SAN ANTONIO — A new restaurant recently opened up near downtown in March but this little hole in the wall doesn’t just serve fresh poke bowls, decadent plate lunches and delicious milkshakes.
Maui's on Main is known for bringing amazing vibes to San Antonio and some say the food can transport customers to the beautiful islands of Hawaii.
“There’s just this natural good vibe to the place. And everybody feels like it’s family,” Owner ‘Maui’ Mike said.
Mike started as a cook over 30 years ago and now owns various food trucks known as "Maui Mike's" that have been operating in San Antonio for the last 15 years.
“[Food] goes beyond language barriers, beyond culture, beyond everything. It’s something that we all [relate to]. It brings people together and that’s what I like about it," he said.
Mike said he was initially looking to open a third food truck when he saw the building on Main Avenue available for lease.
“It was crazy because it just unfolded so fast,” Mike said.
He said he signed the lease for the restaurant on February 15 and exactly one month later he opened the doors to awaiting customers.
Mike said their fanbase has steadily grown over the years and now they’re working on growing their social media presence.
“We’re kind of building a nice foundation. We have a little bit of a cult following right now which is cool because people get really excited when they see us,” Mike said.
Head Poke Chef Kori Chalmers is from the island of Oahu and realized her love of food at fourteen. She said she loves sharing authentic poke with customers.
“Poke is something I like to share with the world. I believe that it’s something that should be experienced everywhere," she said.
Chalmers said the biggest inspiration in her life is her mom - who taught her everything she knows about food.
“Food was something that made me happy and I want to share it with the world. I believe it’s a love language," she said.
Mike confessed it was hard to open food trucks with Hawaiian cuisine.
“It was hard to introduce [people] to the food that we love,” Mike admitted.
But he soon realized they could compare the food to dishes that were more familiar to San Antonians.
He said the food trucks started with burgers and fries and then slowly introduced their customers to the Hawaiian plate lunches.
“Instead of saying Kahlua pork we would say it’s like carnitas,” Mike said.
Once people tried their dishes, they immediately came back for more.
Mike said his favorite is seeing people connect and talk with each other. He loves to hear people’s life stories and their experiences with Hawaiian culture.
“Everybody has a story. You never know what somebody is going to reveal to you about their background, their life,” he said.
Mike said their main focus is to share food. He said he wants the restaurant to feel like a backyard party at a friend or relative’s house.
“Food is integral to all of us and who we are. It’s that one thing. It goes beyond language barriers, beyond culture, beyond everything. It’s something that we all [can relate to]. It brings people together and that’s what I like about it,” he said.
Mike recommends their House Poke Mana. It's made from fresh yellow fin tuna mixed together with several chopped up vegetables. The dish has a slight kick which seems to be a nod to it's name since "mana" means spirit, strength or power.
But, if you want something more filling you can always try the Loco Moco plate. It’s a decadent dish of white rice, two meat patties with brown gravy drizzled on top, finished with two sunny side eggs and a big helping of macaroni salad.
According to Mike, Loco Moco was created by pure accident but the flavors are comforting.
Mike also loves the Furikake Chicken Rice Bowl – which consists of three strips of hand battered chicken with spam fried rice and sautéed vegetables, drizzled with sweet chili teriyaki sauce.
And if you need something to quench your thirst in the summer heat, try one of their hydrating juicers.
“They cool you off, they give you energy. To me it’s better than coffee,” Mike said.
There top two juicers are the Kawai Omao and the Maui Sunrise. Mike said they plan on releasing new flavors throughout the year.
Finally, if you’re looking for a sweet treat, order their Ube Milkshake made with purple yams.
According to Mike, the restaurant has sold out of the milkshake on multiple days. “I tell people it’s almost like a cookies and cream [flavor]," he said.
Mike also says their burgers - like the O.G. Burger has become a staple dish at their food trucks and remains a fan favorite at the restaurant.
Maui’s on Main is located at 1022 N Main Avenue.
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