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.