We may be biased, but we think the best BBQ is found in rustic roadhouses, focusing on smoking meats and not necessarily the decor. And when Guy Fieri from the hit show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives features such a smokehouse, you know you’re in store for mouth-watering, smoked deliciousness!
Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse is such a place!
Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse is on the eastern side of Maui in the town of Kihei. At Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse, they use beer-soaked kiawe wood instead of hickory which they’d have to import. Kiawe wood is similar to mesquite but is sweeter and is the wood-of-choice for smoking in Hawaii and beyond.
When assessing smokehouse restaurants, BBQ lovers can be very opinionated. We found that to be the case when reading the diner’s comments about Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse. We considered such “passion” when writing our review. We stayed as neutral as possible, so you could come to your conclusions.
With that out of the way, let’s look at some top staples from Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse.
Ribs
You have the option to order the full-rack or half-rack of pork ribs. These ribs are prepared in the St. Louis style, so they’re meatier and flatter than baby back ribs. They were slow-smoked for five hours, and diners raved about how tender and tasty they were, having the perfect amount of smoke and spice. The ribs are Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse specialty, from what we could discern.
Beef Brisket
Diners were divided on the brisket. Some commented that the beef was the best they’d tasted, comparing it to Texas brisket, which is high praise. Others complained that it was too dry and tough. Others added that despite theirs not being pull-apart tender, the meat had a fantastic flavor and was delicious. We’ve included the beef brisket despite mixed reviews since it’s a popular option.
Chicken
You can order a whole or half-bird. Diners describe their chicken as moist and tastes wonderful with the right amount of spice and smoke.
Burnt Ends
Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse takes the trimmings of their beef brisket and re-smokes them. The result? Smoky morsels nicely sauced.
If you have a ravenous appetite, you’ll want to consider picking one of their meats and getting it as a plate. Plates come with your choice of two items and the option to add other meats for an additional cost.
Here are noteworthy standouts:
Cornbread
Like BBQ, people have a wide range of opinions about what constitutes “good” cornbread. At Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse, their cornbread is rectangular shaped, sweet, and smothered in butter.
Coleslaw
Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse coleslaw is Carolina-style, so they make it with vinegar, not mayonnaise. Think tangy versus sweet.
Another sign of a genuine smokehouse is that they make and serve their BBQ sauces like they do at Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse. Most are vinegar-based, but all are well-crafted using local spices and flavors.
We feel that if you’re hankering for good BBQ on Maui, you need to try Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse!
Insider Tip:
Several visitors commented that finding the entrance can be tricky as there appears to be more than one set of doors. Also, since Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse is popular, interior seating fills fast, and they may run out of certain meats.