26 replies to this topic

[hmmboy]

Will be visiting these islands for several days later this month and was wondering if anyone could share any recommendations - dives and haute cuisine are all welcome...

[DonRocks]

Will be visiting these islands for several days later this month and was wondering if anyone could share any recommendations - dives and haute cuisine are all welcome...

Obligatoire: Hamburger with cheddar and pineapple (don't smirk until you try it) at Duane's Ono Char-Burger in Kauai.

[tanabutler]

Broken record: AVOID LONGHI'S.

[kturkey88]

On Maui:
My favorite place was Sansei. The small bar was packed, but the food was awesome and the bartenders were really cool. We didn't get there until our last night (we happened to overhear a local talking about the date he took there), but that'll be the first place we hit when we go back.

Mama’s Fish House was delicious but expensive. Entrees hovered around the $50+ mark but I still remember the macadamian-crusted mahi-mahi stuffed with lobster I had.

Spats – Italian in the Hyatt Regency at Kaanipali. No view – the restaurant is underground (very Filomena-ish) - but very cozy. A decently priced wine list and great food if you want to get away from fish for a night.

[JeffC]

On Maui...

Sansei in Kapalua or Kihei--wonderful sushi, sashimi, Pacific Rim....

The best carry out on the island is the Honokawai Ozakuya, a Japanese/Pacific Rim deli on the Lower Honoapi'ilani highway, just north of Ka'anapali in West Maui. All the entrees are between $8-12 and are better than good. The serve "plate lunch" meals, with rice and either a very good macaroni salad or non-run of the mill sauteed veggies. Especially recommended is their teriyaki steak, lemon caper mahi mahi, chicken katsu, barbecued chicken, panko-fried mahi mahi....and on and on.

If you drive the road to Hana and it happens to be a Sunday or Monday, don't miss "Pranee's Thai Food", which is a little food stand run a Thai woman and her helper, serving some of the finest Thai food I've eaten out of a little hut in her front yard. I had sweet and sour mahi mahi, rice, and salad for $8! I also took home an order of Pad Thai and an order of Chicken Panang w/Kafir Lime and Coconut milk. Also $8 per order. It was spicy and good, much better than any Thai I've had at other places on Maui. She opens her little stand at 11 AM and is pretty much sold out by 3 PM. You just follow the hand-lettered signs you see on the main drag to a little side street, where Pranee does her magic. Hana is a food wasteland, other than Pranee and the very swank Hana hotel, which will cost you a fortune.

If you are in Wailea, just south of the Grand Wailea, on the road to Makena, is a little roadside taco stand, selling the best fish tacos on the island. One is a meal, two are a feast.

For breakfast, I have to go to the Kapalua Plantation restaurant at least once, if for nothing else but the view of Kapalua Bay and the Plantation golf course, where the Mercedes Championship is held each January. Eating breakfast while enjoying the cool tradewinds is about as good as it gets....

I generally avoid the expensive places--although Mama's Fish House is worth a meal at sunset (if for nothing else but the incredible view)--and look for good, inexpensive food. You really can't go wrong with the cheap eats listed above.

[Woodleygrrl]

Puka Dog on poipu beach in Kauai. God damn that is some good-ass dog. We ate there twice on out honeymoon. Maybe 3 times.

They make it with pineapple relish. I want one now. Will you bring one back for me please? Just put it in your carryon if that's cool...

[Nick Freshman]

For breakfast, I have to go to the Kapalua Plantation restaurant at least once, if for nothing else but the view of Kapalua Bay and the Plantation golf course, where the Mercedes Championship is held each January. Eating breakfast while enjoying the cool tradewinds is about as good as it gets....

Kapalua is indeed absolutely beautiful, and a little removed from the rest of Maui. If you drive north from there, you can also really get away from a lot of the tourists. We stayed at the Ritz, and their breakfast spread was the best I have ever had. Your table looks out across the grounds and across the water to an out island (Molokai, I think). It was included with the room, and I imagine it is ridiculously expensive a la carte, but truly decadent.

On Kauai, I would go for a drink at least at the Beach House. It is expensive and the food does not match the prices, though when I went about five years ago it was good enough. The setting, however, is amazing. Go around sunset and watch the surfers while sipping a cocktail--the restaurant is on the rocks right at a beatiful beach(Poipu, I think). Tough to beat.

Also nearby on the grounds of the Grand Hyatt (really nice hotel for a cocktail) is Tidepools restaurant. Tables are set above large Coi ponds in an intimate setting. Very cool.

We found lots of roadside cheap(such a relative term in Hawaii) eats, but most were just OK. That said, the settings are usually so beautiful it doesn't matter what you're eating.

[johnb]

Obligatoire: Hamburger with cheddar and pineapple (don't smirk until you try it) at Duane's Ono-Char Burger in Kauai.

I will second that.

Puka Dog on poipu beach in Kauai. God damn that is some good-ass dog. We ate there twice on out honeymoon. Maybe 3 times.

The Puka Dog place didn't exist when we were there, so I can't say from experience, but I know it has appeared on at least one of those "ten best hot dogs in the US" shows on Travel Channel or somewhere, so it must be pretty good.

[Pool Boy]

Is Alexander's Fish & Chips still around? I last went ten years or so ago and it was rocking.

[kturkey88]

For breakfast, we braved the lines at the Gazebo. It was cheap, good and genuine. The owners work the floor of the tiny place and it hit the spot when we wanted a greasy, easy breakfast.
http://www.mauihawai...ants/gazebo.htm

[giant shrimp]

in lihue, close to the airport on kauai, hamura's saiman stand on kress st. is worth a visit. we arrived in the early evening, so it wasn't crowded when we got there, but they were running out of counter space an hour later when we left. lots of local atmosphere and basically good soup and dessert, from what i recall about two years ago.

food on the island was hit and miss, nothing really terrible and some places pretty good. we didn't leave with a totally great impression of the beach house, though i don't recall exactly why; i definitely plan on returning. if you're camping out, you shouldn't have much trouble rustling up a chicken or two for the spit. they hang out all over the place, including parking lots.

also worth your time and trouble, some of the slipperiest trails ever -- slow-going, ankle-wrenching, hot until you pick up a breeze and memorable views. just make an effort not to fall off into the ocean. in many spots, there's not much to catch onto on the way down.

[JeffC]

Is Alexander's Fish & Chips still around? I last went ten years or so ago and it was rocking.

Yep, it's on the main drag in Kihei (Maui). It was my last stop before leaving for the airport last October. It's as good as ever.

I'll second the recommendation for the Gazebo, as well.

[mdt]

How about the Big Island and Oahu?

[laniloa]

How about the Big Island and Oahu?

I highly recommend skipping Oahu. You can always go to Miami. But, if you must, Leonard's for malasadas, 3660 on the Rise or Indigo for a nice dinner, Kanak Attack for ono plate lunch, and any 7-11 for spam musubi.

[Bimbo]

On Maui, go to Saigon Cafe for Vietnamese - it's in the "downtown" area of the island, and happened to be close to where we were staying, but it's totally not near the tourist areas. Definitely inexpensive for Maui, and good.

On Kaua'i, I can't say the food was stellar. I do remember the first place we ate upon arrival, which was a literal hole in the wall taqueria near Poi'pu Beach, and I *think* it was called Taqueria Nortenos, that was cheap and tasty. Basically takeout only, but there were a few chairs around so we sat. The place is very close, but on the opposite side of the street, from the mall that contains Puka Dog and Roy's, if I remember correctly.


Have a great time, both islands are beautiful!

[johnb]

I highly recommend skipping Oahu. You can always go to Miami. But, if you must, Leonard's for malasadas, 3660 on the Rise or Indigo for a nice dinner, Kanak Attack for ono plate lunch, and any 7-11 for spam musubi.

Well the OP didn't ask about Oahu, but since we're on the topic the shrimp truck is as good as its reputation, or at least it was when we were there. One of the best, and probably the most memorable shrimp dishes I ever had. OTOH, it takes a while to get there, being up near the North Shore, so maybe not feasible unless one plans to spend more than a short time on Oahu. Not far from the shave ice places up there tho, so that makes the trip more worthwhile.

[giant shrimp]

How about the Big Island and Oahu?

in hilo on the big island, hilo bay cafe is the best around, though you may have second thoughts as you're driving around the enormous WalMart and shopping center parking lot looking for a space. we only discovered this place on our last night, otherwise would have returned several times. they have squeezed a lot of creative contemporary cooking and nice decor into a dubious space. the stores around here have terrific bandage aisles in case you've scoured the skin off your leg with lava rock and feel you need to stanch the flow of blood and look more presentable before heading into this surprisingly modern restaurant, which can start off with great drinks to numb the pain.
the news in hilo is not so good for cafe pesto, which has let itself go a bit, though it remains a bustling place for this part of the world. this is where the cast of "the wizard of oz" goes after its sunday matinee performance in the historic theatre downtown, and they didn't take off their makeup.
pescatore still has lots of italian american atmosphere and fresh ingredients, but the thrill seemed a little gone from the sashimi and cioppino compared to what they had been two years earlier.
close to kona, we never get closer than waimea, largely because we are scared off by resort hotels. the only reason to go there for dinner is fresh fish, ranch meat and just-picked vegetables at merriman's, and it's a good reason to go, unless daniel thiebaut, across the street, has pulled himself out of the funk we found him in. waimea also has the best wine store we have seen on the islands. unfortunately, the trails just outside of town got crumpled in the most recent earthquakes, and the locals say they are dangerous, which in hawaii, really means something.
the best thing on the big island foodwise may just be the hilo farmer's market, although it's a bit frustrating looking around if you don't have a place to cook. some of the fruit, especially, veers to the unfamiliar, but those you think you know are quite different than you may find them at whole foods. hilo is just about as expensive as the rest of the island, but the prices they were charging for garlic make our local prices look like highway robbery.
the day we were leaving just before thanksgiving, about the time i was turning in my uninsured, scraped-up rental car at the airport, juvenile delinquents were setting fires on the beaches in the vicinity of waimea, copy-catting the fires in southern california. the island has been in drought, so the blazes moved quickly before being brought under control -- a small diversion at best in a spot where teenagers would be hard pressed to even approach the destructive forces of nature. if they are not into surfing, i can see how the youth around here could get a bit restless.

[mdt]

I highly recommend skipping Oahu. You can always go to Miami. But, if you must, Leonard's for malasadas, 3660 on the Rise or Indigo for a nice dinner, Kanak Attack for ono plate lunch, and any 7-11 for spam musubi.

I am contemplating skipping, but I lived there oh so long ago and wanted to check it out again for a short time between time on Kauai and the Big Island.

[JeffC]

One other recommendation on Maui--Flatbread, in Paia. It's very much like American Flatbread, as the two founders of AF split a few years ago and each went his own way. I recently read that there is no animosity between the two and they are even supportive of each other, despite some legal issues they've had to deal with.

I've had several pizzas at the Ashburn AF and had three pizzas at Flatbread in Paia. They are very similar--the wood-firing ovens are virtually identical, a couple of the pizzas are the same, and both are dedicated to using fresh local ingredients. Flatbread pizzas come in two sizes, the smallest being just right for one person. Of my three, two were perfect and the third was over-charred, something I didn't really mind. The ambiance is very laid-back surfer, which is natural given that the employees are mostly young surfers.

Easily the best pizza on the island.

[hmmboy]

Just a few notes on my dining experiences in Maui and Kaui. In Maui we had an excellent sushi dominated dinner at the bustling Sansei in Kihei, a darn good (albeit pricey) dinner at Spago in the Four Seasons (where the menu is heavily Asian influenced - more like Chinois and the Source than L.A.'s Spago), and a mediocre dinner at the Lahaina Grill (reputed to be the best in town). The wine list at the Lahaina Grill, however, was very surprising, with the likes of Harlan, Araujo and Latour sprinkled in the mix. We also had "World Famous Pancakes" for breakfast at Tasty Crust in Wailuku - not sure about the World Famous, but they were good and this was a fun joint with old school, local flavor.

In Kaui we found an oasis in Hanalei at Barrauda. Cool vibe, good wine list and an outstanding selection of small plates. This place would do very well in DC (and many other mainland cities) - it was packed every night and I highly recommend it to anyone who visits the island. We had a fabulous pineapple terriyaki burger with onion rings at Duane's Ono Burger in Anahole (thanks Don). For lunch we loved the ahi and crab rolls, poke salad and seaweed salad at the Hanalei Fish Company - these folks are into food - they sell Cowgirl Creamery cheese and Fra Mani salumi out of their rerigerator case. For breakfast we enjoyed the Wake Up Cafe in Hanalei for eggy stuff and loved the Kiluea Bakery for its fresh bagels, bialys, muffins, etc., - it reminded me of a mini version of the spectacular Downtown Bakery in Healdsburg.

Oh yes - Lampert's ice cream on both island - delish!!

[soapy]

I went to Kauai for my honeymoon, and had a wonderful time.

Some Highlights:

Hula Pie at Duke's. (hula pie is oreo crust + macademia nut ice cream, fudge topping) Man oh man was that good but it could have fed a family of 4! The rest of the food at Dukes was good but not amazing, but I liked the Huli Huli Chicken (barbecued chicken with ginger soy sauce and garlic)

Beach House had great views, great service, great food.

Puka Dogs, reconeded here and other places was possibly the best dog I've had in ages. Imagine a polish sausage in a hollowed out kaiser roll that's toasted on the inside, with this mayonaise like garlic sauce + fruit relish + passionfruit mustard. Nummers!

Smith's Family Lauau was at times kind of hokey (before dinner they offer tours of the grounds that include a fake easter island statue and filipino mock village as well as gardens and I leaned into my husband and said "it's sort of like the Hawaiian version of Disneyworld) however the Kalua pork was amazing. The buffet had its highs and lows, the pork was a perfect 10, moist, delicious juicy. We ended up eating an extra plate full (we had hiked up and down the Waimea canyon so we were in need of protein) also the Haupia (coconut pudding) was excellent.

Chinese Number 1: recomended by Chowhound for local mixed plates. A little too greasy but still very tasty. I had the terriyaki chicken, beef and short ribs with rice. I got enough food to last me for three meals. I heard Garden Island BBQ is less greasy but still good.

Jo-jo's shave ice. 60 flavors of shaved ice is a must have, especially after a long ass hike.

[PollyG]

We're on Maui now and while Sansei was excellent and we may return, the restaurant that has blown us away in terms of quality and value is Izakaya Matsu in the ocean-side of Azeka Place in Kihei. This place should be packed to its tiny gills. It has all of 6 tables and about a dozen bar-type seats left over from its former incarnation as a shabu-shabu shop. The menu is extensive enough to make you suspicious that they went for variety rather than quality, but everything is good to outstanding. Most of the menu is small dishes, though you could order a sashimi bowl or sushi platter if you weren't distracted by at least a dozen likely choices on the menu. The balance is about 30/70 raw/cooked.

On our two visits so far, we paid less than we would for a comparable meal in the DC area. The waitstaff are friendly and efficient, too!

[gnatharobed]

any recent kauai reports? i'm headed out saturday. will definitely return to hamura's for the atmosphere and lilikoi pie more than the saimin. puka dog sounds interesting too.

[hillvalley]

Big Ole Bump

Some not to be missed places in Kauai:

Best Shaved Ice: Hee Fat General Store in Ka'Paa
They were the only shaved ice place I found where they used real fruit syrup. Their ice was the fluffiest I had on the island.

Best Burger: North Shore General Store in the Princeville Center. They use beef from the Princeville ranch up the road. It was one of the best burgers I have ever had.

Other places worth seeking out:

Infigo-The chef does a "Chef's challenge" for appetizer and main. You pick the protein, he creates a dish for you. I was the only one in the restaurant at the time (I was there at 6 on a Monday; by the time I left the place was filling up.) so the chef and I went back and forth over what type of fish to use. We settled on opa and a lobster claw. The opa was perfectly cooked with a macadamia nut crust, served with the most tender shitake stem I have ever eaten. This was topped with a wasabi crusted lobster claw. This dish could have come out of Chef Ruta's kitchen. When the annual best thing you ate thread starts in December this will be on it for me.

The Feral Pig-Great bar and great banana macadamia nut pancakes in Lijue

Hamura's Saimin-Stand-Five minutes from the airport in Lihue and one of the few places still open if you land at night. This isn't fancy ramen with a broth that has simmered for week. It's simple saimin served in a minimalist setting. Cash only

Tortilla Republic-Excellent salsa in the salsa trio and the ceviche was some of the best raw fish I had in Kauai. In Poipu

Not Worth the Hype:

Kintaro's Sushi-This place received great reviews for mediocre, food court sushi.

Bubba's Burgers is okay but North Shore is much better.

Lobster Warning: Check where the lobster is from. Apparently there is a cottage industry on one of the big islands where they raise "Maine" lobster. I had it twice, once at Infigo's where it was amazing and once as poke where it was fine but not worth the price or stomach space.

[squidsdc]

Sounds like you had a great trip! And glad to hear Hamura Saimin still's got the stuff.

[discojing]

Maui is a bit hard. I love the guri guri in the Maui Mall, and I've heard the Pai'a Grill's Fish Tacos are great

[astrid]

Anyone been to Kauai or Maui in the last year?  We'll be there in late May and would love the latest scoop.  We have the "Hidden" guides and TripAdvisor for general reference, but are always on the lookout for exciting foods and adventures.  I would very much appreciate anyone chiming in on the following:

 

kayak tours of the Napali Coast

poke

farmer's market or fruit stand

fresh sushi or seafood

"back" part of Road to Hana (going through Maui's south coast)

hikes around Koke'e/Waimea area

Scuba or snorkeling trips