Maui/Kauai cheap-but-good eats & can't-misses for 2-week honeymoon!
Hi All,
I'm headed to honeymoon for 2 weeks in 2 weeks, visiting both islands. We'll be in Poipu, Lihue, and all over Kauai (we're outdoorsy and love to explore). On Maui, we'll probably be in Lahania and north of that, Makawao, driving to Hana, exploring Haleakala, and staying in Wailea.
We'll be staying in resorts most of the time, but want to eat all over, in great local finds and inexpensive places. Everything from taco trucks to nice dinners. Would love to hear your recommendations.
Thanks!
Jel212
Oct 03, 2009 06:51PM
Spent 10 days in Kaui and husband and I ate at practically every top rated restaurant on the island. (Tidepools, the beach house, dondero's, etc). With each visit we expected a pricey bill as well as outstanding food. Unfortunately we didn't find anything in the fine dining that knocked or socks off. Our favorite was Brick Oven Pizza. We loved it so much we went twice! And we had leftovers. You have to try Puka Dogs in the Poipu shopping village. The best hot dog I've had in a long time! Lastly, sushi rolls at the Hyatt's stevenson lounge were really innovative and tasty. My advice...save your fine dining dollas for maui. While in maui you definitely don't want to miss Sansei near the Ritz. Great sushi! Have a great honeymoon! Aloha!
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Great advice - thank you! And definitely interested in Puka Dogs.
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we were going to get some sushi rolls at Stevenson's Library but I just wouldn't pay the $18 for a 6 piece spicy tuna roll..
Dondero's was outstanding along with the brunch that was comped at the terrace.
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The ahi rolls at Stevenson's Library are actually outstanding. They are nothing like poke or spicy tuna. There is something about the way the tuna is just barely cooked that makes them very good. The rest of the menu, however, is only okay.
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aloha..
I'm sure they were delicous but for $18 bucks, for 6 pieces, just wasn't going to do it..
the wait staff from Stevenson's Library sent to my room this huge basket of Hawaiian goodies along with champagne that was big $$ and in retrospect, I should of broke down and spent that $18 on sushi...great people that work there!
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Breakfast at the Gazebo in Napili (north of Lahaina, almost to Kapalua).
Dinner at Spago at the Four Seasons in Wailea. Get the 9 course tasting menu (which you may need to request in advance). In my opinion, this is the one can't-miss fine dining experience on Maui (though I have not yet been to Merriman's).
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Oh, you share my experience completely! Actually I had a few more courses (maybe they
changed) but it was FABULOUS. Beautiful, thoughtful,bright flavors and innovative use of beautiful ingredients young and ripe for the picking to be composed into wonderful culinary
works of art. Lucky you to enjoy such a wonderful night.
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On Maui you really should try Da Kitchen for very cheap eats. Their kalbi is really good as is their macaroni potato salad. We also tried Wokstar cafe which had a delightful atmosphere (in a total dive sense) but the food wasn't very good.
Isana is wonderful for Korean food - apart from the poke and uni I wouldn't rave about their sushi though locals swear by it. For sushi, go to Sansei which is great!
The only place I would really warn against was Capisce. It is fairly pricey and just not anything special at all. I regret that we wasted a dinner there.
If you're interested in coffee, don't miss the Maui Grown Coffee store. You can also drive up to their plantation and look around. Their coffee is the real deal, you can get a cup while you there and bring home some beans. The Maui Mokka is fantastic.
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try mamas ribs and chicken in napili point - the coffee shop one down from them - grocery store in between in good too. I like to get a bbq pork sandwich and some mac salad and then go down to flemings beach
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Just got back from Kauai at the Grand Hyatt and we had great dinners for pretty cheap at Keoki Paradise in Poipu across from Roy's..they have a killer spicy cashew chicken with lots of veggies and jasmine rice for around $10..great music too.
Maui...for breakfast/lunch, cheap and delicious is the ahi benedict with wasabi hollandaise for $13 at Plantation House at the Kapalua clubhouse..no wait and fab ocean views.
Gazebo is always a favorite but you can wait up to an hour and the $ price is about the same at PH and no wait!
Sansei has a great sushi happy hour and there is a great food truck south of Wailea on the beach.
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Mama's fish house for lunch/dinner. Excellent food. Also check out Ono Organic Farms on your drive to Hana - cute little farm stands with excellent smoothie type drinks. I had one with coffee and coconut milk that was excellent.
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Fresh Mint - Vietnamese in Paia
A.K.'s Cafe - Wailuku http://www.akscafe.com/
Hana Hou- Haiku http://www.hanahoucafe.com/ Plate specials. Yummy pie. Live music.
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Honolua General Store in Kapalua. Serves breakfast and lunch. Prices very reasonable and a lot of good food for the money
Rex
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Phenomenal, thank you everyone!! What are the prices like at the General Store? And Spago? Menus look great
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Let's put it this way, Honolua General Store is the cheapest breakfast or lunch you will find in that entire area. It's been a while since I've stayed up in Kapalua, but relative to anything around there you're going to make out like a bandit. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton and walked up there every day for breakfast (it's near the front gate of the resort). It's fairly spartan, but the food is reasonably priced and of good quality.
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I go over to Kapalua a few times a year. We always enjoy food from Honolua. They use produce from their own farm and Maui beef. I've only had lunch there since I
don't eat breakfast. You will not be disappointed.
Friends gave us their voucher for the buffet for breakfast at the Ritz and it was bountiful and very good. We like to have lunch at the bar in the Ritz, it's a beautiful quartz bar top that is illuminated from within and the wall has glass/lava and lighting which makes for an awesome backdrop. They get the food from downstairs and every lunch we had was marvelous.
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