As you know by now, I like to play tourist on my time off sometimes. Playing tourist at Ka’anapali can be fun, but it is also nice to have a little inside information too. While Leilani’s and Hula Grill are two of my favorite places to eat, they often have long waits for a table. When your stomach is already growling, but you don’t feel like the fast food from the food court, that’s when the extra knowledge really comes in handy.
    Most people who are not staying at the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel may never know about two great choices just off the beach walk. The first is Ka’anapali Mixed Plate, which offers a reasonably priced buffet. The second is the Tiki Bar and Grill. Both are located just a couple of doors North of Whaler’s Village and both offer food with almost no wait.
    Ka’anapali Mixed Plate is located in the front of the KBH hotel. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets with a rotating menu. The food is sort of what you expect from a buffet. Nothing is likely to knock you down and become your new favorite, but at $12.50 for breakfast, $12.95 for lunch and $13.95(4-6 PM earlybird) or $15.95(6-9 PM) at dinner for a full buffet you can’t go to wrong.
    Breakfast features a fresh fruit bar, scrambled eggs, waffles or pancakes, potatoes, white rice and oatmeal every day. Each day features different breakfast meats and entrees such as bacon, glazed ham, fried rice or chicken stir fry.
    Lunch offers a well stocked salad bar and a build your own sandwich station every day. Lunch daily specials may include baked mahi mahi in shitake mushroom sauce, homemade meatloaf, cajun seafood rice or pork lau lau to name a few. With all that food don’t forget to leave room for dessert. Everyday they offer a variety of pies and cakes along with soft serve ice cream. Sodas, tea, juices and coffee are included in the lunch price as well.
    Every night the dinner menu at Ka’anapali Mixed Plate includes carved to order herbed prime rib served with horseradish sauce and au jus, a large salad bar, mashed potatoes, steamed rice and vegetables along with the nightly specials. Some of the specials may include bbq pork ribs, mahi mahi with lemon capers, black bean chicken or Swiss steak. Just like lunch, this also includes a variety of dessert choices, sodas, tea, coffee, juices and soft serve ice cream. Best part, no waiting.
    The Tiki Bar and Grill is another one of the great finds for you at the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel. Every night at 6:30 PM they have a free hula dancing and Hawaiian music show. It’s like a free mini luau! Take a seat at one of the comfortable tables arranged around the poolside stage and relax, a server will bring you a menu and take drink orders as you enjoy a free show.
    The menu is basic but good, featuring burgers, chicken and fish sandwiches, nachos, salads, hotdogs, fries and onion rings all at affordable prices. Drinks from the bar include lava flows, mai tais and the drink of da day in addition to a full bar, wines and draught and bottled beers.
    Hang out after the Hawaiian show as the band plays more music including Hawaiian favorites and contemporary pop, rock and country. It’s a great place to relax enjoy some music in a cool Hawaiian breeze, or if you feel like it, get up and kick your heels on the dance floor. If you don’t feel like taking a table you can always sit at the bar or order food from the grill to take to the beach. Perfect for a budget night out on Maui.
    Ka’anapali Beach Hotel also features the Tiki Terrace Restaurant featuring mouth watering creations by Chef Thomas Murumoto with entrees ranging between $17.95 and $38.95. Don’t forget, KBH is also home to Maui’s only full production magic show Kupanaha - Maui Magic for all Ages a wonderful vegas style dinner show. The show includes hula dancing, Maui history and of course Las Vegas style illusions, fun for the whole family.