Ever since it opened in its prime Lahaina oceanfront spot at 1285 Front St., Aloha Mixed Plate has won multiple awards for "Best Plate Lunch" in The Maui News as well as other local publications.
That's because you sit outdoors under giant shade trees and umbrellas, relaxing in an oceanfront setting reminiscent of a beach park as you indulge in hefty portions of local food at reasonable prices.
Now word is starting to spread like a wildfire that Aloha Mixed Plate is serving satisfying breakfasts from 8 to 10:30 a.m. daily. Even bigger news is that they're cooked by popular Maui Chef Norman Williams.
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“We’re getting a really good local following at breakfast,” says Chef Norman Williams.
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
"We're getting a really good local following at breakfast," says Williams, whom many of you may remember as owner of the former Norm's and Fran's Island Grill restaurants on Lower Main Street in Wailuku.
"Yesterday we got hit really hard," he continues. "People say they like us because everywhere else in Lahaina is just so expensive."
In contrast, breakfast at Aloha Mixed Plate is reasonably priced. From "da griddle" comes taro-bread French toast, dipped in egg batter and grilled; the paniolo version with bacon and eggs; freshly made Belgian waffles and more. Saimin comes in small and large, and both are made with rich broths, noodles, roast pork and green onions. The "special" saimin also includes kim chee, vegetables and teri-beef sticks for added indulgence.
"Our top sellers are the fried rice moco with house-made hamburger steak patty, two eggs any style and a bed of sticky rice all smothered in brown gravy," says Williams, whose wife, Fran, and son, Brooks, also work at the outdoor restaurant. "And the Ranchero omelet also flies out the door. It's got a filling of green chilies, onions, jalapeno-jack cheese, all topped with our house-made salsa, sour cream and fresh avocado."
An "in between" menu is served from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. daily, when the kitchen shifts gears. You may order shoyu chicken, Hawaiian plate, laulau, fried rice, kalua pig and cabbage, salads and more. Then from 11:15 a.m. to 10 p.m., the entire menu is served. Dig into kalbi ribs, coconut prawns, noodles and barbecue combos. Some come in mini and maxi portions.
"We're so happy to have Norm," says Julie Yoneyama, director of community relations. "He's really raised the bar on our entire menu." To order, call 661-3322.
