Destination Maui: Two cheap places to eat in Lahaina, Maui
February 20, 2009
Filed under Destinations
Lahaina, Maui, on the northwest side of the glorious island, is a great oceanfront spot for strolling and people watching. Along Front Street of this former whaling town, there are tons of little boutiques, souvenir T-shirt shops, restaurants and bars.
Maui, in general, can be a pricey place to vacation, and the restaurants in Lahaina, and chain eateries like Cheeseburger in Paradise, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, and the Hard Rock Cafe, are no exception. However, there are two ultra-casual, “freshly made fast food” restaurants that are fabulous places to dine if you’re on a budget.
Kahuna Kabobs
Serving Mediterranean-influenced plates, like fish, chicken, steak and shrimp kabobs, as well as pupus, wraps, burgers and soups, Kahuna Kabobs is fresh, fast, filling – and relatively cheap. The menu is written out in colorful chalk on several blackboards, and you order from a take-out window. Plenty of patio chairs and tables are available for al fresco, picnic-style dining.
Entrees like Blackened Fish Kabobs (fish of the day with sweet Molokai mashed potatoes, asparagus in coconut curry sauce topped with wasabi cream sauce) and Dr. J’s Island Curry (roasted eggplant, bell pepper, celery, onions, pineapple, tofu, garbanzo beans in “secret yellow curry sauce” over brown rice) cost about $10 to $15. Burgers and wraps are less expensive. Portions here are super filling.
Kahuna Kabobs is in a little pedestrian area/alley off of Front Street between Lahainaluna and Dickenson streets.
Maui Tacos
Maui Tacos is a chain restaurant found throughout the Hawaiian Islands as well as the continental U.S. But it’s not your typical Mexican fast-food joint. Instead, the “Mexican Surf Grill” fuses the “flavors of Mexico with the flavors of Aloha to do a hula on your tongue.” (Kinda clever, no?)
Menu items include soups, salads, burritos, enchiladas, tacos and more. Hands down, the best item–and likely the most popular–is the signature Maui Taco, which you can get with charbroiled chicken, charbroiled steak, grilled marinated shrimp or grilled, fresh island fish. Other yummy Mexican items with a Hawaiian twist are Chicken Mango Salad and the Hana Burrito with slow-cooked Hawaiian BBQ pork. You can easily fill up at Maui Tacos for about $10.
Maui Tacos is a block off of Front Street, at 840 Wainee Street.
Save your money for souvenirs by eating lunch or dinner at either of these great locals’ spots!
