Leaving this Sunday and scouting out good local style breakfast and lunch places on Maui. Already heard about DaKitchen, and it's on our list. Anybody have any experience with other local style and/or plate lunch places, either west or south Maui? Will travel further for exceptional Loco Moco.

oops! I topped a thread for you but I read thru your post too fast. I didn't catch that you were looking for MAUI loco moco. sorry.

Aloha Mixed Plate (?) near the mall in Lahaina had good food and nice setting. Next to where they hold the Old Lahaina Luau.

No Problem Melissa, we are also going to Oahu. Have a few leads for plate lunch as well as loco moco, but always looking for more. Know several da kine grinds in Hilo, but not going there this trip.

I was going to say Aloha Mixed Plate too. The food there is good and not to pricey.

Another vote for Aloha Mixed Plate. We loved it so much we ate there 3 times during our visit. They make a great Loco Moco, but the Lau Lau is also delicious!

As an 'ignorant' Aussie can someone please tell me what Loco Moco is -

prue, no worries. a loco moco is basically a scoop (or more) of rice topped with a hamburger patty and a fried egg, covered in brown gravy. a virtual carb fest!

It's incredibly delicious!!! It's the top of the list of many great Island foods. Spam Musubi is a close second. Even comes in different varieties of meats, even some people like it with fried rice instead of white rice. Hand made patty and gravy a must. Soft fried eggs and Mac salad on the side PLEASE! I can practically hear my arteries hardening right now and I haven't even got on the plane.

Further for Prue- the basics of 'plate lunch' usually involves 2 scoops of white rice, 1 scoop macaroni/mayo salad, and your main dish of fish or meat deep fried &/or sauced.

Is that a fair description, fellow hawaii-lovers?

Suze
You only need to add "and better than any fast food imaginable."

jim- well that goes without saying!

That should give you enough energy to paddle your canoe across the Pacific....at least to the next island!

I like the teriyaki spam KATSU (breaded & fried) musubi that you can get at 7-Eleven. If they have it with fried rice, even better!!!

Thanks for the translation - I have often wondered what it all was - and now I know!

I think chicken katsu is the most popular lunch plate among the local guys (panko breaded and deep fried chicken cutlet). Da Kitchen makes a great fish & chips (battered fish & fries). The same battered fish is also served local style--with rice, mac salad, but called tempura fish on the menu. Not crazy about their burger though.

We are leaving on Tuesday for Maui...YIPPEEE!!!
Where is Da Kitchen located. I know Aloha Mixed Plate and the Honolua Store in Kapalua.

If you are heading upcountry, Kitada's in Makawao has good plate lunches and saimin. A hole in the wall, locals kind of place.

Sorry to say, no where on Maui can one find local style food like Hilo, especially Loco Moco which was invented in Hilo. Gotta go Hilo for good kine grinds!

There are two Da Kitchens on Maui, one is in the Triangle Mall in Kahului and the other is in Kihei. They have a website, Google Da Kitchen for a menu and photos.

jimcolorado - Thanks for the info. The fish & chips sound great! And true confessions of a spam musubi lover!