Maui smash-hit burger joint expands to Kahului, set for Upcountry

When Maui native Zach Sato opened his 1st restaurant, Havens, a lot less than two a long time in the past, he experienced no strategy it would popularize smash burgers on the Valley Isle. 

The attained chef and new operator was just hoping to save room in the refrigerator. 

“If you pre-variety the patties, it usually takes up a ton of space in the fridge,” he said. “But if you just toss them on the grill to get and smash them . . .  it type of just came from that.” 

Now, Sato’s burgers are — virtually and figuratively — a smash. So much so that the chef-proprietor expanded Havens from its North Kīhei flagship restaurant to a meals truck in Kahului on Thursday. In the following six months, he expects to open a brick-and-mortar place in Pukalani, which is now remaining applied for prep do the job.

Smash burgers, a cooking approach of smashing floor beef on a grill to sear in the juices, develop tastier, softer patties that are laced with crisp edges. Eateries dedicated to smash burgers are located in significant metropolitan areas on the Mainland.

Sato released the Kahului foods truck throughout from Costco gasoline station with minimal advertising, but phrase of mouth spread speedily.

“My coworker has experienced their burgers in Kīhei,” Kahului resident Tami Duldulao claimed in the course of lunch Friday. “He was like, ‘You fellas gotta test.’” 

It’s “awesome” the eatery expanded to town because she works close by, she additional.

Sato’s burger and noodle places provide up nearby comfort and ease foods. Unique recipes coupled with clean, dwelling-produced elements established Havens aside from related eateries. The humble, no-frills cafe even garnered recognition in Forbes, Esquire’s Very best New Places to eat in The usa and Meals & Wine Magazine. 

Even though Havens burgers, these kinds of as the “Paniolo,” “Umami” and “Original” are well known, Sato delivers other community favorites, such as noodles, sushi hand rolls and oysters.

Havens is inspired by Suda Seafood & Deli, an legendary burger and noodle joint that rose all through the heydays of area mother-and-pop shops. Suda retail outlet remained open more than a 50 % century ahead of closing in 2019. 

Sato, who opened Havens in December 2020 at the Suda place, grew up consuming Suda saimin and in some cases a teri burger just after surfing.   

As a youngster, he immediately rose the restaurant ranks.

Sato was a dishwasher as a freshman, graduated from King Kekaulike Higher University in 2004 and was promoted to sous chef at age 19. He would go into lead chef positions in larger-conclude eating, at some point serving as government chef for decades at Merriman’s and then Lodge Wailea.

When the pandemic swept the islands in March 2020, Sato was left devoid of a work.

“I experienced a 1-calendar year-old kid, a brand new home loan and no earnings,” he mentioned.

Sato explained it was “survival” that drove him to pivot speedily. By the close of March, he was turning out food kits from home. A handful a working day before long turned into 300 to 400 a day.

He and his lifetime spouse, Katie-Belle Ely, determined to open Havens, which is named just after their daughter, on Dec. 6. It was a large risk, thinking of the county was even now beneath COVID-19 limitations. 

“When we did open up, we didn’t do any advertising and marketing, just form of world of mouth,” Sato reported. “The to start with day it marketed out in like an hour and a fifty percent, two hrs. And I was like, ‘Holy.’”

“The next day we opened, it was the similar. We would sell out like hour and a 50 percent.”

Following an first wave of significant demand from customers, they refined the new organization. Sato and business enterprise associates Katie and Davis Mann prolonged the hours at the Kīhei restaurant. Other spots had been regarded as. Personnel went from 5 persons to about 15. 

Ely stated the results could not have occur without the need of nearby help.

“We just actually want to thank the locals, the people of Maui who have built our small business an amazing achievements,” Ely mentioned. “Without the overpowering support from the local community, a second place would not have been achievable.”

Sato credits his team for the accomplishments, expressing that good team are tough to discover.

At some point, he’d like to increase to the Mainland and established up a team so he can phase again and devote additional time with relatives, he included.

After all, Haven is currently 3 years previous.

“She can now understand her title and her symbol,” Sato stated. “She states, ‘Oh, which is Haven. That’s mine.’”

For extra info, take a look at Havens takeout cafe at 30 Manao Kala St., Suite 102, Kihei Havens food items truck at Plate Lunch Market, 591 Haleakala Highway, Kahului or Havens on line.