Forget chain cinnamon roll stores you see in malls and airports. When you visit Kihei on Maui, you must make a stop at The Cinnamon Roll Place. This shop has been a staple of the area since 1981, selling cinnamon rolls made from their secret recipe, tasty sandwiches, and quality coffees.
The Cinnamon Roll Place started as a “mom and pop” breakfast stop. It has since fallen under six different owners, carefully chosen to carry the tradition of the bakery. Today’s owners use the same secret recipe the first owners used.
Have you ever loved a restaurant so much that you wanted to buy it? That’s exactly how the current owners, Annie and Mickey Gautney acquired the business. Annie, a professional baker, added her signature banana bread to the menu. You may even see her and the rest of the kitchen staff pressing and rolling the cinnamon rolls by hand to prepare them for baking.
When visiting, you’ll find a counter-serve bakery on the lower floor of a shopping area. Typically, you’ll see a line in the mornings, but it moves quickly as people place their orders. A handful of tables are out front, so grab one if you want to sit down with your meal. There is also a beach park across the street and south of the hotel across from the shopping center with The Cinnamon Roll Place. Enjoy a picnic on the beach if the tables by the bakery are full.
For a grab-and-go breakfast, snack, or light lunch, you cannot go wrong with the options on the menu at The Cinnamon Roll Place. However, some items stand out.
What you have to try from The Cinnamon Roll Place:
Banana Bread
Banana bread appeared on the menu from the newest owners. Annie is a professional baker and chef, who brought her experience and recipes to The Cinnamon Roll Place. Her signature banana bread topped with macadamia nuts is a must-try dish. This rich, flavorful dessert has even attained the claim to being the “best on Maui” among banana bread options on the island.
Cinnamon Rolls
Of course, you must try one of the cinnamon rolls from here. When ordering, you have the option of choosing a variety of toppings, including cream cheese frosting, raisins, macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans, or walnuts. Though toppings cost extra, they give you the chance to customize your roll. However, even if you order a plain cinnamon roll, the ooey, gooey, cinnamon syrup provides more than enough flavor for a sweet, satisfying breakfast or dessert.
Hot Head
The Hot Head breakfast special spices up your morning with eggs, cheese, and bacon on a jalapeno bagel. Like the cinnamon rolls here, the Hot Head is large and filling. You may want to cut the sandwich in half and share it. Served hot and made with crisp bacon, melted cheese, and freshly cooked eggs, this sandwich is a great way to start the day if you want something savory instead of sweet. For a twist, consider the related breakfast special the Spam Head, which substitutes Spam for the bacon.
For a sweet treat or filling breakfast sandwich, The Cinnamon Roll Place cannot be beaten. Stop by for the best cinnamons rolls and banana bread on Maui. You’ll quickly find out why so many locals and tourists call this stop their favorite place for breakfast in Kihei.
Insider Tips:
-Don’t let the line discourage you. It moves quickly.
-Arrive early if you want a cinnamon roll. They occasionally sell out of this signature item.
-Plan to take your food to-go as there are only a couple of tables out front for eating at. You might be able to find seats upstairs, depending on when you visit. Slightly farther from The Cinnamon Roll Place is a beach park across the street and to the south.