Sorry for the late post…. This is the last one in the series

After 5 days in Maui, we had been to front street, hung out at the beach, little bro went surfing and failed to go up a volcano twice. There were plenty of good bites, but still hadn’t had a single bite of loco moco. This last day was our chance.

Nalu’s South Shore Grill

Nalu’s South Shore Grill is small Hawaiian joint located in the Azeka Shopping Centre in Kehei. Like Sam Sato’s, it was a bit hidden away. This didn’t stop people, mostly locals, from lining up outside for brunch. I couldn’t find much about it’s history and owners, but being listed on every “where to eat in Maui” search has to mean something right??

Food

We came for loco moco. Loco moco we got.

It was amazing. It takes a classic combination of beef and rice and amps it up with an umami rich mushroom onion gravy and velvety over easy egg. Using brown rice gave the dish some extra texture and flavour. Pairing the rice and beef with the slightly tang mac salad definitely added a contrast in flavour and texture. One caveat: the dish is very heavy. Even my little bro couldn’t finish his portion. A bit more acidity- perhaps some pickles- would have helped cut through the fat

I wanted some meat and went with the Heavy Kine breakfast- eggs, Furikake potatoes, with a choice of meat.

I chose black forest ham then ordered sides of bacon, portugese sausage and turkey apple sausage. I would also have gotten their Italian sausage if they hadn’t run out. The meats were all phenomenal. All of them had a beautiful balance of salt and sweet that prevented anything from becoming too overwhelming. The ham was my favourite. I regret not ordering an extra portion

Next, the obligatory serving of tuna in the form of the Black and Blue Ahi Benedict.

I was skeptical about combining ahi with hollandaise, but it actually worked. The cajun spices and meatiness of the ahi balanced with the creaminess of the sauce and eggs. I might have to try more seafood based Benedict in the future.

Finally, for something lighter, mum ordered the Maui Fruit Bowl.

This delectable combination of fresh fruit, yoghurt and granola really hit the sweet spot. There isn’t much to say except that the produce in Hawaii is amazing. They also paired it with some phenomenal grilled banana bread. I should have asked for the recipe. That was some really good banana bread.

Service and Atmosphere

Nalu’s has a very casual atmosphere. Counter service, no reservations, open area picnic style seating. This made it the perfect spot for a lazy last day brunch before heading to Wailea Beach. The restaurant had a welcoming, family like atmosphere that made us feel very comfortable.

Service was phenomenal. The restaurant was absolutely packed, but we still got our food within 30 min. All the servers were also very enthusiastic. Definitely contributed to the wonderful atmosphere

Overall Impression

Overall, I really enjoyed Nalu’s- 100% worth the wait. I’d definitely go back for more ham, sausage and loco moco. Their Island Style Ribs w/ Respect and Bulgogi burger also sound divine. It would be nice to come for dinner and live music.

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