Doreen "BYO" B.'s Profile

It's peanut butter mochi time, peanut butter mochi time, peanut butter mochi time
Where he at (4x)
There he go (4x)
Peanut butter mochi (4x)
Do the peanut butter mochi, peanut butter mochi,
Peanut butter mochi with a baseball bat (2x)

OK - I'm sorry, but that song deserved to be rewritten. Because this is some kind of crazy goodness.

I had never even tried fresh mochi like this before, let alone PEANUT BUTTER?

We came here on the recommendation of a friend who had actually tried them while she was visiting her daughter in Oahu. random i know

Well, talking about peanut butter donuts one day, she said, to try a hawaiian peanut butter donut - a chocolate peanut butter mochi.

I think the sweetest part of the story, not just the ONOLICIOUS make you wanna dance mochi goodness, was that when we told the gentleman and young lady behind the counter that we never tried it before, he gave us each a free sample!

My daughter is a little iffy about sweets (unlike me) but once she tried it, she said it was just like a peanut butter sandwich - indeed my little haolepino.

I can't wait to come back here  for all of their other handmade chocolate confections (I saw choc covered oreos calling my name...)

Mahalo for your hospitality, winning this chocolate lovers heart (as I've been known to request chocolates shipped to me i'm such a brat about my candy), and also making new mochi fans in this family too :)

p.s. you will find in in Wakea Center btw!

Double Entry should only be reserved for certain occasion - the drive thru at Puunene McDonald's is not one of them.

It is quite the cluster F as you can imagine.

However, if you manage to not catch them during rush hour, they are consistent about fast and hot food.

I should also tell you that if you MUST go to McDonald's to satisfy a very poor craving, try going to the one in Kihei instead, as this particular McD's is actually 10% more expensive.

I should also add a bonus .25 stars for the Taro Pie though. mmmm mmmm

I will tell you that this place, if you are ever craving a good old fashioned American Diner, will hit that craving.

It tastes just like a Ruby's diner that you'd eat at in Ruby's own home state of California. Down to the parmesan fries that we used to love at Angels Stadium.

A few great local faves - Kalua Pork Sliders and even breakfast kalua pork benedict among others.

To be perfectly honest, I tend to really only order the California Baja Burger combo:

Side Salad, Fries and a Burger with Chipotle Mayo, Pepper Jack Cheese and Slices of Avocado - only for $9.99 (don't forget to subtract the kama'aina discount).

Of course, you can't leave without a shake - Peanut Butter preferred.

This is probably one of the only places on island you can feed a family of 3 for under $25.

Best Value for a good assortment of sizes.

Baby $4, Hot Mama $5 and Big Papa $6

Try one of the traditional favorite blends of flavors or try one of the staff favorite picks.

Best part about trying one of these selections is that it comes with mochi balls, a scoop of ice cream (Roselani Haupia or Vanilla), beans (I'll pass) and Kauai cream (a must!)

We tend to get the patriot and split - it's a belly full.

Be sure to grab a straw for the perfectly melted puddle on the bottom mixed with local made ice cream - just like a creamsicle.

One of the other awesome things about the Local Boy Shack? They carry other assorted items that are Maui made as well and support their neighboring local businesses.

CASH ONLY!!!

This is probably the only place you should try for pizza in Maui. Actually, no, please go elsewhere, cause this place gets packed as it is ;)

The thing about this pizza - the freakin a-ma-zing crust.  Not to mention the ice cold schooners you can order with your meal.

The garden salad is piled high with fresh mozarella instead of croutons. YUM!

Don't forget to get a kama'aina stamp card if you live Maui too. You earn stamps with every meal to get a free large pizza.

Don't be shy to call in your order since sports nights do make it tight quarters in here.

One of my favorite parts of the set up. The long picnic style benches that can seat 5 people on each side. Just like the old pizza parlor I used to go to in HS.

Be on the look out in local publications for coupons or discounts towards purchase as well.

Why do we go here again?

Oh yes, because it's one of the inly few places in Irvine that is open at 11 for lunch.

But when your food doesn't come out til 1135, and the server forgets about your clients dessert that she requested to come out with her lunch, it makes me look like the bad person.

Here's the breakdown:

1) Host did not acknowledge me when I walked in. I had to ask him to be seated, as I did make a reservation for Abel's section.

2) Since Abel doesn't start until 11:30, they sit us elsewhere, but why didn't we just wait for him since our food took forever anyways (for 2 salads and a quesadilla? seriously?)

3) When you think Prime Roasted Beef Quesadilla, you'd think big chunks of roast beef right? Nah, they actually mean from the deli counter. I say that with such conviction because the meat was still cold!!!! and cheese barely melted!

4) The attitude when we asked for the bill and the dessert to be wrapped up for take out. Please dont tell me that the dessert is already being plated. WE HAVE TO LEAVE - UNLESS YOU WANT MY CLIENT TO BE FIRED!

Needless to say, I only go here because my client was addicted to their gazpacho and the desserts.

2 stars because Abel is the saving grace for this place.

5 stars for offering a Kama'aina reward card for fueling up at any of 5 Shell Ohana Stations. You earn credit towards free gasoline with every purchase.

-1 star for the craziness of trying to get out of the parking lot without a signal to protect you from traffic in either direction on Dairy Road.

+.5 for all of the selection in the market and +.5 for having an attendant outside too.

P.S. for those interested, the Road to Hana stand is in the same parking lot.

(they also listen to 92.5 here on the loud speaker so that's nice :)  )

Come here to see Paige if you get the chance to have breakfast/lunch (havent made it in for dinner yet).

Located in the Long's Shopping Center, they offer a 5 for $5 special on items for early bird breakfast (before 9am I believe which really is early bird for some folks). (You can even get  mini moco for less than anywhere else on island for early bird).

My favorite thing to do is actually order half sizes of the breakfast entrees. You don't feel like such a pig afterwards ;) The only 2 entrees they don't allow for this are the Steak and Eggs, or the Country Fried Steak.

They're half order biscuits and gravy is always perfect.

They have 3 different kinds of Benedict, every once in a while you'll find crab benedict on the special board for less than $9!!!!

No BYOB here, so be prepared to guzzle your coffee as if you need your own carafe.

They also have early bird dinners, as well as monthly specials.

Mos Def Da Local Spot for great price ono grindz.

Once we find a spot that matches up with portions, price and flavor, you know we are creatures of habit.

For us that would be:
Breakfast Moco - 1 egg any style, bowl of rice, hamburger patty and gravy for $5
or
Breakfast Platter - Eggs, choice of bread or pancake, meat (go for the portuguese sausage or the homemade sausage patty) for $5

Drinks are serve yourself or BYOBeverage.
(though this is the only place we let our daughter imbibe in Sunny Delight ;)  )

So you're probably thinking, what's the big deal, $5 moco plate. Well, for me, it's all about the gravy and the way the patty is seasoned. Sure you can get a plate elsewhere but not the same kind of home made goodness in the patty made to order and the gravy made to order as well.

p.s. I think they use a cornstarch gravy - the way it sets up is nice, not to thick, and coats the rice perfectly.

CASH ONLY!!!

if you want to try a malasada, dont forget theyre sold in orders of 3 or more.

This would've been a 4 star review but the fact that the Park Ranger made it a point to come out and put together a nature presentation for the 21 children in attendance was pretty dang awesome.

We were fortunate to have been part of a large camping trip that included multiple families from our daughter's former Montessori school.

The group space was perfect for about 50 people to share with 4 Port-O-Potty's on site, potable water spiquet and parking for 10 vehicles.

The nature trails were quite easy for the toddlers to manuvuer and the campgrounds in general had plenty of nature to see.

Nice too of course was that the town of Julian (known for their apple pies) was only about a 10 minute drive from here.