Suggestions for Wailea / Kihei area?

[HNL]

We will be heading to the Grand Wailea soon and need to find good eats outside of the resort. We are familiar with the Lahaina/Kaanapali area but not South Maui. Our favorite places to eat in Lahaina/Kaanapali are Star Noodles and Honokowai Okuzua Deli. Hard to believe that Star Noodles and Aloha Mixed Plate are owned by the same company because we have tried to like Aloha Mixed Plate but just don't get it. Also like the poke bowl at the Foodland in Lahaina.

We don't get to eat at the 5* places much, since we are traveling with our young children so looking for moderate priced places that are in the Wailea/Kihei area. Have heard of Eskimo Candy and that sounds interesting and will definitely give it a try. What should be ordered?

What other places??? Been to the Da Kitchen by the airport and also did not get the hype about this place. Yes, the portions were huge but not very tasty. Would like recs for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

THXS!

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Aloha Mixed Plate
1285 Front St, Lahaina, HI 96761

Da Kitchen
2439 S Kihei Rd Ste 107A, Kihei, HI 96753

Eskimo Candy
2665 Waiwai Pl, Kihei, HI 96753

Star Noodle
286 Kupuohi St, Lahaina, HI 96761

[scottca075]

Here are some the 'down market' places we like.

Peggy Sue’s (Kihei)
Stella Blues
Alexander’s Fish, Chicken & Ribs
Cheeseburgers in Paradise
Mulligan's on the Blue
Eskimo Candy
Lulu's
South Shore Tiki Lounge
Joy's (who has a great meatless burger too)
Moose McGillycuddy's
The Greek Bistro
Tommy Bahama's Restaurant

Some of the places, like Moose's, are primarily bars, but I think kids are allowed in up to a certain hour.

At Eskimo Candy we like just about anything there, but I really love the salmon "jerky" (for lack of a better name) to go and the shrimp tempura and the plate lunches.

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Eskimo Candy
2665 Waiwai Pl, Kihei, HI 96753

Stella Blues Cafe
1279 S Kihei Rd Ste 201, Kihei, HI 96753

Greek Bistro
2511 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753

Moose McGillycuddy's
844 Front St, Lahaina, HI 96761

Peggy Sue's
1279 S Kihei Rd Ste 303, Kihei, HI 96753

South Shore Tiki Lounge
1913 S Kihei Rd Ste L, Kihei, HI 96753

[stephiepooh]

I personally don't care much for the location and atmosphere of Stella Blues, but their plain buttermilk pancakes are the best I have had on Maui, perhaps anywhere in the U.S.! I get them with the white sticky rice and coconut syrup and butter and wash it all down with one of their very good hot chocolates. Can you say delicious carbs?

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Stella Blues Cafe
1279 S Kihei Rd Ste 201, Kihei, HI 96753

[jenx18]

Darn, I knew I would forget something. We went to Sansei in Kihei last night. On Sundays and Mondays, they have a 50% off happy hour from 5-6pm, but the line starts forming before 4pm apparently. The rest of the week, they have a 25% off happy hour from 5:30-6:30pm and there's no need to get there early. They are known for their rolls, and they are more fusion than traditional Japanese rolls. As long as you are not expecting authentic Japanese food, I think the combination of flavors in the rolls are interesting and unique. With the 25% discount, the prices are average for what you would pay for Japanese rolls. I probably wouldn't go back, but it's worth trying once.

[stephiepooh]

The Honolua General Store, in Kapalua near the Ritz Carlton is a really cute classic little plantation style store with cheap take out and order food. They don't take orders after around 3 pm. I have never gotten breakfast there, but it is cheap and has a nice selection and they have tables outside and incredible views of the world class golf course. The counter ladies can be a bit rude and while the pasta salad looks like it would be really yummy, it has always been a disappointment, having sort of a weird "refrigerated" off taste.

The true treasure I have found though from this little store is the INCREDIBLE DECADENT CHOCOLATE CAKE. It is AMAZING! I live an hour drive away and I will drive over just to see if they have a slice of this cake left. They sell it where you order coffee drinks, along with cookies, crossaints and cupcakes (all pricey and expensive) but the real gem is the amazing, multi layer rich fudgy decadent chocolate cake they sell. It reminds me a lot of chocolate cake a grocery store in New York state called Wegman's has become famous for selling in their bakery department...is a similar fudgy confection of deliciousness.

Anyway, by some miracle Honolua General Store has this cake available a few days a week, if you are lucky they'll have it because it sells fast! It costs about $6.00-$7.00 but two people can easily eat it because it is a huge slice. I have no idea where they get it, I would like a whole one for birthdays and special occasions! If you are there and happen to see a slice available, do yourself a huge favor and buy it. :-)

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Ritz Carlton
Maui, HI, Maui, HI

[jenx18]

We're just finishing up a week in Maui today and wanted to share my thoughts, since I benefited so much from this board when figuring out where to eat. We're staying in Kihei and traveling with a five-month old, so we mostly went out for lunch and stuck to moderately-priced restaurants.

Izakaya Matsu (Kihei) -- I heard about this from a friend as a very good, local Japanese restaurant. The small plates were well-prepared (grilled yellowtail, eggplant, tempura), but the rolls were mediocre and fell apart. It is pretty expensive for what you get and I would not go back.

Da Kitchen Express (Kihei) -- Since our daughter was jetlagged, we did a lot of takeout in the evening while she was sleeping. The portions are huge and we thought the food was quite good. The shredded pork is probably the best dish.

808 Bistro (Kihei) -- This restaurant has a $25 prix fix menu from 5pm to 6pm that is a very good value. The food was above average, but not stellar. We ordered the pork and beans and short ribs and they were both very well-seasoned. The restaurant is BYO wine or beer, which is nice, and service was excellent (the owner came by to check on us).

Paia Fish Market (Paia) -- This is a must-try place. Paia itself is a great little town, and this restaurant serves very fresh fish at reasonable prices and large portions.

Geste Shrimp (Kahului) -- This is a food truck parked alongside Kahului Beach. They serve Hawaiian shrimp scampi with rice and crab potato mac salad, and it is amazing. My husband and I both agreed that this was the best thing we ate on our entire trip. The two people who run the truck are incredibly nice, and Geste Shrimp is not to be missed.

Matteo's (Wailea) -- We tried Matteo's and I thought the pizza was good (but not great), service was wonderful, and the space is very beautiful overlooking the golf course.

Eskimo Candy (Kihei) -- The poke at Eskimo Candy is delicious, but skip the fish tacos -- they were incredibly disappointing.

Cafe O'Lei (Kihei) -- We were impressed by the quality of food at this casual eatery. It is very reasonably priced, and the food is well-prepared and portions are large. There is not a lot of variety on the menu (at least for lunch), and less seafood than I had hoped, but still very good and worth trying.

Finally, we went to Hali'imaile General Store and I thought it was worth the trip. I didn't enjoy it as much as others on this board seem to have enjoyed it, but we also went for lunch and that may account for the difference. Service was wonderful and the restaurant is lovely.

Hope this helps, and thanks to the Chowhounds for helping make our Maui trip so memorable!

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Da Kitchen
2439 S Kihei Rd Ste 107A, Kihei, HI 96753

Eskimo Candy
2665 Waiwai Pl, Kihei, HI 96753

Izakaya Matsu
, Kihei, HI 96753

Paia Fish Market
2A Baldwin Ave, Paia, HI 96779

[klj11]

When we go we do the local moderately priced meals as well and I agree completely with Sansei's and Paia Fish Market...LOVE both.
Also, have had good sandwiches at 808....Kihei Caffe often for breakfast..Da Kitchen...and I like Maui Taco's burritos...haven't tried Cafe O'Lei..even though its right by the condo's we stay in..must do that.
We are going back to get married in about 6 weeks and I think of the food there often!
I'll have to find that food cart your talking about..it sounds great!

[klj11]

I was also going to add...we are leaving for our wedding/honeymoon in a few weeks..have been there a few times already and tried the places I've posted plus a few others..however, we have not done an upper scale restaurant for dinner yet.
We are getting married on the south side at sunset so I'm wondering where would be a good choice for dinner after the ceremony?
I have heard that Gannon's might be a good place or Nick's? I can't decide looking at the sites online..anyone have a stellar review they want to share to make me sway either way? :-)
We will be too far away to do Mama's or any place that isn't fairly close to the south side.

Thanks!

[mboxermd]

Wow thanks so much jenx18!!!!! We are going to Maui in December and I just started my search - anything else not to be missed?? We will be staying at the Marriott in Wailea - will have a car - looking for a variety of places - nice views - some places the locals go to - don't mind driving around - some moderate and some less than moderate. Were there any adventures that shouldn't be missed as well?

[Juji]

Monkeypod Kitchen by chef Peter Merriman is very solid. The spinach salad with Kula strawberries was a fav and the Maui cattle burger was good too. The cream pies are made daily and are delicious. It's a casual place and it gets really noisy inside. We sat outside which was much less noisy. It's good for lunch or dinner.

Second Matteo's for solid Italian.

Tommy Bahama at the Shops at Wailea has killer crab bisque and some really good seafood options. The Opah and curry shrimp and scallops were great. They have an extensive appetizer menu for lighter and less expensive fare.

We like Five Palms in Kihei for breakfast or lunch. The food is good, not great, but the location/view is awesome.

Gannons on the Gold golf course is good for breakfast or lunch (I like their loco moco) and again the view is tops. Only went there for dinner once after it switched from SeaWatch to Gannon's and we were disappointed.

Second the HGS, it's a favorite. Try the crab pizza and Sashimi Napoleon.

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Five Palms Restaurant
2960 S Kihei Rd Ste A, Kihei, HI 96753

[Bill Hunt]

"Only went there for dinner once after it switched from SeaWatch to Gannon's and we were disappointed."

It was still SeaWatch, and we did lunch, but found everything on that day to be top-notch from service to the kitchen. Sad to hear that your dinner was not what it should have been.

Mahalo for the update,

Hunt

[Bellachefa]

Funny, just posted above, never got the whole BevGannon crab thing until I had it at Joe's. Not a fan of HGS pizza, but the original at Joe's knocked our socks off. As far as Bev's Napolean, we are in Wendy's Ohana Book and have it many many times - - - yum!!!

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Ohana Cafe
2-2436 Kaumualii Hwy, Kalaheo, HI 96741

[freshmanjs]

We stayed at the Grand Wailea in December. We also had kids with us (ages 8 and 6). A few things we liked:

Matteo's: Pizza place just up the hill from the GW (you can walk). solid pizza, friendly people. nice casual night out.

Spago: Expensive, but we had an outstanding meal and their kids menu/service is very cool

Hali'imaile General Store: not in Wailea, but this was very good and also kid friendly

and one we didn't like as much

Mala: kid friendly, expensive. we thought the food was just ok. view from our outdoor table was fantastic though.

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Spago
3900 Wailea Alanui Dr, Kihei, HI 96753

[Bill Hunt]

Interesting about Mala. Have not done this location, but the Lahaina restaurant has been, at best just OK. On two visits, we had different apps. and different mains. While not an "across the menu" tour, nothing really spoke to us. All were very pedestrian.

The service was always friendly, though definitely on "island time." We dine slowly, but this even put us to a test. Maybe they were busier, than they appeared?

Hunt

[Bellachefa]

We stayed at Marriott W last year. On our last night we had the famous crab app at Joe's which is exceptional, and then got take out for our room from Mala - the Farmers salad and the pomegrante spicy wings. It was a perfect dinner in as we did our laundry and had cocktails on the lanai. It would be an easy walk from GW.