Did a day trip to Maui and was suggested to try this place out. Tucked away in a small strip mall in the small town of Pukalani is where you'll find this locally owned diner, Kalei's. You can see by the occupied tables that is not a place you come just one time. The menu had lots of choices, but we were recommended to try the roast pork and hamburger steak...so we did The roast pork was so tender and had a great flavor worth trying. The hamburger steak came with two tasty homemade Pattie's and gravy. Very tender and you could tell the patties were not prepackaged...homemade. Both plates came with one scoop rice and Mac salad that I loved, not just the flavor, but it included a dash of tuna, onions, chopped celery. So ono! Everything pulled together with the brown gravy. Oh so yummy. The prices are reasonable. Staff is very welcoming. There's inside and outside seating and lots of free parking. Would I go back? Definitely! read more

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Small place tucked in a shopping center, so plenty of parking available. The inside is small, but we were visiting at 2pm on a Tuesday, so there was plenty of room to dine in. I saw a lot of people taking food to go and they package the food with care (mine had foil so it wouldn't soak through the container). Comfort food indeed. The rice with gravy and chicken hit the spot. I think it'd be really good as a bowl so you could mix it all together. The Mac salad was pretty good too. It was too much food for one person though- not a bad thing but as a tourist I dont have anywhere to keep the leftovers. Husband had the surf and turf sandwich with Siracha and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. read more

We just finished the sunrise at Haleakala and wanted food before heading back. So glad we heard about and found this place. Staff was very friendly and everything was great. I am glad they opened at 9am and served local Hawaiian food. Absolutely recommend this place if you are in Maui. read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Da Bento - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

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Stopped by the Pukalani restaurant. Empty at 430p. When we walked in, there was no one behind the counter. For a second, we thought it was closed and that they forgot to lock the door. But everyone was there. They were behind a wall lol. Inside was clean and AC was cold. The staff was very nice and took our orders promptly. We ordered the crispy pork belly special and a breaded ono sandwich. My husband didn't care for the fish sandwich. He said the fish was bland and he didn't like the lettuce. After dissecting the sandwich, he ended up adding a little shoyu and thought it tasted better. The CPB was great. It comes with Mac salad, pickled onions, cherry tomatoes and a vinegar dipping sauce. I loved it. The only thing I'd change would be the size of the pieces of pork. Would be better if it was smaller (so it can fit in the sauce container). The portion was good for $19 read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - CPB. - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

I stopped by here earlier today with my father for dinner. We had been in Hawaii for about a week and had not yet eaten much local food, so I fired up Yelp and found Kalei's. This restaurant is located in a shopping center in Pukalani. The inside has a place to order along with a cooler and a display case full of baked goods. There is seating throughout the rest of the space with five four tops and bar seating for about seven more. For dinner on this evening I decided to go with the loco moco while my dad went with the Big Kahuna. The menu described mine as three hamburger patties smothered with house made brown gravy and topped with two eggs, and my dad's as a combo plate of mochiko chicken, hamburger steak, and Asian crusted ono. After placing our order they quoted us 15 to 20 minutes, so we sat at an empty table and waited. It only took about 10 minutes before our food was ready and we sat down to eat. As soon as my dad opened his meal I have to admit that I was jealous as it looked great. Thankfully my meal was absolutely amazing. The brown gravy was legit with a ton of flavor and I could not stop eating it. The burger patties were hot and seasoned well. The mac salad was also really good. My only complaint would be that the rice was a little sticky and made it hard to get everything out of the container. I was also able to try some of my dad's mochiko chicken and the breading had great flavor while the chicken inside was moist and juicy. My dad enjoyed everything on his plate as well, especially the ono. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. As a matter of fact, the next time my wife is on Maui with me this will be one of our first stops because that gravy was fantastic. read more

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Another local Hawaiian restaurant I visited. The loco moco was the best loco moco I have ever had. The shrimps were incredibly tender and delicious. Whether dine in or to go, you should definitely give this place a try! read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

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Best place for a post Haleakala Crater sunrise visit, perimeter hike or camping overnighter. After a few nights eating stew and trail mix, several miles with worn out boots and bruised toenails, and carrying a 30lb pack like a rented mule it was time for AC and a quick hot meal. Tourists hit Kula Bistro, Marlowe, and Ocean Vodka for service and views. We hit up Kalei's as the local Go-To. Service is friendly with local gals, the place is clean and food is awesome, efficient and the best value on island. Everything is in a Togo container with PC's of condiments, so no frills. The double cheeseburger is ample with tomatoes, lettuce, mushrooms and Swiss. Fries are perfect. Chicken Katsu plate is generous. Next time KalBi beef ribs plate or Shrimp Burger. read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Cheeseburger with Swiss, mushrooms and double handmade patties. Side of CCFries. - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

Food is good but service is not helpful or attentive. Asked a question and was given no consideration from the cashier

Had dinner here tonight. I ordered the beef stew which was perfect with the wet rainy weather and I also ordered the Beef Teriyaki plate. They were pretty busy and my order did not take very long. I like that you can sub the Mac salad for greens as I am trying to eat healthier. As usual good portions. The service was great had a newer girl on register but the other lady who has been there for a while was helping her. I like this location over the others it is smaller but i feel like the service is the best at this location. I like the way the place is decorated it feels real and welcoming versus some other places that are fake. Probably why this is one of my favorites places to eat upcountry. The food is always great, service is always friendly and on a nice day can sit outside. read more

Straight from the airport we were hungry and a friend suggested to go check out Kalei's. Okay plate lunch heaven , brunch the menu was looking Ono for some grinds 4 of us grabbed a table nice dining space with wooden tables and chairs. You first order and pay at the counter and they will bring your order to you. We ordered Furikake Chicken Katsu comes with a scoop of rice and scoop of Mac salad, roast pork plate with gravy , furikake mahimahi added 2 scoops of Fried rice extra charge and mac salad it was delicious! Staff so welcoming and friendly , busy place as it is located in Pukalani Terrace Center lots of parking. Good Food Finds! Will certainly go back to try their loco Moco read more

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We came here at 10:55 right before breakfast ended. We ordered the breakfast burrito which consisted of pork sausage, potatoes, and egg. It came with a side of salsa and sour cream. My husband liked it, but said he would like more meat in it. I got the breakfast croissant which had eggs, bacon and cheese. It was really tasty. The service was quick even though they were really busy. Took about 10 minutes. The ambience inside is small as you order up at the counter seating for about 26 people. If you're looking for affordable, quick local diner style food, Kalei's is probably your best bet in the upcountry area. read more

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We ordered online for pickup which was very easy. I wanted to try the broccoli cheddar soup, but they were out. I opted instead foe the grilled Mahi sandwich, which was loaded with onions and came with housemade tartar sauce. The saimin was tasty as were the curry bowl and cheeseburger. Service was friendly. read more

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This was a great value! Packed a complete convenient to-go dinner for the whole family enroute to the Haleakala sunset

Can I get a chee hoo? It's my jam and one of the best places for lunch. It's good everyday and will never get sick of it. read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

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I really liked the ambience and the food was amazing. I had breaded pork and it was delectable. I highly recommend the blow hole. Come to this restaurant you will not regret your decision to enjoy the refreshments and delectable foods they have to offer here at Kaleis Lunchbox Pukalananananananani. hh read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

Stopped here for breakfast after sunrise on Haleakala. Quite disappointing. Soft scrambled eggs (requested) were not served soft. They were chopped up in pieces and dry. Each item ordered comes in a separate to go container, even if you eating in the restaurant. The sever asked if we had everything we needed even thought we could not see the food. Spam is on the menu, however, we were told we could not substitute it for the beef patties in the Loco Moco. Sad face. One of our party ordered a pancake; two were delivered. Pancakes were delivered without butter or syrup. The potatoes portion was tremendous, yet average. The person taking our order may have been new - they asked us to repeat our order several times. The dining area is simple, basic atmosphere. Do not recommend this location. read more

My wife and I dropped in for a mid-afternoon lunch. We were happy with the cleanliness of the place, and it is nice and bright. The specials were posted outside and the Kaleis Bento sounded great. We got it and a chop salad with no protein to split. It came with Mochiko Chicken, Prawns, Beef, and Macaroni Salad. We wished we hadn't got it to split... Wow was it good - every bite was excellent! The staff were friendly and greeted everyone as they came in the door. The were happy to answer questions about the food for those not familiar with it. We'll be back! read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Chop Salad and Kalei's Bento Box. - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

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Every time I eat something here it is always good. Highly recommended for people who want great service with a laidback attitude. Good people and good food read more

I was only on Maui for a short time and was super busy without a lot of time to drive around and eat what I wanted. I had a friend pick up the Brussels sprouts, and they were THE BEST! I love when the outside of the Brussels are crispy, with a tender inside, and these were cooked to perfection. Drizzled with a slightly Spicey Hurricane sauce, and sprinkled with diced Pipikaula made for an irresistible meal! My friend had the breaded DD beef and said it was delicious! Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Food tasted good & service good but 30$ chop steak plate lunch?! Yikkes .....(Blazing steaks wailuku I can get 2 chop steak plates for 28$)..... to my kalei order I added hurricane fries and a hamburger ...total of 3 items 50$ ... read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

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Found this place on accident since we were actual heading to Foodland for poke. Happily made a detour for some island food. This place is a casual counter service place with a few tables for seating inside. We noticed that several of the orders were take away so good for to go as well. We grabbed a side of Saimin (noodles in soup with roast pork and veggies). This had much more meat that we expected. Also went with the Da Big Kahuna - a combo of Mochiko Chicken (breaded seasoned and fried), hamburger steak, Asian crusted mahi - comes with a scoop of rice and macaroni salad (think potato salad with macaroni instead of potatoes). We also grabbed a special of the day, which had spam, kalbi ribs, Mochiko chicken and shrimp. Food was so filling and really tasty too (plus affordable!). This one was a good find. Even though we were so stuffed, we did go and get some poke too. The breakfast menu also looked great but that stops at 10:30am. read more

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Ordered a hamburger steak, meat was still raw and pink. Definitely not worth the price. read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Meat not cooked - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

I love their brick and mortar location up in Pukalani. We often went to their food truck in Kahului, so were pleased to find this offering Upcountry. I like that they have a varied menu, along with some cheap eats every day. I had the shoyu chicken, which is becoming increasingly harder to find on the island. He had some roast pork, which was also very good. You can sit outside or inside, or take it away. Quick service. Very efficient. I think they will do well in this location. read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Today's specials - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

Just reasonable prices for reasonable people wish they would have Pastelle stew very good service

Kalei's Lunchbox in Pukalani serves the most delicious loco moco I've ever had, and I've been a loyal customer for years, stopping by once a week for the same meal! The beef patty is always seasoned perfectly, juicy, and tender. It's cooked just right and topped with rich, savory gravy that has the perfect consistency--never lumpy like you find at some other spots. The over-easy eggs on top add the perfect touch, making each bite melt in your mouth. The new addition of Brussels sprouts has taken an already amazing dish to the next level. If you're looking for a spot with great food and consistent quality, Kalei's Lunchbox is a must-visit. Highly recommended! read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Loco Moco with brussel sprouts - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

I ordered the island roast pork plate The Mac salad was some of the best on all the islands. The pork was juicy, delicious and full of flavor. And lots of it. We also ordered the beef stew which was also delicious but could do with a bit more meat. But I'm sure that's luck of the scoop of stew. Amazing plate lunch with friendly staff. We will definitely be back to this nice cozy restaurant. read more

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Food truck turned brick and mortar with good reason - greater variety. Food made with love and care. Craig had a special combo - I taste tested and agreed with him fully. Highlight of the plate was the jumbo shrimp katzu. Rest of plate included Spam, chicken and beef. Good Mac salad and sticky rice. Very friendly service and a shout to the guys cooking away. Sparkling clean dining room. read more

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Great lunch experience overall. The only very minor downside is that they do not serve hot coffee or tea, only cold drinks. A bit challenging when you're there for breakfast. Oh, also, the over medium eggs were cold. I'd go again when a cold beverage is in order. read more

Katsu Shrimp served with Katsu Sauce and TarTar Sauce. Lovely Green Salad with julienne Carrots, halved Cherry Tomatoes and sliced Cucumbers served with Papaya Seed Dressing or one can skip the salad and get the Mac Salad instead plus one scoop White Rice. Very lovely atmosphere. Everyone is kind and always greets you with smiles. Quick service and within 15 minutes you got two plates to go. Can't beat Kalei's. Mahalo for my happy Opu! Always amazing... as Always read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Katsu Shrimp, Green Salad, White Rice - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

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Honestly, it's hard to find any other plate lunch place that has everything after poi by da pound and da kitchen closed. This is now my go to for any kine local grinds. read more

Maybe 3+ but that was for my meal, the mochigo chicken with furikake. My friend had the special prawns with garlic pasta, which I thought was pretty good. I'd give that 4 stars. The chicken was over fried for my taste, kinda dry. Flavor was good, but nothing special. The pasta dish was fresh and piping hot and the prawns were big and cooked perfectly. Delicious. read more

After having a disappointing roast pork plate from their Kahului food truck back in 2016, I never went back in fear of consuming more middling dishes. Either I chose the wrong dish or they improved as the ratings and positive words have become consistent. I had to run Upcountry to pick up a birthday cake from Komoda Bakery anyway, so I thought it'd be the perfect time to try Kalei's new brick and mortar spot in Pukalani. They must be doing well to open up vertical digs! ATMOSPHERE: The quaint eatery is located in the Pukalani Terrace shopping center. The dining room gives way to their open-view kitchen with a few tables outdoors. MENU: Breakfast items (8am - 10:30am), Hawaii-style plate lunches, burgers, salads, noodles, keiki menu and desserts. FOOD: Chow Fun - $5.00 It has been trying, trying to find an authentic, local-style chow fun. Located, finally! Too many places put in unnecessary garnishes and ingredients, but not Kalei's. They did, however add in an odd meat which actually worked, sliced lap xuong, which is a dried Chinese sausage that has a sweet-salty flavor (works wonders in fried rice, BTW). A little splash of shoyu and lots of black pepper equals heaven. Highly recommended. Teriyaki Chicken - $12.00 The grilled thighs were a bit dry and finished with a sweet-salty teriyaki sauce drizzle. Good, but I wouldn't order it again. Hamburger Steak - $11.00 Patty texture is what makes a good hamburger steak great. Prior to this, only the now-closed Archie's restaurant in Wailuku and my version satisfied me. Yes! Thank you, Kalei's, for giving me three homemade patties with a crunchy exterior, moist interior, covered in a tasty gravy. Mushrooms & onions also make for a better dish in which I added them for $1.00. Another highly recommended dish. Their house mac salad was good too, and comes with most if not all of their plate lunches. SERVICE: Herein lies the only reason this isn't a 5-star shiner. Approached the counter, no greeting. I told the girl I have a pick up order and gave her my name. She couldn't find my order and said I probably ordered from the wrong location. I showed her my online confirmation in which she then stated that their online orders don't print out receipts (meaning food orders that come in). SMH. If this is a known glitch, fix it. She did assure me that they could have my order ready in 10 minutes which held true. The gal who brought me my order instead of calling my name and making me come back to the counter was professional and apologetic; thank you for that. Add another star. OVERALL: Don't order online; call it in. My spouse even commented that I should order food from here more often. That says a lot, trust me! read more

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We eat here 2-3 times a month. Sister came from the mainland 2 weeks ago and she wanted the mahi mahi burger... (again) and hurricane fries. So did I. Husband got The saimin and the meat was sooo tender. Please don't ever leave. Upcountry needs you read more

A must try! Every time I come home, I crave local food so stop by here whenever I can. The loco moco is all you could ever want. Perfectly cooked patties, rice and luscious gravy with really good Mac salad on the side. They have some chairs and tables outside to enjoy the weather. read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

10 out 10 recommend!!! Came here for lunch and dinner(: I got chicken teriyaki with rice and their Mac salad. It was the best! My partner got the teriyaki beef burger and he loved it. It was very flavorful and filling! For dinner we shared the bento box with rice and Mac salad. I also got the Brussel sprouts and divine! Crystal was our teller both times. She was very friendly! When we return to Muai this will be our first stop! Thank you to the chefs for the great food! read more

I was so hungry & didn't know what I wanted to eat. We ended up in this parking lot walked by the other restaurants & choose this one because the menu looked delicious. It was a good choice, the food was good & filling. We ended up taking home leftovers for a little snack later too. Next time I'm in the area I wouldn't mind stopping by to try something new. Also I would recommend this restaurant to a friend, it's worth trying. read more

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I always order the Mahi ala Kalei The restaurant is little but if you order ahead and pickup there are o many places to enjoy your food in the fresh air. read more

I got a complaint, not really tho. Lol. I was looking for a smaller lunch and got the cheeseburger. It wasn't smaller. To my surprise there was 2 patties. 2 wonderful, juicy, well seasoned burger patties. So much for my lighter lunch. Hahaha Probably the best no frills cheese burger I've ever had. Toasted bun with cheese mushrooms & lettuce (you can get it with tomatoes and onions as well). The quality of the burger should not be surprise though, I have never ordered something from their sister food truck in Kahului and been disappointed. Highly recommend read more

Kaleis Lunchbox - Cheeseburger - Food Trucks Near Me - Pukalani, Hawaii

Finally Upcountry has a quick plate lunch restaurant that is very affordable and the portions are right on point. We went to Kalei's four times in nine days. The food is broke da mouth 'ono kine grindz. My parents live a half mile away and love this place too. All of my for siblings and their 'ohana live within a half mile radius! Lol. My brother has some students that work here and the "word on the street" is they're expanding this location. I'm not sure if it's 100% certain; but, right on to the owners of Kalei's if this happens. I will say as long as they continue to produce affordable, 'ono portions of good eats; they'll continue their success and thrive. I do feel slightly bad for Mixed Plate a few doors down because they're another small business. It's so hard to be a small business nowadays so I commend all small businesses out there! You got this!! Also, I added a tip that Kalei's started serving lunch and dinner plate lunches before 9am! My husband bought five plate lunches yesterday on Aloha Friday at 8:40 am. Cheee! read more

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I haven't been to another Kaleis but the Mahi Al Kalei and Breaded Mahi are awesome. I also love love love their hurricane brussel sprouts. Its' my favorite location because I live near here. It gets very busy, so its good to call in your order. The bread pudding here was surprisingly good with a nice sauce on top. I go here for comfort when I had a hard week, or if I had a really great week, either way, Kaleis' does the trick for Hawaiian food. read more