Maui breakfast round-up: Cafe O' Lei Wailuku

Chorizo eggs and a morning cup of Maui Oma coffee

A few months ago, another Cafe O' Lei opened up on Maui. This time, husband and wife chef team Michael and Dana Pastula brought their signature restaurant back to its roots in Wailuku. The Pastulas, who own Ma'alaea Grill, another Cafe O' Lei in Kihei, and also run a successful catering business, opened the very first Cafe O' Lei in Wailuku years ago, in a spot that is now the Main Street Bistro. Now located on busy Market Street, Cafe O' Lei Wailuku brings some much needed food diversity to the Central Maui lunch crowd. Elegant enough for a business lunch, yet casual enough to walk in wearing slippers and shorts (and no reservation), the restaurant serves the usual fresh, quality food that has made the Pastulas' restaurants the perfect go-to spot for a nice meal.

But I'm not going to talk about lunch. What makes this Cafe O' Lei different from the other Pastula-run restaurants is that this one offers breakfast. Served Monday to Friday from 730am to 1030am, the breakfast menu is probably not meant for someone looking for a quick bite on-the-go. Rather, stop by for a leisurely wake-up call. Call it brunch for the weekday.

Loco moco with gravy on the side

The breakfast menu isn't large, but it offers the basics. For starters, the Cafe O'Lei Breakfast ($8.95) comes with two eggs, your choice of pork sausage, bacon, Portuguese sausage or Spam, steamed rice or hash browns, and whole wheat toast. For something a bit different, we liked the Scrambled Eggs & Chorizo ($7.95), which reminds us of many a NoCal (and SoCal) breakfast. The chorizo is broken up and cooked with the eggs, and the dish is served with cheese, sour cream, hash browns, pico de gallo, and corn tortillas to sop it all up. Very filling.

Roast pork fried rice with scrambled egg

Local-style fare such as Loco Moco ($8.95) and Roast Pork Fried Rice & Eggs ($7.95) are delicious and quite hearty. The loco moco comes with half a pound of Maui-raised hamburger beef, and topped with caramelized onion gravy. The roast pork fried rice is made with their popular oven roasted pork, and is so filling that you may not have room for lunch later. For those with a sweet tooth, Cinnamon French Toast ($6.95) and Caramelized Banana Pancakes ($6.95) are like having dessert for breakfast, particularly the latter, which is drenched with a rich banana caramel syrup. Those craving something lighter should try the Muesli and Yogurt ($5.95), which is homemade and chock full of coconut flavor.

And that is the entire menu! Whatever you choose, wash it all down with Maui Oma coffee ($1.95)--a delicious dark brew--or get your own pot of Sencha, Japanese green tea ($2.95). Service is super friendly and you'll never find yourself waiting for a table that early in the day. Breakfast here may just be worth being a tad bit late to your office job, or heck, call in sick for the day and come back later for lunch. Our only complaint is that this restaurant is not open on the weekends. Does that mean weekend brunch fare in Central Maui is limited to places like IHOP and (gulp) Denny's? Let's hope not! Stay tuned for more breakfast eats...

Cafe O' Lei Wailuku, 67 Market Street, Wailuku, Maui. T: 808-986-0044