Maui Jon's Profile
Searching for casual spots in Maui
Some of my favorite casual inexpensive non-resort restaurants on Maui are
Da Kitchen at the Wharf center in Lahaina
Eskimo Candy a few blocks inland in Kihei
Gazebo for breakfast or lunch with a view in Napili
Coconuts Fish Cafe for fish in Kihei
Penne Pasta Cafe a couple blocks off Front Street in Lahaina
Aloha,
Jon
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Da Kitchen
2439 S Kihei Rd Ste 107A, Kihei, HI 96753
Eskimo Candy
2665 Waiwai Pl, Kihei, HI 96753
Penne Pasta Cafe
180 Dickenson St Ste 113, Lahaina, HI 96761
Maui Restaurants
Since you are staying on Kaanapali Beach, and there are several excellent restaurants on Kaanapali Beach, you might as well try those closest places first. Whalers Village is the shopping center in the middle of Kaanapali Beach, and the best restaurant in that center is Cane & Taro. Hula Grill and Leilani's are also very good in that same shopping center. The hotel restaurants on Kaanapali beach are much more expensive, and are not better than the restaurants in Whalers Village. Just outside of Kaanapali Beach, on the main highway, is CJ's Deli, an inexpensive restaurant that's good for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Aloha,
Maui Jon
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Cane & Taro Restaurant
147 Dickenson St, Lahaina, HI 96761
MAUI--ARE THERE ANY GOOD CHINESE RESTAURANTS?
I like Dragon Dragon in the Maui Mall in Kahului.
anniversary dinner near Kea Lani
For dinner at or near Kea Lani, the best by far is Nick's Fishmarket, which is the fine-dining restaurant in the Kea Lani. It has great food and fabulous service. It is not ocean-front and does not have a great view. There are both inside and outside tables, but I recommend dining outside, under the beautiful trellis. This page has a list of menu items and some photos of the food:
http://www.mauihawaii.org/restaurants/nicks-fishmarket.htm
I am not a fan of Mama's. In my opinion, other restaurants on Maui have just as good food, larger portions, and better views, at lower prices. Other top restaurants on Maui include Plantation House, Hula Grill, Haliimaile General Store, Lahaina Grill, Merriman's, Roy's, and Pineapple Grill.
Genki Sushi Hawaii
Yes, the Genki Sushi at the new Lahaina Gateway shopping center is surprisingly good. And its a bargain compared to the usual prices of eating out on Maui. I don't care for the conveyor belt atmosphere and Formica tables, but it's worth putting up with to get freshly made sushi at those prices.
There's a review that includes photos and a list of some of the menu items at
http://www.mauihawaii.org/restaurants/genki-sushi.htm
Maui recommendations?
The best local fare on Maui is at Da Kitchen, a restaurant at small casual restaurant at the Triangle Square strip mall in Kahului (near K-Mart). They have huge "plate lunches" at low prices. You'll see only locals there and no tourists.
Here's a review that includes a menu list and photos of the decor and of the food:
http://www.mauihawaii.org/restaurants/da-kitchen.htm
Birthday dinner in Maui?
My wife and my favorite Maui restaurant is Plantation House, which is perfect for a birthday dinner. Tell them it's your birthday and I think they even give you a free dessert. It's in the clubhouse of the Plantation Golf Course in Kapalua. Go at sunset for a great view.
They have three kinds of fish each night, available in any of five different preparations. If you prefer vegetarian, they can also make any of those same five choices with tofu instead of fish.
There are photos of the food and a list of some of the other menu items for Plantation House (and for many other Maui restaurants in all price ranges) on the Restaurants tab of
http://www.mauihawaii.org
Farmers markets in Maui
By far the best Farmers Market on Maui is the Maui Swap Meet. It is in the largest city on Maui, Kahului, every Saturday morning. They have a huge selection of fruits and vegetables and flowers, plus lots of clothing and souveniers and some just plain junk.
There are also much smaller Farmers Markets in Honokowai (north of Kaanapali) and in Kihei, each on two mornings per week. Ask at your hotel or condo for dates and directions to the one closest to where you are staying.
Jon
Chowhound finds in Maui
I certainly agree that the Honokowai Okazuya has great food at bargain prices. The former chef from Mama's has retired and there is a new owner (as of a year ago) who does not do the cooking himself, but he has maintained the quality and only slightly raised the prices.
Da Kitchen in Kahalui and Kihei is another place with great food at low prices. Their portions are huge so my wife and I always share one meal.
The Gazebo in Napili has great breakfasts and lunches at reasonable prices (not open for dinner).
The above and others are described in more detail, with photos of the food and menu lists, on the Restaurants tab of
http://www.mauihawaii.org
Maui- Cafe O' Lei Fish & Poi Napili
Fish and Poi restaurant in Napili has very good food at a reasonable (for Maui) price. But it is not a fancy restaurant and does not have a view. It is a small restaurant at the roadside (not the oceanside) end of an older condo complex in Napili. If your main goal is to save money, then this would be an excellent place for your rehearsal dinner, because you will get delicious food without the expense of a luxurious restaurant. But if you want a fancier atmosphere and a great view, then I suggest Plantation House, which is my favorite Maui restaurant. It is in the golf course clubhouse of the Plantation Golf Course in Kapalua. Go at sunset for the most spectacular view. Of course, if your dinner will be after dark, then there won't be any view anyplace, so then you don't need to consider the view when choosing your restaurant. There are photos of the food at Fish and Poi and at Plantation House and at many other Maui restaurants on the Restaurants tab of www.mauihawaii.org. By the way, you mention Cafe O'Lei, so I would like to clarify that Cafe O'Lei is in Kihei (an hour away from Napili) but it is owned by the same people as own Fish and Poi.
maui where anymore?
Plantation House is my favorite Maui restaurant. It is in the clubhouse of the Plantation golf course in Kapalua. Another great place in Kapalua is the new Pineapple Grill in the clubhouse of the Bay course.
Roy's in Kihei and Lahaina also does a good job with tasty fish preparations, but it tends to be noisy.
Ratings and food photos of many Maui restaurants are on the Restaurants tab of this website:
http://www.mauihawaii.org
What can you tell me about The Feast at Lele in Maui??
I am a chowhound who has been to the Feast at Lele and several other luaus on Maui. While it it true that the food at the Feast at Lele is better than the food at the other luaus, that certainly does not mean that the food at the Feast at Lele is good, and it is certainly not gourmet! It is mass-produced food in small portions squeezed in during acts of the luau. Since you said you don't care about the show, there is NO QUESTION WHATSOEVER that you would enjoy the food a lot more at any of Maui's top restaurants.
My personal favorite restaurant on Maui is Plantation House in the clubhouse of the Plantation golf course in Kapalua. Other top Maui restaurants include David Paul's Lahaina Grill in Lahaina and Nick's Fishmarket in Wailea.
Don't go to a luau for the food!
Another Maui Question
Several of the suggestions discussed above are very expensive and are not in or near Kihei where you are staying. For what you are looking for (reasonable price and not too far, but a lot better than cheap fast food), I highly recommend these two Kihei restaurants: Stella Blues and Cafe O'Lei.
Mala in Lahaina is owned by Mark Ellman, so is not owned by the same people who own Cafe O'Lei (Mike and Dana Pastula).
In my opinion, Mama's is greatly overpriced. If you want to splurge, you can get as good food and atmosphere for less money (and closer to Kihei) at Seawatch, in the Gold and Emerald golf course clubhouse in Wailea.
Maui Foods
You said you are staying at the Four Seasons and have Mama's and Pineapple Grill on your list. Both of them are far away from where you are staying, so might be boring drives for the two little kids.
Nick's Fishmarket at the Kea Lani is very close to your hotel, and has fabulous food and service, though (just like Mama's and Pineapple Grill) it is not a kids or family type of restaurant. For family fare, I'd suggest you go to Stella Blues in Kihei.
Dining in Kihei, Hawaii
In my opinion, the best restaurant in Kihei is Cafe O'Lei. It's upstairs in the Rainbow Mall. Phone 891-1368. The decor is beautiful and the food is delicious. It's not a cheap hangout place, but it is as good as Maui's top restaurants and is a lot less expensive than Maui's top restaurants.
