FORM Favorites: Navigating Maui Food Trucks

from FORM Magazine for ROAM Maui | Summer/Fall 2023

Where Ohana Meets Exquisite Service

BY JEANNE COOPER

Figuring out where to find Maui’s best food trucks used to require frequent checks of their social media accounts, as the owners had all taken to heart “have wheels, will travel.” While some mobile restaurateurs still alternate between locations, many have joined forces in creating food truck parks that not only offer reliable hours, but also picnic-style seating, restroom facilities and, in some cases, live entertainment.

These days, most take credit cards and Venmo as well as cash. Be aware that Sunday remains a rest day for many, and social media is still a good method for discovering specials or altered hours. Here are five favorite enclaves, with a few of our favorites in each:

The Kīhei Food Oasis can claim pride of place, offering lovely foliage and shade with outdoor seating and restrooms in South Maui Gardens, 30 Alahele Place, off South Kīhei Road, across from Kalama Park.

Howzit Eh ( howziteh.com) pays tribute to the Canadian presence in Kīhei through its unique poutine fusion menu. While you can get a classic poutine with cheese curds and beef gravy atop skin-on fries, try the “Eh Braah,” incorporating Portuguese sausage and kim chee with a jalapeño cheese sauce, or the kalua pork version with a smoky pineapple pork gravy and slow-roasted pork. There’s even a vegan version with smoked tofu, white truffle oil and a veggie gravy. Monday through Saturday 11am to 8pm.

Empanadas (turnovers), choripan (baguette sandwiches) and other Argentine street food are on the menu of El Carrito Maui (808.419.5403). Visit its Facebook page for pictures of mouthwatering specials such as pork sausage choripan or humita empanada, the latter stuffed with corn, onion and béchamel sauce. Tuesday through Saturday 11am to 8pm.

If you like their classic smashburger with Wagyu beef on a Maui-made bun, Burger Boys Hawai'i is happy to double the patties (“Deuce Deuce”), triple them (“The Trip”) or quadruple them (“The Full Send”), although you’ll need to do a lot of hiking or surfing to work off the latter two. Wednesday through Sunday 11:30am to 8pm.

Lahaina

The sugar cane train may run no longer, but the Sugar Cane Train Food Truck Park at its Lahaina depot fuels the engines of a new generation of visitors and those working nearby. It’s at 961 Limahana Place in the Lahaina Industrial Park; exit Kā‘anapali Parkway at Hinau Street, turn right on Limahana Place and follow it to the end.

Egyptian-born chef Sharif Elhadidi traverses the Mediterranean with his moderately priced menu for Shaya Fusion Cuisine ( shayafusioncuisine. com , 808.344.2809). If Greek beef and lamb gyros, shrimp and chicken kebabs, or falafel don’t appeal, consider a pasta like shrimp and scallop spaghettini or tequila chicken fettucine. Weekdays 11am to 2pm and 4 to 7pm.

Chicken tinga, pork adobo, carne asada and roasted potatoes with poblano peppers can be savored in tacos, burritos, quesadillas or plates with rice, beans and tortillas at Linda’s Kitchen Mexican Cuisine (lindaskitchenmex. com, 808.707.2339). If the habanero salsa is too spicy, order a refreshing horchata or tamarindo agua fresca. Monday through Saturday 11am to 7pm, Sunday noon to 4pm.

Kitchen

Upcountry

The food trucks at Kulamalu Town Center in Pukalani satisfies neighbors’ appetites as well as those of visitors ascending and descending from Haleakalā or checking out nearby sights. The trucks form a cluster with seating near the Longs Drugs at 55 Kiopa‘a Street, Makawao.

Maui Cattle Company supplies the grass-fed beef for Stewz Burgers (stewzmauiburgers. com, 808.740.1961), which operates this food truck as well as a restaurant in Kihei. Its 6-ounce patties, with vegetarian and fish options, sit on housemade Hawaiian sweet bread buns and are best downed with a side of hapa fries — a blend of sweet and white potatoes. Monday through Saturday 11am to 6pm.

Since the owner of Leekam Lunch Wagon (808.385.6889) carefully makes each plate of mochiko chicken, chicken katsu or other local favorite by hand, you may want to text your order in advance with your pickup time. It’s fun, though, to peruse the lengthy menu with options such as the Kilauea mochiko chicken, served over crinkle fries with gochujang aioli, or a loco moco with beef stew or curry instead of the usual brown gravy. Tuesday through Friday 11:30am to 2:30pm.

Heidi Cramer opened a bakery in Paia in 2001 and later specialized in celebratory cakes and packaged shortbread cookies before launching her first mobile Maui Cookie Lab (mauicookielab.com, 808.300.0022) in 2020. While the rich and savory chocolate chunk sea salt cookie is understandably a best seller, be sure to sample a tropical flavor, too, such as coconut mac nut macaroon, liliko‘i oatmeal or white chocolate mac nut pineapple. Wednesday through Friday 11am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm.

KA –‘ANAPALI / HONOKO –WAI

Convenient for Kā‘anapali, Nāpili and Kapalua beachgoers and golfers, the Honoapi‘ilani Food Truck Park sits across the street from the Times Supermarket at 3350 Lower Honoapi‘ilani Road, Lahaina.

Da Best Pho & Vietnamese Food (dabestpho.com, 808.446.9088) does have an impressive menu of pho soups and bánh mì sandwiches, including unusual seafood and vegetarian versions. Yet Korean, Japanese and island-inspired dishes such as kimchee fried rice with butter garlic shrimp are also worth the wait. Daily 4:30 to 8:30pm.

One of the less common trucks with breakfast hours, T’s Island Café (808.385.2782) woos early risers with pan-fried banana bread, smoothies, sweet bread french toast and coffee concoctions from Maui grown and roasted beans. The cheery yellow truck and bright orange papaya halves are like a ray of sunshine, too. Daily 6:30 to 11am.

At Chunky Paniolo (808.359.0702), Savor every bite from these generous portions of pulled pork, roasted chicken, barbecue ribs or prime rib. Kula greens, Greek salad and a tropical cole slaw are lighter options for your choice of two sides. Daily 4:30 to 9pm.

Kahului

For those who arrive at the airport hungry, the Kahului Food Truck Parks make a convenient pit stop. Enter the triangular gravel lot from 591 Haleakalā Highway; it’s across from the Costco gas station and next to the Courtyard by Marriott.

Fans of barbecue can enjoy a literal pit stop at Al’s BBQ Pit (alsbbqpit.com, 808.264.3686). The housemade teriyaki sauce makes marinated steak and chicken plates the big draw here, although peeled garlic shrimp and crispy Korean fried chicken are also tempting. 10:30am to 7pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Tom Sribura, the chef-owner of Thai Mee Up (thaimeeupmaui.com, 808.214.3369), worked at renowned Mama’s Fish House down the road in Pā‘ia for two decades before opening his food truck, popular with herbivores, carnivores and gluten-free diners alike. Signature dishes include classic Thai fare such as pad thai, green curry and fried rice, as well as seafood specials such as grilled ahi and sauteed salmon. 10am to 8pm Monday through Saturday.

Locals and visitors love Mo ‘Ono (moonohawaii.com), which means “more delicious,” for its dazzling variety of açai bowls. Free of gluten, dairy, soy and added sugars, the bowls brim with organic Brazilian açai and optional toppings such as apple bananas, pineapple, liliko‘i butter, papaya and shredded coconut. If it’s Monday through Wednesday, you can even try a dollop of poi. 10am to 8pm weekdays, 10am to 4pm Saturdays.

Swagyu Hawai'i Smash Burger (swagyuchopshop.com, 808.793.0033) is a new addition to this area and while it may be part of a Southern California-based chain, it has won loyal diners with its juicy Wagyu smash burgers. For extra indulgence, add a cheese katsu — a blend of pepper Jack, cheddar and American cheese coated in panko crumbs and then fried. Wednesday through Sunday 11am to 8 pm.

Shep Gordon’s Favorite:

“I am very excited about a food truck opening this summer at Haiku Marketplace by two ex-New Yorkers who cook some of my favorite food. ISLA MAUI is a combo of island, Caribbean and Latin flavors like jerk chicken, braised oxtails, pressed steak sandwich on baguette with melted cheese peppers and onions and great avocado toast for breakfast. And all organic. I’ve tasted the whole menu — amazing!!!”