Maui’s Must-Try Malasadas: A Sweet Guide to the Best Doughnut Delights

What’s the first thing you reach for when that afternoon sugar craving hits on Maui? For plenty of locals, the answer is a bag of malasadas — those golden, sugar-dusted Portuguese doughnuts that arrived with immigrant workers in 1878 and never left. Fluffy, lightly crisp on the outside, and often stuffed with tropical fillings, they’re the kind of snack that makes you plan your route around the bakery. This guide covers the island’s top spots — from a century-old storefront in Makawao to a food truck next to Costco — so you know exactly where to stop, what to order, and when to get there before they disappear.

Most of the malasada action happens in the morning and early afternoon, and the best spots are scattered between upcountry Makawao, the Kihei coast, and the road to Hana. Here’s where to aim your appetite.

The overview gives you the lay of the land. Now here’s what each spot actually looks like when you pull up, plus what to order and how to fit it into your day.

T. Komoda Store & Bakery — Makawao

If you only hit one malasada spot on Maui, make it this one. T. Komoda Store & Bakery has been operating out of the same storefront in Makawao since November 1916, and the line out the door hasn’t let up. The bakery turns out about 30 different baked items daily, but the malasadas — square, holeless, and dusted with sugar — are the main draw. They come plain or filled with guava, and the smaller ones are sometimes stacked on sticks. The texture is light and the exterior is just crisp enough to hold the sugar coating.

Komoda’s hours are deliberately narrow — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm. That means you either build a morning around upcountry Makawao or you miss it. On the plus side, the town itself is worth a stroll, with a handful of galleries and a general store that makes the drive from the coast feel purposeful. If you’re short on time, skip the cream puffs and go straight for the guava malasada — it’s what the regulars queue for.

Sugar Beach Bake Shop — Kihei

Sugar Beach Bake Shop sits on South Kihei Road, just a short walk from the beach near Maalaea Bay. The shop turns out light, airy malasadas with fillings that lean into the islands’ fruit and coconut traditions — coconut haupia, guava, and lilikoi (passionfruit) are the three you’ll see most often. The dough is noticeably less dense than the square style at Komoda, which makes the filling the star.

This is a great stop if you’re staying in Kihei or Wailea and don’t want to drive upcountry. The location near the beach means you can grab a bag and eat them on the sand within five minutes. If you’re weighing Sugar Beach against Manuela Malasada, the main difference is filling variety — Sugar Beach keeps it to three or four island flavors, while Manuela goes wider. For a quick, no-fuss morning stop, Sugar Beach wins on convenience.

Manuela Malasada — Kahului (Food Truck)

Manuela Malasada operates out of a simple stand next to Costco on Haleakala Highway in Kahului, and it stays busy from opening to closing. The operation is family-run, and everything is made to order — you watch them fry the dough and fill it while you wait. The menu runs wider than most: lilikoi (passionfruit), Bavarian Crème, Cookie Butter, Nutella, ube, and haupia.

Manuela is open Monday through Sunday from 10:30 am to 7 pm, which makes it the latest-running malasada option on the island. The trade-off is that it’s cash only — there’s no card reader, and there’s no ATM on site. Stop by a bank before you arrive. If you’re choosing between Manuela and Sugar Beach, think of it this way: Sugar Beach is your morning beach stop; Manuela is your afternoon pick-me-up when you’re based in central Maui.

Uncle Harry’s Marketplace — Keanae (Road to Hana)

Uncle Harry’s Marketplace sits about halfway to Hana on the north shore, near the Keanae Peninsula. The stand has been operating since 1975, and it’s the kind of roadside stop that makes the Hana Highway drive feel broken up by something real — not just a scenic overlook, but a place to eat. The malasadas here are melt-in-your-mouth style, and they sell out fast.

Uncle Harry’s is open Sunday through Friday from 10 am to 3:30 pm, closed Saturday. If you’re driving the Road to Hana on a Friday, this is your best bet for a midday malasada break. On a Saturday, you’ll have to push through to Hana itself or wait for the return trip. The stand also sells fresh fruit smoothies, hot dogs, chili dogs, seasonal fruit, and banana bread, so it works as a lunch stop if you don’t want to eat sweet things all day.

Morimoto Maui — Kihei (Andaz Resort)

Morimoto Maui at the Andaz Resort takes a different approach: instead of filling the dough, the pastry chef serves malasadas with three dipping sauces — Apple Banana Cheesecake, Sake Caramel, and Waialua Chocolate. The dough itself is fried with precision — the pastry chef controls the temperature carefully so the result is light, not greasy.

This is the only spot on the list that requires a reservation and a sit-down meal. The malasadas are served as a dessert, not a grab-and-go snack. If you’re looking for a full dining experience with a sweet finish, Morimoto delivers. But if you’re on a malasada crawl with kids who just want sugar and custard, you can skip this one. The lunch window runs from 12 pm to 2:30 pm, dinner from 5 pm to 8:45 pm — the malasadas are available during both services.

Zippy’s Napoleon Bakery — Kahului

Zippy’s is a well-known Hawaii chain — mostly on Oahu — with a single Maui location tucked away on a back road in Kahului. Inside is a Napoleon Bakery counter where you can grab malasadas to go or order them hot for dessert at the dine-in side. The texture is soft and full-flavored, and the options include plain, sugar-coated, cinnamon sugar, or filled with haupia.

Zippy’s is the safety net of the malasada world. If you’re in Kahului late in the afternoon and every other spot is cleaned out, the Napoleon Bakery counter will almost certainly have something. It’s not the spot you plan a trip around, but it’s the one you’re glad exists when the craving hits at 4 pm. If you’re prioritizing, skip Zippy’s if you’ve already hit Komoda and Manuela.

Practical Tips for Malasada Hunting on Maui

Timing and cash are the two things that make or break a malasada run. Here’s what to plan for.

When to Go

Most malasada spots do their best work in the morning. Komoda and Sugar Beach Bake Shop both sell their freshest batches between 7 am and 9 am, and both can sell out before noon. Manuela Malasada runs later — 10:30 am to 7 pm — so it’s the best afternoon option. Uncle Harry’s closes at 3:30 pm, so it’s a midday stop only. If you’re doing a full malasada crawl, start in Makawao at Komoda (7 am), swing through Kihei for Sugar Beach (9 am), and hit Manuela in Kahului around lunch (11 am–12 pm).

Cash vs. Card

Manuela Malasada is cash only — no exceptions. Komoda and Uncle Harry’s also prefer cash, though they may accept cards for larger purchases. Sugar Beach and Zippy’s take cards. Morimoto is a full-service restaurant, so card is fine. If you’re hitting multiple spots in one day, carry at least $40 in small bills.

What to Order

At Komoda, the guava-filled malasada is the must-order. At Manuela, go for the lilikoi with li-hing powder. At Sugar Beach, the haupia-filled version is the one. At Uncle Harry’s, get the plain sugar malasada and a banana bread to go. At Morimoto, share one order of the dipping sauces between two people — the Sake Caramel is the least sweet of the three and balances the other two. At Zippy’s, the haupia-filled is the only one worth the detour.

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How to Handle Crowds and Sell-Outs

The biggest risk on a malasada run is showing up too late. Komoda and Uncle Harry’s both sell out regularly, and Uncle Harry’s is closed on Saturdays entirely. If you’re set on Komoda, plan to arrive by 8:30 am and be prepared to wait in a short line. For Uncle Harry’s, time your Hana Highway drive so you arrive between 10:30 am and 12 pm — any later and you risk empty trays. If you’re flexible, Manuela runs until 7 pm and doesn’t sell out as often, so it’s the safest fallback.

Before You Go: Maui Malasada Questions Answered

Are malasadas the same as regular doughnuts?

Not exactly. Malasadas are Portuguese-style fried dough, typically without a hole, and they’re coated in granulated sugar rather than glazed. The texture is lighter and airier than a cake doughnut, closer to a beignet but with a crispier exterior.

Which spot is best for a family with kids?

Manuela Malasada is the most kid-friendly — the made-to-order process keeps them entertained, and the Cookie Butter and Nutella fillings are a hit with younger eaters. Komoda works too, but the narrow hours and potential line are harder with small children.

Is Morimoto’s malasada worth the resort price?

It depends on what you’re after. If you want a dessert course with creative sauces in a nice setting, yes. If you want a classic filled malasada for $4, save your money for Manuela or Komoda. The dipping sauces are inventive, but the portion is small for the price.

What’s the one malasada I should skip if I’m short on time?

Zippy’s Napoleon Bakery. It’s a reliable backup, but the malasadas are chain-quality and the location is hard to find. If you’ve already hit Komoda and Manuela, you’ve tasted the best of what Maui offers. Zippy’s is only worth it if you’re already in Kahului and everything else is closed.

Can I find malasadas anywhere else on the island?

Home Maid Café and Four Sisters Bakery both make malasadas, but they’re less consistent and sell out even faster than the spots above. Paukukalo Sweets & Treats is another option, but hours are irregular. Stick to the six spots in this guide for the most reliable experience.

Why the Best Malasada Might Be the One You Almost Missed

What makes malasadas worth hunting down isn’t the sugar or the filling — it’s the window of time when they’re actually at their best. A malasada fresh out of the fryer, still warm, with the sugar just starting to dissolve into the dough, is a completely different thing from one that’s sat in a display case for an hour. That’s why the early-morning stops and the sell-out risk matter. The whole experience rewards people who treat it as a morning mission rather than an afterthought. If you’re planning a family trip to Maui and want to pair your sweet stops with other local eats, the guide to the best restaurants on each Hawaiian island rounds out the meal plan with savory options that balance all that sugar.

References

Derrick, Tori C. “Top Malasada Spots on Maui.” Hawaii Guide, 2026. ↗

Pride of Maui. “Best Malasadas on Maui.” Pride of Maui Blog, 2025. ↗

If you’re still deciding between bakeries and want to see how malasadas compare to other local sweets, the guide to coconut haupia cake covers another classic Hawaiian dessert that travels better than a warm malasada. For families who prefer savory over sweet, the Maui fish taco face-off points you toward coastal lunch spots that work well with kids and don’t require a 7 am alarm.