BEST NEW RESTAURANT Wok Star Yeah, yeah, Wok Star has great noodles. I know you can get them in all sorts of configurations from dry mein to ramen, plus plenty of flavor varieties such as teriyaki or curry. But have you tried the peanut butter and bananas? It’s called a Jaffel. Just a pressed sandwich, […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Cheap Food on Maui: Pukalani Superette
BEST CHEAP FOOD Pukalani Superette The assorted bento lunches at Pukalani Superette are so affordable you can feed a family of four for under ten bucks. Take their roast pork, a generous serving of gravy over home made roasted and seasoned pork, plus a side of rice, and perhaps a side dish of wontons, sounds […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Smoothie on Maui: Jamba Juice
BEST SMOOTHIE Jamba Juice A good smoothie should be a simple affair—just toss some fruit and ice into a blender and hit frappe, right? Well, apparently it’s not so simple, because not everyone gets it right. One place that does is Jamba Juice, another major chain that’s managed to win over wary locals with its […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Fish and Chips on Maui: Alexander’s
BEST FISH AND CHIPS Alexander’s Whenever we think of fish and chips, Alexander’s immediately pops into our minds. Why? Because the fish is deep-fried in a tempura-like, beer batter containing yummy herbs that ultimately results in a delectable creation. On top of that, they don’t mess around with their sauces. The tarter sauce served on […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Saimin on Maui: Sam Sato’s
BEST SAIMIN Sam Sato’s I could use saimin as a metaphor to describe Maui. Like saimin, Maui takes bits and pieces of different cultures and ethnicities and puts them together to create something wonderful. This phenomenon is something unique to Hawaii. Suffice it to say that the best bowl of something wonderful can be found […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Italian Food on Maui: Casanova
BEST ITALIAN FOOD Casanova I am so happy that our readers chose Casanova as the Best Italian Food winner because it’s so true! I’ll start with the focaccia bread, dipped in balsamic and olive oil. Orgasmic. No, really it is. My favorite main dish is the fungi pasta with chicken. It’s pretty exquisite–loads of mushrooms, […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Spam Musubi on Maui: Minit Stop
BEST SPAM MUSUBI Minit Stop Spam. Rice. Nori. What’s not to love? It absolutely baffles me that there are people on this island that refuse to accept the beauty, versatility and all out yummieness that Spam brings to almost any meal. Okay, maybe “beauty” was a stretch; but still! We all know that there’s good […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Mai Tai on Maui: Mai Tai Lounge
BEST MAI TAI Mai Tai Lounge There are a couple of things that make this popular island drink superior at the Mai Tai Lounge. First, they use crushed ice. The greater surface area keeps the cocktail Arctic cold, which in turn slows the melting of the ice and keeps the drink less watery. Then there […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Pancakes on Maui: Tasty Crust
BEST PANCAKES Tasty Crust How can you resist the sign outside of Tasty Crust, proclaiming their pancakes to be world famous? If they’re good enough for the world, they’re good enough for me. If I could, I would put Tasty Crust’s pancakes in a category of their own: Delicious-Melt-In-Your-Mouth-Goodness. I wonder if the USDA would […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Ice Cream on Maui: Cold Stone Creamery
BEST ICE CREAM Cold Stone Creamery Like some politicians, I sometimes pay for pleasure. However, my self indulgence consists of mainly tipping teenagers so they grudgingly sing me reworked versions of show tunes while they mash choice toppings like fudge, strawberries and M&Ms into Cold Stone’s house-made ice creams. I guess Maui Time readers go […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Place for a Non-First Date on Maui: Melting Pot
(Edit Pick) BEST PLACE FOR A NON-FIRST DATE Melting Pot The other night my girlfriends took me out for a belated birthday dinner at Melting Pot. It was the first time that we’d been there and it was totally worth the agonizing drive to Lahaina. It took us three luxurious hours to eat our dinner. […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Burger on Maui: Cool Cat Cafe
BEST BURGER Cool Cat’s When it comes to burgers, you readers aren’t looking for a change in leadership. You voted the big, beefy, delicious burgers at Cool Cat’s number one once again and I know why. It’s the basics. When you order a burger you get just that, quality meat on a fluffy bun with […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Chef on Maui: James McDonald
BEST CHEF James McDonald Visionary in the culinary industry, inspiration to his Maui Community College Culinary program roots, an artist with Hawaiian ingredients as his palette, Chef James McDonald can be proud of his win as Best Chef. Not busy enough with a trio of restaurants, Pacific’o, I’o, and the Feast at Lele in the […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Sushi on Maui: Sansei
BEST SUSHI Sansei It seems like Sansei isn’t really fighting fair in this “Best Of” battle. I mean, there’s no way a place that offers 50 percent off sushi for late night eaters AND has a panko crusted ahi roll that comes with such an amazing sauce is going to lose this competition. Add endless […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Chinese Food on Maui: Dragon Dragon
BEST CHINESE FOOD Dragon Dragon Mmm…Lemon Chicken. In my humble opinion, you readers are so right on with this vote. I love Dragon Dragon. I have so many memories there. Most are filled with lemon chicken, fired rice and that yummy garlic spinach dish, but some are filled with almond float and green tea ice […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2008: Best Coffee House on Maui: Kihei Caffe
BEST COFFEE HOUSE Kihei Caffe The only thing that I love more than the great view for people watching at the Kihei Caffe is their coffee and boy do they have great coffee! We’re talking always hot, fresh and caffeinated. Kihei Caffe is (obviously, according to our readers) the best place on the island to […]