When we asked Beat of Hawaii readers where we should eat on Maui, Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop kept showing up. Some readers talked about it as a must on every Maui visit, while others got more specific and told us not to leave without pie.
We listened. Leoda’s is also exactly the kind of place that has become more interesting as Maui visitors rethink how much they’re willing to spend eating out. In our recent look at why Hawaii restaurants aren’t what they used to be, readers described replacing some expensive restaurant meals with bakeries, food trucks, grocery stores and other casual favorites. Leoda’s has already surfaced in BOH comments as one of those places people believe still delivers something worth paying for.
So we stopped in on our way to Kaanapali to find out whether the pies live up to years of reputation, and whether Leoda’s deserves a place in a Maui trip when both time and restaurant spending have become harder choices.
Leoda’s has become a staple on the West Maui route.
Leoda’s sits at Olowalu Village along Honoapiilani Highway, making it an easy stop while traveling between South and West Maui. The restaurant calls what it serves “glorified grandma comfort food,” with freshly baked breads, sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and the sweet pies that have become its calling card.
The menu and setting are a long way from the resort dining rooms we’ve been visiting and writing about on Maui. That’s part of the appeal. Hawaii now leads the country in dining-out spending, and when we previously looked at what those restaurant costs mean for Hawaii travelers, Leoda’s was one of the local favorites readers specifically mentioned as an alternative to the increasingly expensive dinner routine.
We arrived around 11 a.m., apparently just ahead of the lunch crowd, as the parking lot was filling up. No line formed when we walked in, but almost as soon as we ordered, it stretched all the way out the door. We hadn’t expected that kind of rush, and our timing couldn’t have been better.
Leoda’s was a pleasant surprise. It’s extremely casual, as you’d expect from a roadside Maui restaurant, but it also has a certain sophistication we liked, which surprised us. Ordering was easy, the person helping us was friendly, and our food arrived quickly despite how busy things were getting.
Leoda’s didn’t know Beat of Hawaii was coming, and we paid for everything ourselves, as always. That gave us the same experience as anyone pulling off the highway, including whatever happened from the moment we joined the line until the last bite of pie.
What we ordered at Leoda’s.
Leoda’s currently offers seven sweet pies, including Banana Cream, Chocolate Mac Nut, Coconut Cream, Olowalu Lime, Apple Crumb, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Haupia. Seven pies seemed excessive even by the generous standards of restaurant reporting, so we concentrated on the ones that seemed most useful for understanding why Leoda’s has developed such a loyal following.
We chose the Olowalu lime pie, and it was excellent. We liked the smaller individual (or two-person) size, which makes it easy to enjoy one without committing to an enormous dessert. The filling was sweet and tart, the crust was crisp and the pie was just baked.
We also wanted to know whether treating Leoda’s primarily as a pie stop misses part of the point. And the answer is that it does. The current savory menu includes sandwiches made on bread baked daily, including seared ahi, fresh local tuna salad, and an avocado and cucumber veggie option, along with salads and other casual food.
We ordered tuna sandwiches, which we’d also seen recommended, and they were great, even memorable. Between the sandwiches and the pie, we left feeling that Leoda’s did a good job with both sides of its menu rather than relying entirely on its dessert reputation.
Do Leoda’s famous Maui pies live up to the reputation?
Famous desserts come with a problem before the first bite. By the time something has become a ritual for repeat Maui visitors, you’re no longer comparing it with another piece of pie. You’re comparing it with years of people telling you that stopping for one is part of the trip.
Leoda’s has clearly reached that point. Readers have described stopping here on successive visits and taking pies along with them, which raises a more interesting question than whether the desserts are merely good. We wanted to know whether there was something distinctive enough about them to explain that kind of loyalty.
We can understand why repeat visitors make Leoda’s part of their Maui routine. Our lime pie was great, the sandwiches were filling and enjoyable, and there was something appealing about the entire experience, including how quickly we were served despite the crowd arriving behind us.
We’d gone expecting a casual roadside pie shop, and found a place we liked far more than we’d anticipated. It didn’t require a reservation, a dress code or a major commitment of time or money, and we came away glad BOH readers had encouraged us to stop.
Is Leoda’s worth stopping for on Maui?
That lower commitment is part of what makes Leoda’s interesting to us right now. As visitors tell us they’re becoming more selective about Maui restaurant spending, a casual stop for something genuinely memorable may have more appeal than another reservation that consumes an evening and a large piece of the vacation budget.
Our lunch, including sandwiches, chips, drink and shared pie, came to approximately $25 per person. That’s hardly inexpensive for a casual lunch, but by current Maui standards, we felt it was reasonable for the quality we received. And it was a lunch we’ll remember fondly for reasons beyond the price.
Would we return? Absolutely. Leoda’s is the kind of place we’d happily stop at again, whether for lunch or simply to pick up a pie. There’s no need to turn it into a major dining occasion, and perhaps that’s part of what makes it so enjoyable.
And because BOH readers sent us here in the first place, we’ll turn the question back to you after we’ve made our own call.
If you could order just one pie at Leoda’s, which one would it be, and is there something else on the menu we’re overlooking by concentrating on the pies?
Photos: © Beat of Hawaii.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
Some of the most meaningful parts of Hawaii are the ones visitors walk right past without knowing they are there. We’ve spent nearly 20 years finding them firsthand for BOH as full-time Hawaii residents reporting on travel, culture, and island life, and telling you what they mean for your trip. Join us →
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I must admit that we did no eat a sandwich. Just 2 small pies. Actually I am sorry to say but we ate a small part of two small pies. The majority went in a waste can. We found them to be not nice especially after eating at Maui Pie.
Sorry but we were extremely disappointed after seeing all the hype.
We have been Leoda’s regulars for the past decade!
We even have Leoda’s coffee cups and tee shirts here at home.
It’s difficult to chose just one flavor of pie, but banana cream is always our first choice. Then pick up a second flavor to take with us for later.
Their dinner size all beef frankfurters are so tasty with the housemade chutney mustard.
Also the Reuben sandwiches are wonderful and large enough to share on the road to Hana.
Bon apetit.
Your description of arriving just before the crowd made me laugh because that’s exactly what happened to us. And since then we only stop when it is just like that. We first thought everyone had exaggerated how busy Leoda’s gets. But by the time our sandwiches arrived there were people out the door.
I don’t understand the fascination with little individual pies. Give me a proper slice of homemade pie any day. We tried Leoda’s once and thought everything was perfectly okay, just not particularly special. I wouldn’t discourage someone from stopping, but we have other places we’d rather spend our lunch money at.
The sandwiches are actually why we go to Leoda’s, and the pies are an afterthought for us. We like having a casual lunch that doesn’t involve parking at a resort or making reservations three weeks ahead. I do wish they’d keep the portions a little smaller and the prices a little lower, but I could largely say that about practically every restaurant on Maui now.
After more than 30 trips to Maui, I’ve learned not to stop anywhere along that stretch of highway unless we have plenty of time. Leoda’s is enjoyable, but the traffic between West Maui and Kahului can be unpredictable or worse. I would never plan a stop there on the way to catch a flight, no matter how good the pie might be.
I’m glad you tried the lime pie because that’s my favorite too. Sometimes the banana and chocolate pies are just too rich for me, especially after lunch, and I like having something a little tart. I usually buy an extra pie to take back to the condo, although it rarely survives until the following morning.
My wife and I discovered Leoda’s by accident several years ago after stopping to stretch our legs. We weren’t particularly hungry but decided to find out what the crowd was about and ending up splitting a sandwich and taking a pie for later. We’ve returned on every Maui trip since, though we learned pretty quickly to avoid arriving around lunch when everyone else in West Maui seems to have the same idea.
What surprised me about your review was the $25 per person. That seems pretty reasonable for Maui nowadays, especially since you included pie. We paid that much for rather basic sandwiches at a resort deli last week and there was absolutely nothing memorable about it.
I know everybody loves Leoda’s but our last visit wasn’t nearly as impressive. The line was long, the place was noisy and the pies were good but not something I’d drive out of my way and then wait for. Maybe we just picked the wrong day or time, but there’s a difference between a nice bakery and a Maui must-do.
We’ve been stopping at Leoda’s for years, usually on our way to Kaanapali, and I have to admit we’ve never tried the tuna sandwiches. We always end up with something from the bakery case. The banana cream pie is my personal favorite, although my husband insists the chocolate mac nut is better. Now you’ve given us a reason to actually sit down for lunch next time.
Go to Captain Jacks and order the fish sandwich.
Hi guys,
I enjoy your newsletter a lot. We’ve also enjoyed Leodas for about 20 years. For pies, it’s a tough choice between coconut cream and lime. For a meal the chicken and waffles is my favourite. Lunch and dinner!
Last time we were on Maui we finally went next door to the grocery store and had the Olowalu hot dog. Amazing!! Bright red, slightly spicy, and lots of toppings. Sorry we missed it for 20 years. The service is also very entertaining. Eat at outside tables, but hey, it’s Hawaii!
Best wishes,
Gary and Virginia
We went to Leoda’s for lunch about 13-14 years ago (in Maui twice every year for the last 20 years). It was super busy. Food was good but the 45 minute wait for the beef pot pie, in addition to the 30 minute wait in line to order was not to our liking. Just wasn’t good enough for us to go back. Maybe we need to give it another try.
While we have crawled all over what we thought was every inch of Maui in the last 40-years of visiting, we’ve Never stopped at Olowalu Village because 1.) It’s always crowded to the point traffic is affected, and we want to get to our destination in West Maui. And 2.) It looks so “touristy.” Now, thanks to you and your readers, we will Have to stop by. We won’t do it on the way to our hotel, as after a long flight and car rental we just want to get to a beach. But we will take a morning out to get to Leoda’s at the early hour that worked for you so well. And when we do, I’d probably go for the Upcountry Hot Dog (don’t judge me) and Apple Crumb Pie…with a handheld pie to go. Thanks for the tip!
Paia Fish Market is another place. Their lunch is great!
You are missing out if you don’t try the banana cream pie and pot pies at Leoda’s! Ono!
Love Leoda’s, I get the avocado sandwich with egg and whatever flavor dessert I’m feeling that day. Everything is great!
I was hoping you guys would make it to Miss Arepa, maybe next time. I’ll be in Maui next month, it’s going to be my first stop!