“Every item here at a Merienda Maui food truck was delicious. The only mistake we made was not eating here sooner, since we would have returned to try more of the menu.We selected two types of tacos, the Shrimp and the Thai Beef Tacos. The shrimp tacos are served with a cabbage slaw, a ginger sesame dressing (not a strong flavor), gochujang aioli (dominant flavor that worked well with the shrimp), and some pickled red onions on top. Somewhat simple but all flavors combine well, the shrimp stands out with the aioli, and it has a tropical sense to it. The Thai Beef Tacos use a Thai marinade on the beef (sourced from Maui, though I couldn't tell the difference from regular beef in these chunks in a taco). Beyond that it's a common taco with a tomato salad (pico de gallo), jalapeño, cilantro, and mint (rather than a common diced onion pairing). The marinade infused into each piece of beef and truly carried the dish. I would have eaten it without the garnishes, though they do help fill out the taco. I also thought this was the most basic item we ordered, and would want to try out other items before repeating this.Lastly the Phili-bistek Sando with fries was the true star of the show. It reads as a cheesesteak with bell peppers and onions, and Mayo/chimichurri sauce on top. Yet I think this meat was also marinated, since I can't conceive how much umami was oozing from this burger. It is hands down the best cheesesteak I have every had...and I've been to Philadelphia. I found other recipes online that use a soy marinade to prepare the beef (tapa beef seems to be the Filipino name), and this sounds like it tasted. There was a lot of beef pieces, we shared the burger along 3 people, and I think that the circular shape made it seem larger than if it had been on a longer hoagie bread. Onion jam rather then regular onions would keep the tastebuds working, the Japanese Mayo would introduce both tangy and sweet flavors, and the chimichurri would add parsley, cilantro, and garlic notes. The burger was messy, but worth it. And the fries were extra crispy, similar to In-N-Out double fried fries but thicker. These work perfectly with just ketchup. We considered the Umami fries, which have gochijang and Mayo and Furikake at the same time, and I think all that sauce would reduce the crispiness of the fries. I would still try it, but the fries are top notch and a quick dip in ketchup is all that is needed. The Okonomiyaki Brussel sprouts also sound like an amazing Asian take on the vegetable and something to try next time.“
“Had the pork belly with tomatoes and onions, food was amazing. Literally left Fleetwood’s because their lunch menu was boring. Jayboy’s photos alone had me sold. If you’re on the island, stop by your local food truck because that’s where the flavor is.“
Asian Fusion • $
“Went here on a Monday evening with a friend and it was fairly busy. You have to order at the cashier first and then find some seating. There are plenty of tables available inside. I ordered the pork adobo fried rice and my friend ordered the fish and chips. The pork adobo fried rice is shredded pork adobo, garlic, and white rice mixed together. You can also add an egg for $2. It was definitely filling and delicious! My friend said the fish and chips were good, but nothing to brag about. I would definitely come here again to try some other dishes.“
“We got the Fish Tacos, Lumpia, and Pork Adobo plate. Everything was great. I was very impressed by the pork. But what you MUST try are the expertly crafted unique cocktails. The bartender was awesome & so informative about his creations. These cocktails should have cost double what we paid if we got them back in Seattle. Very fair prices yet super fancy. 1000000% recommend stopping by here if you're staying near Kaanapali.“
“Amazing people - my first stop in Maui and we really felt the aloha here! So impressed with the food here! The meats were tender and cooked perfectly. We could really tell the amount of pride that went into every dish. They have a small area to sit that is shared with other trucks. Mahalo for the Ono eats ~Aloha“