With the economy as soft as it’s been in a while, eating on a budget has become a ritual for most. However, the dollar menu at McDonalds gets old and cooking meals at home gets tiring after a long day at work. Enter Blazin’ Steaks. If you don’t already know, the restaurant chain—which, just like its name suggests, serves up ono steak—offers customers great grinds starting at $6.
I recently dropped by their newest location in Wailuku. The cute little restaurant has six stools lined up under a countertop and three small tables that seat three each. On the far wall hangs a flat screen TV that, on my visit, was playing 50 First Dates for the handful of diners while a woman worked the counter and a man worked the grill. I guess for a place as simple as this, only two people are needed per shift.
I settled on the steak and shrimp combo plate. Each plate comes with two scoops of rice and green salad. I waited less than 5 minutes before my delicious-smelling meal was ready. The plate comes with five big pieces of garlic shrimp and about 4 oz. of tender, juicy grilled steak. The meat and shrimp went well together while the salad offered up a healthy serving of greens. Overall, I enjoyed my dinner—and my wallet did, too.
Other steak options include an 8 oz. steak plate for $6 or a whopping 16 oz. steak plate for $10. For those seeking a beef alternative, fish (opakapaka) is offered alongside chicken, both of which can be prepared in a variety of ways: broiled, Korean BBQ, Thai peanut and sweet chili for fish plates and the same—with the addition of mushroom—for chicken plates.
You can choose any two entrees for $7 and opt to add shrimp to any plate for an extra $4, while drinks are a buck. They also offer a variety of seasonings and sauces to cater to your liking, including Worcestershire sauce, Korean BBQ sauce, A1, shoyu and Tabasco.
Sanny Simpliciano, who manages both Maui locations—the other being in the Queen Kaahumanu Center in Kahului—says the restaurant is named after his nephew, Blaizen. Blaizen’s father and Simpliciano’s brother-in-law, Richard Craft Jr., is the eatery’s founder. There are plans to open a third location on Maui either in Lahaina or Kihei within the next year.
It’s great to see a business expanding in such tough times, especially one that offers low prices. Check them out when you feel the need to take a break from the kitchen. MTW
Photo: Queen Kaahumanu Center location, second floor by the food court.
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