Where to Eat on Maui: Sam Sato’s
Every time I go home to visit family on Maui, there are a few places where I make a point to stop and Sam Sato’s is always at the top of my list. Tucked into a cozy booth, digging into my usual order “small dry, no sprouts” and looking up at my family hunched over their own bowls, it just tastes like home.
Sam Sato’s is famous for their “Dry Noodles” or dry mein which are local saimin noodles, fried up and topped with char siu, green onions, and been sprouts, and served simply with a bowl of dashi on the side. Although the “dry” style is really the way to go, if you choose you could also try local noodle favorites like chow fun, saimin, or won ton mein. Popular sides are teri beef sticks, kim chee, or french fries. On Maui, the traditional “sauce” to go with your crinkle-cut fries is a mixture of mayo and mustard.
On the way out, be sure to pick up a box of manju, a flaky little pastry stuffed with a sugary-sweet lima (my favorite) or azuki (traditional) bean filling. They also make delicious little turnovers in satisfying flavors like apple, pineapple-peach, and blueberry. You can mix and match, and a box of these make perfect omiyage to take home to friends and coworkers!
A word of caution: do NOT come to Sam Sato’s starving as there will almost always be a wait! Sign in on the clipboard outside (usually somewhere near the door) and the number in your party and then join the crowd waiting patiently in anticipation. Alternatively, you could place an order to go, I’d recommend making a picnic out of it up at Kepaniwai Gardens in Iao Valley.
Sam Sato’s
1750 Wili Pa Loop
Wailuku, HI 96793
(808) 244-7124
Hours: Mon-Sat 7am – 2pm (Manju pickup til 4pm)
There are a few other Maui institutions that I try to stop by, hoping they won’t close (like Kitada’s!) when family doesn’t want to take over the business. I keep thinking if I do my part and visit, perhaps they’ll stick around for another few decades…
Want to try making it yourself? I saw a recipe over on Ono Hawaiian Recipes but I haven’t tried it myself yet. 😋
Some of my other top picks for Maui nostalgia include:
Komoda Bakery – Must try items include their famous stick donuts, cream puffs, butter rolls, and other assorted pastry goodness. (Makawao)
Tasaka Guri Guri – pronounced “goodie goodie” and located in the Maui Mall, this historic sweet treat comes in strawberry or pineapple flavors – two scoops strawberry has been my order since I was a child. (Kahului)
Fukushima’s – On the way to Hana or just out for a drive in the country, we always stop at Fukushima’s for hot dogs and chow fun. (Haiku) – Sadly, Fukushima’s closed at the end of 2022 – a cautionary tale. I hope people will continue to patronize these other small, multi-generational family businesses that we love so much.
Tokyo Tei – Yet another family-run hole-in-the-wall, serving the BEST crispy shrimp tempura. Also good are the teri steak, fresh ahi sashimi, and miso butterfish. (Wailuku)
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