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    Manuela Malasada - Big Island

    4.3 (749 reviews)
    ModerateFood Trucks, Donuts
    Closed • 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

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    Li hing w/ guava, plain sugar w/ ube cheesecake, cinnamon sugar w/ no filling.
    Lilian V.

    Easy to find roadside stand with plenty of dirt parking on a weekday morning. It's a grab and go spot w/ limited shade available. The malasadas are made fresh to order, so expect a wait (it took about 20 minutes with a few parties ahead of us). There's a 3-piece minimum for $11 and an extra $1.50/2 for each filling. We wanted to try the ube malasadas but they weren't available. The standouts here are definitely the unfilled malasadas. The Original with Cinnamon Sugar was amazing--hot, fresh, and the dough beats other malasadas on the island. Skip the Ube Cheesecake filling. It had no ube flavor and a bizarrely strong, alcohol-like aftertaste (maybe too much vanilla extract?) that made it hard to finish. The Li Hing with Guava was okay, but the filling leaned a bit artificial.

    Hanaah F.

    Stopped by the first time around 4pm, and they were completely sold out. Stopped by the 2nd time around 2:30pm, and they were still in business. Minimum order is 3 malasadas. We ordered the Dubai chocolate, guava, and banana cream fillings. They were made fresh. It does take awhile to place the order and also get your order served for this reason. It's a food truck too, so need to be patient. They are located right off the highway, and some other food trucks are there too. The banana cream and guava fillings tasted more artificial. The malasadas weren't out of this world. I've had better. Good service though.

    Sam P.

    After a fun day exploring the island but frustrating day trying to get food including Malasadas - we decided to try this food truck having passed it by for years! Be prepared for a wait - it was probably near 30 minutes from waiting to order to waiting for our food but it is made fresh to order and you can customize flavors and toppings. The Malasadas are delicious - warm and fresh! The fillings for me were hit or miss - some like S'mores tasted lovely with marshmallows and what I assume was a Nutella filling but others, especially local flavors like Lilikoi tasted very artificial and overly sweet and anything with coconut in it turned to liquid like a coconut oil! Glad I tried them - fresh, warm and hit and miss on fillings

    Jillian N.

    Came on a weekday in the afternoon and got 6 malasadas. Service was quick and it's off the side of the road. I think I made the mistake of waiting until hours later to eat it. The dough got a bit dense but overall the flavor was good. I definitely should have eaten then fresh but if I'm back I'll try again!

    So excited for this
    Reetu P.

    Hidden gem on the big Island! This famous malasadas truck did not disappoint. Freshly made malasadas with so many different options to choose from. They do have peanuts but they do take care of cross contamination for those with nut allergies. Team is so friendly and accommodating. There was a long line for orders which shows how good this place is. Malasadas were huge compared to the normal size you would get at other places. 3 for $11 we went with sugar coated ones and they were SO good. Perfectly cooked where you couldn't taste raw dough. You can go behind the food truck and pick your order and eat your malasadas. Better to eat outside than inside your car with all the sugar from the donuts dropping everywhere. Definitely a must then on the big island. I believe they have few trucks spread across the island.

    Masubi!!!
    Maribel T.

    WOWWW! This Malasada was the perfect treat on the way to the beach! We could not have been more satisfied with the texture and flavor of these warm yummy goodies! BONUS! We also got to grab some masubi's!! The guy was super helpful when picking out the top sellers! His friendly personality made our experience even more enjoyable! The convenience of it being off the main road was great!

    Vanessa L.

    Delicious malasadas! Best to eat fresh! No additive flavors, tasted like real fruit. Fluffy donut-like malasadas full of flavor in each bite. They have so many flavors available. Out of the ones we ordered, my favorite was the Haupia and my husband's was the Ube. GPS will ask you to loop around to get here, but we were able to just pull in right next to the stand on a Saturday early afternoon. Overall, we recommend!

    Malasadas: lilikoi, guava cheesecake, & cookie butter
    Isabelle V.

    Had to stop by this malasada food truck in this area. Got there at 9 in the morning on Wednesday and it wasn't busy at all. They take Apple Pay which is super convenient! We got three special filling malasadas which were around $16-17. Super yummy and fit the spot for my sweet tooth! The cookie butter filling was super rich and decadent and lilikoi flavor was a nice fruity balance. Definitely stop by if you are in the area!

    David H.

    Sweet, Simple, Unmissable If you're on the Big Island and craving something warm, sugary, and straight-up comforting, Manuela Malasadas is your move. The malasadas are legit--crispy edges, fluffy centers, and fillings that actually taste like something. Service is fast, friendly, and no-frills. You order, you wait a few minutes, and boom--hot malasadas in hand. Eat one before you drive off.

    A Giant Sugar Malasada

    Hot Malasadas made while you wait!!! Coffee/banana bread and signature drinks also served at this roadside stand!

    Lilikoi, Dubai chocolate, plain
    Emma W.

    These are THE BEST! Theres so many flavors it's hard to choose just one so anytime we drive out Waimea way we stop by and pick up a pack of 6 I haven't had a flavor I didn't enjoy but so far I tend to get half chocolate/ half fruit and my go to's are s'mores or Dubai chocolate, and lilikoi They can be a lil messy so have some napkins prepared as there's no proper benches/ outdoor seating to eat you'll be eating in your car or taking them home if you can resist ;)

    Allyson G.

    Absolutely delicious Malasadas. We got 6 not stuffed and 6 stuffed and they were so so good. We waited about 20 minutes for them. The line was long but it was worth it. They were off one of the main roads on the west side of the island. There was also a coffee truck there too!

    Christine D.

    We stop by every time we visit the island. For one, it's convenient and right off the highway. The flavors are great but I usually just get the basic Bavarian crème. They make it where you have to purchase 3, so you will have to pay the high price. Prices have gone up the last few years. Their malasadas are good but I don't feel it's worth the price. I did not interact with the employees. My husband was the one who ordered. When I have ordered, they are always very nice. They serve it fresh every time. We ordered 2 Bavarian and husband got coconut filled for the 3rd one.

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    1 month ago

    Fantastic malasadas, best on the island. Hot and fresh every time. Look for the food trucks!

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    Page 1 of 19

    Manuela Malasada - Big Island Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Manuela Malasada - Big Island

    How do I contact you directly for a refund?

    808-747-5531

    What brand of "Li-Hing (Sweet & Sour Plum Sugar)" do you guys use? When I flew home I wanted to dust some local donuts the same way, but the one powder I tried buying on Amazon (described as "Li Hing Mui Powder" was not sour so much as salty...

    We blend our own li hing - try to add sugar to your powder and it may turn out amazing too

    Hi; we were there Sunday morning after 8:30, but only the espresso truck was there. We'd like to come by this morning & try again...what time will you be open today (Tuesday) & tomorrow?

    830

    What time are you open until today? It says 5:30pm, but I just wanted to confirm since I am making a bit of a drive.

    Yes

    Are you open today? I can't find your truck on 1 Puako, we can come back later but I only saw a bunch of cars and police cars there on the lot?

    Yes

    Do you do catering or we can pick up a large order? We are looking for malasadas for our wedding instead of cake. With much advance notice of course.

    Hi, thank you for considering us yes we do. We would just need to know your quantity and the date that you were thinking about because we have become extremely popular for weddings and catering. I just need to make sure that I have the availability… 

    Are you always there at 8am?

    No. 830

    I'm visiting Hilo on vacation. Are you on the Hilo side anywhere? Thanks

    Sorry - only in Waikoloa

    Are y'all open today?

    I think they are open 7 days a week. We had to find their "temp home" while we were there due to the Ironman race.

    Drove by today, are you going to be there today?

    Yes. We had 3 employees call in sick today so it’s going to be 10.

    Are you at the same location ? We drove by a few times and only saw a shaved ice truck.

    We are here - yes, since we are so sought after we have a ton of folks that pull up on that spot…

    What are your timings on the Fourth of July?

    What oil do they fry the Malasdas in?

    Coconut/ canola blend exclusively for our trucks

    I read that your location is hard to find. we're visiting and not totally familiar with the area. Is it really just 6.3 miles coming from Waikoloa beach drive (hotels)? One address says 1 and half hour drive from here.

    1 Puako beach drive

    Hi there :) Do you take debit card or credit card?

    She does take both along with Apple Pay. Hope that helps .

    What days of the week are you there? Are you still off highway 19? We haven't been to the leeward side in a while and are craving your amazing malasadas!

    We are open 7 days a week. 8- until we sell out- this happens between 4-5

    Can you pay with credit card?

    Yes

    Are you guys still around at the Big Island? We were looking for the truck last week but to no avail. 😕

    Yes- more popular then ever… Puako beach drive

    There is a storm today, are you open during heavy rain?

    Yes

    Where will you be today?

    Only location we have on the big island - Puako - we are there 7 days a week

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    CanoeHouse - Garlic rice

    CanoeHouse

    4.1(844 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    •$$$$

    The Absolute Highlight of Our Honeymoon! If you are looking…read morefor an unforgettable dining experience on the island, Canoe House is an absolute must. It was hands-down our favorite meal of our three-island honeymoon! The ambiance here is incredible. We arrived a bit early and were lucky enough to score a front-row table right on the water for the sunset. Our waiter was flawless- he perfectly paced our drinks and courses so we never felt rushed and could fully soak in every minute of the sunset. The cocktails are phenomenal and beautifully balanced. My husband loved his spicy mango guava margarita, and I started with a mango drink that wasn't overly sweet but tasted wonderfully bright. Afterward, I had two of the "Nikko" cocktails, which were divine - essentially a bright, refreshing cucumber gin martini that went down way too easily! The Food * The Box Bread: Served warm with a perfectly crusty exterior and a pillowy, delicious interior. Paired with their incredible butter, it's a stellar start to the meal. * Kushi Oysters: These came pre-dressed with a seaweed topping. While I usually prefer dressing my own oysters (or having a standard vinaigrette on the side to compare), these were still wonderfully briny and delicious. * The Famous Garlic Fried Rice: It's good, and we completely finished it, though it wasn't the absolute best fried rice I've ever had. However, the presentation is genius ... it's double-plated, which kept it steaming hot throughout the entire meal. * The Beef Tenderloin: Cooked to an absolute perfect medium-rare, served with a sweet, savory glaze and very yummy broccoli. * The Ahi Kasuyaki: The absolute star of the night! They torch the fish right in front of you! The pieces of fish were incredibly tender and paired beautifully with a spectacular mustard sauce. Divine. * sticky rice and coconut icecream. Just trust me find out for yourself. It is indescribable. Between the show-stopping sunset views, the table-side torching, and the impeccable service, Canoe House gave us a magical evening we will be talking about for years. Don't skip this place!

    A reservation is a must for this restaurant and I see why. It gets very busy since it's one of the…read morebest places to eat while watching the beautiful sunset. Food and service were excellent! They provide free valet parking . Everything we ordered tasted fresh and delicious! Portions were a decent amount and the drinks were unique. I highly recommend to come here when you're in the area.

    Photos
    CanoeHouse - Lobby area

    Lobby area

    CanoeHouse - Scallops

    Scallops

    CanoeHouse - CanoeHouse

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    CanoeHouse

    Manuela Malasada - Big Island - foodtrucks - Updated September 2026

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