LOCAL SANDWICH, Winner 808 Deli Address: 2511 S. Kihei Rd., Suite 102, Kihei, HI 96753 Contact: josh richardson Phone: 808-879-1111 Website: http://www.808deli.net If you can stuff it between two slices of bread, 808 Deli has it on the menu. Design a sandwich the way you like and they are happy to build it, or choose from their selection of gourmet specialty sandwiches, Paninis and hot dogs with all the fixin’s. Either way you stuff it or slice it, 808 Deli has an award-winning sandwich and a bag of chips waiting for you.
Address: 1792 Main St., Wailuku, HI 96793 Phone: (808) 243-9560 A Saigon Cafe made news this past year when they erected a sign on their rooftop, the first sign they have put up since they opened in January 1996. Their tricky location is now marked, but Mauians already know where to find authentic and delicious Vietnamese cuisine created by Jennifer Nguyen. The menu is extensive and includes salads, vermicelli, clay pot, whole fish, appetizers and coffee drinks.
People are crazy about fish and chips, its one of those irresistible comfort foods, and it comes to us courtesy of the Brits from about the mid eighteenth century. Fresh filets of fish batter dipped and fried crisp on the outside, served on a bed of potato fries. Here on Maui Alexander’s is famous for their fish which comes in three pacific island styles, ono, mahi and ahi. You can mix it up and add fried shrimp, calamari and even throw in some veggies. If you are not feeling the fried, they can grill your fish too. At Alexander’s you get your fish and chips your way.
Address: 275 W. Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului, HI 96732 Phone: 808-877-5556
People are crazy about fish and chips, its one of those irresistible comfort foods, and it comes to us courtesy of the Brits from about the mid eighteenth century. Fresh filets of fish batter dipped and fried crisp on the outside, served on a bed of potato fries. Here on Maui Alexander’s is famous for their fish which comes in three pacific island styles, ono, mahi and ahi. You can mix it up and add fried shrimp, calamari and even throw in some veggies. If you are not feeling the fried, they can grill your fish too. At Alexander’s you get your fish and chips your way.
Address: 2439 S Kihei Rd Ste 109A, Kihei, HI 96753 Phone: (808) 874-8882 Aloha Discount Liquor has been voted in as Maui’s spot to score adult beverages. Looking for flip-top Grolsch? They got ‘em, along with a great selection of other choice brews, unusual spirits and great deals on beer and wine. The selections of specialty tobacco and tiny bottles of spirits are exceptional, and everything is fairly priced. This place is perfect for the spirits enthusiast or just the bloke stopping by to pick up a six pack for the beach.
LOCAL CHEAP EATS, Winner Aloha Mixed Plate Address: 1285 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761 Phone: 808-661-3322 Website: http://www.alohamixedplate.com Aloha Mixed Plate is a one of a kind local food stop. Their food is gourmet, not your standard local fare. Prepared with great ingredients and the most generous portions for their prices Maui locals can’t get enough of their food. Their dining room is mother natures best, open air ocean side lanai dining on Front Street Lahaina, with plenty of parking just out front. You can’t beat their belly bomb mini plates, starting from just $3.95. They post daily specials on their facebook page, like last Friday’s honey walnut shrimp, so you will never get tired of their menu.
BAR, Winner Ambrosia Address: 1913 S. Kihei Road, Kihei, HI 96753 Contact: Candice Seti Phone: (808) 891-1011 Email: corvette.terry@gmail.com Website: http://www.ambrosiamaui.com Maui likes to swill spirits in a swanky little Kihei bar that transcends island or metro. Order handcrafted cocktails while you forget what lies outside and absorb the Ambrosia atmosphere. Featuring state of the art lighting, Happy hour 5pm to 9pm and live nightly entertainment, oblige Ambrosia as they supply Maui’s vibrant nightlife pulse. It’s also thee place to shake what your mama gave ya.
Address: 333 Dairy Rd., Kahului, HI 96732 Phone: 808-872-9525 Amigo’s Mexican Restaurants have been bringing their delicious tacos, burritos, chile rellenos and enchiladas to Kahului, Wailuku, Lahaina and Kihei in their casual and affordable restaurants. Consistently tasty whether you order from their food truck or visit their sit-down service, our readers keep Maui voting Amigo’s numero uno Mexi no matter where they are on the island.
KAMA'AINA DEAL, Winner Beach Bum's Bar & Grill Address: 300 Maalaea Rd. # 1M, Wailuku, HI 96793 Phone: (808) 243-2286 Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beach-Bums-Bar-Grill-on-Maui/123131854367686?sk=wall This Maalaea outpost has great barbecue, eight beers on tap, great prices and a faithful following, but technically it’s not a kamaaina deal. But their prices are so good they fooled you into thinking you are getting great kamaaina there all the time! From 3 to 6 pm the place gets even better with Happy Hour when certain beers on draft are $2.50 and Mai tais and margaritas are just $3.50.
BUSINESS LUNCH, Winner Bistro Casanova Address: 33 Lono Avenue, Kahului, HI 96732 Contact: Steven Cappelli Phone: 808-873-3650 Fax: 808-572-4978 Website: http://www.casanovamaui.com Bistro Casanova is fairly new to the scene. It will be celebrating two years this upcoming September, but Maui has already voted it best. This elegant Kahului lunch spot has an beautiful air conditioned dining room and a terrific menu that Central Maui hasn’t seen the likes of in ages. The bread sticks that come with each meal are addicting, as are their ice teas and fritti of potato, ahi or calamari. Salads and sandwiches showcase cuisines from Italy, France and Spain. Paninis, pastas and crepes round out the offerings. Their great cocktail menu clenches your power lunch, or if you need power of another sort, their espresso is wonderful.
Address: 4566 Lower Kula Rd., Kula, HI 96790 Phone: 808-878-6874
Cafe 808 is high up in Kula, but their menu selection is worth the trip. Your choices of around 20 different plate lunches may astonish you, but the real joy is eating it. Everything is traditionally served in giant portions with scoops of rice and mac salad. The mahi plate is awesome, the kalbi is tender and sweet, the steak is delicious. You can’t go wrong with any of them. Their large dining room is casual and busy, but its where upcountry folk come to chat over the best plate lunches on Maui.
LUNCH, Winner Cafe O'Lei Address: 62 N. Market St., Wailuku, HI 96793 Phone: 808-986-0044 Website: http://cafeoleirestaurants.com/ The lunch menu never fails at Cafe O’Lei so consistent that Maui readers voted it best. Fresh macadamia-crusted mahi, caesar salads, tofu stir fry, crab salad on foccacia, onion soup, burgers--it’s all delicious. Plus the prices are affordable. With several restaurants around the island to choose from, you’re never far from an award winning lunch at Cafe O’Lei.
ITALIAN FOOD, Winner Casanova Italian Restaurant Address: 1188 Makawao Ave., Makawao, HI 96768 Contact: Steven Capelli Phone: 572-0220 Fax: 808-572-4978 Website: http://www.casanovamaui.com From ambiance to the passionate Italian food, Casanova’s Maui is Maui’s best Italian restaurant. A wood burning oven bakes pizza, fine wines flow and Casanova’s fine Italian cuisine has been a tradition in Makawao for over 20 years. In the early hours you will find their deli serving delicious coffees.
Just thinking about the chow fun at the Maui County Fair brings me to a mouthwatering halt. The fat-glistening wide fun noodles with white, little flecks of green onion and ground beef clinging to them and bean sprouts always insist on being difficult with the chop sticks. You’re lucky if there is no line to claim your cone, cup or quart container. Wailuku Hongwanji usually sponsors this booth and their recipe is revered. Even though they’re popular they seem to make enough for everyone--even the folks who stockpile containers to bring home.
BURGER, Winner Cool Cat Cafe Address: 658 Front St. #160, Lahaina, HI 96761 Contact: Sean Corpuel Phone: (808) 667-0908 Fax: 808-667-0963 Email: info@coolcatcafe.com Website: http://www.coolcatcafe.com Cool Cat’s invincible hold on Best Burger on Maui starts with fresh ground beef seasoned and made into a patty that is cooked perfectly and served on a fresh baked bun with their house sauce, crisp pickle, cheese, lettuce, onion and tomato. Say hello to the Leader of the Pack and don’t forget to order a basket of seasoned fries. Their burger menu goes over 10 deep, mixing it up with different buns, cheeses and fillings, so no matter what you’re in the mood for, this burger comes at you dressed up and made to order. You can count on Cool Cat every time for great service, fun atmosphere and validated wharf parking.
LOCAL CHEAP EATS, Runner up Da Kitchen Address: 425 Koloa St., # 104, Kahului, HI 96732 Contact: Mariah Brown Phone: 808-871-7782 Fax: 808-871-7784 Website: http://www.da-kitchen.com
LOCAL FOOD, Winner Da Kitchen Address: 425 Koloa St., # 104, Kahului, HI 96732 Contact: Mariah Brown Phone: 808-871-7782 Fax: 808-871-7784 Website: http://www.da-kitchen.com We can’t say enough good things about Da Kitchen. They’ve got convenient locations, a welcoming atmosphere, cute staff, and the food is amazing. The portions are ginormous, which is great because everything is so freakin’ delicious. Local food is the ultimate in comfort food, reminding us of home and family gatherings. Da Kitchen takes those memories and wraps them in yummy. Even when life brings us so down low that we realize the hole in our hearts (and arteries) would be generously filled by a fried spam musubi, Da Kitchen is there, waiting like an old friend.
Address: 333 Dairy Road, Kahului, HI 96732 Phone: 877-6284 Deb treats her customers like family and that’s probably what endears her fans to the Hang Loose Lounge. This chilled-out Maui bar at the Dairy Road center is where you will find their cheap drinks and canned beers, as well as those bucket seats at the bar all quite old school. They don’t serve food, but will allow you to bring your own take-out (that’s BYOTO) and sometimes customers will cook their own food and bring it in to share, as well.
|
(1)
VEGETARIAN, Winner Down To Earth Address: 305 Dairy Rd., Kahului, HI 96732 Phone: 808-877-2661 Fax: 808-877-7548 Email: kahului@downtoearth.org Website: http://www.downtoearth.org The veggie meals at Down to Earth are voted best on Maui. Their hot bar has at least 10 different veg items at any given time, the deli is ready to prepare any of their sandwiches or smoothies, the salad bar is extensive and the grab-and-go section is totally convenient for necessities. The Kahului health food emporium opened their 9,000-square-foot location in 1997. Oh, and you won’t find any meat here: Down To Earth’s philosophy is strictly plant-strong dedicated.
Address: 70 E. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Kahului, HI 96732 Phone: 808-893-1628 Dragon Dragon is one of Maui's nicest Chinese restaurants, with sit down service and those spinning lazy susans in the middle of big party tables. They have all the Chinese favorites: fried rice, crispy duck, ma po tofu, Singapore noodles and more.
SERVER, Winner Emily Swearingen Address: 1913 S. Kihei Rd. Phone: 874-6444 Website: http://www.southshoretikilounge.com Even people who’ve only been served once by Emily, who works at the South Shore Tiki Lounge in Kihei, know that she is bright, attentive and sweet as a Mai Tai. She mostly works days now, but we can remember Em working Friday and Saturday nights at the Tiki--a time when the small, kitschy bar gets slammed with people mingling, dancing, ordering pizza and imbibing alcoholic beverages. The best servers on the island would cave under such pressure, but Em was there weekend after weekend, never faltering.
|
BBQ, Winner Famous Dave's Address: 736 Front St., Lahaina, HI 96761 Contact: Zachary Dahl Phone: 808-661-1125 Website: http://famousdaves.com We like our barbecue Southern Style and pit-smoked and served in huge portions. That’s why Famous Dave’s is Maui’s best. Between baby back ribs, chopped pork, St. Louis style ribs, and beef brisket, there is no end to the meaty barbecue goodness served here. The Feast is for the insatiable carnivore appetite, and consists of all of the above served on the lid of a garbage can.
Address: 815 Haiku Rd., Haiku, HI 96708 Phone: 808-575-2762 Delectable hot dogs have been done for more than 25 years at Fukushima Store in Haiku. Don’t come in expecting fancy Chicago dog options; they have a special recipe called “everything” that has their tasty mayo sauce, pickle, onions and plenty of Fuk’s aloha. And that is the best.
BREAKFAST, Winner Gazebo Restaurant at Napili Shores Address: 5315 Lower Honoapiilani Rd., Napili, HI 96761 Phone: 808-669-5621 Website: http://www.outriggernapilishorescondo.com Breakfast starts at 7:30am sharp at Gazebo, and the menu is served through 2pm and then they close.Their breakfast is served right: hearty potatoes, giant omelets accompanied by toast, piles of pancakes, mounds of fried rice. It’s all done from their magnificent perch on the south end of Napili Bay, which offers a breathtaking view of the ocean all around you. But you probably won’t even notice the view with that big delicious breakfast in front of you.
Entertainment and lifestyle news for Maui, Hawaii and the surrounding Islands. Maui Time Weekly is Mauis only independent and locally owned newspaper.
Mail this link to a friend
