Discover the Most Delicious Places to Eat in Maui: An Ex-Resident's Guide

From the local produce at roadside farm stands to fine dining restaurants serving freshly caught fish, food in Maui is incredible. Seriously, when you eat papaya in Hawaii, any mainland papaya will pale in comparison. Living in an island paradise, naturally draws more visitors than say, where we lived in Indiana. Friends and family visited in droves, having a visitor almost every month during our 2-year tenure. Naturally, having many visitors meant we spent many days exploring markets and trying restaurants all over the island. I have emailed and DM'd my tips to so many travelers heading to the islands that I thought it high time to share some of the best eats in Maui with y’all. There are tons of restaurants, markets, and food trucks all over the island, but these are consistently delicious and my Maui food musts.

Last updated: July 2023

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Can't-miss restaurants & Bars  in Maui

North shore restaurants in maui

Mama's Fish House | Paia - I think Mama’s Fish House is the best meal on the island accompanied by the best service. The menu changes daily, noting who caught the seafood and where each day. The restaurant is on the beach so if it’s an ocean view you’re after, make your reservation for lunch or an early dinner. You cannot skip dessert no matter what. The Chocolate Pearl, a heavenly pillow of chocolate mousse with passionfruit curd, is one of the most decadent desserts I’ve ever tasted.

The Chocolate Pearl at Mama’s Fish House pre iPhone

Paia Fish Market | Paia - Fresh fish and seafood that is surprisingly affordable. Paia Fish Market is a perfect quick option if you’re doing a day trip to Paia because you’ll have plenty of time to shop in the boutiques and hit the beach after lunch. You can’t go wrong with any fish but Ono (Wahoo) and Opah (Moonfish) are my favorites. It’s become so popular there are also locations in Kihei and Lahaina.

Celebrating my birthday with a girls night in Paia, dinner at Mama’s Fish House, and overnight at the Nalu Kai Lodge.

Flatbread Company | Paia - I’m generally not a fan of franchise restaurants but Flatbread Company is a small one and the Maui location is exceptional. A popular hangout in downtown Paia, the vibe is super casual and fun. All the pizzas are wood-fired on kiawe (mesquite) wood; my go-to was always the Kalua Pork Pizza with mango bbq sauce, Maui-grown pineapple, smoked pulled pork, and Maui goat cheese. Do not miss their farm salad with local goat cheese.

Sidebar: One of my favorite Paia memories: One of the Paia iconic restaurants and bars was Charleys and a popular place for Willie Nelson and son Lukas to hang out and play. One afternoon walking around in Paia we ran into Willie in the parking lot. He was rocking some massive gold Elvis-style glasses, pigtail braids, and greeted us with a big, “How y’all doing?” Ryan and I are huge fans and were absolutely freaking out, but he was as nice as can be. Sad Charley’s is no longer open but you never know who you might run into in Paia!

RIP Charley’s in Paia - Photo: Water Gypsies Photography

Central Maui Restaurants

Ocean Vodka Farm - Tucked into the foothills of Haleakala is a beautiful 80-acre organic sugar cane farm, distillery, and cafe. If you love cocktails/spirits, I’d highly recommend the guided tasting experience. It costs $17 but you get to try all of their unique spirits and learn about the farm and distillery. Stay for drinks and Hawaiian-style food at the farm cafe. If you book a late afternoon tasting you’ll be able to enjoy drinks and dinner with an epic sunset and view of west Maui and the Pacific Ocean. This was one of our favorite spots on our last trip because the food and drinks were excellent and the vibe is super casual and very kid friendly.

Sunset at Ocean Vodka Farm

Cafe O’Lei at the Mill House | Wailuku - Located in the heart of Maui Tropical Plantation, Cafe O’Lei’s The Mill House is a farm-to-table restaurant that aims to honor the cultures that immigrated to work in Maui’s sugarcane industry over 100 years ago. With dishes like taro leaf risotto and Kauai prawn and fish coconut curry, the menu offers some classic Hawaiian fare served in a contemporary way. The property is absolutely gorgeous so try and plan for an early dinner so you can enjoy the scenery.

Pro tip: If you have kiddos with you, head to this restaurant during the day to explore the property, feed the ducks at the pond, and enjoy happy hour for some excellent pu pu’s (apps) and cheap cocktails. Thanks to its location in between the East and West Maui mountains, the central area of Maui is incredibly windy. Bring a jacket to dinner or ask your server for a blanket.

South Side Maui Restaurants

Kihei

Isana | North Kihei - This fisherman-owned sushi bar on the beach in North Kihei is a local favorite and a must for sushi lovers. We completely lucked out on our last visit and scored a spot at the sushi bar at Isana on Mother’s Day last year. I frequently get anxious taking Fern to small restaurants but the staff was so patient and sweet to us trying to make sure Fern had something she wanted to eat. Definitely make a reservation if you want to sit down or you can order takeout!

Havens | North Kihei - Major props to my family in Maui for introducing this North Kihei spot to us. Havens is an amazing restaurant way off the beaten path attached to a gas station in North Kihei. Known for their smash burgers and ramen, we tried it all! We typically ordered one burger to split and their sushi hand roll deal more times than we’d like to admit because it was quick, delicious, and easy after a long day in the sun. Fern loved the smoked ahi mac salad.

Akamai Coffee - Photo credit Lucy Thompson @lucy.soulshine

Akamai Coffee | Kihei - 100% Maui-grown coffee. I've been cruising Akamai’s Instagram since my cousin Lucy started working there. The shop in Kihei is too cute and a cozy spot to have breakfast in the morning before exploring the island. They have a location in Wailea and a drive-through coffee stand in Kahului. I’m usually a black coffee girl but I tried the La Perouse latte with vanilla, maple, and black salt and it was a game changer.

Sansei Seafood | Kihei (another location in Kapalua on the west side) - Sansei has some of the best sushi on the island. Friday night is karaoke night starting at 10 pm with insane deals on sushi and drinks.

Kihei Caffe | Kihei - One of my fav breakfasts ever. From banana macadamia nut pancakes to Loco Moco (hamburger patty over rice topped with fried egg and gravy), Kihei Caffe has something for everyone. Counter service only and there’s ALWAYS a line. It is worth it though I swear, and it won’t break the bank.

Da Kitchen | Kihei - Delicious and casual Hawaiian food that is easy on the wallet. If you’re not sure what to order at Da Kitchen, try the Plate Lunch. It’s a true Hawaiian staple, once popular for pineapple plantation workers. It reminds me of Meat & Three from the American South, starting with a protein like Chicken Katsu or Kalua Pork and flanked by white rice and macaroni salad.

Da Kitchen Plate Lunch - Photo credit Kendra Murr @kendra.murr

Need somewhere to stay in Kihei or Wailea?

Whenever we had visitors, most choose a vacation rental on the Southside. You can find a nice condo near the beach for a similar price (and sometimes cheaper) than the resorts in the area. With a condo you can save some cash too by buying local food from the markets mentioned above and cooking some meals on your own.

Maui Brewing Co. | Kihei - Y’all know I love beer and Maui Brewing Co’s Coconut Porter was one of the early craft beers I fell hard for. Their Kihei location is amazing because it is huge and almost the entire place is open air. The vibe is casual and the food is great. and they have an eclectic booze menu thanks to their housemade seltzers and spirits. They are always pouring their flagships like the Big Swell IPA and Coconut Porter but you’ll find experimental beers on tap here as well. In addition to beer, you’ll find housemade hard seltzers, and cocktails featuring their line of spirits. We usually get pork sliders or pork nachos but they have great burgers, salads, and more.

Monkeypod Kitchen | Wailea - We ate here so often on our most recent trip for two reasons; the food and drinks are delicious and no reservations are allowed. Wailea is so much busier these days and to get a table in most restaurants you need a reservation. We like to do a few nice dinners but reservations can be limiting when it comes to your time exploring the island or leisurely beach days. Monkeypod is awesome because you just walk up to the host, put your name down, and receive a call when you’re table is ready. Don’t go too far if you have a small party because sometimes you’ll get seated early. If you need a snack or have hangry kids, grab something at Island Gourmet Market underneath Monkeypod. We usually would order a bunch of appetizers to share or a few pizzas with salad. It’s all good! If it’s your first time, you must try the mai tai with lilikoi foam.

Matteo’s Osteria | Wailea - In case you get sick of eating fish, go to Matteo’s in Wailea for authentic Italian food. This open-air restaurant overlooking the Wailea golf course is perfect for families or a late romantic dinner. We usually ordered pizza and salads, but their homemade pasta is also excellent. Don’t forget an affogato for dessert. Make reservations if you’re dining in. Maui has gotten notably busier post lockdown and it’s hard to get a table if you walk in. You can order takeout from here too!

Pita Paradise | Wailea - This spot has some of the best Mediterranean food I’ve ever had. Pita Paradise serves the classics like hummus and Greek Salad but the star is the owner caught fresh fish they feature. My go-to order was the fresh catch pita sandwich topped with Mediterranean slaw, roasted peppers and dill scallionaise wrapped in house-made pita bread. OMG. They’re open for lunch and dinner.

Upcountry Maui Restaurants

Restaurant Marlow - Neopolitan-style sourdough pizza topped with local ingredients? Yes, please. Marlow was another recommendation from cousin Lucy and it was a winner. We stay on the south side of the island so this was a great lunch spot before exploring upcountry. We tried just about everything and loved it all!

Kula Lodge | Kula - This was a favorite pit stop for drinks and appetizers on the way up or down from Haleakala National Park. The highlight is the Kula Lodge patio is built into the side of the mountain and features a wood-burning pizza oven and wide-open views of Maui’s west side.

Hali'imaile General Store | Hali’imaile - This one is actually en route to Upcountry Maui but close enough. Located in the middle of the island is a 19th-century pineapple plantation building, Hali'imaile is an award-winning farm-to-table restaurant, way before the popular trend. There’s not much to the tiny town of Hali'imaile but their coconut seafood curry is worth the trip. Oh, and don’t miss their Mai Tai. It’s frozen and blended with fresh lime and lilikoi - out of this world!

Westside Maui Restaurants

Sunrise Cafe | Lahaina - The food is cheap and the plates are huge. I love breakfast food and Sunrise Cafe does it right! We would head here after surfing on the west side often and split a breakfast burrito and pineapple boat loaded with fruit. Grab a seat on the patio and take in the ocean view. This spot is cash only so come prepared.

Mala Ocean Tavern | Lahaina - I LOVE Mala Ocean Tavern. When we lived there it was located on the Southside and has since relocated to Lahaina. For starters, the watermelon salad is the most refreshing dish while the ahi bruschetta is a yummy light bite, but full of flavor. For mains, you cannot go wrong with any of the locally caught fish; my favorites were the ahi tuna and the whole wok-fried fish.

Leilani’s on the Beach | Kaanapali - Located on the beach at Wailer’s Village, Leilani’s is a great place to have drinks and appetizers on the beach after a day of shopping or snorkeling. Ryan and I used to go on this snorkeling trip often and we’d head to the Leilani’s bar afterwards for Aloha (happy) hour specials like ceviche and pulled pork sliders.

Maui Brewing Co Pub | Kahana - This was our spot. We both worked on the westside for a time and we’d often meet at Maui Brewing’s pub after work. The vibe here is so chill; we fell in love with their beer, food, and people from the get go. Head to the pub to sample their latest beers and one of the best burgers ever made with local Maui beef.

Check out these hotels in the Lahaina area.

Markets & Farm Stands in Maui

There is no shortage of delicious food in Maui but eating solely at restaurants adds up quick! If you want to stick to a budget, check out the local markets and farm stands to save without sacrificing taste. One of my go-to meals was poke from our local grocery store. Poke, Hawaiian for “to slice,” is an iconic dish in Hawaii made with fish (the most common is ahi tuna), soy sauce, sesame oil, and onion. You can find the poke in most grocery stores and markets and it is seriously one of the best things to eat. We often get a tuna poke and salmon or octopus, seaweed salad, and a six-pack of beer and head straight to the beach.

A Guide to the Best Food in Maui: Written by an Ex-Resident. Photo credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority

Tradewinds Deli | Ma’alaea - We lived in Ma’alaea for a year and discovered Tradewinds Deli next door to our condo. It’s a general store and deli that is a popular pit stop if you’re heading out for a snorkel cruise to Molokini or a ride with the Pacific Whale Foundation. They make delicious deli sandwiches, Hawaiian favorites like chicken katsu, and spam musubi (griddled spam sushi-style). They also have excellent produce from Upcountry like apple bananas, papaya, and avocado.

Olowalu Fruit Stand | Olowalu - This stand is en route from Ma’alaea to Lahaina and there happen to be some great surf spots there. If you’re in need of a snack while you’re out on the water, head here for a smoothie.

Best Food in Maui: An Ex-Resident’s Guide. Photo credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority

Mana Foods | Paia - Mana Foods has to be one of the best health food stores I’ve ever seen. If you’re staying on the North Shore or just happen to be in Paia for the day, it’s a great spot to stock your vacation rental or pick up a quick and delicious lunch to take to the beach. Visit the deli for fresh salads and sandwiches or the bakery for a sweet treat. The produce section is about 50% locally-sourced goodness and the bulk goods department is the largest in all of Hawaii. I worked at a gallery in Paia for a few months and went to Mana often for snacks like homemade granola, dried chili mango, and crystalized ginger dipped in dark chocolate.

Twin Falls Fruit Stand | Twin Falls If you’re traveling the famous Road to Hana, this is likely going to be one of your first pit stops. They serve acai bowls, smoothies, famous banana bread, fresh coconut water, and more.

Farmers Market Haul - Photo credit my beautiful cousin Lucy Thompson @lucy.soulshine

Places I want to try on my next trip

Tin Roof | Kahului - authentic Hawaiian cuisine that locals love. EVERYONE tells me to go there and I can’t wait to try it next time

Humbowl Wagon | Makawao - Acai bowls that look so freaking good!

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A Maui Foodie Guide written by an ex-resident. Photo credit: Kendra Murr