Andaz Maui REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Sep 13, 2015, 10:20 am
#2176
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3
Welcome to Flyertalk and the Hyatt Gold Passport forum ^
You can Uber it or use the house car within reasonable distance of the hotel to get anywhere you want
The Four Seasons has the best upscale Lunch an dinner options nearby iMHO
For walking distance the shopping center has lower priced casual restaurants
There are no fast food joints around thankfully that I remember which I personally appreciate
Anyone else care to chime in?
You can Uber it or use the house car within reasonable distance of the hotel to get anywhere you want
The Four Seasons has the best upscale Lunch an dinner options nearby iMHO
For walking distance the shopping center has lower priced casual restaurants
There are no fast food joints around thankfully that I remember which I personally appreciate
Anyone else care to chime in?
Sep 13, 2015, 11:57 am
#2177
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 613
There is great casual local Hawaiian influenced foods about 5 miles away in Kihei. A few of the casual places we enjoyed to possibly check out (some Hawaiian, and some are other cuisines):
http://www.yelp.com/biz/coconuts-fish-cafe-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/south-maui-fish-company-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/horhitos-mobile-taqueria-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-o-lei-kihei
And also this place was a fantastic, very reasonably priced, Asian/Mexican Fusion restaurant -- it is a very small restaurant and not quite as casual as those above, but they also do takeout:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cuatro-kihei
The only fairly casual Hawaiian influenced place in Wailea we found was Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman, which is about a mile from the Andaz. Some people love this place, but we thought it was just OK.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/coconuts-fish-cafe-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/south-maui-fish-company-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/horhitos-mobile-taqueria-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-o-lei-kihei
And also this place was a fantastic, very reasonably priced, Asian/Mexican Fusion restaurant -- it is a very small restaurant and not quite as casual as those above, but they also do takeout:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cuatro-kihei
The only fairly casual Hawaiian influenced place in Wailea we found was Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman, which is about a mile from the Andaz. Some people love this place, but we thought it was just OK.
Sep 13, 2015, 1:19 pm
#2178
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
Discussions of "where's the best restaurant in ... " are mostly irrelevant, because there are plenty of great websites totally dedicated to just this one topic:
https://www.zomato.com/hawaii/kihei-restaurants
https://www.zomato.com/hawaii/kihei-restaurants
There is great casual local Hawaiian influenced foods about 5 miles away in Kihei. A few of the casual places we enjoyed to possibly check out (some Hawaiian, and some are other cuisines):
http://www.yelp.com/biz/coconuts-fish-cafe-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/south-maui-fish-company-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/horhitos-mobile-taqueria-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-o-lei-kihei
And also this place was a fantastic, very reasonably priced, Asian/Mexican Fusion restaurant -- it is a very small restaurant and not quite as casual as those above, but they also do takeout:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cuatro-kihei
The only fairly casual Hawaiian influenced place in Wailea we found was Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman, which is about a mile from the Andaz. Some people love this place, but we thought it was just OK.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/coconuts-fish-cafe-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/south-maui-fish-company-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/horhitos-mobile-taqueria-kihei
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-o-lei-kihei
And also this place was a fantastic, very reasonably priced, Asian/Mexican Fusion restaurant -- it is a very small restaurant and not quite as casual as those above, but they also do takeout:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cuatro-kihei
The only fairly casual Hawaiian influenced place in Wailea we found was Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman, which is about a mile from the Andaz. Some people love this place, but we thought it was just OK.
Sep 13, 2015, 3:51 pm
#2179
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 613
Discussions of "where's the best restaurant in ... " are mostly irrelevant, because there are plenty of great websites totally dedicated to just this one topic:
https://www.zomato.com/hawaii/kihei-restaurants
https://www.zomato.com/hawaii/kihei-restaurants
Sep 13, 2015, 4:08 pm
#2180
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA & DL / SPG & HGP
Posts: 1,723
There are many posts (way) upthread that detail some places, including options like (and search Yelp for this words) Thai, Vietnamese, Food Trucks, Korean (love the lady in the corner of the L shape strip mall), etc. And, don't forget to yelp "plate lunch".
There are no such options in Wailea only (more) expensive hotel and mall choices, or mostly bad food trucks in Makena (unlike the trucks, if you find the right one, in Kihei.
And, don't forget about buying poke (tuna sashimi type dish) from the Safeway for a light meal in your hotel room (we keep mainland hours, which means we go to sleep right after sunset say 7-8p, which means no large or restaurant type dinners... so poke is often my choice.
There are no such options in Wailea only (more) expensive hotel and mall choices, or mostly bad food trucks in Makena (unlike the trucks, if you find the right one, in Kihei.
And, don't forget about buying poke (tuna sashimi type dish) from the Safeway for a light meal in your hotel room (we keep mainland hours, which means we go to sleep right after sunset say 7-8p, which means no large or restaurant type dinners... so poke is often my choice.
Sep 13, 2015, 4:51 pm
#2181
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
+1 on the poke ... the groceries have good stuff in HI
For reasonable, easy meals between the hotels and food trucks, catch a ride from the guys in the front to MonkeyPod or Mulligan's on the Blue. Food is better at MonkeyPad, but it's a little more expensive unless you work the Happy Hours (early and late).
For reasonable, easy meals between the hotels and food trucks, catch a ride from the guys in the front to MonkeyPod or Mulligan's on the Blue. Food is better at MonkeyPad, but it's a little more expensive unless you work the Happy Hours (early and late).
Sep 13, 2015, 6:41 pm
#2182
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
You're right, of course. Thanks for pointing that out. The review sites don't really cover decor, ambiance, local-ness, etc. When traveling, I like to find "local chains" with a handful of outlets. They were "good enough to duplicate" yet not duplicated to the point of ruining the concept. (I speak from the vantage point of someone who enjoyed the very first Chili's in the world, way back when). Today's Chili's is just barely similar to the original. In Kihei I enjoy Maui Tacos and Moose McGillicudy's. They might not suit everyone yet they're definitely local chains.
Today's Chili's is just barely similar to the original. In Kihei I enjoy Maui Tacos and Moose McGillicudy's. They might not suit everyone yet they're definitely local chains.Was just trying to help out the original poster who asked for some recommendations for casual Hawaiian places near the Andaz (which honestly is a challenge in Wailea!). Of course there are tons of great web sites listing good restaurants, but they don't always do a great job indicating which are 1. casual, 2. have more of a local flavor/local ingredients, and 3. distance from the Andaz, which is why I assume they were asking for recommendations.
Sep 14, 2015, 5:12 am
#2183
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,308
Da Kitchen Express in Kihei. Not fancy, good and local. Menu, address, etc all online.
there's a nicer version of it, Da Kitchen, in Kahului, but that's a bit of drive from Wailea.
Last time I was there I noticed a Thai restaurant behind it the little strip mall Da Kitchen Express is in. Has anybody tried it yet?
-David
there's a nicer version of it, Da Kitchen, in Kahului, but that's a bit of drive from Wailea.
Last time I was there I noticed a Thai restaurant behind it the little strip mall Da Kitchen Express is in. Has anybody tried it yet?
-David
Sep 14, 2015, 9:47 am
#2185
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA & DL / SPG & HGP
Posts: 1,723
Da Kitchen Express in Kihei. Not fancy, good and local. Menu, address, etc all online.
there's a nicer version of it, Da Kitchen, in Kahului, but that's a bit of drive from Wailea.
Last time I was there I noticed a Thai restaurant behind it the little strip mall Da Kitchen Express is in. Has anybody tried it yet?
-David
there's a nicer version of it, Da Kitchen, in Kahului, but that's a bit of drive from Wailea.
Last time I was there I noticed a Thai restaurant behind it the little strip mall Da Kitchen Express is in. Has anybody tried it yet?
-David
Yes, it's OK, but a little high priced (like the place in Kahului, on the west side of the main north-south road just a few blocks south of Costco... but not as tasty IMO).
For one with a car, the better Thai place in Kihei is at the north end of Kihei, in a strip mall on the west side of the road, where there's also a very good casual Japanese place.
Sep 14, 2015, 8:25 pm
#2186
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,434
Only walked around Four Seasons (about 15 minutes along the beach from Andaz), but that seemed to me like a resort with a more broad appeal than Andaz.
Sep 15, 2015, 2:26 am
#2187
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 50
Expect motel quality
Just so you know we came back from this hotel and has the worst experience ever. Do yourself a favor and stay at the four seasons. Much much much better treatment
Sep 15, 2015, 4:51 am
#2188
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 199
This hotel is really below expectations in many ways. Service was lacking. No diamond recognition. Unfriendly staff and not knowledgeable. Very fake. Employees look like they don't want to be there. Nothing good about wasting 25k points here. I had much better experience in kaanapali Hyatt and park Hyatt Maldives. Did not feel welcome. Will not be back!!!
You have posted twice now complaining about the worst experience ever at the Andaz. Care to share the details so we can decide?
Sep 15, 2015, 8:03 am
#2189
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,308
It closed and re-opened as a different Thai restaurant. I haven't tried it yet.
-David
Sep 15, 2015, 8:57 am
#2190
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA & DL / SPG & HGP
Posts: 1,723
Yes, it's OK, but a little high priced (like the place in Kahului, on the west side of the main north-south road just a few blocks south of Costco... but not as tasty IMO).
For one with a car, the better Thai place in Kihei is at the north end of Kihei, in a strip mall on the west side of the road, where there's also a very good casual Japanese place.
For one with a car, the better Thai place in Kihei is at the north end of Kihei, in a strip mall on the west side of the road, where there's also a very good casual Japanese place.
It was called Royal Thai Cuisine, located in a strip mall on the west side of Kihei Rd between Piikea and E. Lipoa streets, in the same mall as the good and relatively cheap (for Japanese) and well-rated Izakaya Matsu and Ono Gelato (good gelato) (and B&B Scuba). Google maps says permanently closed, but I suggest one calls.