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Food & Drink
Rainbow Dining Room
The Rainbow Room at the Maui Beach Hotel proves that quantity and quality can go hand in hand
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June 12, 2008 The next time that you’re contemplating where to take the family for a tasty meal, check out the Maui Beach Hotel’s Japanese buffet dinner in the Rainbow Dining Room. Each day of the week boasts a range of food that’s fit for a king, without forcing you to cough up the big bucks.
The menu changes on certain nights, so figure out what option sounds most tempting. Mondays through Wednesdays serve up sushi and tempura, while Thursdays are king crab legs and prime rib night. On a Friday or Saturday you can enjoy snow crab and prime rib; every Sunday hosts a teppanyaki buffet.
Though amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown Kahului, the setting of the restaurant is tranquil and inviting. Tables on a lanai allow guests to dine casually while overlooking the pool, and the buffet area has lots of different, fabulous foods to please everyone.
I showed up on a Wednesday night with my father in tow, and we were both surprised by the quality ingredients that are used for the buffet. The food is also the perfect fusion of local and Japanese cuisine, allowing diners to choose some of their favorite dishes while mixing in some Japanese classics. I had told myself that this summer I would start monitoring my poor eating habits. However, once I laid my eyes on all the delicious grinds, my binging-genes went into complete overdrive.
One of my favorites was the spring rolls stuffed with shrimp, veggies, and long rice noodles. The flavors were just right and left me simply wanting more. The beef broccoli dish was well seasoned, and the broccoli wasn’t overcooked, as some might expect the veggies at a buffet to be. My father raved about the stuffed mussels all night, constantly reminding me that they were way better than the ones he had eaten in the Cinque Terra, Italy (an area worldly renown to have some of the best shell fish).
For those of you who actually have some self-control and want to drop a few pounds, the salad bar has lots of different components. Crisp, romaine lettuce could be accompanied with various toppings: sliced carrots, fresh cheddar and Parmesan cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives, to name a few. However, if you wanted to skip over the healthy options, a nice red potato-macaroni salad is also found in the salad area.
The specials of the night were the tempura and sushi bar, so there was no chance that I would pass up these delicious choices. The tempura batter was crisp and light, making the shrimp tempura to die for. Slices of green onion, sweet potato, shrimp, onion, and carrot were mixed together and dipped in the batter to create an awesome combination.
The sushi bar was equally impressive. All of the sushi was made on a table at the buffet. Once again my father was obsessive, this time over the spicy tuna roll. The fish was diced into cubes and each piece of sushi was hand rolled in nori. Other favorites like the California and the eel rolls were delicious; the Ahi roll tempted me to start stuffing sushi in my purse to save for later.
For anyone with a sweet tooth, a wonderful assortment of pies, cakes, and soft serve yogurt are available. The costs of the buffet range from $24 up to $39 per adult (children 6-11 years range from $14 to $19.50). These prices are a deal considering that the food is unlimited and delicious. In addition a friendly, local staff will help to make the meal even more enjoyable. MTW
Tags: Rainbow Dining Room
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