Sam Sato's Inc

After all these years, Sam Sato is still a favorite of mine. Try to pay a visit every time we visit Maui and it never disappoints. Saimin and Teri beef bun is the way to go. Enjoy! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

Got there half an hour before closing. Packed house with quite a lot of people waiting for a table. I was alone, so I got seated at the counter almost immediately. Saimin menu is pretty simple. I ordered large saimin. Flavor was all there, portions were about right relative to price point, and quality of ingredients was on point. Service was fast and friendly. $12 for a quick meal. A must visit for simple local fare.

This is clearly a local favorite, and deservingly so. Everything was very good and inexpensive. It was busy but wait wasn’t too long.

an amazing stop for breakfast on the way to haleakala crater- we ordered the saiman, dry noodles and banana pancakes which were all absolutely delicious!! there was a small line but the wait wasn't long and service/atmosphere was very homely and friendly. would definitely recommend!!

Delicious Saimen and turnovers, friendly service, worth the wait. No wonder this is a local favorite.

Famous noodle and manju restaurant. Ordered Both soup and dry noodles. Unfortunately, tastes are too mild or bland. Friendly service though.

We had to wait a bit before getting seated. It’s not a huge place. Parking wasn’t difficult. Service was decent. I got the loco moco. It was good comfort food at a reasonable price. I loved the eggs and gravy over rice. Hamburger meat was soft. Many locals come here.

Down to earth place with fantastic food. Their dry saimin noodles are out of this world. The yakitori chicken is also very delicious. The staff are very friendly and the service is super fast once you get seated. There is often a wait for seats but it is quite worth it. For a 4-5 days trip, we ended up dining here twice. Goes to show great this place is.

You can tell this place is an institution. A true community hub. There is so much love to and from their regulars. When we went on a Saturday afternoon, it was crazy busy. We put our name down on the waiting list and sat outside for about half an hour. There was a good mix of locals and tourists when we went, but it felt like they really treat everyone like family. The servers were working their butts off making sure everyone had everything they needed and were having a good meal. The restaurant itself is not fancy. Like most of the island not taken over by big corporations and resorts, it has a really old school homey feel. Things definitely look worn by time but that's a vibe in itself. If you're looking for a light, delicate meal, this is not the place for you. This rearaunt serves food that your grandpa will make you after you got home from elementary school. The portions are huge, the food is no frills. Small dry noodles come tossed in soy sauce and topped with cha siu and a generous handful of roughly chopped spring onions and a small bowl of broth on the side. Say yes to the spicy mustard. The hamburger steak is two beef burgers topped with gravy and two scoops rice. The mac salad is excellent. Make sure you get the BBQ beef stick, that one is a winner, and I would come back just for that, but I would skip the chicken one.

Sam Sato's is definitely a staple when visiting Maui. Located in a humble plaza, everyone that works here is so friendly and accommodating. They take care of you like they are your family and the food reflects the level of sincerity. The inside is very rustic and cozy. Enough to sit 5 or 6 families at most. The food is delicious regardless of what you get :)

Fast, friendly, and delicious! It's no wonder Sam Sato's has been around for like a hundred years now and is frequented by locals and tourists alike. The location is super out of the way and even though the location has been in operation for so long, the decor feels very 90s IMO. I went for the medium size dry noodles with a small side of broth (allegedly the signature dish according to my 2 seconds of google searching). This was enough to share between two people for a decent breakfast/brunch serving size, without getting full but without leaving hungry. Onto the noodles - omg! These were absolutely delicious and hands down my favorite noodle dish in Maui and top 3 of all time, bar none. The texture was amazing and the flavor was slightly salty, definitely greased, and all around yum!! Our server was kind enough to recommend a BBQ beef skewer to go with the meal which was an awesome pairing. When I go back to Maui, I will definitely be returning to Sam Sato's.

I finally got to try this place that is practically a landmark on Maui - Sam Sato's! I love everything about this place - the old school dining room, the dry noodles tossed in a secret sauce, the BBQ beef sticks that are a must with any bowl of saimin or dry noodles, and the manju and turnovers that are perfect for bringing back to friends and family (if you're not from Maui).

One of my favorite spots to visit in Maui for breakfast. Unbeatable pancakes to me. Better than iHop lol. Service is always quick & pleasant.

Whenever I'm traveling to the islands I seek out thr comfort food I remember when growing up. Saimin is one of those foods. I did not realize that good saimin was so hard to find on Maui. Sam Sato did not disappoint. First, you know if it had no signage and tucked back in a commercial building it was to be good to survive. Set up is like the small family saimin shops my dad took me too when I was small. Service was excellent, locals friendly and the tables were clean. They serve more than saimin, having a full muni's of comfort food. I would have returned to try again, but this was breakfast before leaving for the mainland again. The saimin was good portioned, egg noodles the right kind of chewie. This ain't instant ramen people! Soup broth, pork belly and hot mustard all on point. I will definitely return to try more items when I'm back on Maui. I don't know why, but saimin always tastes better on the islands. Mahalo Nui Loa Sam Sato! A Hui Ho.

This hole-in-the-wall restaurant was recommended by a friend. I was sooo impressed by the GREAT service and staff. They were so patient, kind, and had such a welcoming, homey atmosphere. I ordered the dry noodles, which is their signature dish. I ordered an extra large to share and I still had leftovers! The food came very quickly, and the noodles were warm and fresh! It was served with a side of broth to dip the noodles in, it was so refreshing!! I would recommend this to anyone and everyone! A hidden gem with delicious food, great service, and welcoming staff.

Sam Sato's is true local comfort food. Noodles, loco moco, beef sticks to pancakes... everything is ono! A must if you are local or visiting. Don't forget the manju too!!

Sam Sato's is a local staple. No trip to Maui is complete without a visit to Sam Sato's for the dry mein and manju. Not enough time to sit inside? Get an order to go and enjoy on the plane. They'll give you a little bit of the broth to add to the noodles and it's perfect. If you're coming home and you bring home manju, you know you're making friends. No one makes food like they do at Sam Sato's.

Still great. I finally took my little one to dine in together and she loved it. We shared a dry mein, teriyaki sticks and had a side of mac salad. The employees are always so friendly. Support local and check them out.

A friend flew in from Maui and gave me this box of Manju from San Sato's it is a well known item from Maui! People traveling from Maui or People that visit Maui always make a stop to get some Sam Sato's Manju. Onside it is filled with white Lima bean paste not too sweet with a baked crust. Other items are Homemaid Bakery, Tasaka Guri Guri only thing you cannot put it in your carry on it has to be checked in as luggage. So if you ever visiting Maui some ideas what to pick up or try.

A local guide recommended Sam Sato's for some homestyle cooking, so we made sure to stop by. This place was BUSY even 30 minutes before closing on a Saturday, but we ordered for takeout smoothly. First, we had the beef stick, which was nice and flavorful. A good snack to eat in the car. Nice kbbq type flavor. We got a large dry mein, given that it is the signature dish here. Unfortunately, the mein slightly missed the mark for us. It is, as the name implies, very dry but also not too flavorful. The noodles are chewy/doughy and honestly just tastes like dough when you have a mouthful. Adding the broth on the side helped the flavor somewhat, mostly by adding salt, but we were still unsure why this dish is so popular when it just seems like underseasoned chow mein. We both remarked that it would've been better with some sort of hot sauce, but alas, we got takeout so were unable to add any chili water. This is a fine side, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat this when there are so many other great noodle options in Maui. The large is a very generous portion. We wanted to try loco moco, but it is only available on the breakfast menu, so we got a hamburger plate. This consisted of two burger patties covered in gravy, white rice, and Mac salad. Solid, savory meal. We enjoyed this more than the dry mein. Overall, Sam Sato's offers some cozy, homestyle, no-frills comfort foods. However, I think there are better options in the area.

Mixed Experience at Sam Sato's: A Review My recent visit to Sam Sato's was a mixed bag, with some dishes hitting the mark while others fell short of expectations. I must admit, I made the mistake of ordering the Loco Moco, forgetting that it's not my favorite dish here. Sadly, this visit served as a reminder as to why. The Loco Moco's gravy lacked depth of flavor, and the burger patty itself was disappointingly bland. Despite attempts to salvage it with soy sauce and salt, it just didn't quite hit the mark. However, all was not lost, as I also ordered my favorite go-to dish, the Dry Mein. This savory noodle dish never fails to satisfy, with its flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles. It's a reliable choice that never disappoints. If you find yourself at Sam Sato's, I recommend sticking to the dishes you know and love, like the Dry Mein, to ensure a satisfying dining experience.

delicious grab and go snack. Unfortunately, we went early in the morning (~7 am) and were not able to try some of things we had wanted to try. The Dry noodles and char siu were both delicious, though! Would love to come back when more food options were available to us! Great local comfort food spot, no frills, you definitely get great quality for the price.

I have such fond memories of Sam Sato's, it's always a walk through memory lane when I stop by, which is a must whenever I'm home. I walk in and I'm transported back to my childhood, whether it was coming here with my parents or friends whenever we were dismissed from classes early in high school. This time, I met up with my cousins and begged them to have lunch there. It can get a little busy, especially during the weekends, but service is pretty quick from the moment you sit till when you're all pau (finished). The employees are all long time workers and always have a friendly smile on their face. I ordered my usual small dry mein with a cheeseburger on the side. Cousins ordered the same thing and a pancake for my nephew. Our noodles came out piping hot with the dashi on the side. Burgers and pancake followers shortly thereafter. I add some black pepper and a few spoonfuls of the dashi to my noodles and I'm good to go! The noodles are cooked al dente and have some bite to them. I love how the bean sprouts give a little crunch, green onions give some freshness, and the perfectly cooked char siu adds additional flavor and meatiness. The burger is always well seasoned and has that homey taste to it, sometimes I like to dunk it in the dashi just cause I've been doing that since I was a child lol Make sure to save room for their manju (adzuki or lima bean) at the end or take some home with you! They also have fruit turnovers/pockets that you can never go wrong with. My personal favorite is the adzuki bean manju. Always nice to order a dozen or two to take back as omiyage to my coworkers.

Hits and Misses...I was born and raised on Maui and grew up with Sam Satos first in Puunene, then through its many incarnations in Wailuku. I have to admit, I am nostalgic for the original Won Ton Mein Special with vegetables as the item on the menu today bears little resemblance. The bowl is 2+ inches in diameter smaller and the vegetables sparse. The noodles are still al dente in a mellow broth. The most shocking change are the won tons. A delicious pork ball shrouded in a terribly thick wrapper. Thick as in almost quadruple the thickness of the original delicate wrappers. Pasty enough, that after three different visits in the last two years, I realize it is not longer just a bad batch. Note that the dry mein others ordered were still delicious - although smaller portioned - and the mahi mahi special was delicious. Service was very good and attentive. The manju and turnovers are still great family favorites. It's a solid casual and local hangout that draws crowds.

I really wanted to try this spot and the only way I could do is was to get food to bring on the plane. That meant no saimin which was a bummer. It was also a risk to eat the noodles after they cooled down a bit but I was willing to give it a try and glad I did. It's a small spot in a little neighborhood and parking is tough to find. They have a take out counter to the left of the entrance or you can walk in and order at the counter. I got the super dry which is dry noodles with veggies and other toppings, a small broth, and the lima bean manju. The order came out real quick so that was nice. I first drank the broth since I couldn't bring it through security. It was a delicious broth, full of flavor although not heavy like some broths. Then I ate the manju which was also good. I'm not a red bean paste person and the mushed lima bean texture wasn't my favorite but it was still pretty good. I also took a bite of the noodles while fresh. And tht was the right call because the you really got to taste how good the noodles are. A lot of flavor in the noodles, cooked perfectly al dente and really a step above most noodles out there. Even by the time I ate the noodles on the plane, it was still delicious. Now normally you would dip the noodles in their mustard sauce and then the broth and eat it but even without the broth it was delicious. I really liked having the veggies too as it added a separate texture and more to the dish. I hope I get to come back and try the saimin!

Sam Sato's is a nostalgic place servicing local comfort food in a coffee shop style from the 80's. Restaurant like this is disappearing fast on Oahu for some reason. This was our first stop when we arrived in Maui early morning. You can do take out order from the outside window or dine in their cozy restaurant. They also have nice selection of Japanese Manju or baked Mochi with variety of fillings. We bought a whole bunch. They're homemade style with very light taste and not over powering. You can see few ladies hand folding the Manju through screen door. Staff are friendly, excellent and very efficient.

This place was so good. Such a bang for your buck! A hamburger for $5 is basically unheard of. I came on a Thursday at peak lunch time and their restaurant was pretty much full. We got seated right away and served immediately. The people serving us were so kind and personable - really felt like a true mom and pop shop! We got the dry mein, bbq beef skewer, vegetable salad, and hamburger steak. I was most excited for the mein but I was actually a little disappointed. It was pretty plain and even after dipping it in the soup, it was still kind of plain. The solution: chili water. I asked for hot sauce and they offered their chili water which is vinegar based and it is SO GOOD. Highly recommend asking for that. The bbq beef skewer was probably the best thing we got. The salad was really just veggies which was refreshing and the hamburger steak was what you'd expect. The food was pretty good for what you're paying. The whole restaurant feels really homey and the service was top notch. I'd highly recommend the beef stick and getting the dry noodle with the chili water! Parking was super easy with 2 parking lots and it was clear that this is a local favorite!

Visiting our family on Maui and had never been to Sam Sato's, which is a local institution. We decided to change that this trip and O M G it was so good. If you are wanting local, authentic food you definitely need to come to Sam Sato's. Pretty tiny inside, but put your name on the list and they do a good job of getting people in and out. They close kinda early (like 2 pm) and then re-open again later for dinner, I think. We made it there around 12 noon and were eating like 30 mins later. We had the dry min, the saimin with dumplings, and some regular saimin. We also got sides of Mac salad and French fries and the beef sticks. Everything was SO flavorful and delicious. I'm still dreaming about these noodles. Cannot believe this was my first time here and I know it won't be my last. Can't go wrong at this local spot!

As always, Sam Sato's never disappoints. This time I got to dine in, which I was very excited about. I literally wanted to order everything off the menu. It was my friend's first time, and she enjoyed it just as much as I did. The plus side is they now accept card, and not cash only like when I was growing up lol.

Are you really from Maui if you've never had Sam Sato's noodles? Lol. For real though, Sam Sato's is a Maui institution. This family-owned restaurant's history dates back to 1933 when Sam Sato opened a small eatery in Spreckelsville, a sugar-plantation camp on the road between Kahului and Paia. After moving a few times, they finally settled in the Wailuku Industrial area where the restaurant has planted it's roots for the last 30 years. Over the years, Sam Sato's has become synonymous with dry mein noodles which is their best selling dish. The mix of perfectly al dente noodles, bits of char siu pork, bean sprouts, and green onions has become an incredibly popular local comfort food. It's what they are known for and you really can't go without trying this dish! They are also known for their homemade manju -- a traditional Japanese baked pastries filled with sweetened bean and starch pastes. The recipes for the lima bean and azuki bean manju was created by Gladys Sato (Sam's wife) and has remained unchanged. Of the two, I prefer the lima bean manju, but both are good. It's been many many years since I've actually gone to the restaurant and sat down to enjoy the food, but there's no shortage of events and potlucks where Sam Sato's makes an appearance. People tend to order trays of their noodles for parties. The taste is usually pretty consistent, I just wish there was more char siu. I also recommend a splash of Aloha shoyu for some extra flavor. They do have other menu items like hamburger and fries and local grinds like chopped steak, teriyaki beef, hamburger steak, beef tomato, and more as well. Overall, I recommend a stop here. Sam Sato's gives me a sense of nostalgia as I grew up eating their noodles. They're one of the last mom and pop shops standing, but I hope they continue to thrive and remain a Maui staple for years to come.

A MUST when you come to Maui. Parking: The parking lot gets crowded quickly so you can try to also find street parking in the area. Service: The waitresses were really nice and super friendly, hard workers especially cuz they are always busy. Food: Dry min is the MUST over here. Get it get it get it!!! Cuz it's ono! And also the teri burger is amazing, it's not what you think it's actually teriyaki beef slices and so soft and perfect. They are also well known for there manju. Atmosphere: I'm just warning you guys again this place gets packed. Make sure you put your name on the waiting list as soon as you arrive. You can also get take out but that's not the same experience. Counter or table doesn't matter just sit down and EAT lol.

If you like hearty noodles like soba kine this is a great spot for that. Wife and I had a large dry mien with some bbq beef sticks and I had to samps the banana pancake! Everything was super ono and the staff and service was great!

Classic. Simple. Wonderful... Those are the first adjectives that come to mind. Yeah, if you come at the wrong time you're gonna have to wait. Tourists and locals alike love this food. For good reason. You're not going to find a better noodle shop... like anywhere. Hawaii or anywhere else. This is Sam Sato's... They've been making these dishes perfectly forever... and likely will continue to make them perfectly long after me or you are gone. When I say, not to be missed... it's an understatement.

Sam Sato's has been one of family's favorite hole in the walls for generations. This nostalgic local joint is home to the best dry noodles and turnovers on island. It has a classic menu consisting of delicious comfort foods and there's something for everyone to enjoy. The service is fast especially if you're able to snag a seat at the counter. We have so many heartwarming memories at Sam Sato's and I hope this Maui institution lives on for decades to come!

As always one of the few places that have remained consistent with the quality of the food and the service. Sadly so many of our local places that we grew up with on Maui have closed or gone downhill and then closed. To me this is Island soul food and it is done the way it should be and had been year after year and for that I thank you because it is not only Ono (Tasty) but it brings back memories from little kid days. Of people who are long past but not forgotten. This is the food of my childhood and it really brings it back for me. Now aside from that blast from the past. These guys are rocking it. The food quality is top notch and the way it should be made. The service is incredible for the amount of people these guys serve every day. They always smiling and super helpful. Guys if you cannot eat the food the way it's made maybe this is not the place for you just remember this is a small family run business that employs hard working locals. So let's show up with love and aloha for these guys.

Right when I'm off the plane, it's the first stop before anything. It's a hidden gem and I can't say enough about the dry mein and teri sticks. I dream of these noodles several times a year. Service is with aloha, food is ono and I can't wait to go back. Broke da mouth fo'sure!

Food getting worst and they open when they feel like it. It's not like the old Sam Sato

Absolutely wonderful experience. Local people. Family friendly with wonderful food. Attentive service. A bit of a wait but we'll worth it.

Always love the noodles. Tried a new dish and didn't care for it. Beef skewers are a must. Average Mac salad and kimchee. Price is right and pies go fast.

We were up early and managed to get into Sam Sato for breakfast with no line. Our server was so friendly. Food came out hot and quick.  Ordered Dry Mein, Mini Loco Moco, Won Ton Mein, and Breakfast with eggs, Portuguese Sausage and Hashbrown. The Mini Loco Moco was the perfect portion for breakfast. The Dry Mein, is a must have. You can also order pans of dry mein. The large Won Ton Mein was a big portion. Next time we'll get a small order. They also offer fresh fruit, got half a papaya. We always take at least a dozen Lima Bean Manju to go. This is comfort local food at it's best. Be sure to stop by to support this local generational family business.

One of Maui's most famous restaurants, Sam Sato's is know for the excellent dry mein. Their dry mein comes with a side of dashi (soup) that you pour over the noodles. This adds to the taste and moistness of the noodles. I usually order the bbq beef sticks (1 stick per order) as a compliment to the noodles. The portion sizes are generous and prices are reasonable. I also like to order a couple their homemade manju's (lima bean one is my favorite.). It has a flaky shell but soft on the inside. If you want drinks, it's self serve from the fridge/cooler. Recommend coming early for lunch or after peak hours as it does really busy. This is must try place if visiting Maui and want to try one of their staple restaurants.

Love the Lima bean Manju...always order when traveling, great for on plane snack and treat for family on neighbor island.

Home cook food.....plus drymein is the best. The white bean manju is absolutely the best offered on Maui.

On my last visit to Maui, a colleague suggested Sam Sato and I'm so happy I had time before my flight to take it in. I will add by saying this post is not like my others as I only have one pic to share. This is a mom and pop place nestled in of of Maui's commercial/industrial areas. If you want ambience that's modern, don't come. What you will receive is a throwback to when at least my childhood. A throwback of comfortable and simple dining area with service that could be akin to family. The food is what makes this place a huge success. It was busy and for good reason. Their product speaks for itself and truly, they don't need assistance from Yelp. Word of mouth alone makes Sam Sato a local treasure! I will return to update.

Sam Satos is a must stop place when I'm visiting home. I usually like to go there when they first open at 7am since it can get really busy! The staff is very friendly and the food is always on point! I always order the dry noodles with extra soup and lima/azuki manju.

It's become a family tradition to have our welcome home meal at this family owned resto! Our flight arrival was cutting it close this afternoon but the staff was more than accommodating to welcome us in and make sure we enjoyed our fill. Ambience couldn't be any more adorable than it already is, with smells that'll take you back in time. Shout out to Kanoa (apologies if I misspelled/misheard) for taking care of us today! It was my partner's first time trying our face spot out and he LOVED everything we ordered especially the beef sticks which were nice and tender! We'll definitely catch them earlier for bfast before we fly out

We had to wait a bit before getting seated. It's not a huge place. Parking wasn't difficult. Service was decent. I got the loco moco. It was good comfort food at a reasonable price. I loved the eggs and gravy over rice. Hamburger meat was soft. Many locals come here.

Trips to Maui are never complete without a visit to Sam Sato's. This is a family staple! We like to order the saimin, dry min, cheeseburger, fries (love the mayo/mustard combo) and on occasion the banana pancake. Service is always friendly, food comes out pretty fast, and is consistently delicious. What more can you ask for? :)

We were visiting family on Maui (visiting from Oahu), we saw an old Oahu freind there as well checking! Service is super friendly. Food is very good and a nice comfort food kind of place. We had the garlic noodles, cheese burgers, Teri beef sticks... yum!!!

This no frills, mom & pop, local diner is a gem in Wailuku town. I'm hesitant to leave a review because one of the things I love so much about it is that the majority of the people that dine here are local....and they already know all about this spot. Today I had the breakfast combo. Two eggs, toast and bacon, along with a coffee and of course I had to get a banana pancake. There has been debate in our family over the best banana pancake on Maui....but Sam Sato's gets my vote. We grabbed a couple turn overs for the road... apple and blueberry. Both yummy! You also can't go wrong with a beef stick, saimin, cheeseburger and extra crispy fries. The cooler of drinks takes me back to being a kid with the grape and strawberry sodas. The ladies running the show are always so sweet and they greet my other half by name. He goes without me....like a lot.

Our first stop off the plane. Perfect comfort food before a day trip in Maui. Came around 8AM and it was a little busy. But as it should be as a OG spot!

Did some research and found this restaurant to be popular on Maui. Asked my uncle about it and he said this place was overrated. I still went to go try it because everyone has their own preferences. In my opinion, visiting from Oahu, I've never tried a place that had good dry mein! Noodles were savory and tasteful in every bite. The flavor was there! It was really good! We got the broth on the side and a bbq stick, along with the lima manju. The manju wasn't as sweet but I could do without it. Probably something my grandma would enjoy more than me. But I would come back for the dry mein!

Whenever I go to Maui I love to eat at Sam Sato's. There is sometimes a wait time to be seated but it's so worth it. Their noodles are so delicious. I also love their french fries. The servers are super friendly. Location is in Kahului and there is a small parking lot. As for the restaurant itself, it has a home-like atmosphere and of course I always buy their baked manju to take home.

Very casual, yummy local place to grab a cheeseburger deluxe, fries and dry mein combo. My kids love the pancakes too. Service can be slow during lunch hour because they are typically very busy! I would also recommend the bbq beef sticks with a won ton mein or saimin.

Best local food! I love the dry fun! Must have manju too! I could eat every day! #supportlocal #samsatos #onolicious

Another Maui classic and must wherever I visit home. You can't go wrong with a classic dry noodles, side soup, and cheeseburger deluxe, but be prepared to be rolled out the door when you're done. These noodles are perfection. Not debatable. Its that chew. I may have went a little overboard with the cheeseburger, but hey, when on Maui...

My husband found this restaurant and wanted to try the famous dry noodle. It was okay. Portion was decent too. The place was pretty full but there are couple of seats available. They have limited parking spots. They have more "to go" orders.