FRED’S MEXICAN CAFÉ
Now I’ve never eaten here, but my editor has. He says they have the best calamari tacos man can find. Evidently, they fill a soft tortilla with good stuff like cabbage, then stuff it full of thick and tender calamari steaks topped with a spicy chipotle sauce. But mostly when he describes them he uses a lot of big hand motions and unintelligible sounds that I assume mean that they are delectable. 2511 S. Kihei Rd., 891-8600. Open daily 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m. $
SANSEI RESTAURANT AND SUSHI BAR
I’m slightly afraid of consuming any animal that’s still in its original form, but for some reason I love the Japanese Calamari Salad at Sansei. According to the menu it’s described as “calamari fritte tossed in spicy kochujang vinaigrette over Kula greens in a crispy won ton basket,” but to put it simpler, it’s the most original calamari on the island. Sweet and spicy, it’s not overly battered or fried. Usually I start with the rings and tell myself that I’ll be satisfied by the time only the little whole squids are left; but then I find myself snarfing down the rest of it like a happy killer whale–or whatever else eats stuff like this. 1881 S. Kihei Rd., 879-0004. Open nightly 5:30-10 p.m., Th-Sa 10 p.m.-1 a.m.; 6000 Office Rd., Kapalua, 669-6286. Open nightly 5:30-9 p.m., Th-F 10 p.m.-1 a.m. $$
MAKAWAO STEAK HOUSE
They have great steak. Whatever—I’ve always felt their calamari steak is better than their beef. We’re talking thick calamari here. In fact, the first time I ordered it my husband–much to my humiliation–exclaimed, “My God! There’s no reason a squid should be that big.” The steak is lightly battered–I think–in a panko crust, then covered with a yummy lemon-butter caper sauce that’s sinfully delicious. You can order the calamari as a side or as an entrée. Whichever way you go about it, it’ll be filling and ruin you in terms of ordering the cheap stuff ever again. 3612 Baldwin Ave., 572-8711. Su & Tu-Th 5:30-9:30 p.m. F-Sa 5:30-10 p.m. Closed Mon. $$
A SAIGON CAFÉ
Yum-O. The fried calamari here is a wonderful, greasy addition to all of the light, fresh and healthy alternatives on the menu. It comes with one great dipping sauce, but if you’re nice you can probably request both the lemon butter and a sweet Thai chili sauce. The batter-to-calamari ratio is perfect and the price is probably one of the most reasonable on the island. 1792 Main Street, Wailuku, 243-9560. Open daily 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. $
SERPICO’S PIZZERIA
I felt sooo stupid when I realized that calamari was an Italian word. I guess it makes sense because there is no “la” in Japanese, meaning that calamari would be “caramari.” Anyway, I guess Italians eat a lot of the stuff. Who knew? (According to my boss, everyone but me.) ANYWAY, Serpico’s has a great, authentic fried calamari Caesar salad. There is something to be said about their homemade dressing and the way that it goes so well with their perfectly seasoned squid. But now that I know about those Italians, I’d just say that it figures. 7 Aewa Pl., Pukalani, 572-8498. Open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. $ MTW
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