808 Deli

Chicken Pesto Panini from 808 Deli

For the past month or two, I've been addicted to panini. Something about grilled sandwiches filled with yummy fillings really gets my appetite going. My DIY panini are rather shameful, given that I don't have a panini press, and since the toasting-in-fry-pan-with-a-heavy-plate-on-top-of-the-bread is getting old (or I'm just getting lazy), I've been searching local jaunts for good panini.

Through the coconut wireless, I heard about 808 Deli, tucked behind the dominating Moose McGillycuddy's/Fred's Mexican Cafe building on South Kihei Road. You can't miss the 808 Deli sign--the colorful sandwich board is usually mounted on a truck next to Kama'ole II Beach Park, with a huge arrow pointing mauka at the tiny parking lot. The restaurant itself is nothing to look at -- tiny with not much seating. But with a gorgeous beach across the street, why would you want to eat there? Simply walk up to the counter and get your order to go.

The menu features a variety of panini--Spicy Tuna ($7; tuna salad, pepper Jack cheese, Anaheim peppers, jalapenos on Sheppard's bread); Porkie ($7.5; Hawaiian kalua pig, mango salsa, pepper Jack cheese, sweet chili dipping sauce on rye); Roast "Beast" ($7.5; roast beef, salami, Swiss, Provolone, jalapenos, horseradish) or my now-favorite: Chicken Pesto ($8; pictured above). The description itself sounds uninspiring--herb chicken breast, sun dried tomato, toasted pine nuts, Provolone--but the flavor is full-fold garlicky goodness. When I got the sandwich to go, I could smell the garlic through the closed container, and as I drove to my picnic destination, the garlicky toasty scent permeated my car. You can bet I tore into that sandwich before I even got to the beach.

These folks sure know how to do panini well--the bread nicely toasted/grilled, and not overdone. As for fillings, there was just the right amount of melted cheese to chicken. The pesto was not too overpowering or too oily. The sun dried tomatoes (an ingredient I still consider to be quite 90's and usually can't stand), added a spark of tomato flavor, and the pine nuts provided a nice crunch. The sandwich came with a choice of side: chips, potato salad, green salad, or pasta salad. I got the pasta salad, which had a tasty combination of olives, bell peppers, red onions and pecans. Definitely a nice alternative to the usual plate lunch, and something to look forward to after a day at the beach.

The Chicken Pesto is their most popular panini, followed by the Spicy Tuna. 808 Deli also offers "Gourmet Hot Dogs" ($6) which I have yet to try, and also entree-sized salads and regular (non-toasted) sandwiches. But I'm stuck on the panini. Just thinking about it makes me hungry again.

808 Deli, 2511 South Kihei Rd #102, Kihei. T: 808-879-1111

Comments

[David]

Mmmm, that looks good. Do they sell Cuban sandwiches there?

BTW, I don't have a panini press but I use a mini George Foreman grill ($25) to make paninis. About a minute and the cheese is melted, the bread is toasted and there's the nice grill indentions in the bread.

[Creen]

Thanks for the George Foreman grill tip! I heard about that too, but I don't even have one of those.... Been eyeing the great panini grill sales on Amazon.com--but what I really need is more kitchen counter space. Those grills are huge!

[Kirk]

Hi Creen - That panini sure does look good, and who doesn't love garlicky goodness?

[foodbin]

the panini looks delicious

[Sophie]

This dish looks so appetizing!! MMMMMMM/.......

[John]

Wow!
It looks so delicious
Thank for sharing
www.ahacook.com

[Ken]

Had the good fortune of finding 808 Deli on my first trip to Kihei. Ate there 3 days in a row. Wish I could have eaten there more often, but we had to return home.