Kihei Caffe Lahaina

Wait was about 20 minutes to order and get a table. Big portions. Tasty food. The turtle pancakes for kids are adorable. We loved the Kihei Caffe in Kihei so this was nice to try since we usually stay in Lahaina!

We stopped by Kihei Café after seeing it go viral, and naturally, curiosity got the best of us. When something gets internet-famous, you either discover a hidden gem… or you learn what the hype doesn’t cover. We ordered the #13 Huevo’s Rancheros and the banana macadamia nut pancakes—the viral star of the show. Let’s start with the pancakes. Fluffy? Yes. Good? Yes. Revolutionary? Not really. They’re solid, classic pancakes that do their job well, but they’re not trying to reinvent breakfast. Now, the macadamia nuts on top—that’s where things got a little shaky. The texture had potential, but the execution fell short. They were a bit on the stale side, and when you’re expecting that fresh, buttery crunch, that slightly off, stale aftertaste is hard to ignore. It’s a small detail, but at a place this popular, those small details matter. Without that issue, I can absolutely see how this dish becomes something special—but as it stands, it’s a missed opportunity. The Huevo’s Rancheros, on the other hand, were pretty good—unique and flavorful. Definitely one of those dishes that makes you feel like you made a good decision ordering it. We also tried the Ube latte, and that was a win. Beautiful, vibrant color, and a nice, smooth flavor. It’s the kind of drink that looks as good as it tastes—and in this case, it delivered on both fronts. Now let’s talk about the experience itself. The atmosphere was really nice—laid-back, welcoming, and very “Maui morning energy.” But the ordering system caught us a little off guard. You order right at the counter, which is fine, but the line moves fast. Like really fast. Everyone in front of us clearly knew exactly what they wanted, while we were still trying to decode the menu. And speaking of the menu—it’s pretty extensive. Almost too extensive to comfortably process while standing in line. Honestly, it would’ve helped a lot to look at the menu beforehand. We felt a bit rushed, and I definitely think we would’ve made better choices if we had time to review everything ahead of time. So pro tip: check the menu online before you go, or you might feel like you’re speed-running breakfast decisions. Final verdict: Good food, great Ube, solid atmosphere—but a couple of execution misses and a rushed ordering experience keep it from being perfect. I’m taking off one star mainly for the stale macadamia nuts—that’s a rookie mistake at a place this hyped. Overall: a strong four stars. Worth a visit, just go in prepared and ready to order like a pro 🌺

We waited about 20 minutes to get in because we wanted to sit down but they did have a to-go order option and that was moving fast. It was worth the wait! The cinnamon rolls are HUGE and cooked perfectly 🥰 I got the strawberry lemonade and hubby got the Mocha, we both enjoyed our drinks. I ordered the #5 French Toast with bananas- delicious and so filling. Hubby tried the #10 Chorizo and scrambled eggs which he really enjoyed too. Huge portions so plan for that! We had leftovers we took back to the hotel because we couldn't finish it all.