Lynne’s Cafe

I am here now. The place is cute. It’s def a hole in the wall but that’s my style so the lack of décor or luxury is fine with me. Usually this means more authentic food and lower prices. And it was and it was. Prices are great and food was delish. They has some local food that looked and smelled great but it’s early for me and I prefer breakfast always. I got the breakfast sandwich on croissant and a coffee. Lynne helped me herself and was very friendly and quick to serve the food.
The downside is that there isn’t too much variety. So if you’re a picky one that wants a novel of a menu, this place ain’t for you.

Decided to come here after the hubby was looking for the best local food joints in Maui online and found this little place on the top list of local foods places. First things first, boy was this place hard to find. The map on Unilocal didn’t seem to correspond to the actual location or it wasn’t updated as they may have moved or something. We were looking around in the obvious market plaza the whole time just to find out it was across the street behind another small gym’s plaza. The place is really small, very outdated, and seemed a little dirty (greasy like feel to me). Its literally a local’s chinese food joint or like a food court if I should say (minus 1-​star). But then again, its a pretty cheap local place after all and shall not be compared to a fancy restaurant that charges an arm and leg for similar food.
As we walked in it looked like a place you order to go as behind the counter next to the cash register was a like a fast food at the mall where you point and choose what you want. There were shoyu chicken, fried rice, hamburger patties (for the loco moco), noodles etc. Right connected next door was actually about 5 tables for customers who choose to eat in.
The owner is very nice and knew we were travelers so she tried to explain and tell us what all the food was that she had there on the counter. She even asked if we were chinese and started talking to us in Chinese which made us feel homey.
My husband and I each chose 3 items and she would put in all into one small to go box. At first I thought, that little?! But she packs it in and we were quite full. So its more than enough really. If not, just order more, for the price you pay, its as good amount of food. My husband didn’t like the food much (although he cooks very well and is very particular with his food). In terms of presentation and the way she packed it, it didn’t looked to appetizing. Regardless if its a cheap local joint, better to go boxes with separate compartments for 3 item orders would help. See my pictures and you would know what I mean. (minus 1-​star)
I on the other hand didn’t think it was bad but not the greatest either. I did really enjoy the noodles though! The one item I would definitely go back for if I ever visit again. Looked plain but full of flavors!

Hidden jam for tourists like me who just wants simple local breakfast. Don’t Let the outside fool you, the staff are nice and the food is delicious!

Asked for fries and was told they were out. The local guy behind me asked for fries and got them. Haloes don’t bother going here.

Went here for lunch. The décor and atmosphere is pretty lacking and has got that hole in the wall chinese joint feel. I had the medium combo platter, which consists of two entrees, noodles or rice and a salad. The portions are pretty good for the price, and the medium was just enough for lunch.
I got the soy sauce chicken and the hamburger with macaroni salad and chow mein. The soy sauce chicken was tender and juicy, but otherwise there was too much MSG or salt in the dressing and I was incredibly thirsty afterwards. The hamburger was pretty good, but I wouldn’t have called it a hamburger patty. It was pretty much a small lump of ground meat. The chow mein was utterly disgusting; completely flavorless and greasy. The waitress forgot to even give us our salad until the end of our meals, and my macaroni salad had too much mayo in it and I couldn’t finish it. My stomach is still churning from this meal.

Stopped here on ⁴⁄₁₂ for a late breakfast while on our way to Hana. We were actually looking for a place called Northshore Café but couldn’t find it, so we stopped here instead.
I got the «special of the month,» which was a 7 piece Vienna sausage, 2 eggs, 2 scoop rice plate. Ellen got the 4pc bacon, 3 eggs, with English muffin plate.
We had to make a run for the bathrooms afterwards, which was hard to do while on the road to Hana. Luckily we came upon the public rest stops just in time. Not sure if it was the vienna sausages or tobasco i put on there, but I was messed up.
For future reference, the road to Hana has two public restrooms between Lynne’s and Hana.
This review reflects our only visit here. If we were to visit again I’d make sure to ask first what the locals like to eat, and order that.

Want to dine where the locals go?
Lynns is it…
Call her my mamasan. Go way back we do.
The homemade touch.
Thanks
Mamasan
Your loyal mainland customer.

I love this place. I had been hearing about it for a long time from my honey and he finally took me there. Lynne is awesome… She’s adorable and friendly and she is a bomb cook. Everything tastes and is homemade. We had the kalua pork. Amazing. It rivals Hana Hou Café’s kalua pork and that is really saying something. There wasn’t much shoyu chicken left (apparently she runs out of it quickly) but she gave us enough for me to try… lovely gingery goodness. The pot roast was to die for. Everything you dream a pot roast should be without the fancy frills. It was solid comfort food tastiness. She also sells boiled peanuts which I have such a weakness for. Her macaroni salad and kimchi were delish an her rice was even comforting. I think I’m gonna go dig into those boiled peanuts now…

My aunty makes the best local food on the island. Everythings good and when I go back home to visit the family, gotta stop in and try to eat everything on the menu.

When hanging out in Haiku, you gotta try Lynne’s Café. She makes everything from local plate lunches to home cooked spaghetti and meat balls. You can sit in and eat over there or take out.