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Oooh. We've been here too. Elpahaba and I were here for our honeymoon.
Actually it was good. On a day filled with fun we remember this place so that's good. Tagine was excellent and the duck salad was good.
I stopped in for Happy Hour because they have a sign out front that says ALL BEERS & COCKTAILS $3. I looked at the menu on the wall and saw that they have a Coconut Porter on draft, which I ordered. It was really good and worth every penny of the $6, because when we got the bill the waitress said she was sorry but that specific beer was exempt from Happy Hour pricing?! But the only place that had the fine print was on the printed menu which we didn't look at because we hadn't planned to order any food. I didn't bother explaining to our waitress that ALL BEERS $3 might not be the best to sign put out front if they aren't all really $3. SOME BEERS $3, perfectly fine. MOST BEERS $3, even better.
The Pina Colada for $3 was pretty good, and a bargain.
P.S. I think the Cadillac Margarita is also exempt from the Happy Hour.
It was at Cafe Mambo that I first discovered Maui Brewing Co. Coconut Porter, now my favorite beer.
Mambo serves up some killer Kaluha Duck.
Lovely place on a lovely street with a lovely vibe.
We were thrilled to discover free-range burgers at the Cafe Mambo. For us, this was reason enough to have lunch there. We both ordered cheeseburgers medium rare, mine with grilled mushrooms and onions and my wife's with just the grilled onions. On the plus side, the burgers were large and yummy. On the negative side, they forgot my wife's grilled onions, the burgers were overcooked a little (medium), and the fries were perfunctory (thin, dry). The mango lemonade was yummy - I tried my wife's and decided to order some for myself.
Yummiest Pina Colada that I've ever had. It was creamy and smooth. The box lunches for the road to Hana were very good and a reasonable price. With a fully refundable deposit they provide a nice soft side cooler for your lunches and drinks and a CD for the Road to Hana. Unfortunately the CD wouldn't play in our rental car but we had a great day anyway. Stopped for a drink when we returned the cooler & CD.
The duck burgers are awesome and I highly recommend them. My wife ordered the duck fajitas. The sides for the duck fajitas are mediocre at best stick with the burger. This place is reasonably priced and great (take away the fajita sides). Stick with the salads and burgers. This place was recommended to us by a local and we will go back nest time we are in Maui.
One of 3 locations on the island that has Coconut Stout beer on draught by Maui Brewing Co.
I didn't eat here, but man did I drink here. Happy hour is 1/2 off all drinks (excepts the Coconut Porter, damnit) and the chill vibe here is nice. I was in the corner on the benches with the comfy pillows tossed about. Really cute looking place that's really nice to drink.
The food looked good, staff humored my drunkenness. It's all good.
1.5 doors over from Cafe Des Amis is Cafe Mambo. We stopped in here for a coffee in the morning, then came back later just so we could try the Coconut Porter. It was great! A very filling beer for sure, but unique at the same time - worth the stop. Along with the porter, we had some hummus and pita - it was okay - the pita was nummy, the hummus was fine - they put turmeric in it so it kind of mulled the flavor a bit, made it bland almost. It needed a kick and/or some more lemon.
A couple of other great reasons to make this a stop in Pai'a -
1. they have a CD for the road to Hana that you can check out with a $20 deposit. The CD was helpful.
2. 3p-6p they have happy hour - 1/2 off all beers (except coconut porter, boo) and $10 beer & burger (incl tofu burger!)
3. fun, artsy, new-age hippie vibe.
4. inexpensive, even with the full priced beers!
We first stopped for a picnic lunch to take with us on the road to Hana. They lend out coolers, but we chose to pass on that. We each had a sandwich made on a large soft roll, mine with ham and cheese and hers veggie. Chips and a cookie came with it. Good hearty food eaten later at a roadside rest overlooking the ocean with a local nearby selling hand-made necklaces and stuff.
We returned for lunch two days later on our way back from Hana. I had chicken fajitas. Lots of spicy chicken in a bed of sauteed onion served with plentiful tortillas and a lazy susan type tray with salad, guacamole, sliced cucumber, salsa and other stuff. Flavorful black beans. Price was OK for Maui.
Good good breakfast. Healthy options. I've been here many times over the last couple years and the staff is consistently friendly. It has a nice vibe and I love the location. My favorite street on Maui, actually.
Last time I went it was during happy hour. I had three $2.50 pints of Maui Brewing Company IPA and a Chai tea for my son. The small Chai was more than my beer. Ha. The bill was a little over $11. Right on!
This is a bright and funky place that features local artists and has a movie night, too. Thursdays at nine o'clock.
Once they even showed the Big Lebowski. Dude. 5 stars.
Like many we stopped here for breakfast before we headed out on the Hana Road drive. While the food and coffee here wasn't anything remarkable, it wasn't bad. And lets face it its hard to distinguish yourself as a restaurant with breakfast.
What is nice about this place is the vibe. It's very casual and the service was pleasant. We got the feeling that it would be a great place to hang out in the eves. Not sure if this is considered a 'locals' place to hang, but while we were there there were a lot of tourists looking at their blue books, just like us :)
I'd go back.
We visited Cafe Mambo on 5/10 and were so glad we did. Cafe Mambo has a laid back, artsy vibe with local painter's works on the walls (and also for sale). The servers were attentive but didn't hover.
I had the veggie fajitas with nori & sesame seed crusted tofu. The guacamole and toppings were tasty; the feta cheese offering was different, I ate that separately. Tortillas tasted homemade or at least a good store bought brand. Everything was great, we left full and satisfied.
Really enjoyed finding this place for lunch ~ then a few days later came back for dinner because we knew it wouldn't disappoint. That Oahu smoothie was possibly the best smoothie I've ever had, and next time I'm trying the Hawai'i for sure! Would highly recommend!
Doing the tourist thing on the crowded streets of Pa'ia, my girlfriend and I wandered past this inviting little cafe. It was late in the afternoon, and most of the other places were either packed or closed. Since Cafe Mambo was both empty and open, we decided to head back for a quick bite.
We were informed of their happy hour drink specials, but since they were out of the first three things we tried to order, it was "just water, thanks." They were also out of the falafel plate my girlfriend had been craving the whole lap around town. It was a bit irritating finding out the 86 list item by item, but the roulette wheel finally settled on the Hummus and Pita, and a Crispy Duck Burger.
The Hummus, probably from a generous amount of turmeric, was a very bright yellow. The flavor of coriander was also very prominent, but neither spice was overpowering. It was nicely seasoned, creamy, and very delicious with the warm, soft pita. (Thankfully, too, because this was a very late lunch, and my girl's a little mean when she's hungry)
The Crispy Duck Burger, which was really more of a sandwich on a bun, was MEAN, mean. Being my first, it will be my basis of comparison for all future duck burger/sandwiches, and it set the standard pretty high. I don't recall any crispiness, but the slightly sweet sauce complimented the moist, shredded duck very well. Also, the simple garnish of lettuce, tomato, and onion didn't overpower the ducky goodness.
Thankfully, we didn't let our initial irritation get the best of us. The food at Cafe Mambo was way better than the sulking "waaah-mburger" we would have swallowed had we walked out after strike three.
Been here three times. Last time I was here, it was for the DUCK BURGER. Strange as it may sound to some, it is OMG delicious. Love it love it.
Also came here for the happy hour. I loved the brews. Firstly, they are from the Maui Brewing Company. Highly recommend the Bikini Blonde lager and the Big Swell IPA. The latter has this delicious passionfruit after taste. Or maybe it was the lager? In any case, they were very distinctive, full of unique flavors and HALF OFF. The only one that is not is the coconut porter. It is $6 a pint. After having two pints and realizing that I might have to drive, I didn't get the porter. Darn! Will have to fly back for that one.
Anywho, the decor is "relaxed Barcelona" complete with mosaic-y tables and Miro-esque paintings. I don't think the artist has ever sold one. They had the same paintings up the last time I was here a year and a half ago!
The kids menu is orright too. We usually get the terriyaki tofu with black beans and rice. A nice change from the chicken nuggets and fries...
We stopped here after checking out the Pai'a Fish Company, which was way too crowded. Now, I'm almost glad that I didn't get to try the other place. The food here was excellent! Unique, flavorful, and good service too. Coconut porter was very good too, although I only had a sip of that. Nice. Wonderful place to eat and not too pricey for the delicious food. We tried the tofu fajitas, duck burger, Kailua pork burger and kailua fajitas. All were great.
Happy hour daily from 4 to 6PM. Great spot to enjoy a cocktail or a beer and people watch. Very friendly staff.
Pardner and myself ambled over to see what they had and were intrigued by a "TAPAS" menu. It wasn't yet 4pm, when the Tapas and Dinner menu were deployed, so it was suggested by our very nice attendant that we begin our visit with Happy Hour. Happy Hour was great! I began with the Crispy Duck Burger and Pardner had a "Burger & a Beer" Happy Hour special. NICE! Crispy duck was great and we'll be back as often as we can rationalize dinner out, as we're supposed to be eating at our ohana and saving millions of dollars. I'd rather eat out, really. No. Really.
I've been to this place 4 times in the last 2 months and I'm a huge fan. Simple food that is really really delicious.
The weekends are great because of the Eggs Benedict. But they only make enough for 50 orders, and by 9 am you are SOL.
However, their omelets are crazy delicious. I get bacon, sauteed spinach and cheese. the chipotle salsa is a cheap and awesome side. as is the guac or just a half an avocado (which is surprisingly 'ab' food, so you can simultaneously keep up that Maui beach bod).
The OJ is good and not to sweet. But the smoothies are concentrate. (however, the fresh fruit can be a side order for the omelet and that is delicious).
PS: you can also color the menus or go on in Wednesdays for a beer and movie night
We got a Hana Highway lunch box/picnic/sandwich setup here. For $16, we got two sandwiches, two cans of soda, two bags of chips, and two bags of some corporate cookie. For a $35 deposit, we also got a cooler and a CD to play on the Road to Hana. I guess that's the reason I liked this place - the fact they lend out stuff when you buy lunch.
Anyway, limited sandwich selection. When I heard they did box lunches for the road, I had hoped something eclectic would be on there: maybe some kind of tasty fajita wrap or something non-boring. They did not follow through on that - their picnic menu is limited.
They do cult classic movies on Thursday nights - it sounded like it would be fun if I lived around there.
On the way to Cafe Mambo on my most recent visit I'd had a little fiasco first involving dodging a cane toad in the yard, and then a gecko trying to make my car his home who I managed to corral with my hands and pluck off my car. Then to save the gecko from the neighbors cat (who was very interested in what was going on) I had to pick the cat up and put him back in his yard. Needless to say, I was desperate to wash my hands when I got to Cafe Mambo.
So I went to the restroom and waited for long enough that I'd convinced myself there was nobody in there and the door was just stuck. Then I waited some more, and the door finally opened. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered there was no soap! And they were perilously close to being out of paper towels as well!
Aside from that problem, everything else was great. The food was well seasoned and tasty, on this visit I shared a variety of tapas which were all delicious.
The decor is bright, cheery, and fun. The prices are reasonable and the portions were generous - two of us were full after sharing the pinchos tapa plate.
Breakfast here is good but the smoothies here are probably the best part of it since they make them with ice cream. That is, if you're looking for an excuse to eat ice cream in the morning they're the best part.
Edit: My subsequent visits have not been as nice unfortunately. The other things I've tried have been heavy and just kind of so-so. The falafel sandwich made me shed a tear of disappointment earlier today. Burgers here are good though.
I have eaten here four times in the last four months. The fajitas are always excellent. Have tried the pork, the duck, the fish, and the vegetarian, and all were great. Prices, for Maui, are moderate, the value is definitely there. Comfortable place to sit, excellent service, and a good wine selection.
Well, they changed names, but I still call it Picnics. Stop here for a great box lunch of American and Hawaiian food fare. Don't forget the Maui chips and the guava drink!
Take you last rest break here, because it will be a long time before you see a suitable place if you are heading to Hana.
A surprisingly charming little place in Paia. My only disappointment was that I wanted the ahi burger, but they were out of ahi (which begged the question - how could they be out of ahi? Isn't ahi plentiful in Hawaii??!?)
My second choice was the chicken sandwich. The chicken breast was marinated in soy and some other tasty things, I'm sure. The meat was pretty juicy and the sandwich was tasty overall.
I'd come here again. Hopefully they'll have ahi next time.
Stopped in for a quick adult libation and wasn't disappointed. We caught them at the tail-end of "happy hour" and it was the lowest bill we'd get the entire trip. Regardless, we didn't eat (starving ourselves for Mama's) but the humus looked homemade and creamy yummy good, with generous amounts of pita wedges. The place was clean and the ladies working there were friendly.
The worst restaurant we tried on Maui. We were pleased to see they had a lot of nearly-vegan items on the menu (just had to order without cheese, for example). My husband got the tofu burger and I got fajitas with spinach and mushrooms. We apparently arrived at the tail end of what they were calling "surfer happy hour" and most of the tables were filled with people enjoying appetizers and drinks. Maybe that's what we should have done, because it seems like they weren't ready to properly focus on preparing dinner. My husband's burger was okay though it was pretty much just a slab of lightly seasoned tofu on a bun. The main component for my fajitas, the spinach and onions, came out in a cast iron dish and the bottom half of it was heavily burned, practically charcoal! The beans also tasted a bit burned. That, coupled with music so loud we couldn't carry on a conversation and slow service, led to a pretty disappointing experience.
After a long day of driving the Road to Hana, we randomly stopped at this place on the way back to Kihei. Let me just say that our food was awesome! :) Not only did they have pretty good selection, the food was fresh and healthy. They did have vegetarian options (tofu fajitas, 7 veggie stew, etc) along with some other stuff. My husband and I decided to go for the burgers since we hadn't eaten anything filling the whole day. I had the Mahi Sandwich with a side salad. The Mahi in the sandwich was nice and moist, not overly flavorful compared to some other places I've tried. My husband tried the Kalua duck burger which was also great! Not too salty like the typical kalua flavored meats and it had a hint of teriyaki sauce in it. His dish also came with a side of fries which were nearly identical (but not as salty) to Mc D's fries which is our favorite type of fries! Delish!
I would give it 5 stars but I had to minus a star because we also ordered the "Maui" smoothie that wasn't too great. Honestly, we could of made a better one with our magic bullet at home.
The eclectic menu combines Spanish, North African, and Mexican cuisines. I've been to Maui many times, and this used to be one of my favorite restaurants. The problem is, I've experienced better...here.
In past years, everything was good, from the fresh banana bread at breakfast, to the fantastic crispy duck fajitas and spinach-nut falafel for lunch, and hearty Moroccan tangines for dinner. They also had the cutest waitresses in Pa'ia.
Regrettably, on my last visit, things had changed. The cuties had moved on. They had no banana bread for breakfast, and the "fruit salad" was disgraceful--a little ramekin of slimy, day-old watermelon, a couple of chunks of tasteless cantelope, and a few shreds of woody, dry pineapple. Pretty shameful for Maui where tropical fruits including ripe mangoes, papayas, and bananas are so plentiful that they grow wild and litter the ground, and the sweet, juicy pineapples are the best in the world.
The crispy kalua duck is still unique and worth coming here for, but they really need to get their act together again.
I think it's awesome that this place resembles a coffee house, but is an actual sit down restaurant (/cafe). It's low key that you won't feel awkward eating by yourself. At first I got my coffee to go (hot coffee on a hot day, what was I thinking??) Then after some shopping, I came back for lunch. It was a toss up with the other cafe on the block, but I wasn't really in the mood for crepes.
My fish of the day burger was broken up in chunks, marinated in sauce, and served with whole wheat buns and some tartar sauce. And you have a choice of fries or salad. I left feeling satisfied and happy that I ate something semi healthy. Their prices are really reasonable too!
(Check their website - they have movie nights on their big projector screen.)
Absolutely delicious! The decoration is so cute and the service was just right. Food is AMAZING!
frequented this place often.
mostly got the burgers. always got the margaritas.
the drinks were strong, well-mixed and tasty.
the burgers were decent -- sometimes a little overcooked. ingredients were quality and there was a lot of selection on the menu.
not the best restaurant on the island, but a good lunch/dinner spot in paia. default place for drinks and burgers in town.
service was good. staff attentive.
oh! as an afterthought, the duck burger was awesome -- different and delicious!
Probably the best place we ate in Paia (aside from the sushi at Jacques). The duck and pork fajitas were amazing, the mezze plate was fantastic (unbelievable hummus and delicious falafel), and the staff was friendly (despite the fact that six of us showed up five minutes before closing). I would definitely go here again (and did:-)
I'm a resident who recently moved upcountry from west Maui and have to say, this restaurant is a FIND. Food in Maui is so overpriced and overrated, but this little place gets the shaka for healthy options, generous portions, moderate prices, delicious food, good coffee, relaxed atmosphere and happy artwork. It has now become our regular lunch spot. The fajitas are plenty big enough for 2. On Saturday night they play classic movies on the projector screen, serving popcorn, food and drinks.
Nice little place in Paia that shows indie/cult classic movies on Saturday nights. We had fish fajitas for two that were excellent. My most favorite maui onions were nicely sauteed and sizzling, just waiting to be shoved between the tortilla and fish.
Will have to return to check out the rest of the menu and a movie.
Great duck burger, but not so good with any of the other food items.
Very nice and relaxing spot for dinner. Not too expensive, food is good quality, but not quite gourmet. Still casual. Service was quick and pleasant. I had the duck burger, which was very good. My mother had a chicken dish that was spiced moroccan-like, with couscous, generously portioned. Dad had a mahi burger, which he said he was embarrased to admit was good, despite it having cheese on it. Compaired to Moana cafe up the street, this place shines. I guess not all resturants in Paia are lazy!
I went here when they first opened in '89, good to see they're still around.
On an island of meat and mayo-based salads (I'm not complaining about it) it's refreshing to have such fresh and tasty food. Their crispy duck salad is sooo good- fresh ingredients, plentiful duck. The fries are great too, the service is friendly, and they even have movie nights! All in all this place was a big hit during our stay in Paia.
Haliimaile, HI
Category: American (New)
Paia, HI
Category: Pizza
Wailuku, HI
Category: Vegetarian
Paia, HI
Category: Health Markets
Wailuku, HI
Category: Bakeries
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