About Us
In November of 1916, Denjiro Ota started Tip Top Cafe & Bakery. At that time Denjiro Ota was a cook for the Plantation manager and was approached by the Lihue store manager to open a coffee shop so that the people of Lihue could have breakfast and coffee in the morning. Along with the cafe he also started a bakery. They soon baked bread and delivered bread island wide to the people of Kauai.
In 1925, Mitchell Ota, the son of Denjiro, took over the business. He was innovative and creative, introducing pastries, pies, and other baked goods that were to become the mainstay of the business. One is the famous pancake recipe which is still used today and served in our cafe. Another is the macadamia nut cookie which was the first macnut cookie made in Hawaii.
In 1965, Mitchell moved the business a half mile to its present location and built a restaurant, bakery, 34 room motel, and bar. As Kauai grew, more and more people both on business or vacation visited Kauai, and Tip Top Motel became a popular place to stay.
In 1989, Mitchell Ota passed away at the age of 85 and his grandson, Jonathan Ota, at the age of 30, moved home from Honolulu to take over the family business. Jonathan is the 4th generation of Ota's to run the business. In 2016 Tip Top Motel, Cafe, and Bakery celebrated their 100th year of business on Kauai.
In 1925, Mitchell Ota, the son of Denjiro, took over the business. He was innovative and creative, introducing pastries, pies, and other baked goods that were to become the mainstay of the business. One is the famous pancake recipe which is still used today and served in our cafe. Another is the macadamia nut cookie which was the first macnut cookie made in Hawaii.
In 1965, Mitchell moved the business a half mile to its present location and built a restaurant, bakery, 34 room motel, and bar. As Kauai grew, more and more people both on business or vacation visited Kauai, and Tip Top Motel became a popular place to stay.
In 1989, Mitchell Ota passed away at the age of 85 and his grandson, Jonathan Ota, at the age of 30, moved home from Honolulu to take over the family business. Jonathan is the 4th generation of Ota's to run the business. In 2016 Tip Top Motel, Cafe, and Bakery celebrated their 100th year of business on Kauai.