8 Places to Get All Kinds of Malasadas on Fat Tuesday

In other parts of the country, Fat Tuesday—the last day before six weeks of fasting from rich, sugary foods leading up to Easter—means feasting on pancakes. Not so in Hawai‘i, where Fat Tuesday = Malasada Day. Here are malasada specialists, malasada trucks, bakeries and a ubiquitous homegrown chain where you can get in line to get your fill.

Agnes’ Portuguese Bakeshop

Crispy and chewy, malasadas made with the old Kailua bakery’s original recipe are sold from its second incarnation as a popular malasada truck.

Extended hours from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., 5 Ho‘ola‘i St., Kailua, @agnesbakeshop808

SEE ALSO: Sweet Alert: Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop Malassadas Are Back in Kailua

Kamehameha Bakery

This Kalihi icon says it makes “just a little more” malasadas on Fat Tuesday. Old-school and premade in original, poi, strawberry, orange jelly and haupia flavors with ingredients mixed into the batter and fried, meaning these aren’t the stuffed variety.

Open from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m., 1283 Kalani St., (808) 845-5831

Leonard’s Bakery

Photo: Terri Inefuku

Original sugar or dusted in cinnamon sugar or li hing powder, plain or filled with dobash, macadamia nut, guava or special flavors like lemon or strawberry, this is Hawai‘i’s original malasada bakery, as it likes to point out, serving them freshly fried since 1952.

Extended hours on Fat Tuesday:

• 933 Kapahulu Ave.—5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Kāne‘ohe Malasada Mobile—7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Koko Marina Malasada Mobile—7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pearlridge Malasada Mobile—7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Waikele Malasada Mobile—6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

leonardshawaii.com, @leonardsbakeryhawaii

Liliha Bakery

Find larger versions of premade malasadas stuffed chock-full with haupia, liliko‘i and chunky apple fillings at this classic local bakery chain. We mentioned they’re very stuffed, right?

Regular hours, multiple locations, lilihabakery.com, @lilihabakery

Manuela Malasada Co.

Photo: Courtesy of @manuelamalasadas

The Big Island malasada chain has trucks on O‘ahu, Maui and its home island, and coming up—NEWS FLASH—a malasada drive-thru opening in Puainako in Hilo as early as mid-March, says Manuela’s Kandi Miranda Kauka. Find the O‘ahu trucks at Lā‘ie and Kahuku frying up 42 kinds of filled, airy malasadas.

Extended hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Kahuku, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Lā‘ie, @manuelamalasadashawaii

Penny’s Waikīkī Malasadas

Photo: Courtesy of @pennyswaikikimalasadas

At last, a new malasada for Fat Tuesday! This one-day special is a maple syrup-glazed malasada topped with applewood-smoked bacon. Also available are Penny’s famously yeasty, airy, eggy other malasadas, plain or stuffed with custards, creams and fruit fillings.

Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Pā‘ina Lanai Food Court, Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalākaua Ave., @pennyswaikikimalasadas

Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery

Photo: Terri Inefuku

The Kaimukī bakeshop opened in 2015 after 100 test batches with classic malasadas that “do not deflate, do not soak up the sugar or turn into an oily magnet.” These made-to-order orbs are unfilled, crispy and balanced. Also in cocoa, coffee, li hing and cinnamon flavors.

Extended hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., 3632 Wai‘alae Ave., (808) 738-8200, pipelinebakeshop.com, @pipelinebakeshop

Zippy’s

Photo: Mari Taketa

Expect longer wait times on Tuesday for the local chain’s light, fluffy, fried-to-order malasadas. Those crunched for time might be able to snag some premade glazed Mochizadas instead.

Regular hours, multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys

SEE ALSO: The Best Kept Secret in Malassadas Is Zippy’s