Lahaina, located on the northwest shore of Maui, offers a variety of kid-friendly restaurants.
Lahaina, Hawaii, a historic town on the northwest shore of Maui, offers visitors a variety of experiences, including snorkeling, windsurfing, hiking and boutique shopping. Lahaina also offers access to sandy beaches and Mount Haleakala, a 10,000-foot volcano. The Lahaina waterfront features a wide selection of restaurants, where the views are half the experience. Several of these restaurants are especially suited for children.
Penne Pasta Cafe
Penne Pasta Cafe, a family restaurant featuring Southern Italian cuisine, offers up big portions at low prices. Most menu items are under $10, as of February 2011, and the selection includes a variety of pastas, salads and sandwiches that will appeal to kids. Chef Juan Gomez simmers his sauces for up to five hours, using imported Italian tomatoes. The house specialty is baked butternut pumpkin with sage butter and almonds served over 15 types of pasta. The restaurant offers alfresco dining, and a children's menu is available. The atmosphere is casual.
Maui Tacos
Maui Tacos, a take-out counter with a few tables in Lahaina Square, offers gourmet, island-influenced Mexican food on paper plates. Menu items range from $3 to $10, as of February 2011, and feature traditional Mexican fare, vegetarian options and "surf tacos" -- various combinations of fish, beef, chicken, beans and rice wrapped in a flour tortilla. The kids' menu offers a choice of a taco, burrito, quesadilla or chicken fingers, and includes a churro for dessert. Don't miss the Banana Chingalinga, bananas and honey wrapped in a flour tortilla, deep fried and served with Hawaiian vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
Aloha Mixed Plate
You can't miss the turquoise, yellow and red exterior of Aloha Mixed Plate, located directly across from the Lahaina Cannery Mall. Here families dine on everything from chow mein to Kalua pig to coconut prawns on picnic tables under shade trees at the ocean's edge. The mixed plate concept dates from plantation days, when workers from Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines all shared their lunches with the native Hawaiians. Entrees range in price from $5 to $14, as of February 2011, and are served with rice and macaroni salad. Kids will enjoy the casual atmosphere.
Cilantro Mexican Grill
The motto of Cilantro Mexican Grill is "a fresh take on Old Mexico," and chef/owner Paris Nabavi traveled to Mexico to learn the art of traditional Mexican cuisine. Everything here is made from scratch, including the corn tortillas. The informal restaurant offers entrees such as authentic "tacos al pastor" with grilled pineapple salsa, marinaded rotisserie chicken, chicken flautas, nachos and sandwiches. The restaurant also offers a variety of salads, including the Mariposa, which features romaine lettuce, jicama slaw, tomatoes, black beans and Cotija cheese in a lime vinaigrette. The kids' menu offers burritos and quesadillas made with low-fat cheese.
Tags: February 2011, Aloha Mixed, Aloha Mixed Plate, also offers, Cilantro Mexican, Cilantro Mexican Grill