Maui: Honokowai Okazuya & Deli

The afternoon had been rather stressful, we filed a police report, drove to Kapalua and checked in, and went shopping for replacement clothes, and other items(talk about sticker shock!!!). Before we knew it, we had missed lunch, and the sun had gone down. So on the way back from Ka'anapali, we took a left on Lower Honoapiilani Road and made our way to Honokowai Okazuya and Deli.

Honokowai Okazuya & Deli is located in a strip mall(my favorite place for eateries), next to a storage rental facility. In fact, I think the strip mall is called AAAAA Rent-A-Space Mall! HOAD, is not quite what I would consider a "local style" Okazuya to be, but more of a plate lunch place. And this little hole in the wall was quite busy. The place is so tiny, with only a few stools and a small counter, that most of the orders are for take out.

There were quite a few people manning the various stations in the kitchen, readily visible while waiting for our order. And the smells were very tempting.

HOAD's menu runs the gamut, and straddles the line between pleasing both the locals(Chicken Katsu, Beef Chow Fun), as well as the tourist, and other non-locals (Mahi Mahi Lemon Caper, Pasta Primavera). There is a bit of sticker shock here as well; when we walked in an order of four plate lunches was rung for...for nearly Fifty-Five bucks!!!! But when placed in context with the prices at other places; we saw a Guy at Star Market buying a premade sandwich, some chips, and Miller Lite for over twenty bucks, the prices were fairly reasonable. So we placed our order and headed back to our rental Condo.

The Missus went with the Chicken Katsu Don($8.75), with Stir Fried Vegetables(.95 more).

The Missus has a current obsession with Chicken Katsu Don, and was overjoyed at seeing it on the menu. She also thought is was good, the Chicken Katsu was still crunchy in certain areas, the egg, though a bit strange looking was nice and light, and most surprisingly, the sauce had a good, slightly sweet-soy flavor. But the Missus thought the stir fried veggies was the best item on the (styrofoam) plate. Sauteed over high heat(it was what being cooked in the photo above), with a mild Chinese fermented black bean flavor, the combination of Zucchini, Red and Green Bell Peppers, and other veggies was seasoned perfectly, moist, and indeed quite good.

I had my old standby, the Chicken Katsu($7.95).

The white meat chicken was still moist, and fried to crisp perfection. I didn't care for the Katsu Sauce, it was much too sour, but the macaroni salad was excellent; the optimal amount of mayo and egg, with enough salt for a change. I was impressed with the attention paid to the side dishes.

We also ordered the Korean Style Chicken BBQ($7.95).

Mildly flavored, it was much to dry for me, but the Missus enjoyed the texture and flavor of the chicken.

I understand that the former Owner of HOAD was a Chef at Mama's Fish House, considered by many to be the best restaurant on Maui, and the current Owner has been faithful to the recipes. As it stands the Honokowai Okazuya & Deli is an oasis of reasonably (for Maui) priced food on West Maui.

Honokowai Okazuya & Deli
3600 Lower Honoapiilani Rd Ste D
Lahaina, HI 96761
(808)665-0512

Open Mon-Sat Lunch - 10am-230pm
      Dinner - 430pm-9pm
Closed on Sundays

So where did we stay? I found a really good deal on a large two bedroom Condo at the Kapalua Villas.

A two bedroom unit was required since the Missus's parents were flying from Oahu and spending a few days with us. The unit were large, with a panoramic view, of both a wonderfully kept golf course.....

And the ocean...talk about great sunsets!

The units were very large with two good sized bedrooms and the two bathrooms had sunken tubs, etc....

But most importantly, each unit had a full sized kitchen with cooking and table ware, appliances, and this one even had a rice cooker.

All the units are managed by the Ritz Carlton, and the very unobtrusive service(we really didn't want to be bothered anyway) was good. I had gotten the unit at half price, and was very pleased.

Comments

[Reid]

Kirk,

Interesting choice. I've never stopped in to eat at this place, but now you make me curious. I do hope you went and had a nice dinner at Mama's. It's one place, besides Gerard's, that I always visit when on Maui.

[Brother of Cathy]

Welcome back!

Sorry to hear about the car break-in in Hawaii. I have never had a bad experience on a vacation other than my wife losing her fanny pack loaded with all of our cash and credit cards and car keys on the Desperado roller coaster at Buffalo Bill's in Primm, Nevada.
Fortunately, an honest person turned it in to security and we got it back within twenty minutes with everything intact!

Brother of Cathy, your fill-in blogger.

[Pam]

Hi Kirk! We had heard good things about HOAD, but never got a chance to make it there so I was glad to see your write up. Looks like food my family would have loved to take back to the condo! BTW, I like the acronym "HOAD"...next time we're in Maui, I prolly won't even call it by its full name, I'll just call it "Hoad" as in "Hey, let's go eat at Hoad." LOL!

[nhbilly]

Glad you're back safe...Hope you made the most of it despite the first day...

-nhbilly

[Chubbypanda]

Hey Kirk,

Those plate lunched look delish.

Why are things in Hawaii so expensive. I've never been, but the prices sound insane. Cat and I were considering it for our honeymoon, but I struck it off the list after crunching the numbers.

- Chubbypanda

[Jon]

Kirk, you are correct. HOAD is a busy little place with,in my opinion, "good value" considering how expensive food items et al are in Maui. I was in Kahana in April and sampled 4 entree's at HOAD's with my favorite being the "Mahi Mahi Lemon Caper". My best meals came out of our condo at the Kahana Sunset. I'm looking forward to my next trip to the islands.

[Kirk]

Hi Reid - Reasonably priced places are at a minimum on West Maui. We didn't hit Mama's, but enjoyed a nice meal close by, and ate in our condo most of the time.

Hi BoC - Your Sister sure did a great job, helping me out here. That's quite a story, just goes to show that weshouldn't lose faith in people just yet....

Hi Pam - Yes, it was pretty good...though quite a ways from where you were. We never made it to Kihei, but there are a few good places there!

Hi Nhbilly - We did enjoy ourselves.....made the most of the situation.

Hi CP - Things aren't expensive everywhere on Maui, well, with a caviat....Maui is the most expensive Island(save Lanai). On most islands, I'm able to eat like a local, well....because that's pretty much what I was/am. It was very hard to do this on West Maui.

Hi Jon - In context, you're right. I do still balk at $13.95 for a plate lunch, though. Maui sure has changed since I last had a real visit.

[Jack]

I go here everytime we visit Maui. Compared to anything else on the West side (or South side as well) it's actually relatively inexpensive. I get tired of the expensive places in Wailea as well as the tourist spots in Lahina. Did you happen to eat at the General Store? I do that too when I am in the area. Nothing like having spam, eggs and rice in the middle of the Kapalua resort!

[Kirk]

Hey Jack - Guess what's coming up next...plus a little surprise!

[elmomonster]

Well, I guess I shouldn't say I'm surprised that everything held up to your high standards. But did you guys eat all that in one sitting?!

[Kirk]

Hi Elmo - After not eating...and stress we finished almost everything....except the rice, which we saved to eat with poke.

[Connie Walters]

We have a condo in Lokelani close to HOAD. Favorites are mahi mahi lemon caper, teriyka steak and the korean bbq chicken was moist all were delicious. Check out
greatmauioceanfront.com
We have eaten many meals from HOAD on our lani watching a great sunset. SUNSET CENTRAL

[SUNSET CENTRAL]

FYI - We have recently received information from a patron of Okazuya that the Chicken Katsu was over cooked and not very good.

[Juno888]

The one how cook very funny, i think he scared of that time coz maybe all kitchen will burn.