Carne Asada Tacos

Local residents and regular visitors to Maui revel in Nacho Grande and its neighboring bar, which serves bargain drinks during an off-the-radar-extended happy hour every day of the week.

It’s what you might aptly call “a dive” and hence is one of Richard’s favorites place to start the day. He takes a seat at the bar running the length of the small room alongside tradesmen, tour operators, timeshare salesmen and surfers who file through the doors just after dawn (in winter that’s around 7 a.m. Maui time) to grab a $3 breakfast burrito substantially stuffed with nutritious egg, meat and potato filling that will see them through ’til lunch. Huevos rancheros and pancakes are other favored eye-openers enjoyed by Nacho Grande’s breakfast club members. I won’t comment on what goes on in the bar this early in the day … it’s the beauty of places like this.

Fruit Flavored Favorites

We stopped in recently for an early dinner/late lunch on the food only side and feasted upon a grand selection of Nacho Grande’s best, including the especial del dia, that masterpiece of Mexican menu items, chili relleno. This one came stuffed with manchego (cheese), dipped in batter and fried then drenched with more melted cheese smothered in an authentic Mexican sauce. Be still my heart — after one bite I was begging my ticker for forgiveness.

Another bite or two of the carne asada taco, over which I’d poured a little much hot sauce, worked my metabolism into overdrive. Seeking to squelch the fire, I was happy to find that Sergio carries every flavor of Mexican soda, apparently bottled specifically for the dousing tongues afire. Haven’t you always heard that sugar negates peppers? Indeed, I chose the Mango flavor which set the stage perfectly for the next course, chicken enchiladas, a milder dish with a particularly authentic Mexican taste sensation stirred into the gravy.

Nachos are  typically served as a starter, but I think it makes a great dessert – a cheese course, if you will. Piled high with chips and shredded pork, slightly goopy with a mixture queso, beans, quacamole and sour cream, the perennial party favorite sealed the meal. Cooling, soothing and tantalizing all at the same time, Nacho Grande delivers a great version of this classic.

Great Place to Hang Your Hat

The owner/proprietor Sergio Ricardo Gallardo hails from Guadalajara, baby, so there’s no messing around with the traditional flavors of his homeland.

Sergio serves the food of his youth from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner most dishes are available ‘round the clock. There’s usually a swinging bar crowd next door if you need a little perking up or someone with whom to share your nacho platter and fishing stories.