The Local Place Bakery and Cafe

Their Hawaiian sweet rolls and rainbow cake are well known - the rainbow cake has a light, Asian-style sponge texture and isn’t overly sweet. The Dobash cake was also excellent, rich but not too sweet, and the Dole Whip had a nice sweet-and-tangy balance. For five people, we ordered the Ohana combo ($60). The fried rice was average, but the fried pork chop was pretty good. Overall, it’s a great spot for a casual meal and desserts. 📍 The Local Place Bakery and Cafe 18605 S Western Ave, Torrance, CA 90504

THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FISH AQUARIUM!! No need to drive all the way to King’s Hawaiian on Sepulveda, The Local Place has many of the same bakery items, and they’re just as delicious! I ordered the Kama‘aina Plate with three entrées (beef, kalua pork, and chicken katsu), all perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I couldn’t leave without something from the bakery! I purchased a slice of pumpkin cake with a rich orange icing and a piece of bread pudding, both absolutely fantastic. I also met Amethyst, the manager, who was such a sweetheart and provided outstanding customer service. My only small critique is that I wish the same friendliness she shows could be reflected a bit more by the rest of the staff, especially at the register. Overall, a great experience, I can’t wait to go back for more bakery treats and another delicious meal!

King's Hawaiian is local staple in the South Bay. I grew up having their wonderful Paradise Cakes for special occasions and the taste always reminds me of sunny summer birthdays. My favorites treats include the sweet rolls, rainbow bread slices, guava cake, and paradise cake. They also have wonderful pies, crinkle cookies, fruit tarts, and pineapple dole whip. They also have a large savory menu that is worth a try. Definitely worth a detour and visit!

Happened to be in Torrance to do some shopping. Got a taste for the Hawaiian Local Bakery & Cafe and was hungry, too! I got their Hawaiian Plantation Chicken plate and my sister got their Beef Stew plate. Oh my was it delicious 😋 and really hit the spot! The rice and macaroni salad were perfectly made and so yummy. Ate so much and did not even have room for their deserts 🍰. Going to have take some home for later.

Stopped by The Local Place for breakfast after a few years. Last time I was here, I'd noticed three kūpuna, good friends having a spirited discussion over coffee and a pastry. Pretty sure the same guys were there today, shooting the breeze. The restaurant's vibe was different today, however. Used to be able to come in here feeling like ohana. Today? Just another customer. The next person to be served by the lone counterterrorism trying to get through the line. Sat down for the Island breakfast. It's why I came in after all these years: just wanted some King's Hawaiian French toast. That was as I'd remembered. Sweet (didn't need the syrup), light crunch with a soft (not soggy) interior. Utensils were as flimsy as ever, barely enough to cut through the bread. Lone counterperson apologized for not having ketchup for the spam, which I was totally fine with, and offered hot sauce. None of that detracted from the breakfast. Decent food at a decent place.

First time here. Loved it. Ordering was easy and quick. Service was friendly. The food was amazing! I regret not taking any of the bakery items home for dessert. So we will definitely be back soon

I don’t dislike it. Ordered 3 entrees and 2 sides. Chicken, Katsu, Hawaiian chicken, teriyaki beef, fried rice, and potato macaroni salad. Fried rice tasted like bonito or dashi stock. Flavors from the rest of these items are generic, or can easily be found in many Japanese or Hawaiian restaurants. Overall quality was good. I’d return if convenient, but not something I’d go out of my way for.

Good sized portion. I got the one entree plate with teriyaki chicken, salad and brown rice. They messed up on the salad (missing the dressing), but fixed it when I brought it to their attention. The chicken was ok but not spectacular.

I didnt know they had this place. I recently ordered a paradise cake for my husbands birthday and had the staff write happy bday on it . well its all gone is all I can say. My kids and hubby loved it . Service there was fast and quick staff is friendly . Theres a big variety of food and beverage here . Ill most definitely be returning .

Craving some King's Hawaiian, but don't want to roll out to the restaurant? Well you're just in luck! Hit up The Local Place! From there website: The Local Place is everything you love about King's Hawaiian in a faster, more casual format. Food: I've tried the 2 Entree Kama'aina Plate. I got the Kalua Pork and the Hawaiian Chicken with Steamed Rice and Potato Macaroni Salad as a side. Always so delicious. And of course had to get a slice of Paradise Cake for dessert. And they also have all the King's Hawaiian Bread selections just like the main restaurant. I always wish they would serve breakfast later though. I'm always craving breakfast for dinner and they stop serving breakfast at 11AM! Lol. Service: Always friendly. They bring your food to your table. Price: $13.75 for the 2 entree. Worth it. Parking: Huge parking lot. Never had an issue finding parking. Will I be back? Of course! I always get King's Hawaiian cravings when I'm coming from 7 Leaves. Lol. I'll see you soon The Local Place!

We tried King's Hawaiian since we were in Gardenia, and not too far from LAX. The service is quick and fast counter ordering with a casual ambiance. We ordered the food and they brought us our Loco Moco and teriyaki chicken bowls within 10 minutes. There's even a variety of different desserts displayed to try from cakes, donuts and breads.

I often will stop by here to pick up food to go! We used to live closer and would frequent The Local Place. The food travels very well and I had a long drive back in traffic! I usually order online in advance but today it was the middle of the afternoon and I ordered at the counter. They turned out my order very quickly! I ordered the Ohana Pack #1, which easily feeds 6 people! Hawaiian Chicken was good, the Teriyaki Beef was excellent! Sides, we love their Fried Rice with the pickled ginger, and I doubled the Potato Mac Salad as it is our very favorite. You can't walk in there and not order bakery items! Never a bad choice to pick any or several items! They also have some fun prepacked Holiday items (cookie trays, rum cake, etc.). I had been craving their Paradise Cake and picked up two slices (for the two.of us). Oh so good and left me craving more. Next I am getting a whole cake, they sell the smaller ones, but will that be enough?!

Honestly this is the best Hawaiian food outside of Hawaii: especially for Kalua pork!!! No one in SoCal does a better Kalua pork nor better Hawaiian bread (this is the restaurant & bakery of the company that makes the Hawaiian rolls you buy in the grocery store!) Whenever I'm on the 405 I always stop here for lunch (they have tables you can eat inside = it's quick service order at the counter or ahead of time) or to get food to-go to take home to my family. They also have a bakery which sells desserts and different types of their Hawaiian bread (like hot dog buns, pretzel sweet Hawaiian hybrid rolls, etc Literally the BEST Kalua pork outside of Hawaii!!!

I've been coming here on the regular for a few years now. The food is always consistent and delicious. The traditional Hawaiian dishes are fantastic and the sweets, in which they are known for are Ono. The cakes and mochi donuts are limited. I suggest calling ahead to see what they have. Their main restaurant (Kings) is on Sepulveda and a full menu is available there. This being a Local Place is the neighborhood grinds. Service is always good and they are friendly so. It can get packed on the weekends so timing is a good thing. Unless your not in a hurry. Enjoy! Mahalo...

Festive decor for thanksgiving! We were served right away with a smile, and got checked out quickly. Our coffees came out quick; the mocha donuts were delicious. Next time we're in town, I'll be stopping by!

Whenever we are out in Torrance area we will always stop by The Local Place to get King's Hawaiian food. We love the fried chicken and the weekend only oxtail soup special. My kids love the spam musubi. The main reason we trek out here is for the paradise cake which is 3 layers of chiffon cake with guava, lime, passion fruit. It's is delish! We also love the chocolate dobash cake as well as the lilikoi mochi donut. I love being able to order online for a quick pick up.

4++ this location is pretty much a fast casual satellite of their main restaurant and bakery also located not too far from here. I think they pretty much have most of the offerings that they have at the main restaurant. At least the main staples. There's also a big variety the baked goods here as well, whether you want a cake for an event or a bunch of small individual items. I've been to this location quite a few times because it's located near one of my favorite breweries. On my most recent visit, I stopped by here to get a cake for a gathering with friends. I end up purchasing one of the paradise cakes. I think this cake is probably the most iconic cake and it's so visually appealing and light to taste. I'm a big fan. Also, all the folks I've interacted with here have been very friendly. Multiple visits I've never had a bad interaction with anyone. Definitely a great spot if you're looking for a quick and delicious Hawaiian food or just amazing pastries, and cakes.

it's rare that I come by here but when I do it's always great. I got my go to plate which is the loco moco. The seating area is cozy. Hawaiian music playing. Service was great. The guy who greeted me and rang me up named Daylan was super nice . Definitely going to try other dishes on the menu next time I'm here!

I love this place. Cute and quaint. Stopped in same day for a quick birthday cake. They have their own lot, friendly staff and they're very fast. I didn't call ahead of time for this cake. They offered to personalize it, which I gladly accept accepted. They also have food - great breakfast and coffee- and since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, plenty of Hawaiian rolls and other food and cakes for all your celebratory needs. I highly recommend.

I swear I've written a review of this place. I mean, how could I not? King's Hawaiian, where do I start? I love the option of having a smaller shop with quick food options for dine in or to go. If you've been to the restaurant, its very different. This location is a great place to pick up your Hawaiian bread, grab some meals on the go, with some drinks, can't forget desserts, and for me....The Paradise cake! Parking: medium sized lot VERDICT: Rinse and repeat

Great food. The staff is alway friendly. I always try to make it a point to grab a plate here when I'm in the area.

I decided to get lunch here the other day because how nostalgic it is for me. Local Place has been here as long as i can remember in the south bay, but i haven't gone in a while so I went and ordered their Chicken Katsu Curry - Loco Moco Style! (Adds two over-easy eggs on top). The chicken was real tender and moist and the egg definitely added some sauce like feel because of the runny yolk! One thing I would say about the curry is that I wish it had more curry. The ratio of Rice to curry was a bit off. If it had more curry on it, it would have been perfect! Maybe you can ask for extra curry on side! Overall experience, it was great!

My wife always pick up from this place. I tried few times love it. Free parking. Fast service

Food was excellent. Staff was really well mannered and quick. Would definitely go back. Dessert was amazing.

When I wrote my first review was over 10 years ago before I became Yelp Elite! It's time for me to write a better review. This place still rocks even after another decade. And while the menu has changed over that time, the basics are still the same. Hawaiian chicken, lomi salmon, kalua pork, King's Hawaiian french toast, saimin, and ooh that fried rice. Plus, they do spam musubi the right way! Spam in the middle! FOOD: Love the food. Known for their Hawaiian bread, I also love the rainbow bread and the many different pastries and cakes they have. The most popular is the dobash cake, but my favorite is the paradise cake (although the lilikoi crunch cake is a close second). But I come here mostly for the food. Love the Hawaiian chicken and their mac salad. Saimin and fried rice are both awesome. In fact most things are pretty darn good. You have to round it out with some Dole whip! I miss when they did specialty Dole Whip, but the regular stuff is just fine. SERVICE: Always good, sometimes great. Depends on how busy it is. But the people behind the counter are great and they get the food out quickly especially compared to how much they are "dole-ing" out all the time. Portions are great and the packaging is good when you get it to go. COST: A little pricey, but not for what you get. Really good!

I last wrote a review over 12 years ago but I was there again before the pandemic and I didn't write an update. I like this location because it is right off the freeway and easier to get to than the OG restaurant. It's a smaller location but they seem to carry almost all of the factory packaged breads, cookies and pastries as the OG. It's a good 40 minutes without traffic and an hour and 15 minutes plus with traffic one way from where we stay. I got up early and headed out so it only took me 40 minutes. I was craving a breakfast burrito which comes with fried rice and Spam or Portuguese Sausage. We got 4 burritos, 2 of each so we could split them. They were Ono and didn't disappoint. The last time I went the burritos had been getting increasingly smaller but these were a little bigger this time around. The rice is moist, all of the flavors from the different ingredients blend together nicely with either protein kicking it a notch higher. I was also able to get some pretzel bites (soft but not the true pretzel chewiness), chocolate chip with mac nut cookies, guava cookies and lilikoi cookies which were both good. I bought two of the guava croissants that looked cool but didn't taste like guava. I didn't run into the Customer Service issues like I did in the past but I didn't really need to ask for anything that might be considered out of the norm. A bit of a drive for me but if you want some good snacks, rolls or hawaiian style breakfast burritos, stop at the Local Place to eat there or take it to go. I'll be back for the lunch menu next trip to SoCal.

The Local Place and King's Hawaiian (the original restaurant on Sepulveda) are long term mainstays in the South Bay. I do appreciate their consistent flavors and their wide variety of Hawaiian dishes. It's consistently decent but probably not my first choice. But a food, solid, decent choice! Service is always kind and the ambiance is welcoming and comfortable.

My 5 star review could just be for their bakery alone! I love going to King's Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant, but their bakery is always SO busy. I love that this location isn't too far away from the main restaurant and this bakery has all of my favorites and more. With a shorter line and wait time too! I grew up always grabbing teriyaki bowls here to-go, but recently I decided to finally stay and have their Kalua pork plate with Mac salad and rice. My husband ordered the Loco Moco bowl and we each ordered some spam musubi. Honestly the portions on the 1 entree plate (for my Kalua pork) were so large. Definitely could have two meals with the amount of meat given. The Kalua pork was delicious but the Mac salad was the best part for me. If I could have just eaten their Mac salad and spam musubi I would have been in heaven. My husband did devour his loco moco bowl and I was lucky to even get a bite. I understand why he loved it! We did split a Kona iced coffee as well. We didn't add anything to it bc it was already sweet on its own. Definitely a great sweet treat with fantastic coffee. While my go-to dessert here is always the paradise cake slice, i decided to switch it up and try their Ube mochi donut. I love mochi donuts and this is just as fresh and yummy as other ones I've had. I loved the Ube flavor too. Can't go wrong with ordering anything from their bakery as it's always just perfect. Mahalo!

We were visiting from Hawaii and just had to try how this restaurant stood up to how it is back home. It for sure is not the same but we still enjoyed the food. I loved their French toast and coffee the most. I was so full afterwards that I didn't have space for dessert. But i would definitely want to try their baked goods the next time. It's nice how they have packaged cookies for sale on the merchandise side. I had to bring back a bunch of it back home.

A true "local place" that is a mainstay in the community. The fact this place has continued to thrive as the years have rolled in is a testament to the food. Whether it's the bakery/cakes or the lunch plates, this place just hits the spot regardless of the time of day. I haven't had a chance to try breakfast as I no longer work in the area, though sure it's on point with the rest of their food. Dishes are made to order so sometimes there is a bit of wait, though worth it. There is a relaxed vibe where you feel as if you're transported elsewhere, though being served some homemade family food. Always stop by when I'm in the area and you should too.

The food is more appetizing than the facade or your worst fast food experience. They have a number system for table service that works well and the employees have a positive attitude with a purpose of work. The drip coffee taste very well and my French Toast taste like it came from a $28 five star Michelin rated establishment. I will come back and try everything on the menu when convenient.

Service was excellent, great breakfast items. They have since cleaned their sewage smell associated with old pipes. Place is well maintained. New item is, get this, "shaved" ice. What kind of Hawaiian business is this? lol

Fast service and great service. Food' s great, but the soup needs to be a little hot not warm. Over all great place to have brunch

A little story behind the review, originally we put our name to wait list at the other location that have Restaurant a bit bigger. When we got there still have to wait and come to find out its special event Luau $95/person. Whoa not in the Agenda. So we came to this one and thank goodness not too crowded and we got a table. We order the Oxtail soup. We didn't know that the portion is big enough for 2 person. The taste is Amazingly delicious. very tasteful and the meat so so soft that came off of the bone. Just love it. Too bad its far away from we live. The staff super friendly and helpful. They also have the bake goods but the selection not as big as the other one. Located in the corner and very easy to spot. Parking is not a problem. The ambiance is very cozy and family friendly.

Good sized portion. I got the one entree plate with teriyaki chicken, salad and brown rice. They messed up on the salad (missing the dressing), but fixed it when I brought it to their attention. The chicken was ok but not spectacular. Nice island style atmosphere, casual but nice.

Love Hawaiian food! Thank you for bringing your food and culture to the mainland. We stopped by for breakfast and it was delicious. I got the island combo breakfast and the French toast was soft and yummy! Eggs and Portuguese sausage were also on point. I got cake and muffins from the bakery for later. As well as a spam and egg mash I. Enjoyed it all and will definitely stop by when I'm close by! Service was efficient and fast! Casual dining room for those eating there.

On a Saturday afternoon in early April, I stopped by for pineapple dole whip ice cream, buy slice of paradise cake, and pastry. The line to order at the cashier line was kinda long. The cashier was nice and I got my items in a timely manner, The pineapple dole whip ice cream was so refreshing and good, the slice of paradise cake was not sweet just right. I also bought Mac n nut pastry to eat at home which was really good after I warmed it up. Next time. I want to eat their fried chicken meal. The ambiance was nice of Hawaiian music playing in the background. I was so hungry that I forgot to take photos off my dessert.

Great little pop in and pop out food spot. The staff here are friendly and work fast. I've tried several things from the Loco Moco to the Pulled Pork to the cheeseburgers, ALL GREAT! Now I must admit I'm not Polynesian, I'm Mexican, but I think this food tastes great and authentic in my eye ‍ I could be wrong but for the average person this place is great.

I stopped in for a co workers birthday to get a cake and see what else they had since I'm not a big sweets eater (diabetic) and I have a few Hawaiian co workers so I thought I would share some with them. I got something called Mochi donuts and Spam Musubi when I got back to my office I was a big hit with my coworkers and everyone was so appreciative of my kindness.

1st time checking out this place never new they had it and I was really impressed I didn't order from the food menu but they have a pretty big selection. I only had a iced coffee and slice of a cake and they were really good . I was working making a delivery and went inside to wash my hands and seen the bakery inside so i had to try them and I'm glad i did , I'm definitely coming back to try the lunch menu and other pastries.

I have eaten at this location many times most often after I visit the Honda Dealer. They have parking on site and off street parking and it's located off 190th and Western. It's a neat and clean restaurant the staff is pretty chill and you can order takeout or sit in at the table. There's a large display of desserts delicious including Hawaiian cakes cream puffs pies cookies and so much more ( see my pics). I usually get the same thing rarely venturing outside of my box I love the kalbi ribs potato salad and Hawaiian fried chicken these are so good next up I want to try the oxtail soup. My order. Plantation Fried Chicken - lightly seasoned and crispy served on shredded cabbage a scoop of rice and potato salad a favorite of mine it's so good Potato/macaroni salad it's creamy and seasoned well I can taste garlic and pepper I like the combination of potatoes and macaroni so much it's my new favorite. Steamed Rice is standard nothing special I added soy sauce and made it work. Pineapple Oatmeal Cookies - these are the best oatmeal cookies I have ever eaten their chewy deliciousness. Paradise Cake - this three layer slice of cake is the bomb tender and moist very fruity I love it so much on my birthday I order a whole cake it's truly amazing. Their Guava Cake is absolutely delicious be sure and order a slice or two to go you will thank me. Hawaiian rolls pack of 4 I paid $2.49 and they were not in my bag that really annoyed me I'm obviously not trying back from Long Beach to get them. I want my money back! Fountain Pepsi Strong sweet and ice cold just the way I like it. My opinion. I recommend you to try this restaurant especially if you want to try something different a Hawaiian staple did called spam musubi & loco moco is very tasty and they have so many more interesting foods including desserts drinks teas and snacks that you can enjoy they also sell shirts small food items and products they look pretty good. Until next time take care friend. . Just me Shawn C.

My co-workers and I love the Paradise cake and it is on all of our birthday wish list. There are five of us in my department, so we have this cake five times a year as it is always our cake of choice when we celebrate our birthdays. The Paradise cake is very light and fluffy and not too sweet. I've had it filled with fruits before, but I prefer the basic kind without any fruits. Their French toast breakfast is also good. It comes with egg and your choice of protein. I always get mine with Portuguese sausage. I've tried their teriyaki beef before and didn't really enjoy it. It tasted okay. I'll stick to their breakfast and that Paradise cake.

This is my go to spot whenever I am headed to LAX. I always have to get a dessert with my meals. Can't go wrong with a slice of paradise cake, chocolate dobash cake, mochi donut, or Dole whip. Today's dessert is a Lilikoi crunch mochi donut for the flight out.

I had breakfast here today, this place is smaller than the one in Torrance! The food was good and fast service! I didn't have to wait long to get my food! I also ordered some sweets to go!

So, over a decade later, I noticed that I've been back more than enough times to warrant updating how I feel about The Local Place. And as you can see, my feelings have changed. I don't really dine in - I stop in to take things for take out - quick and easy. Like yesterday, stopped in for some bread to make sliders with pulled pork with the team at work. Other times, for bakery items. All the visits, were so different from my initial experience that a part of me really does feel that maybe it was just a really bad day for the staff on the day that I stopped in for lunch. But back to the subsequent visits. The counter staff is awesome. Helpful. Friendly. Courteous. Welcoming. I could go on and on but know that management is hiring and training right. At least with the staff I've encountered on my visits. Anyway, I don't know if the food has improved as every visit, it's virtually empty and the bakery is hopping. I contemplated trying dining in again however, when I'm craving food from back home, I forget about this place. But when I want bakery items, this is the place for me.

Place was ok. I ordered a 3 item plate but my plate looked like it was only 2 items. I then ordered a Lilkoi crunch cake and got the chocolate one and Black Forest(didn't care too much for this one). All in all it was ok

Food is amazing and reasonable prices. Mac nut onion rings are fire and katsu is yummy but needs a little more seasoning. I didn't order it today but their oxtail soup is delicious! Service is average, some of the workers are good and tip of things and some are ok. Ambiance reminds me of Hawaii. You walk up to order with the workers or the pos system. Then they bring the food to your seat. Will come back, thank you!

Service was quick and friendly at the counter for breakfast. Food came out in 5-10 minutes. Got the island breakfast combo and the loco moco. Never had loco moco so not sure if it's authentic. The French toast is very good. Would definitely get it again.

This is a smaller version of the original location. So you are not going to have the same dessert options as the other place. This is more of a fast food place that you can order food and dine in, but there's no full service here. The parking lot was adequate enough. I like that this is right next to the freeway so it's an easy on/off if you are craving for some of their sweets. Now you don't have to drive 20 minutes from the freeway. The place is nice and clean, but when we went, I think some of the staff was transitioning from lunch/break.

The OG for Hawaiian in the area cant go wrong here. Normally go to local spot on Sepulveda in Torrance but cool to try this one out finally! All your favs are perfectly done here looking around at all the options!

Always a quick and easy decision to pop in here for the Hawaiian fried chicken, steamed veggies, and potato mac salad. I went with the double mac salad today but on either day this is always a double portion for me. I never try to eat this in one setting. You'll always be greeted with a smile here and you can count on speedy service. Try anything from here but for sure try their desserts!

This small version of Kings Hawaiian is good to go to so you don't have to drive into Torrance. We got a combo plate and Saimin and were not disappointed. Service was fast and courteous. Food was fresh and hot. Would have liked some sort of sauce to go with the fried Hawaiian chicken. Grabbed some malasadas to go and they were pretty good.

My favorite Hawaiian food place in the southbay. Efficient friendly service. Generous potions of good "local" food (lau lau plate pictured). Reasonable prices. Quality bakery section.

My rating is exclusively on the food. I really enjoy the food and pastries. I will keep coming back. However, I will never eat inside because it is always dirty and gross if you start to look at the floor and surrounding surfaces. I have seen fast food restaurants that are cleaner. I will never get a drink from the soda machine, I just know it's filthy inside the ice machine. I hate that the pipes are exposed under the machine and I see the water filter from it in that gross thing on the floor. This spot has so much potential. I don't want to think about what the kitchen looks like. I just like to get my food and run to eat it in the comfort of my own home.

My bf and I frequent this place of course the food was great. The wait was quick and I loved the bakery, we got a Malasada, mochi donuts and the rainbow cake is my go to. We'll be back.

I always love the food here and the staff are friendly. Great spot to get bread and many other desserts. It's aways fresh. The place looks clean and parking is super easy. I really like that it's right off the 405, making it a quick and easy place to order and go. I can't emphasize the dessert and bakery enough.

I have had really good pork sliders catered so many times from here. I was craving them this evening, saw some amazing photos online, and decided to go and grab some. I arrived and they didn't have them. So I decided to get some spam musubi. They were microwaved and dry. I got a dole whip and the center was hollow, there was no syrup in it like there was in the images on yelp. I was really disappointed. Oh and they were out of lilikoi also. Man what a bummer deal.