Hawaii Food Review 2026: Liliha Bakery & Mai Tai Bar Worth It?

Quick answer

• Liliha Bakery (Waikiki) serves breakfast daily from 7:00 AM, but service can be slow.

• Mai Tai Bar at The Royal Hawaiian is famous for its namesake cocktail and strong drinks.

• Mai Tai Bar is located at 2259 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, open daily 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM.

• Liliha Bakery offers Hawaiian classics like Locomoco, though our experience was average.

• Expect higher prices at Mai Tai Bar, especially during sunset hours for beach views.

Liliha Bakery

Operating Hours

Daily 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Liliha Bakery opens bright and early, making it a popular spot for breakfast in Hawaii.

I woke up early myself, eager to grab some morning grub here.

Many hotels in Hawaii can be quite pricey, and breakfast options aren't always included by default.

Fortunately, there are plenty of restaurants that open early, offering a variety of choices for your first meal of the day.

We came specifically for Locomoco, a traditional Hawaiian dish. Interestingly, another highly-rated Locomoco spot we had planned to visit had unfortunately closed down, so we opted for this well-known chain instead.

Even early in the morning, the place was packed with people.

Our drinks arrived.

Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this as a top Hawaii food spot. The service was subpar, and the food was just… average.

It felt like our table was being completely ignored while other tables around us were served promptly. I couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated.

(While I know Hawaii is incredibly diverse, and I doubt it was intentional, it certainly left a sour taste.)

I understand that each table has a designated server, but ours was nowhere to be found.

The complimentary bread came with a ketchup that had a surprisingly unique flavor.

We ordered the Locomoco, which impressively came with two eggs, and an omelet with brown rice.

It was simply a meal to get us through the day – edible, but not outstanding.

I had really hoped to find an amazing Locomoco spot, but our short itinerary meant we couldn't seek out another place.

Despite the disappointing meal, Hawaii itself is always a joy!

After lunch, we headed off to another famous spot.

On our way, we saw the cutest thing – a whole family of ducks on the move!

Seeing the ducks cheered me up, and the beautiful weather certainly helped too.

Feeling much better, we headed excitedly towards Waikiki Beach.

Mai Tai Bar

Operating Hours

Daily 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

This iconic beach bar is located within The Royal Hawaiian, often dubbed the 'Pink Palace of the Pacific.'

The bar itself is quite famous.

It's renowned for its signature Mai Tai cocktail, a drink said to have been perfected right here.

We grabbed seats at the bar and placed our orders. The bartenders were incredibly busy, but efficient!

My Mai Tai was a potent cocktail, definitely not for those who prefer overly sweet drinks.

As someone who appreciates a strong spirit, I loved that it tasted like, well, *alcohol* (no apologies!).

After quickly finishing my first, I ordered another, intrigued by a unique description – the Vada Gimlet.

This cocktail had a surprisingly spicy kick – incredibly unique and memorable!

My husband's drink choice escapes my memory, but I enjoyed two cocktails, both quite generous with the liquor.

They also serve food here, but since we had already eaten, we stuck to cocktails.!

However, the dishes being served to other patrons looked absolutely delicious.

I'd love to try their food on a future visit.

The Royal Hawaiian's iconic pink against the blue of Waikiki Beach is truly stunning.

Due to its prime location, it gets incredibly crowded during sunset, as it's the perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail while watching the sun dip below the horizon.

We knew it would be tough to time our visit for sunset, so we came in the afternoon instead, and it was still a wonderful experience.

I've seen Google reviews mentioning slow service, but perhaps because we visited during a less busy afternoon and sat at the bar, I didn't experience any issues whatsoever. ㅎㅎㅎ

The prices are undeniably steep, but hey, it's Hawaii! We simply chose to overlook the cost and soak in the fantastic ambiance. :)