Komoda Store and Bakery — Restaurant in Hawaii

Desserts aren't my forte, so I'm not one to get excited by bakeries and confectionaries. Put an ice cream shop in front of me and we have a different story. So why am I reviewing the infamous bakery of Makawao and a popular island wide establishment? Because cupcakes hold a strong second place in my heart. Read on...

Whenever I'm eating something from Komoda's, its because someone brought them to work or a party. I will not make a special trip up to Makawao to buy sweets. But after what I recently tried this past Halloween at a friend's house, I honestly would make the drive up.

ATMOSPHERE: I've been inside maybe twice, over a decade ago, so I can't comment on the inside digs, but the outside is just what a mom & pop place looks like: Plain, simple, and looks at home in a western movie.

DESSERTS: Chantilly Cupcakes I had no idea that chantilly was a local recipe until I Googled it. The specifics are that its a German chocolate cake without coconut. Great for me because I'm not a huge coconut fan. So what does it taste like? The chocolate cupcakes are super moist and just melts in your mouth. The inside is filled with a small amount of the cream that makes a chantilly cake, a true chantilly cake. The flavor is similar to caramel, a bit sweet and a bit salty, and really damn good. The cupcake is topped with the same cream and a maraschino cherry. Wow. This cupcake guy is a total fan. This would definitely kick some Cupcake War ass!

Cream Puffs Meh, I've never been a fan of these. I don't care for the texture of the cream puff which reminds me of stale bread, or the flavor of the cream which has a chemical-like taste. Pass.

Butter Rolls Four Sisters Bakery does the best job at these because they put an obscene amount of butter in theirs. Here, they go light on the artery clogging. The trick is to zap them for 20 seconds in the micro to soften up the dough and warm the butter. Delish!

French Apple Pie A co-worker ordered a whole pie because she absolutely loves it. The slice I tried was absolutely delish! The crust was flaky with that great homemade baked taste, the filling was full of chunky apples and not overly sweet, and the whole thing is topped with a mixture of crumbled crust and possibly a dusting of sugar crystals which gave it a slight crunch. Yowza! This guy may be turning into a dessert lover...

OVERALL: Must try cupcakes for the...

First off, get there early. Got there a little before 7:15am and there was already a line of about 20 people in front of us. Additionally, be prepared to wait and exercise patience… it took about 35-45 minutes to get thru the store, but this was on a Saturday morning (5/7/2022). By time we got out at ~ 8am, there was a long line waiting to enter the bakery. Due to the times they are short-staffed but work diligently to assist customers when their turn comes up in line. Keep that in mind and don’t be an impatient child.

That said, what’s the rush if you’re on vacation? The donuts are totally worth it and validate the popularity they have rightfully earned. Tried the following donuts: stick donut, chocolate stick donut, malasada stick donut, guava malasada, cream puff, and choco puff (cream puff with chocolate custard filling & powdered sugar atop). Go guava malasada if you’re feeling tropical, but all the donuts we tried were worthy. If I had to pick favorites, stick donut, chocolate stick donut, guava malasada and cream puff. The cream puff very fondly reminds me of childhood when my mom would make them from scratch.

Definitely a great stop to catch them when they were opened. Don’t miss out on supporting this long-standing mom-and-pop bakery and Maui...

Oh, Komoda — the heart of Makawao mornings and the soul of sweet memories.

The stick donuts and malasada sticks reign supreme — golden, pillowy perfection with just the right kiss of sugar. Then come the Long Johns, stuffed with silky vanilla custard, a simple joy that feels like childhood wrapped in parchment paper.

And those cream puffs — clouds of happiness filled with vanilla dreamlight. The Cocoa Puffs bring a chocolatey comfort that lingers long after the last bite.

How I miss the malasadas bursting with guava jam, each one a tiny portal to paradise. Don’t even get me started on their heavenly butter rolls, cinnamon snails, jelly donuts, turnovers, and Danishes — each one crafted with that old-Hawaiʻi soul that can’t be replicated.

Komoda’s isn’t just a bakery — it’s a tradition, a taste of aloha that lives on in...