Best area in south Maui for Chowhound pics

[palmtree38]

Our vacations are about sight seeing but a great amount of fun comes from trying out chow worthy restaurants/dives/carts/ hidden gems.

We are going for 11 days in south maui travelling with children. We chose this area due to the weather in December being a bit less rain and warmer. We have been looking at the Kihei area to rent a condo in around $225 a night. Kihei seems to have that budget in mind.

Will we find many good hidden gems in this area or will most places be a drive? We do like to go to happy hours and walk to locations recommended for our accomodations.

Any suggestions?

[Beach Chick]

Aloha palmtree!
I'll preface this by saying I've never stayed in Kihei since its just not my fave area of Maui..most of the employee's live in Kihei for its affordable housing vs. the west side but I'm sure they have some great places to eat but I only know of one and that is Maui Tacos and they are pretty decent.
Driving up the west side takes a good 45 min-1hour each way from Kihei and traffic has gotten worse through the years so you could be in a LA style grind to a halt wait.. : (

I like Hula Grill for happy hour and the feet in the sand deal at Whaler's Village in Ka'anapali and they have an excellent $4 mai tai and the calamari is really good..HH is everyday and kids are welcome.
Duke's is good and Leilani's too.
Mama's Fish House and Bev Gannon's General store are wonderful but pricey.
I really like Plantation house at Kapalua Golf course clubhouse for breakfast..not lunch or dinner but they make a killer ahi benedict with wasabi hollandaise for around $13 bucks that is outstanding and there is no wait and the views are lovely.

Gazebo in Napili is great and casual but has a wait but moves pretty fast.
It's oceanfront and I like to swim while waiting for breakfast/lunch.
Napili/Kapalua area is my fave and Sansei has great happy hour deals we've done Roy's and Outback used to have a great deal for HH for King Crab legs that was awesome.
JawZ food truck at Makena Big Beach has some decent grub..good after swimming all day.
Check out the 101 things to do in Maui..they have some coupons.

Mahalo and have a great time!

[palmtree38]

Aloha Beach Chick

So you prefer the west coast. As most of the restaurants are up that way you suggested.Thanks for the tips but a 45 min plus drive each night will be a bit too far.. WE chose this area for better weather at Christmas and beaches..

[palmtree38]

looking at relocating to a condo in the west with more foodie options.. Ka'anapali??? or area as we are flying in and out of OGG..

[Beach Chick]

Aloha!
Ka'anapali up to Kapalua is a lovely area and lots of great food options.
Only wanting the best for my palmtree...
Westin oceanfront villas & resort had some good deals..
Mahalo

[palmtree38]

Your too kind to your chow bud palmtree .. thanks again

Looks great but it is $480 a night when we are going .. Over our budget :O(

[ladybugthepug]

We've stayed at the Pineapple Inn down near Wailea. I know it tends to fill up pretty far in advance, but we really enjoyed staying there.

http://pineappleinnmaui.com

[palmtree38]

Thanks everyone. Were booked in Kaanapali area. Hula girl snd dukes are on the list. Is there shrimp trucks or is that in Oahu area?

[Beach Chick]

Aloha palmtree!
I think Ka'anapali would be a better area for what you and your family are looking for.
Hula and Duke's have one of the best happy hours with excellent mai tais for $4 and calamari/pork sliders for cheap and really good.

Love the feet in the sand oceanfront..food is a little bit above average but its location at Whaler's Village that you can walk to after swimming all day that is really nice.
Bev Gannon's General store is excellent and if your going up to Haleakala, the Kula Lodge for breakfast/lunch is good.
Jawz food truck is in Makena south of Kihei which is a great beach and you can eat before or after swimming.

Lots of dining options west side and I think you'll really enjoy it!
Make sure you head up to Kapalua Golf clubhouse to Plantation House for one of the best breakfast..with no wait..most places are over an hour which is usually the case for breakfast in Maui..ahi benedict with wasabi hollandaise, and other goodies...
Gazebo too.

Have a great time and a big Mahalo sista..

[palmtree38]

Aloha chow sistah! So funny running into each other on here in 3 different state holidays. We got good taste !

This barefoot sand place do you literally walk in barefoot there?

We will be happier in Kaanapali thanks for the help!

Lots of great suggestions. Thanks sistah and everyone else

[Beach Chick]

Aloha palmtree!
I believe you have to wear flip flops at Hula Grill but I take them off while I'm sitting drinking my mai tai and pupu's...only in the sand patio..not in the restaurant.

www.hulagrillkaanapali.com

[palmtree38]

We booked our condo in kaanapali area. Closer to our holiday I will post for some good chow finds as well as Waikiki where we will be first. Can't wait to try out hula grill are they equally as good on each island? Or some locations better
Then others?

[ladybugthepug]

We just got back so I'll give you an update in the next few weeks. One place that hadn't opened yet was Peter Merriman's Monkey Pod, I think it opens sometime this month. We had a delicious pizza from a pizza cart that travels to a few different spots in Maui (Kihei being one of them).

While not in South Maui, Star Noodle is worth a drive to Lahaina. Loved it.

We went to Sam Sato's in Wailuku? I will be returning to Sam's on every future trip to Maui. I thought the hard noodles were absolutely wonderful. (Great divish place, with alternatives like burgers for picky eaters) A Saigon Cafe in Wailuku is a favorite for Clay Pot Pork.

We're also massive fans of Paia's Flatbread. The Mopsy and Chocolate Brownie Sundae absolutely rock.

I've not done any posts on my blog yet, but do have a map of the places we went.. As I post them I'll include them on the map.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&...

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Sam Sato's
1750 Wili PA Loop, Wailuku, HI 96793

A Saigon Cafe
1792 Main St, Wailuku, HI 96793

Star Noodle
286 Kupuohi St, Lahaina, HI 96761