By Vanessa Wolf

The house-made potato chips. Photo by Vanessa Wolf

Alan Wong’s Amasia, the tapas-style restaurant that occupies the former Kincha space in the Grand Wailea, is now offering a special happy hour menu from 5 to 6:30 p.m. nightly.

Diners can sample a range of selections from the cocktail and food menus in Amasia’s lounge, robata bar and at the bar itself.

The menu features an assortment of Asian-influenced items from Chilled Soybeans Togarashi ($4) to Shell-on Garlic Ghrimp with citrus and sweet paprika for $8.

Raw items also make an appearance.  Ahi Sashimi with wasabi and gari (pickled ginger) is $12 and “local style” ahi poke is $12 as well.

Additional local-style and locally sourced food is represented with Maui Cattle Company Beef Sliders with grilled onions and Surfing Goat Dairy tzatziki on bao buns ($6) and Spicy Mochiko chicken (also $6).

But that’s not all.

Happy hour food options round out with a smattering of mashed-up dish interpretations from around the world.

Amasia’s happy hour short ribs with ko choo jang sauce. Photo by Vanessa Wolf

Soy-braised short ribs with ko choo jang sauce ($8) can be tried alongside a Ceviche of the Day ($8) or Pork Adobo Empanada with papaya mustard ($6). The menu also offers house-made potato chips with mustard onion seasoning for $3.

Be aware Chef Wong regularly employs powerful and spicy flavors, so don’t be surprised to bite into a whole Szechuan peppercorn or break into a light sweat while sampling the poke.

If experiencing the upper end of the Scoville scale isn’t your thing, ask the server for pointers or perhaps request a less fiery preparation where possible.

Regardless of your palette, you can wash it all down with a variety of specialty cocktails.

The Concubine ($7) is the restaurant’s version of the Lemon Drop.

The Okolehao ($8) features Maui-crafted Okolehao liquor. The liquor is made from Ti leaves and tastes vaguely like coconut rum. In the Amasia preparation, it is muddled with fresh limes and served on the rocks.

The Loca Vore Mai Tai ($8) is served with homemade “Falernum” made from Big Island macadamia nuts, locally-distilled Maui Rum, fresh local pineapples, fresh limes and Maui sugar.

Lastly, Amasia is offering a Li Hing Mui “Margarita” ($7), their twist on the iconic classic. The drink combines the flavors of lime, li hing mui (that bright coral-colored stuff that tastes kind of like SweetTarts), lilikoi liqueur and Pisco brandy.

If you’re not the cocktail type, the solo beer on tap (currently Maui Brewing Company’s Bikini Blond) and range of canned or bottled beers are also available for $5 each during happy hour.

In other news, for locals hoping to sample more than just pupus, the restaurant is also offering a 20% kama’aina discount off the dinner menu with a with valid Hawaii photo identification card.

Have an idea for a fun or thought-provoking story or topic? Get in touch: we want to hear from you. -Vanessa (@mauinow.com)