Wei Wei Cafe & Noodle House
Happy Valley eatery dishes up authentic, affordable Chinese fare
Mother’s Day is looming large Sunday. Graduation parties, summer weddings and get-togethers are all in hot pursuit. One thing is certain — authentic, exotic Chinese cuisine is a sure-fire crowd pleaser at many of these isle functions.
Maui’s newest Chinese restaurant is Wei Wei Cafe & Noodle House. It’s located in Happy Valley in the former original Sam Sato’s spot, and it’s already proving to be a consistent and quality-driven Chinese eatery serving up aromatic shrimp Canton, orange chicken and sweet-and-sour ribs in a number of catering sizes.
It also offers comfortable seating for dine in and a walk-up counter for fast and easy take-out orders. While it’s open for lunch and dinner Mondays through Saturdays, do note that it serves dinner only on Sundays, and that includes Mother’s Day.
“We do small party trays for eight to 12 people,” says Adam Xiao, the son of chefowner Shao Wei Xiao and mother Rui Yi Chen, who also is a big part of the picture in their restaurant.
“Our medium trays feed 15 to 20 people and the large trays feed 30 and up,” explains Adam about the catering menu, which is separate from the more extensive a la carte menu served daily.
“The char-siu gon lo mein is popular. It can stay on the buffet longer than some other items and it’s budget friendly. Our house cake noodles and house fried noodles are top sellers, too,” Adam adds.
Speaking of noodles, it doesn’t get any better here on Maui when it comes to hot Chinese noodles made right in-house than at Wei Wei Cafe & Noodle House, where you may slurp to contentment.
“I’ve been cooking 30 something years,” says Shao. “I bought this machine like 20 years ago in China. I make noodles in small batches and then I do it again.”
Come and indulge in steaming bowls of saimin brimming with housemade broth and noodles with roast duck or fresh veggies in medium or large sizes.
Delight in house won ton mein or thick udon noodles with rich broth and beef or chicken toppings.
“Everybody knows our noodles,” says Adam. “We founded the other Wei Wei in Wailuku Millyard, but my mom’s brother and wife took it over. Now this is the only Wei Wei with fresh noodles.”
So forget about going to Honolulu to get your noodle fix. Now just head to the new Wei Wei to try.
“The house crispy fried noodles are my favorite,” says Shao, who is originally from Guangzhou, China, while his wife, Rui, is from Shanghai.
The couple is related to other restaurant owners on Maui. His brother, Mike Xiao, is chef-owner of Mike’s Hong Kong Bistro in Wailuku; and his brother Peter Siu owns Siu’s Chinese Kitchen at the Maui Mall in Kahului. With decades of cooking under their belts, these brothers are all experts in Chinese and local cooking. At Wei Wei, do try the loco moco and hamburger steak — all made with fresh patties.
“Our combo plates are the most popular,” says Adam. “We can do roast duck with char siu or soy chicken or roast chicken. We can do kau yuk (roast pork) with ginger chicken. Or fried garlic chicken and barbecue short ribs. Or you can tell us what kind of combo that you like.”
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Shao now pumps out char-siu manapua and rice cakes sweetened with sugar. Since the small eatery doesn’t have a liquor license, you may BYOB when dining in. Or order non-alcoholic drinks.