Dine & Dash at Maui Mike's Fire-Roasted Chicken - Flaming Chicken in Wahiawa
Gail Jennings
June 2005

Chicken, well seasoned and delicious flame roasted chicken, hot from the fire...mmmm, good chicken. Friends and regular dining companions know that I rarely order chicken at a restaurant. Anything but the chicken, please. The exception to this is chicken that's flame roasted which was, until recently, virtually impossible to find on Oahu. Maui Mike's in Wahiawa has changed all that with their fresh, never frozen, no-substances-added chickens. These lovely chickens first receive a nice rub down of seasoning, then they are threaded on skewers and roasted over an open flame.

The open flame results in a charred and blackened skin but don't be put off by that; inside awaits juicy and tender chicken which is a pleasure to eat. Since they are natural chickens, not steroid fed or injected, they tend to be smaller than the ones we typically see in grocery stores or restaurants. This is also one of the reasons they taste so good.

You can order a Whole Chicken ($9.95), Half Chicken ($5.95) or Quarter Chicken ($3.95 ) as well as a selection of side dishes for $1.39 each. Also available are combo plates with chicken, your choice of rice or french fries, dipping sauce and a drink. Plate prices range from $2.99 for the Keiki Pak up to $7.59 for the Half Chicken. For the large group or party, you can order Feasts which combine whole chickens with side orders and dipping sauce. Frankly, this chicken is really good on its own or, if you must dip, make some finadene (see the recipe for what Sam Choy has called, "The best sauce in the world") and use that.

Mike's is easy to find and there is plenty of parking. If you are heading north on Kam Highway, turn right between McDonald's and Maui Mike's. Maui Mike's is right on the corner and there is a parking lot immediately behind the building. Comfortable wooden picnic tables make dining-in an option. The staff is friendly and you can watch the chickens being fire roasted.

My recommendation, buy a whole chicken, take it home and eat it - the meat literally falls off the bones. Maui Mike's chicken rules the roost and is worth the drive. I'll be back for more.

Maui Mike's Fire-Roasted Chicken
96 S Kamehameha Hwy
Wahiawa
622-5900
Mon-Sat 11am-8:30pm