Maui breakfast round-up: Main Street Bistro

Hearty appetites will enjoy the smoked beef brisket hash

I recently blogged about lunch at Wailuku's Main Street Bistro, but I also wanted to write more about their breakfast. While the restaurant serves the usual omelettes, eggs, sausage and bacon fare, two dishes really stood out on a recent visit.

The Smoked Beef Brisket Hash ($10.50), pictured above, is the quintessential meat and potatoes kind of brunch dish. It is meant for the hungry, or perhaps, the really hungry. The tender, homemade beef brisket is mixed in with sliced potatoes and onions, then topped with two poached eggs and a creamy cheese sauce. Because it is heavy, it perhaps is meant to be devoured slowly, that way you'll enjoy all the different textures and flavors: the saltiness of the beef, the starchiness of the potatoes, the sweetness of the onion, and the smooth comfort of the tangy cheese sauce. Break the yolks and let the egg flavor mix into the dish to add even more depth.  An English muffin or side of toast is perfect for sopping up all the juices. We dare you to eat it all. You will enjoy it.

Main Street Bistro's Loco Moco

Loco Moco, which usually contains a ground beef patty on top of white rice and topped with brown gravy, is popular breakfast fare in Hawai'i. Main Street Bistro has a different take on the dish ($13). Blackened ahi tuna is served on a bed of fried rice and topped with a sunny side up egg and a sweet chili hollandaise sauce. It is quite an unusual way to enjoy loco moco, so much that it really is a different dish. The blackened ahi has a slightly spicy kick, and combined with the sweet sauce, the flavors can be a bit too much for breakfast, but your tastebuds will definitely awaken. The ahi was still rare in the middle, and combined with the hot fried rice, made for an unusual mix in textures. I'm not too sure it works, as I tend to enjoy rare ahi on its own rather than smothered in spice and sauce, but my companion liked it so much that we traded dishes. So I got to finish off the beef brisket. And then everyone was happy.

Coffee was typical diner fare, which surprised us given the quality of the coffee nearby at Cafe O' Lei. We did adore the friendly staff, and was even served by chef Tom Selman himself. Our only complaint, as mentioned in the previous post, is that the restaurant is not open on the weekends. So where else can we go on Maui to enjoy hearty brunch fare like this on the weekends? We're still looking. Just holler if you know of anything too.

Main Street Bistro, 2051 Main Street, Wailuku, Maui. T: 808.244.6816.

Comments

[manju]

Hi Creen -
We've never been to Maui, but your reviews are definitely pulling us there! Seems the food is better there than on Oahu -- more innovative, without being just trendy. And more "real food" too. That smoked brisket plate in your review has my name all over it! And that chocolate croissant at La Provence sounds like the real McCoy too. I'm so starved for real croissants, I've actually considered (gasp) making them at home. Now maybe we'll just sneak over Maui-way for a snack . . .

We went to Maui Tacos (Kailua) for the first time last week and were just blown away by the difference in quality between Mainland chains, Oahu favorites, and Maui Tacos. The beans and rice weren't that great, but the tacos and salsas were really good.

Looking forward to your great posts -- we have a slobber guard now for the keyboard so that's less of a worry!

[Creen]

Hi Manju,
Glad to hear my posts have got you craving Maui food! Yes, the beef brisket dish is definitely one of the more innovative dishes I've seen here, but I still would have to say that I think O'ahu has some tasty favorites too! Yes, I need to go back to La Provence for those chocolate croissants... Glad it's a far drive for me or I'd be there everyday, and croissants every morning is probably something I shouldn't do, hehehe...

I actually like Maui Tacos (and I've been to the Kailua one several times!) but for fish taco cravings, which I plan to blog about soon, there are a few other Maui places that stand out just a tad more. More to come!