For such a small island, Maui sure has a lot of restaurants. A LOT
of restaurants, of all shapes, sizes, locations and cuisines. Want
Mexican food? There’s three or four great places to choose from. Got a
hankering for one of those Pacific Rim dishes that looks like a work of
art? More than a dozen choices tempt you. Want escargot at a fancy
French joint? A heaping plate of loco moco from a quiet lunch counter?
A vegetarian taco loaded with fake ground beef? Check, check and check.
Maui’s got restaurants for every region, taste and bank account
balance, which leaves just one question: where do you go? To help you
out, we asked some of the island’s more prominent kama`aina—musicians,
community leaders, artists and the guy who runs the local prison—where
they go when they don’t want to mess around in the kitchen. Their
answers should surprise you and, hopefully, make you hungry. As an
added bonus, we’ve added some of the island’s best kama`aina half-price
deals to our already comprehensive dining listings. Enjoy!
Contributors: Samantha Campos, Anthony Pignataro and Jen Russo
TOM BLACKBURN RODRIGUEZ
President, Na HALE O Maui Community Land Trust
I like to go to Kihei Caffe. They open at five in the morning and stay
open until two in the afternoon. They have a great hamburger and great
breakfast, as well as great service and a great staff. I think they
were voted Best Breakfast on the island. My favorite is the chorizo con
huevos. I go there probably two to three times a week—definitely Sunday
morning, then maybe one other time a week. I like Koho’s, too. I like
the food and the friendly service. Koho’s is where I learned to eat
French fries with mayonnaise, local style. They have a great chicken
sandwich, too. It was one of the first places I went to when I came to
Maui.
Kihei Caffe, 1945 S. Kihei Rd., 879-2230; Koho Grill & Bar, Queen Ka`ahumanu Center, Kahului, 877-5588. (AP)
COLIN HANLON
Chief Professional Officer, Boys and Girls Club
I take my family to Stella Blues. We eat lunch and breakfast there.
They offer breakfast until late, and that’s great because my daughters
love to order breakfast. One daughter loves their chocolate pancakes,
my other daughter feels she’s adult already and likes to order the eggs
benedict. They have a great vegetarian selection for some family
members who don’t eat meat. Their chicken chile is good, too—they just
have great food for the family. For date nights we like to go to Roy’s.
Whether we are dining or just have time for appetizers they have the
best cuisine. They used to have an escargot with polenta on the menu,
but you can still ask for it. It has the most amazing flavor. I love
their fish and all their preparations. I also take the family to dinner
at Outback. They have tremendous portions for the price, and great
food.
Stella Blues Cafe, 1279 S. Kihei Rd.,
874-3779; Roy’s Kihei, 303 Pi`ikea Ave., 891-1120; Outback Steakhouse,
281 Pi`ikea Ave, Kihei, 879-8400. (JR)
SHAGGY
Radio DJ, Q103
I love to eat at this place called Serpico in Pukalani. It’s an
Italian restaurant run by a guy named Hatch [Clarke, along with Miriam
Clarke, from Allenhurst, New Jersey] who makes his own pizza dough,
stromboli, anything Italian you want. They’ve got subs, eggplant
parmesan, chicken parmesan—Philly cheese steaks, too. My favorite is
the white pizza made with ricotta, mozzarella, roasted garlic and
spinach. Me and my girlfriend go there once a week at least. It’s just
a real cool, laidback place where we can go and relax. A real
mom-and-pop operation.
Serpico’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 7 Aewa Pl., Pukalani, 572-8498. (SC)
LAURELEE BLANCHARD
Campaign Coordinator, Farm Sanctuary
My favorite place is Fresh Mint. It’s a place where I bring
relatives, and even the meat and potatoes people love the food there. I
like the spicy lemongrass soup and the ginger beef. Everything is
really fresh and only prepared once you order it, but I like most the
fact that no animals suffered in making the meal. My friends who eat
meat really think the fish is delicious. I’ve been going there ever
since it opened and I’m sure disappointed the one in Kahului closed. I
like Polli’s, too, because anything on the menu can be made vegetarian.
They can put the fake ground beef in any of the burritos, tacos, etc.
They’re really accommodating there. And Moana Cafe is pretty good. I
went there last week. They had a special of red Thai noodles that was
really good, and they said they were going to add it to their regular
menu.
Fresh Mint, 115 Baldwin Ave.,
Paia, 579-9144; Polli’s Mexican Restaurant, 1202 Makawao Ave.,
572-9808; Moana Bakery & Cafe, 71 Baldwin Ave., Paia, 579-9999. (AP)
DJ BOOMSHOT
Spinmaster and director, Boomshot Productions
I’m gonna have to cast my vote for Fresh Mint, the vegetarian
Vietnamese place. It’s just very healthy, very flavorful—a very
satisfying meal. It’s everything food should be. And the folks that
work there are very nice. I like the Pho, Vietnamese noodle soup, but
any of the entrees are good. It’s hard to pick a favorite. I try to go
through the whole menu, get something new every time, and eventually
try everything. Oh, and there are desserts, too! They have this mango
tapioca—it’s non-dairy and it’s so good.
Fresh Mint, 115 Baldwin Ave., Paia, 579-9144. (SC)
KENNETH K. MARTINEZ BURGMAIER
Filmmaker, director and producer of “Jazz Alley TV”
I love food and I love to eat at different places. But I go to
Unisan once or twice a week. I’ve eaten sushi in Japan and all over the
world, and the way [co-owner/sushi chef] Sam makes it is comparable. My
taste buds love what he delivers. The spicy tuna hand rolls are to die
for, and the Neptune Roll has won awards. I also really enjoy going to
Fiesta Time. My family had a Mexican restaurant for 20 years, and I
grew up cooking with my tutu, learning her recipes. And well, Fiesta
Time’s food is the closest thing to my grandmother’s cooking.
Unisan, 2102 Vineyard St.,
Wailuku, 244-4500; Fiesta Time, 1132 Lower Main St., Wailuku, 249-8463/
300 Ma`alaea Rd., Ma`alaea, 244-5862. (SC)
SUNNY GORG
Independent Dance Instructor and Director/ Manager, Vibe Studios
Because I live on this side, I like to go to Jacques for sushi and
salad, and Cafe Des Amis for the Mediterranean platter. I eat out as
often as possible—in general, about three times a week. If I’m just
getting something to go, I’ll pick up something from Down to Earth. But
I will drive all the way to Wailuku to get a wet burrito at Fiesta
Time. I can’t wait until they open one in Paia.
Jacques Northshore Bistro, 120 Hana
Hwy., Paia, 579-8844; Cafe Des Amis, 42 Baldwin Ave., Paia, 579-6323;
Down to Earth, 305 Dairy Rd., Kahului, 877-2661/ 1169 Makawao Ave.,
Makawao, 572-1488; Fiesta Time, 1132 Lower Main St., Wailuku, 249-8463/
300 Ma`alaea Rd., Ma`alaea, 244-5862. (SC)
KAREN BOURIS
Publisher, Inner Ocean Publishing
I’m probably not the person to ask because I don’t go out that much
because I have small children. But I liked going to that place that’s
on the right as you drive into Wailuku—Saigon Cafe. What I basically do
is go to Mana Foods and get deli takeout. I get the shoyu chicken. I
used to go to Vasi’s and get the pizza, which is incredible. Vasi’s has
this really yeasty crust that is just fantastic. Veg Out in Haiku is
great, too. Consuelo’s takeout is amazing—it’s organic and healthy. She
has curries and Brazilian food and all sorts of different things.
That’s pretty much my standard—takeout. Then we go to the beach and
eat.
Saigon Cafe, 1792 Main St.,
Wailuku, 243-9560; Mana Foods, 49 Baldwin Ave., Paia, 579-8078; Vasi’s
Cafe & Bakery, 810 Kokomo Rd., Haiku, 575-9588; Veg Out, 810 Kokomo
Rd., Haiku, 575-5320; Consuelo’s, 771 Haiku Rd., 575-2687. (AP)
DANIEL J
DJ, Promoter, head of Love N Light Productions
I have three words for you–Isana after 10. It’s really good and it’s
a great deal too. They have three kinds of Dynamite—Lobster, shrimp and
fish. They have awesome sushi, their sushi is the best, and everything
is half off after 10 o’clock. For lunch I am into Jawz Tacos right now.
I think it’s their salsa bar that keeps me coming back. They have a
whole cart full of different salsas and stuff to add to your food, and
the creamy guacamole and sour cream sauce is so good. You can get their
taco plate and mix it up, steak and shrimp tacos. And the green tea
that they brew there is tasty, too.
Isana, 515 S. Kihei Rd., 874-5700; Jawz Fish Tacos Island Style Grill, 1279 S. Kihei Rd., 874-8226. (JR)
BARRY & STELLA RIVERS
Co-directors, Maui Film Festival
Definitely the top one for us is Manana Garage. We absolutely love
it. Their macadamia nut crusted mahi or ahi—everything they’ve got it
is great. And their bread—the corn rolls! Barry and I call it soul
food. And in Paia, we love Moana Cafe. Their fish preparations are
really great. The ahi wrap with sweet potatoes is my favorite for
lunch. Oh, and last night we were there and I had the Veggie Tower with
roasted veggies—it was terrific. For lunch we like to go to Cafe
Mambo—our sons Kiva and Tide kept saying we had to go and now we love
it. For $7, you can get a fresh fish sandwich with salad or French
fries! It’s just quicker and easier to get food and sit at a table than
other places.
Manana Garage, 33 Lono St.,
Kahului, 873-0220; Moana Cafe, 71 Baldwin Ave., Paia, 579-9999; Cafe
Mambo, 30 Baldwin Ave., Paia, 579-8021. (SC)
ROSLYN LIGHTFOOT
Executive Director, Bailey House Museum
You called the wrong person: I very seldom eat out. When I do go
out, I like Buzz’s Wharf. They have a shrimp dish that I always order.
I think the Hali`imaile General Store is fantastic, but I have to watch
what I eat because I have food allergies. There’s this little obscure
place in Pukalani that serves the best Mexican food on the
island—Maui’s Best Tamales I think they’re called. I’m from L.A., you
see, so Mexican food to me is a way of life. If I have to go out
somewhere, that’s my favorite place. There’s also this obscure place
that hardly anyone knows about in the Iao Valley, the Nature Cafe in
what used to be the hotel. All they sell is sandwiches and salads. It’s
a very nice place to be quiet and talk with a friend.
Buzz’s Wharf, Ma`alaea Harbor Village,
244-5426; Hali`imaile General Store, 900 Hali`imaile Rd., 572-2666;
Maui’s Best Tamales, 81 Makawao Ave., Pukalani Square, 573-2998; Nature
Cafe, located next to the Nature Center in the Iao Valley. (AP)
CAROLYN QUAN
Artist and Curator, Carolyn Quan Gallery
Kahuna Kabobs knows how to cook! Always juicy, those kabobs—and
always consistently good. The food is simple, but so well done. My
favorites are the spiced pita bread with hummus as well as the chicken
Caesar salad with the grilled garlic bread. I also love that it’s in an
outdoor food court so you can people watch and eat outside. The prices
are very good. Nagasako’s is another favorite because of the local
home-style cooking. They give you hoards of food for what you pay. I
love the shoyu chicken, the black bean chicken. Pho Mai in Lahaina
Center has fantastic food, fresh ingredients, an extensive Vietnamese
menu and an extensive vegetarian menu. I love the curried shrimp the
best. I also love the vegetarian won ton soup because it’s perfect when
I want something light to eat. Fresh ingredients. Overall, I enjoy
eating at and supporting small, casual, unpretentious mom and pop
restaurants.
Kahuna Kabobs, 126 Lahainaluna
Rd., Lahaina, 667-9999; Nagasako’s, 845 Waine`e St., Lahaina, 661-0985;
Pho Mai, 900 Front St., Lahaina, 667-5809. (SC)
DANIEL BERGAN
Membership Sales Director, Maui Chamber of Commerce
I like to eat at the Maui Brewing Co. because they have great food
and good service. I go to Chez Paul’s—the food is awesome. You get
treated very well there in an intimate setting with rich French
cuisine. I like Kimo’s, too. It’s fun, it’s been around forever and
their excellent food is consistent. For lunch I like to go to Food for
the Soul in Wailuku Industrial. They have soups, salads, sandwiches. I
don’t even know how to describe it: the food is really fresh. I love
their killer Portuguese bean soup.
Maui Brewing Co., 4405 Honoapi`ilani
Hwy., Kahana, 669-3474; Chez Paul French Restaurant, Oluwalu Village
Rd., 661-3843; Kimo’s, 845 Front St., Lahaina, 661-4811; Food for the
Soul, 331 Ho`okahi St., Wailuku, 244-1185. (JR)
ALAN NOUCHI
Acting Warden, Maui Community Correctional Center
I’m going to get killed if I don’t say my wife’s cooking. But as far
as formal dining goes, when guests come to town I like to go to the
Waterfront Restaurant. I order the fish. I don’t go there very
often—just once or twice a year, max. As far as food in town, normally
my wife and I just order takeout. We live in Wailuku, and we order from
places that are centrally located. Just off the top of my head, Saigon
Cafe is really good. I really like their crispy shrimp. I get my local
food from Sam Sato’s and Nazo’s. Oh, and I can’t leave out Da Kitchen
in Kahului. I think it’s good because there are always leftovers. A big
part of my weekly eating is leftovers.
Waterfront Restaurant, Ma`alaea Harbor
Village, 244-9028; Saigon Cafe, 1792 Main St., Wailuku, 243-9560; Sam
Sato’s, 1750 Wili Pa Loop, Wailuku, 244-7124; Nazo’s, 1063 Lower Main
St., Wailuku, 244-0529; Da Kitchen, 425 Koloa St., Kahului, 871-7782.
(AP)
DARLA PALMER
Executive Director, Maui Onstage
For comfort food I will eat at Bentos and Banquets on Church Street.
I like to go to Main Street Bistro because Tom Selman makes me special
dishes. Milagros in Paia has the best margaritas. I also go to Manana
Garage. That is where all the theater people like to gather. Oh, and
when money is no object I like Ruth’s Chris for steaks. Have you heard
of AK’s Cafe? They are on Lower Main. They have this healthy cuisine
thing going. It’s really good, too.
Bentos and Banquets by Bernard, 856 N.
Church St., Wailuku, 244-1124; Main Street Bistro, 2051 Main St.,
Wailuku, 244-6816; Milagros, 3 Baldwin Ave., 579-8755; Manana Garage,
33 Lono Ave., Kahului, 873-0220; Ruth’s Chris, 900 Front St., Lahaina,
661-8815, 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr., 874-8880; AK’s Cafe, 1237 Lower Main,
Wailuku, 572-2395. (JR)