Beyond this unassuming door is one of the Must Visit places on the island of Oahu.

Believe it or not hundreds of people visit Ted’s Bakery every day, often arriving on tourist buses from resorts on the leeward side of the island.

The buses park at Sunset Beach, which is about a half-block away, and tourists stumble out to gawk at the view before wandering across the street to willingly stand in long lines in the hot sun just for a taste of Ted’s famous Chocolate Haupia Pie. Haupia is coconut cream pudding.

As the saying goes: “Happiness is sharing a slice of Ted’s Chocolate Haupia Pie while sitting on Sunset Beach.” I must admit it was a little too sweet and rich for my tastes!

Ted’s story is emblematic of Hawaii.  The original Ted, Torojiro Nakamura, arrived from Japan in 1906 under contract to a sugar cane company on Maui. After his contract was over, he worked as a farmer until the 1950s when he and his son bought a piece of land across from Sunset Beach and set up a convenience shop.

When the surfing world discovered the North Shore Torojiro’s grandson recognized a golden opportunity and began selling donuts, pastries and cornbread. Today the menu includes pies (if you don’t like coconut you can pig out on Macadamia Nut, Peach Bavarian Cream, Lilikoi Cheese Pie or Pineapple Macadamia Nut), and healthier options such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner “plates,” all served with plenty of rice.  In the laid back tradition which is the North Shore, be prepared for a long wait for the lunch plates.

The other Must Visit eating joints on the North Shore are the shrimp trucks.

You can’t beat the garlic shrimp you get from these trucks.  The smell, the taste!

Please check out other ThursdayDoors at Norm’s place.