Reviews of Punalu'u Bake Shop (Bakery)

Michael Lynch

This place is amazing. The different fruit filled breads are out of this world. The one downer is it is indeed of out in the middle of no where and still the lines were long which just goes to show you that people know about this place.

Matt Porter

What a great find as we toured the island. We stopped in to take a break and use the restroom. We left with a bag full of delicious treats. Hope to visit again next time we are on the Big Island.

Tanya Madrid-Campbell

Amazing donuts! Warm and Not too sweet

Jimmy Crumpton

Smells so good

David Parsons

Amazing baked goods and bread to go!

Jonathan Reeves

Great lunch and cakes. Very remote but a welcomed stop along the way

Vic K

This became a favorite stop while traveling around the island The baked goods are worth the drive alone. Later in the day, their remaining goes on sale for 1/2 price so you can eat twice as much!

Sara Crowell

Absolutely love coming here, well worth any drive. The malasadas are always fresh baked and the staff is friendly. Place is usually pretty clean but usually pretty busy.

Sandra Billings

Loved the malasadas. Second time to visit! Great place for lunch as well!

Tyler Bakke

Always look forward to coming here every time I visit Hawaii. I've never had a better donut/masalada. I definitely recommend the lilikoi glazed or guava filled. Although every other pastry they make is amazing! A must for anyone going to the big island, just make sure to get there early.

Gil Mayo

The Hawaiian rolls from this bakery are much better then the King’s Hawaiian we typically buy from the grocery store in the main land. The rolls here aren’t sugary like King’s. Best rolls I’ve ever had.

Chip Fox

Great bakery. The food that they were serving looked great as well. It can get crowded and they tend to sell out of items as the day goes on. Dont pass this stop up if you love baked goods. Worth every calorie...

Michael Baumann

Have to stop it's to good not to you'll find yourself turning around to go get more

Donald Mulliken

The people there are really nice. The food is really good and the price is fairly reasonable

Carter McGowen

The baked goods were amazing. However, I would skip the deli. It took a long time to get a sandwich that was pretty mediocre. This is a busy and touristy spot. If you just stop in for the baked goods and they will get you in and out quick. The staff was very friendly as well.

Doreen Kaneko

There breads are very good.

Samuel Hicks

If you are passing through this is a must stop. Such a cute little place. Snacks. Hats. Nick nacs Donuts. Friendly staff. And if you love the large trees on this island. They sell a bonzi that grows into a miniature version. Already packaged, sealed, amd ready for agriculture at the aitport.

Ann McNamara

Visited here as part of a circle island tour on The Big Island of Hawaii. Their donuts are lovely... call them what you will, they are donuts. Tried a selection and our favorite was the apple and cinnamon. Close second was the macadamia cream. Queue was quite big but moved quickly.

Vicki Kutz

Great selection of Masaldas! Very busy in a cute little town. We are at the food truck across the road, grilled shrimp and steak. Best meal I had on the Island!

Jessica Fitzhugh

It's amazing! Visited while on my vacation and come home with 12+ boxes of their cookies in a variety of flavors.

Cort Gariepy

This place is one of those Don't Miss places on the south side. If theres a better bakery in Hawaii, I don't know of it. Pretty much everything they make is awesome. Come by on Thursdays and Saturdays for live music by Unka Sonny.

Mitchell St Clair

Classic tourist stop. Delicious locale pastries and decent food. Bring your patience though as the wait can often be 20-30 minutes

Tamara Heinrich

The baked goods are amazing, but the employees were cold, and made us feel like we weren't welcome there.

M Johnson

We love this place! Besides their famous sweet bread, you can get ice cream & something to eat as well.

Cheryl Bowlin

Definitely a must stop! Sample their fresh bread or try one of their decadent pastries. Great little gift shop.

Justin Holstead

A must stop if you are driving by! The chocolate and cream stuffed Bismarck was my favorite. Stop by and grab some sandwiches for a picnic if your heading to the green sand or blacks and beach.

Gilbert Medeiros

I love there baked goods fresh-baked everyday service are awesome come we go you Buy I eat I go there every time I see you there mahalo love sweetbread.

Sam4 re 3e65 Gant

Very sweet place to stop and eat.

Ben Hargis

Good food and pastries. Nice outdoor seating with occasional music for lunch.

Andrew Griggs

Have the donuts. They aren’t called that but that’s basically what they are. Unbelievable!

Gail Watts

A must stop! Awesome sweets!

Ling Watson

Worth the stop for some lovely Malasadas. The store is lovely. Aside from a ton of different flavored masaladas, there are a few other sweet bites. My recommendation is the Bismarck masalada and guava masalada. They are perfectly light and airy donuts (almost like a beignet) filled with flavored cream and sometimes topped with flavored icing. There is also a souvenir store next to the bakery and nice outdoor seating finished with live local singer sometimes. The place is uniquely Hawaiian and cute. Happy travels

Richard Rodriguez

Great atmosphere, great service, and the baked goods are out if this world!

Jagadeesh H

One of the best bakery, must try if you’re around this area.

Ice lyssa

The baked goods are so good! They bake everything right there behind the store. Very fresh. The little stuffed and flavored donut like treats are so tasty!

John McCollum

Nice place for malasadas on the south part of the big island. Many flavors are available. Has things besides malasadas, but why have anything else?

Andy Heidrich

Loed the bakery here, good coffee too. A must stop on your way around Big Island!

dallased25

This is a must visit when you go. I wish we had more time there as we visited there as a part of a tour. Do yourself a favor and go on your own in order to take your time and try different things. When we got there we were only allowed 20 minutes and had to get in a long line that took up the entire time just to get through the line. The Malasada's are unbelievable! Whether you are getting a Lilicolo, guava or a cream filled chocolate one....I just couldn't believe how good these were. I wish we had one of these in Texas, I would literally get them all the time!

Janet Reynolds

We love the Lilikoi Malasadas

Ladan Hariri

Best doughnuts ever. I wish we had bought more. And their gift shop is so unique

Con Sumera

Such a great spot. Brings true meaning to the big island of Hawaii. The bread is truly an amazing loaf you wouldn't expect. I truly enjoy Punalu'u Bake shop's food. And the staff was grade A customer service.

isaac aldous

Perfect malasadas and other bakery items but we came for the lilikoi malasadas and will be back first thing next time we visit the island

Damon Woods

Well priced. Delicious bread. Had Cheese burger which was a good size for a Kiwi. Tasted great and didn't break the bank. Best food stop that side of the island. Iced Coffee was quite what I expected, probably my fault for not checking

Elizabeth Harrison

The sandwiches were delicious and the malasadas are to die for. My poor, poor sister didn't get any because she was stuck at home in Tennessee. She asked me to fly some home with me - that's how good they are. Anyhow, my parents and sister love this place, and now I do, too. Worth the 2 hour drive from Waikoloa!!!

Emmy Fabich

Go here for a sweet treat or a quick bite! Very impressed with the amazing baked goods: Hawaiian bread, taro rolls, puffed donuts, and more! Tasty treats with amazing flavors like guava jelly or coconut glaze! They have ample seating and usually have soft live music!

Emily Pitkin

Amazing, easy to locate place with a wide selection of bakery favorites. Nice, open store with outdoor seating. A great place to grab a snack before hitting black sand beach.

Conrad Esteban

A must stop on your way to the volcano park. We stopped here on our way and I was amazed how many people were stopping to get their sweet tooth fix. Inside is very organized and very proficient so not much of a wait for the awesome malasadas. We drove around again a few days later but we missed it by 15 minutes, they close at 5. Maybe next time.

Justin Coffey

Excellent modern shop. Clean, tons of choices, plenty of seating, live music. Phenomenal coffee, got black iced coffee to taste how great it was. The bake shop was delicious so we went from ordering 2 to 12 to share back at our Airbnb. Highly recommend.

Noreen Lyons

Worth a stop. Restrooms clean. Food excellent. It's counter order sandwiches and salads. Staff busy but polite. Try a loaf of the CINNAMON APPLE BREAD.. YUM.

Wendy DeVault

Great stop for baked goods!

dawn sebastian

Great malasadas - theguava filled and taro were my fav !

Mick C

Nice sweets selection. The hot dog is not a good pick from their menu, but pastrami roll is delicious

Melissa Green

Got a Boston Creme Malsada. It was delicious! Lots of fun souvenirs to collect here too at the USA southern most bakery!!

Darcy Mayeda

Awesome

Joy Boggs

A must stop! The bread and rolls are made right here. Pastries, lunch, ice cream. Live music on weekends. The best bread on all the islands. Try it. You will agree.

Rudy Slankauskas

The malasadas are outstanding. Try the Bismarcks. The cold sandwiches and hot food are good too. I like the seafood sandwich. The baked goods are great too. The lillikoi cookies and white chocolate macadamia cookies are really good too.

Kevin Montfelt

I love punaluu bakery products, they really are fantastic at what they bake. However, on arrival, we noticed not fresh malasadas, they were not warm, ran out of many items even though they were serving cold malasadas from the morning. I do still recommend a visit to the iconic stop, but do consider some other spots first. This is a great example of a business with an extremely good product that needs to step their game up and scale to meet flux in demand throughout the day to kee product consistent with expectations.

Carrie Jordan

Could be good if you are looking for donuts and sweet breads. I don’t recommend for sandwiches or meals. Few healthy options and it took 30 min for our food to be ready. In this context it’s a little strange bc you wait for your food to be ready in a crowded room by the counter where you order instead of at a table.

Kathryn Stewart

I enjoyrd our malasadas and takeout sandwiches for Volcano NP.

Julie Lanet

Pretty busy but worth the wait!! Pastries are delicious. Staff is friendly. The garden is cute!

Sounds Fun

Epic as always!! Much busier than I've ever seen it.

Tonya LaBarbera

A must do on the way to black Sands beach! Lilikoi malsadas!!!

Katie Gorycki

All bakery items have milk and/or dairy, but still a great shop!

James Custer

The malasadas are meh. I had a chocolate filled one and the bread soaked up the moisture from the chocolate pudding-like filling. It also felt like something was missing taste wise in addition to the texture problems. However, the macadamia nut cookies and chocolate chip cookies are great! Highly recommend buying them. You can also find a 10% off coupon in the various tourist magazines.

Stacy Holden

The sweet bread is fresh. My husband enjoyed a small cheeseburger & my pastrami sandwich was ok. The Malasada would've been better hot, buy still yummy. Nice porch atmosphere, but today was crowded around 3pm.

Philip Suomu

Excellent bakery with extensive luncheon offerings.

Marc Alnwick

Great rest area on your way to green sand beach or to see the sea turtles at black sand beach. The bakery items are really good. I can’t recommend the sandwich’s. They are pretty basic.

Leslie Scott

Very good. The baked goods are mouth watering and hold up well in the fridge for a couple days. Wouldn't recommend the coffee.

Pamela Reynolds

Wonderful people working there! What a great place to visit!!! Good food and a fun experience

Chris Parsons

Lilikoi Malasada.....that's all I have to say.

gabriel.r llmm

My favorite is the taro sweetbread!! You have to try it and the gauva bread as well but my favorite is the Taro sweetbread taste as good as it smells!

Elizabeth Newby

OMG the passion fruit malasada pasrty/bread was awesome! Everything we got was so delicious!! Stop there if you can it is worth the trip! They even have lunch plates.

Bruce Porter

Excellent roast beef sandwich! Super bread and rolls.The macaroni salad was also tasty. NOT a high priced tourist trap. Well worth stopping by.

Sandra Collins

Tasty lunch and pastries!

Ellie Seaton

The macadamia cinnamon sweet bread was delicious.

Sue Carey

Not the place if you are watching your carbs!! Too many good bakery items to eat! So many fresh baked goods to choose!

Laureen Beach

Fresh wonderful bread!

morgan lapsley

The malasadas was awesome they have all different types and the food was delicious. Please arrive ready to enjoy everything.

Jean Arbuckle

Wonderful food! Can’t be beat! Reasonable prices!

Ashley Carradus

The bread is so good!

Summer Singer

The food is ok, the lilikoi malasadas are amazing! Make sure to only get a couple, because you WILL end up eating them all in one day! It's a great spot to stop on your way through if your driving around the island and visiting

Erica Clark

I loved the guava donut.

Bolo Music

The bread is Awesome!! People super friendly. Had some coffee and conversation with girlfriend as we ate and enjoyed the beautiful environment.

Kathleen Miller

The world's best lilikoi pasteries!!

Larry Irwin

The prices are amazing! Better values than in Kona, and yet, it's on the southern edge of the island.

Éric Hardy

Good malasadas. Funny bread though.

Joel Gorbutt

Fantastic baked goods and friendly people.

Tim Drivas

Great place to stop while on the road. Stretch you legs and try the pastries baked here. They are amazing! Delicious and keep you going back for more. The prices aren't that bad either. If you happen to be passing by, make the stop and treat yourself.

Thor Williams

Very Hawaiian! The music was so calming and sounds like a of the wind.

partier 9

The donuts were amazing. Things i have never tried before. Staff was friendly. Try the lilikoi.

Joel Turnill

The liliko glazed Portuguese malasada is one of the best things I have ever ate, my wife agrees. Loved this place.

S Mike Eckhardt

Absolutely wonderful place! You cannot come to the big island and not plan a stop here! ...just do it, you won't be disappointed. Great landscaped garden with covered gazebos to enjoy your treats. Lots of souvenirs to choose from and great prices... don't miss this bakery!

Lauren Dombrowski

While I love this bakery, I was very disappointed on this most recent visit. They were sold out of every desert halfway through the day. Lesser places I've been make their malasadas all day long and the best bakery in Hawaii makes a small set amount? I watched dozens of people walk up to the counter and look disappointed at the empty case and ask with hopefulness if there were any more. Bad for business to make so few. Especially on a Saturday in the summer.

Joey Kaniaupio

Most excellent

Alex B

That's a definite must visit when you visit big island. Some of the best pastries I ever had.

Jamie Ford

It's been 3 years and the malasadas are as delicious as I remember!

Daren Fleischman

Excellent sweet rolls. Good halfway point from Kona to the volcano.

Martin Meyer

Great little bakery. The malasadas are awesome!

Amanda Fletcher

Delicious plate lunches and the teriyaki chicken was the best I’ve had in a long time. Of course the bread is amazing along with the pastries!

Kirsten Goodman

Very friendly atmosphere and tasty breads/malasadas.

Aaron Waters

The southernmost best spot for a tasty treat or a reasonably priced yummy meal, can't even remember how many times I have stopped by, but I know I highly recommend it to people passing through Na'alehu!

Maddie Schenker

Everything they bake is delicious and the area is just beautiful

Laurel Motz

Friendly folk, delicious baked goods. Loved the chocolate cream Malasapa.

Karen Mulder

Awesome Sweetbread!

miroslava baranova

Wonderful. Great fresh yummy

Sheila Latta

Always a fun place to stop on the drive around the island. Go early and enjoy a malasada, grab something to drink and enjoy the gazebo area. The lilikoi glazed masada was amazing and the haupia one had a full slice of haupia in it. You can never go wrong with the chocolate filled or a plain one either. Very clean bathrooms here too.

Richard Stowell

Based on expectations, this gets 4 stars. It slightly exceeded the rave reviews local guides were giving it. I'd rate it 5 but for the high prices. There is plenty of covered seating.

Daphne Smith

Delicious pastries. The other stuff looks good too. It's pretty busy though so expect to be in line for awhile. There was still a good variety to choose from even at 2pm. brought some home to California the next day.

Alison Youssef

A nice (albeit touristy) place to stop after visiting the black sand beaches nearby. Be sure to try the sweetbread and take some home - my fave was the yam. A little overpriced but worth a look.

Twila Larson

Busy, but so worth the wait!!

Raymond Myburgh

Nice setting, food lacking though.

joshua cook

Great place to stop in for lunch and treats as you explore the island. The bread is soo good here.

Robin Hiebler

UNREAL ...ONE OF A KINE...MUST VISIT FOR A PLACE YOU WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

Jeffrey Fortuna

This place was packed for lunch. Very clean and all the food and baked goods looked and smelt amazing. They have ice cream but do not have Mint Chocolate Chip is a flavor. I'd like Hawaii more if this flavor was more popular here

Bryce Kohler

Excellent bakery known for their Malasada's. They have stuffed ones with numerous flavors and other delicious breads and goods.

Chi Koa

Free tasting bread, great location for a quick stop.

JIM FORBES

Great shop to get your bins. Plenty to sample before you buy.

Connie Farris

Don't miss what they're making at this delicious little bakery! All the baked goods are made fresh daily. They have fresh bread, pastries and an assortment of malasadas (Portuguese donuts). You'll find their products sold all over the island, but it's worth it to stop and check out the bakery (the cost of items sold in stores can be 2-3x more). There's a nice little patio and there was live music the day we stopped. A nice treat on your way to Volcano National Park or Punalu'u Beach.

Nathan Penner

Good baked goods, very much catering to tourists. Lonely Planet described it perfectly.

matxdad

Visit here many times for lunch. Always busy, but still good service and great food.

Sapiens Strength

Really good bakery items and good service

Dave Muise

Always a beautiful place to visit. My whole family insists on making the trek from Kona to the bake shop every time we are here. They have an awesome selection of malasadas at a great price. Don't forget, there are 2 lines. One for the deli and one for the malasadas.

p schober

Everyone should visit. Fantastic place for baked goods and sandwiches.

Wanda Crites

Absolutely loved the food, service and souvenirs.

Denise Quintrall

This is a place you have to go. Sweet bread made from local fruit. The taro bread, yes it is purple, is such a full flavor. The bread us dense without being heavy, don't ask me how they do it (I'm busy eating it). The lilikoi frosted donuts are a must have.

Candice M

I greatly enjoyed the pastries and baked goods. I plan to take some back to New York.

Amir Avnit

The best bakery on the island with good selection of pastries and bread (no GF!) You can also find ice cream, souvenirs, coffee and music - it's a good place to take a break, breath deeply and relax for a bit.

Kati Johnstun

Yummy baked goods and fun souvenirs!!

Dustin Rocksvold

Good malasadas, ok lunch

Jessica Doolittle

Love the lilikoi glazed malasadas! Worth the time to stop!

holli magnus

So many great businesses here

Brandon Mattei

Good spot to stop for a refreshment if needed.

amber elving

The quality of bread is definitely something you can just get at the store. Everything's expensive and the ingredients are low quality. Lines are long and the place is a tourist trap. If you're looking for good quality and local vibes this is not the place.

tintmasterlacy kona boys

Worst good ever. Canned chicken with some.bad sweet sauce. They call that teri chicken . Ice cream good

Devin Freeman

You come here for the bread, nothing else. We had lunch here and it was less than satisfying. It is a good stopping place on a long drive, but you can buy their bread in most local grocery stores.

Hiep Huynh

It's okay. We drove 50min from Volcano Park to here thinking we would get hot bakery. Nevertheless, they sold us all COLD donuts. After all, it's just a hype. I wouldn't drive that far again to get some cold donuts.

David Petercheff

Everyone told us to try the malasadas (similar to a donut), but they were just ok. They also serve sandwiches and ice cream, had live music and a very pretty property with shaded outdoor seating.

cindy andriola

Cute little bake shop in a somewhat remote area. My friend says great cream puffs

Jackie Jones

I gave them a 4 stars because they gave me a had time when they didn’t give me a traditional donut that I paid for and realized it after we left and sat down. Went back in to get it with the receipt in my hand and wanted to act like I was lie in about 1.19 donut. Been coming here for 9 years every time we are in Hawaii and love the food but the employees are rude but the food is great. Needs new management or nicer employees!!! Typical of some Hawaii shops.

Kenny G

Lilikoi iced Malasadas. Wow Taro bread. Amazing stuff. Great place to stop, browse, buy and use the clean restrooms. This is a must.

Melissa Alvarado

Really good baked treats!

Allen Mowat

O. M. G. The Hawaiian passion fruit malasada will change your life, well for a few minutes...

Jodi Brock

Great stop for lunch and snacks. The food was delicious and the restrooms clean. They have a picnic area and food and souvenirs at reasonable prices. Its worth a stop to taste the bread samples we tried their original bread and a taro and a guava bread as well. Highly recommended.

Stephanie Iwanaga

Their donuts, pastries and desserts are amazing! Such a cute shop to stop at. They also have beautiful grounds and lawn areas as well to sit outside in nature and indulge in their delicious sweets!

Richard Irvine

Can’t say I was thrilled. Quality of baking is there just wasn’t super happy with my choices.

Bill Corbett

I put a pound on just smelling the donuts. Yummy!

Paula DeBoer

Delicious bread! Beautiful setting and lots of other food and gift items for sale.

Jeremy Campos

Definitely worth a stop if you are driving by, great pastries, beautiful gold dust day geckos, and wonderdul fresh air

Lisa Johnson

The burgers are delicious and inexpensive. They're on sweet buns. So good! It's definitely worth a stop.

Rajendra Singh

Excellent rest stop with a range of mouth watering pastries, donuts and loafs of bread. There are clean toilets and the prices are reasonable. They also serve food like clam chowder and soft drinks etc. There's a spot to buy souvenirs too. We visited twice and bought bread to bring back home with us - we recommend the Taro loaf. Don't worry if you can't visit because they sell their loaves of bread in supermarkets across Hawaii. We tried the Lilikoi, Mango, Jam filled and Taro donuts - all tasty especially the Lilikoi - our top pick!

Deborah Keener

Plastic lawn chairs are the only seating provided. Mine snapped where the arm and seat join and collapsed. I fell to the concrete, badly scraped/cut by the broken plastic and bruised. No reaction, no assistance from the staff. Not even a bandaid. Other customers picked me up off the concrete and provided water. Threw my meal in the trash and left. Pain and bruising spoiled the remainder of my vacation.

Trish Cain

Wonderful baked goods and sandwiches. Very reasonable pricing. The aroma alone is fabulous! A hidden gem.

Denise Klier

Great place. Authentic baked goods. Cute gift shop outdoor seating with live music.

Jack M

Love your bread! Wish I could get it on the mainland

Rob Johnson

Good place to stop and get a snack

Luis Borges

This is the most southern bake shop in the United States! It has a good selection of sweets, and it is a nice place to stop in the Big Island.

Emmanuel Rincon

I don’t know about this place but my brothers wife stoped by this place and she said the donuts where good. I tried the original donut but I expected it to be better

Bob Smay

Fun little stop, we got there ahead of a big rush so we had time to enjoy our malasadas during our tour stop. Glad it wasn't a busy day!