It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of yoga studios, it was the age of kombucha, it was the epoch of composting, it was the epoch of GMOs, it was the season of avocados, it was the season of star fruit, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,...

If you previously dined at Prakong Tongsod’s culinary outpost in Hana, you already expected big things from Maui Thai Bistro. Open about three weeks now, Tongsod is behind the stove at the recently revamped Kihei restaurant. Many of her Hana staples can be found on the new menu and we started...

Brigit and Bernard’s Garden Café is pretty much Kahului’s answer to Epcot Center. Admittedly, you can’t get your picture taken eating waffles next to Minnie Mouse or tour the home of the future, but it’s one of the few spots where you can find Greek, Italian, German, French, Swiss, American...

You know how people get all nostalgic about Maui in the 1960s? If you’d like to find out what all the fuss is about, beat a path to Jack’s Inn in Kahului and get a taste of life in the islands 50 years ago… well, at least the décor. In the corner of a building shared with the Glidden...

Bitch, make me a sandwich. This is absolutely not something you should ever say to the lovely lady taking your order behind the counter at the 808 Deli, largely because she is not the one doing the actual sandwich making. Plus, she just called you “hon” and seems to be a nice person, and your...

In honor in this weekend’s 43rd Maui Marathon, let’s talk about a different kind of endurance. You don’t just show up at JB’s Kitchen in Wailuku. It’s more like something you need to condition for at spring training. Materials you’ll need: Elastic waistband pants, preferably in dark colors....

Can you name all the items associated with the “12 Days of Christmas” song? Neither can we. But supposing we could, surely some of those gifts were real stinkers. Lords a-leaping? Can you even return those guys? And even if you can, thanks for the chore, True Love. Maybe a gift card next...

What would you pay for a massive serving of baby back pork ribs with a sweet and spicy blackberry brandy barbecue sauce? $30? $40? What if we also gave you a serving of intensely buttery whipped chive potatoes with that? Before you answer: what if we were to throw in some outstanding Asian...

As you might recall, in earlier chapters of the story, the protagonist spends her time seeking out a wide variety of food venues across a magical land known as Maui. From corner to corner, our heroine follows numerous woodland paths, sky-high beanstalks and white rabbits, only to encounter...

There’s a reason Casanova’s Italian Restaurant has been in business for nearly 30 years. Décor aside, it’s Maui’s answer to the Olive Garden: somewhat Americanized, but reliable Italian fare. When in Rome… er… Makawao, it’s best to start with the standards. The Calamari Fritti ($10) arrives...

This one goes out to all the meat-eaters currently dating, married to or traveling with vegans in the hizzouse. Prepare to become a hero. It’s called Joy’s Place, and it’s in Kihei. Located in a close-to-The-Cove-yet-difficult-to-find-unless-you-know-where-you’re-going-already location, it’s...

Like a lone revolutionary, Like Poke? stands out against the rusty landscape on a daunting stretch of Hobron Avenue, shunning crowds and convention and defying you to continue to drive around as a growing conviction in you says you’ve made a wrong turn. You haven’t. Still, unless you’re a...

Juanita’s Mexican Restaurant has materialized in the space the former KFC on South Kihei Road left behind. Similar to offerings typically found in Southern California taco joints, Juanita’s boasts an extensive Mexican take-out style menu. We decided to dive into the deep end and start with...

A weekend late night institution, if you’ve ever been to Sansei after 10 p.m. you developed a whole new appreciation for drunken karaoke performances. But we’ll get to that. The Boom Boom Pow? Sansei is a sushi Mecca. Yes, they have grilled fish, salads and some appetizer-y items, but if you...

Once upon a time, the Ma’alaea General Store sold hammers and red hot dogs. They still sell the hot dogs, but these days there’s far less in terms of hardware. However, there is a wide selection of hot and cold sandwiches, as well as a few salads. At the urging of the man behind the counter,...

Oh, Capische?, you’re twisting our arm. We’re guessing this was some kind of “People don’t know how to pronounce it so let’s give it to ‘em phonetically” decision, but in proper Italian, it’s spelled Capisce. Capisce? Enough of our nitpicking. About grammar anyway. We started with the Salumi...

Tucked into an extraordinarily nondescript strip mall off a constantly jammed up stretch of Dairy Road, this nearly invisible little hole in the wall looks sketch, but offers some unexpected surprises. If the digs don’t clue you in, allow us: the grub ain’t fancy schmancy, but tasty and...

If you’ve ever looked out the window while getting  your tires rotated in Kihei, you may have noticed a cute little house across the street. That’s Chez Meme Baguette Bistro, a delightfully renovated space with a dynamite view of the Goodyear Tire store. What was once a modest little cottage...

Mike + Hong Kong + Bistro. Hmmmmm… The name alone provides the tip-off. In an epic co-mingling of gastronomical styles, Mike is offering several genre’s worth of cuisine under one roof. Kind of like a little Epcot Center in Wailuku. It’s a four-part battle for supremacy and only one will...

Stewart’s Burgers currently occupies the spot that used to be Fat Boy Burgers (and before that was a fish and chips place) in the Kukui Mall on South Kihei Road. It also seems to have stuck with Fat Boy’s same lots o’ burgers with clever names a la carte state of affairs. But whatever. It’s...

If you like your happy hours crowded with options and other people, Five Palms Beach Grill in the Mana Kai Condo building in South Kihei will likely put a smile on your face. The desirable prime time happy hour seating area by the bar fills up fast and stays that way. Expect service to be...

Alright stop whatcha doin’ ’cause I’m about to ruin The image and the style that ya used to. Was Shock G foreshadowing the existence of this acai bowl – aptly named “the O.G.” – when he uttered these words back in 1990? Obviously, the answer to that question is “yes.” If you are a person who...

If lots and lots of words made a restaurant excellent, well, disregard, because that’s obviously silly. Let’s start with the good news: the “Ren’s Sushi” part of the alphabet soup is really quite solid, filling in a notable gap in Kahului dining options. The location on Dairy Road is...

Let’s set the scene, shall we? It’s early November. You’re not in a good head space. You want to stay in bed but you’ve made a commitment to meet with a celebrity chef to discuss a potential project. Your mind a whirl, you don’t notice many details as said chef drives you to a little hole in...

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to be invisible, grab a seat at the bar at Ko at the Fairmont Kea Lani and find out. It could be unfailing bad luck. It could be that the kama’aina deal (50% off food and 25% off drinks) is only offered at the bar and some sort of “you get what...

Saturday’s 24th annual Maui Onion Festival brought a host of onion-based sights, most notably the recipe drink contest. Three mixologists were given were given 10 minutes to make four margaritas utilizing Sauza Blue tequila and… Maui sweet onions. Ummmm. Say what? Before you can fully process...

This isn’t Kansas City, the Carolinas or any part of Texas, either. Try to get some collards, hushpuppies, or sweet potato pie, and you’ll quickly realize this is Maui. That stated, Mama’s Ribs and Rotisserie in both Napili and Kihei proudly presents another one of those “pretty good…for...

Koiso Sushi Bar in Kihei has achieved near-legendary status on this island, if only for being so freaking hard to get into. The tiny restaurant has seating enough for 15. This leads to scarcity and related demand. On Yelp alone, 56 people have noted the tip “make a reservation beforehand.”...

Drive by Archie’s in Wailuku between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and witness the full lot. What’s going on in that nondescript concrete building? What do these patrons know that you don’t? And can it be appreciated if you aren’t already a seeming insider? Archie’s is like an irascible old man that you...

Although there are many luau opportunities on the island, the general consensus is that the Feast at Lele in Lahaina is one of – if not the – premier offering. So what makes it stand out? First and foremost, it’s not a buffet. Rather, the four courses are split among four Polynesian nations:...

If you like Korean food, Ohana Karaoke Cafe & Grill Go Hyang Jip in Wailuku is – for the most part – a real find. Despite its hole-in-the-wall exterior, it’s actually tastefully decorated and quite new-looking inside. Don’t be surprised to find that most of the clientele is Korean and...

It takes a certain lifestyle, coupled with an uncommonly flexible schedule and a particular zeal for finger foods to really appreciate a good happy hour. However, if you are of that ilk, you pretty much cannot go wrong at Gannon’s. The food is notably well-priced (albeit portions are scaled...

Cinnamon Roll Fair/Place (The sign says “Fair” but the van and business cards say “Place.” We suspect a slow-motion name change is underway) is something of a south Kihei institution. In business since 1983, that’s three decades of sweet, sticky, doughy goodness. However, before we focus on...

Dining at Ramen Ya in the Queen K mall started off a little more like a double-dog dare than a promising enterprise. Ominous phrases like “noodles in dirty dishwater,” and “it’s a carb carnival and the protein isn’t invited” were tossed about, proving the dare-makers aren’t just mean… they’re...

If you’ve lived on this island for any length of time or even just visit regularly, you know that there are a few select happy hours that rock. Hard. Three’s Bar and Grill in Kihei is no doubt one of them. Statistics indicate that three in five restaurants close or change owners in the first...

Could Maui’s own Sheldon Simeon win it all on Bravo’s Top Chef Season 10? We’re only a couple more episodes from finding out, and it’s still well within his grasp. He had his toughest night yet on last week’s episode. We talked with him to get some insider information and discover if the...

When you dine at Kono’s on the Green, one word of exclamation comes to mind: wow. But not always in a good way. Let’s start with the good wow moments first. For one, the view is to die for. Situated above the stunning Elleair Golf Course, it’s nothing but lush green grass and water traps as...

Maui’s own Chef Sheldon Simeon of Star Noodle and Leoda’s Pie Shop continues to rock it on Bravo’s Top Chef, finishing in the top three on last week’s episode. It’s now down to the last five “cheftestants,” and we caught up to Sheldon to ask some foodie insider questions and reconfirm that...

If you have ever lamented to a friend, “Why isn’t there a restaurant where I can plop down at the table of my choice, be greeted in a friendly manner, and receive a $3 hamburger five minutes later?” then you are not alone. If you thought that $3 full-service restaurant hamburger fantasy was...

Maui Chef Sheldon Simeon of Star Noodle in Lahaina continues to shine on Bravo’s Top Chef, not just for his culinary prowess, but for his undeniable and seemingly unflappable sweetness and charm. The season started on Nov. 7 with 24 hopeful “cheftestants” and is now down to just six chefs...

Executive Chef Marc McDowell took over the culinary reigns at the Makena Beach and Golf Resort in October 2010. Since that time he has instituted a large herb and vegetable garden and largely changed the face of the food being served at the former Maui Prince. We talked to him about cooking,...

Bev Gannon’s Hali’imaile General Store is something of a legend on this island. First off, there is pretty much nothing to see or do whatsoever in Hali’imaile, so the mere fact that visitors and locals have trekked up there for decades surely counts for something. Secondarily, it has not one,...

Sometimes you’re looking for a four-course meal, nouvelle cuisine, or exotic fare. Sometimes you just want a decent sandwich. When faced with the latter, Cafe @ La Plage in South Kihei’s Dolphin Plaza is likely to fit the bill. Start with breakfast. They make excellent espressos, lattes and...

Pita Paradise in the Wailea Gateway Place is one of the few sources of a gyro on this island. They also offer a smattering of Mediterranean and Lebanese favorites at relatively reasonable prices. The Appetizer Platter ($15) provides a little bit of everything. First off, the tzatziki (which...

Ferraro’s Bar e Risorante at the Four Seasons is the real estate agent’s dream: location, location, location. It may take a few days, but once you secure your sunset-timed table reservation, you can look forward to being seated on an open patio just 100 yards from the water. The setting is...

You may be asking yourself, “How good can a rotisserie chicken actually be?” Turns out, INCREDIBLY good…and we’ll get to that in a minute. The first of three visits to Cilantro in the Old Lahaina Center started with the Guacamole and Chips ($4.95/small, $6.95/large). Super fresh chunks of...

Fans of Star Noodle’s Chef Sheldon Simeon may very well be watching with bated breath as he competes on this season of Top Chef, filmed in Seattle. This is the 10th season of the show, and Chef Simeon has now made it through the first four episodes…and twice as many challenges. We talked to...

Have you ever raved about a new love to everyone you know? Then the day comes that you introduce them to friends and family, confident in the presumption that they will fall equally hard …and everything – inexplicably – goes so very, very wrong? Have you ever shown that same new love off to...

Chef Tylun Pang is something of a Maui institution. His book, WHAT MAUI LIKES TO EAT, celebrates not just his own cuisine, but that of many other chefs on the island. Currently the Executive Chef at the Kea Lani and often found behind the lines at Ko, we talked to Chef Pang about his craft,...

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: Leoda’s ain’t cheap. If you are accustomed to a $9 pie feeding four, six or even eight people, well, better hope those people have anorexia. But while the pies sold at Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop are pricey…with the high cost of admission comes a...