry on the malasadas and cream puff wasn't warm, but I'm attributing this to the fact that we visited fairly late in the day.
google avatar

Mary B.

Yelp
Yum and unexpected non food wow! This place is well worth the drive and the drive is beautiful too! 1. The donuts are all the rave! I'm not a jelly or cream inside type but the cream one was good. The bread is super fresh and be prepared for sugar overload! 2. They have a cute shop inside with various items some tourist stuff and some great local stuff like these lotions!!! I even bought some online from their store. You can't find this stuff anywhere else. 3. Parking is easy plenty of it. 4. Not much seating inside, but you can chill in your car or sitting outside enjoying the beautiful weather when not rainy. 5. Service is always great is Hawaii. We need this energy on the mainland!! 6. Bathrooms are clean and available to all. Will definitely be back!
google avatar

Morgan C.

Yelp
Busy but worth the wait! Delicious malasadas and other baked snacks. Lots of seating and live music out back! Definitely worth the stop.
google avatar

Ana D.

Yelp
This may be a tourist trap. Can't speak to the rest of the menu but the baked goods were not tasty. We were excited due to the raving reviews and ordered many items. We didn't eat any of them.
google avatar

Kevin V.

Yelp
We ordered the Traditional, Guava, and Taro Malasadas today and found them fluffy and tasty. I don't think we are huge fans of Malasadas and they seemed like "fast food" quality to us Malasada newbies. The service delivered fast foods with an ambiance like a typical donut shop.

Jennifer C.

Yelp
Dishes: Haupia and Taro Rating: 7/10 The haupia came as a slice, which was an interesting twist compared to the usual crème we're used to. Both dishes were good overall! The staff was incredibly friendly, and service was quick despite the long-looking lines. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area! !
google avatar

Joseph T.

Yelp
Came to Punalu'u bake shop today after checking out the volcano btw you can walk on top of a volcano opening crazy right. I didn't do that but you can do it. Anyway at the bottom at least I think it was the end idk Lies the bake shop they are most definitely a hidden gem they make some of the best bismark doughnut I've tasted in a long time it was fresh and the filling was light and creamy not overly sweet . The Malasada I tasted were good. I would most definitely recommend this place if you are in the area. The service was so good the were so patient and friendly. Keep up the great work. How can I get some of your bread on the mainland Lancaster,ca?
google avatar

Jenny G.

Yelp
Malasada aka Hawaiian donuts! If you haven't had them, you must visit this bakery shop; it's the "southern most bakery in the USA". We stopped here on our way to Volcanoes National Park and were not disappointed. They have a variety of traditional malasada which are like sugared donuts. I'd recommend trying the mango. They also have taro, guava, cream filled, and other fun flavors. You can also get coffee, other beverages, lunch (sandwiches or hot plates, and even souvenirs! There was a long line but we got our order pretty quickly. Easy and free parking. Busy atmosphere inside but not hectic.
google avatar

Jess W.

Yelp
The cheeseburger was a really nice surprise! It was very delicious. I wish I had a second one. The meat was interesting looking, but I looked beyond that because it tasted so good. I really enjoyed the bread rolls that I got both the guava and the original tasted delicious! They were only $.50 apiece. I wish I got more, perhaps a whole bag. I think I'm just salty over sweet I thought the sugar / original malasada was alright. I don't care for custard filled things. But my partner enjoy it! It can get busy here but, patience is key! There are two lines, both provide the same service!
google avatar

Jill C.

Yelp
Yum! Stop here for delicious malasadas, breads and souvenirs. There's ample outside seating to enjoy your treats. There's two lines - one for malasadas and one for other food - make sure you choose the right one for you!
google avatar

Therese H.

Yelp
Cool little stop on the way to/from Punalu'u Beach! Punalu'u is a favorite bake shop in the islands, known for their colorful flavored breads such as guava and taro. They also make a variety of shortbread cookies, and at this shop you'll find flavors you might not find in the stores! There's ample parking in front, and a bunch of pavilions with seating to enjoy the plate lunches, Malasadas, ice cream and more that they sell. Lots of unusual pasalubong and other souvenirs too, that you won't see in other stores. Staff is friendly and helpful. Worth the stop!
google avatar

Jennifer C.

Yelp
You can smell this place before you even enter and it smells delicious! We came on a Tuesday around noon and there was quite the line, be patient. It probably took about 20 minutes for us to order our malasadas. There are two ordering counters. One by the malasadas and another counter around the bar that has the food menu shown. You can order malasadas from either. We got a variety. The ube, guava, haupia and passion fruit. The dough was very bready but not dense. It definitely is more filling than a typical donut. It's a good size as well. The flavors were on the milder side but still good. The passion fruit one only had flavoring in the icing on top and it was pretty sweet but had good flavor. I'd definitely recommend checking out at least once! Prices are reasonable as well.
google avatar

Lisa V.

Yelp
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE BAKESHOP. Don't miss this amazing bakery! Each item was sweet and fluffy, the chocolate inside the malasadas were sweet and the chocolate filling was a perfect complement! The sweetness but not too much reminded me of Longs donuts in Indiana. This is a must stop on the island! Get some to eat there and to go! THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE FOOD. As good as the bakery is the food is the exact OPPOSITE. We could not finish our food and we had ordered burgers/ Caesar salad/ turkey sandwich/ pastrami sandwich/ pizza. While I was not expecting much, it was six flags food. There are many amazing different places to get lunch or dinner around: go there. Come here to get alllllll your sweet, yummy goodness and leave it at that. They even had a cute little Hawaii Knick knack shop with prices that weren't too bad.
google avatar

Kari S.

Yelp
Located off of the Momalahoa Hwy, we stopped for a bite during a visit to Volcanoes National Park and Panalu'u Beach in Naalehu. Location is small with outdoor / covered seating. There is a bakery line and a deli line so you may need to order twice. We opted for a pastrami sandwich, a cheese burger, and a teriyaki chicken sandwich. The food itself was good, although the portions somewhat small. We also grabbed a Bismarck, a chocolate filled Masalada, and a cream filled pastry. All of the food was delicious. The location was very busy and it took a good deal of time to get our food. It's worth a stop if you're willing to wait.
google avatar

Jamie O.

Yelp
Do yourself a favor and do not skip. I drove past this not once but twice and I regret it. I think I had the best vanilla latte with coconut milk I've ever had and will ever have. I had a traditional sugar coated doughnut and I would recommend going early because they were out of the other by the time I got there. The staff were all so nice and welcoming. They were being hit with a little rush so there was a small wait for my coffee but nothing crazy. There's no seating inside but there was some seating outside. 12/10 recommend making the stop if you're in the area or passing by.
google avatar

Miranda T.

Yelp
Read so many good reviews about this place and-having a huge sweet tooth-I knew I had to check it out! I came here after lunch for a sweet treat. It was quite late in the afternoon so they were out of many options, but luckily they still had the haupia malasada which was the main thing I wanted to try. The malasada was so soft and fluffy, it had the perfect texture. And the haupia filling added a great flavor as well. It was the perfect treat to satisfy my craving!
google avatar

Victorya R.

Yelp
They always have fresh malasadas and lunch menu! Super busy, but service and speed is always on point!
google avatar

Jacquelyn E.

Yelp
Definitely a cute shop to visit, has a good variety of food/desserts to choose from. Good place to start if you are heading out for a beach day the service was fast, you can tell they are use to the fast pace of people coming through the building you will be in and out in pretty fast.
google avatar

Vidhi P.

Yelp
Wow! We stopped by on purpose way to Punalu'u Beach for a delicious beach snack. The signage and decor is super cute and advertises this place as the Southern most bakery in the US. We got a couple malasadas to try: chocolate, coconut, lilikoi, and guava. They were absolutely incredible!! The lilikoi and guava were my favorite. The lilikoi frosting was light and not too sweet. The guava was filled with a fruit paste, which definitely enhanced the guava flavor more. They had soo many other options and it was difficult picking our flavors, so you can't go wrong! Great place to stop by on the way to the beach!
google avatar

Yvette C.

Yelp
Best prices on plate lunches and best Malasadas (Portuguese donuts)on the Island. Great Ambiance and lots of parking. Sometimes there's a ukulele singer who entertains. It's nice and roomy inside and area to sit all around the property. Across the street is a coffee place to visit and sample their coffee.
google avatar

Roya J.

Yelp
The sweet bread was pretty good, haupia malasada was interesting. Not bad, but not my favorite. Lighter coconut flavoring than what I'm used to, much thinker and gelatinous. The ube malasada had an interesting flavor, which hubby thought was nutmeg. I liked it, but can also see "traditionalists" not so much. Down to the ice cream. I liked that it wasn't overly sweet, but again wish both the ube and kulolo had stronger flavors.
google avatar

Katherine G.

Yelp
The malasadas here I'd give a 4, but the food I'd give a 2 so this ultimately balances out to 3 stars. We first came here with the intention to only try the malasadas, and they were pretty good! Very affordable, and good flavor. We got the lilikoi, guava, mango, and taro. These are different in the sense that they aren't filled, but rather the dough is flavored. Our favorites were the lilikoi and taro, both of which were very yummy. After seeing that there weren't many other food options in the area, we decided to get lunch here too. The wait was so long - almost 30 minutes in line to get it. When we finally did, the food was so disappointing and it really just felt like a school lunch. The roast pork with gravy was dry and bland, and the bbq chicken literally tasted like packaged chicken with random bbq sauce on top. I would not recommend getting the food, but the malasadas are worth it!
google avatar

Therese K.

Yelp
Day trip from the Kohala Coast to Black Sand Beach my favorite stop is the Punalu'u Bake Shop. The line moves quickly, don't let that deter you. The service was friendly in the spirit of Hawaiian Olu'olu. I had a Chicken Cutlet Plate Lunch with rice and Mac salad, definitely hit the spot after a long drive. The guava malasada was ono. The Taro bread was "broke da mouth" delicious. A perfect stop on your way to Punalu'u Beach.
google avatar

Gina M.

Yelp
Last time we came to the big island, this place was sold out of Malasadas, so we made sure to make the long trek here, and it was honestly disappointing. The malasadas were on the verge of being stale at 10am, the breakfast sandwich was okay, and the coffee tasted like a sweet McDonald's iced coffee. Not that I've had a McDonald's coffee, but it's what I imagine they'd tasted like. Pass.
google avatar

Art C.

Yelp
It was pretty good... Crazy line though. We didn't understand why there would be such a demand for this place. The pastries were good, but not super long line good. But hey, judge for yourself...
google avatar

Leland N.

Yelp
First time here and it was a cool place to see. I've always seen there bread in our stores on Oahu but have never been to the actual place till now. The outdoor seating was nice and cool especially when we went there was a nice breeze. The lady that took our order was very nice and helpful. I had the roast pork and man I got to say the roast pork melted in my mouth it was super delicious. Their Mac salad that it came with was ono too. Definitely gonna come back here the next time I visit the Big Island.
google avatar

Alyssa A.

Yelp
Definitely wanted to try malasadas on our visit to Hawaii, so Punalu'u Bake Shop was a must-stop on our trip - we were on our way to the Black Sand Beach and then to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, and this bakery (the most southern bakery in the United States) was conveniently right on our way! All of the great things people are saying about Punalu'u are 100% true. Their malasadas were incredible! We tried the traditional, Bismark (vanilla stuffed, chocolate glazed), and the apple-stuffed. All were so delicious - the traditional held my heart while my husband loved the Bismark. Wish we could've stopped here a second time on our trip! They also sell meals here and have a decent little shop attached with souvenirs and necessities. We were lucky, and it wasn't busy at all while we were here (but we heard it gets super busy!). They also have a second little building to the side where they do all their baking. Nice seating area outside to enjoy your food. Nice, clean bathrooms if you need a stop. Highly recommend coming here for some delicious malasadas.
google avatar

Justin P.

Yelp
Overall experience: 7.0/10 The place is located off the highway when driving south of the island. The area is beautiful and the outdoor seating is perfect to wind down at hearing the waterfall in the background. The service was also super nice and the store was a combination of a gift shop, convenience store with a bakery and food stall. The food: I really wanted to give this a 5 star review if it were the malasadas alone. The malasadas were amazing, plump tasty, sweet, fluffy and a great price. The creme was also not overly sweet and had amazing balance. The lilikoi had a perfect tartness and was super indulgent. The guava and mango jam malasadas were fruity and had a lot of chucks and was delicious. I will 100% be back for their amazing malasadas. What falls short for me was their food plates. We ordered a beef plate and a chicken teriyaki plate and it was very underwhelming. The beef was very similar to school lunch meat, and had an artificial taste to it. The macaroni salad was okay and the rice was good, but the beef quality and gravy were not it. The beef itself was bland and the gravy was even overly salty and watery. The chicken teriyaki plate was slightly better as the chicken seemed a little fresher, but the teriyaki sauce was overly sweet and the chicken was bland and under seasoned. Overall: I would come here, 100%, when driving to the south of the island. I just wouldnt try the plates and save my stomach for something else but the Malasadas are a must try.
google avatar

Crystal D.

Yelp
Love it, great stop. Customer service was warm and welcoming. Bismark Malasada is the best! Soft and creamy, chocolate on top. Yum!
google avatar

Michele L.

Yelp
When you walk up to this adorable HI bakery the delicious smell makes you want to try every single made item on site. I don't know where to start in what to choose, so what got one of everything and that is what I would recommend!
google avatar

David M.

Yelp
If you are driving to/from the Volcano to/from Kailua-Kona, you need to make a pitstop at the Punalu'U Bake Shop. After all, it is the southernmost bakery in the US!!! Everyone raved about the Malasadas here and they have other food like sandwiches and coffee but we got the malasadas. Freshly deep fried dough tastes good! We tried the original, ube, guava, apple pie and lilikoi (passion fruit). To our surprise, the ube and guava ones do not have any fillings but we're still super tasty. But, check the two display cases and find a flavor that you like. I'm sure it will be delicious.
google avatar

Angela H.

Yelp
If you come to 1 star to check the bakery reviews --- the bakery goods are amazing, This review is about the service. My husband and I stopped by, attracted by the high reviews. The lady with glasses named Renee behind the counter took our orders. After ordering some hot food, we started ordering the donuts. I asked her, "What's your recommendation?" and showed her a photo I had just taken. Her response was, "I don't eat donuts." I then asked, "Oh, okay, what's the most popular one?" She gave me the same answer, "I don't eat donuts," with an impatient tone. My husband didn't really pay attention to the conversation since our 7-year-old was talking too. He came up and asked her, "What is your favorite donut?" She gave the same answer and finally pointed to my photo, saying, "That one is the 2nd most popular donut." Realizing I couldn't get any help from her, I just ordered something that looked good. We understand and respect that people have different diets, but she works in a bakery. She should at least know which kinds are the most popular. If things had ended there, this review wouldn't exist. During the payment, my husband skipped the tip. First, this is a fast-food-style ordering system. There is no service--we pick our own food, throw away the trash, and cleaned the table. Second, we didn't have a pleasant experience or receive any helpful recommendations from Renee. After seeing the payment without a tip, Renee complained in a low voice, but we still heard her say, "I knew it!" What did she mean by "I knew it"? Did she know because of her attitude we didn't leave a tip? Or because we are Asian and there's a stereotype that Asians don't tip well? She is Asian too! We pay tips for good service, not just because there is a tip option on the payment machine. Paying tips is optional! No service, no tips!
google avatar

Jessica D.

Yelp
I've heard so many great things about this bakery and I was so glad we were able to visit them! Their malasadas were so fluffy and warm. They serve different flavors for the malasadas and you can choose with or without filling. They have lots of other bakery items too like bread and shortbread cookies. Besides bakery items, they have savory items like sandwiches and chips too. I wish I bought more of their macadamia short bread cookies!
google avatar

Ernest G.

Yelp
Everyone in Hawaii has eaten their sweetbreads. It's nice to go and visit their bake shop. It's very small and doesn't take many tourists to fill it up. Their assortment of sweetbreads can be found all over the State. But the bake shop also has an assortment of malasadas, turnovers, and cream-filled donuts.
google avatar

Michael L.

Yelp
Okay, can I say that these might be the best malasadas I've had in awhile? Dare I say, maybe even better than Leonard's? We got here as soon as they opened and they were fresh, warm, and filled with an immense amount of filling! We tried passionfruit, Bavarian cream, plain, and mango. They were all a hit! Will definitely be back to visit the most southern bakery in the USA!
google avatar

Kathy G.

Yelp
I had malasadas awhile back in Honolulu but since it wasn't fresh (few hours old), so I couldn't give it a fair judgement. After having malasadas from here, I can say I just like regular donuts more than malasadas. Service was quick and efficient. The malasadas just wasn't for me.
google avatar

Marilyn C.

Yelp
We have been wanting to try Malasadas in this island as the other bakery sold out when we had gone. We were headed to Volcano national park and this bakery was a pit stop before heading there. They have many varieties of Malasadas at very reasonable prices. The Malasadas in the Kona and Waikoloa area were $5/each. They were way under $5 each here. Some of the filled Malasadas were vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, pineapple, apple, taro, haupia(coconut), lilikoi glazed, and more. There were also flavored ones (guava, taro). There were also burgers and drinks too. We ordered the lilikoi lemonade, mango lemonade and the coffee frosty which were delicious. There are 2 lines when you get there. The other line is through the second door. There are quite a bit of shaded seating areas.
google avatar

Vivian U.

Yelp
I've looked up this place and had made a mental note we'd visit weeks before our trip, but on the morning of we were so busy getting the kids out the door I forgot to tell hubs who was navigating that we needed to make a stop here on the way to the black sand beach. Fortunately my bread radar went off minutes before we passed by the shop so we made a stop. It featured a line out the door at around 10-11am, so I went inside to check it out while hubs stood in line. I discovered another line at another register inside the store so I asked somebody the difference between the two lines. "No difference," they said, "just that this line is shorter." Bingo! We only truly had a chance to look at the selection of malasadas once we were in line. Kids chose the chocolate eclair (turned out it wasn't a great choice if you didn't eat it right away...) And strawberry malasada. Adults shared the lilikoi glazed and it was yummy even eaten a few hours later. But the best purchase imo was the apple cinnamon sweetbread. I've only ever purchased the guava and taro flavored rolls in the grocery store when I frequented Waimea, but I hadn't seen this before -probably because it had actual bits of apple in it. (They also had another one that featured a combination of everything but kids weren't interested.) At the end of our trip, our 2yo ended up eating 80% of the loaf! Can't wait to come back next time and really load up!
google avatar

Nica L.

Yelp
Love this restaurant location. We've been here many times because we just like this spot. They keep their grounds nice and their eating areas pretty clean, which is great. Their breads are good (according to my husband and kids.) I don't know though, they don't make gluten free pastries or bread so I can't eat their baked goods here. We did eat lunch here though. I had a teriyaki chicken plate which was a little dry but the flavor was good. Also had a taro smoothie-- which was really good. Took a star off because we were in line and the woman at the counter told us to stand in the other line at the front of the store because the "register was broken." We did and that line was full of people who could not make up their minds and kept changing their orders. On top of this, the short line we were were originally in mysteriously opened a minute later and everyone started piling into that line because the goofies in front of us were taking forever. And when we finally got to the register, the short blond cashier was rude to us (she was kissing the slow crowd's butt right before) and when I asked her for a "kalo smoothie" she rudely snapped "a what? You mean a TARO SMOOTHIE." It's the Same thing! We call taro, kalo in Hawaii! I'm not wrong. She needs to learn our Hawaiian language if she's going to continue to live in Hawaii! So yeah, minus a star for the inconvenience and the rudeness. Other than that, it's a good place to rest, buy snacks and souvenirs and fill up. Highly recommend!