Must-see restaurants in Maui

  • Mama’s Fish House

    North Shore & Upcountry

    Mama’s is a South Seas dream: superb food, top-notch service and a gorgeous seaside setting. The fish is literally fresh off the boat ­‒ staff can even…

  • NyloS Restaurant

    North Shore & Upcountry

    With only half a dozen tables, this excellent, intimate American fine-dining restaurant in Paʻia feels like a local supper club. The clean white room is…

  • Restaurant at Hotel Wailea

    Kihei & South Maui

    Sunsets put on an astounding performance at this romantic hilltop hideaway, the only Relais & Châteaux restaurant in Hawaii. Helmed by chef Zach Sato, a…

  • Geste Shrimp Truck

    Kahului

    Beside Kahului Harbor, this small white food truck, emblazoned with a giant shrimp, serves the tastiest shrimp on Maui – maybe even the world! A dozen…

  • Nuka

    North Shore & Upcountry

    One of Maui’s best dining options marries a traditional Japanese restaurant with an elegant-casual dining room. Order classics such as sushi and tempura,…

  • Tin Roof

    Kahului

    This creation by celebrity chef Sheldon Simeon proves that a restaurant can be successful no matter the venue – in this case a tin-roofed outlet next to…

  • Haliʻimaile General Store

    North Shore & Upcountry

    The culinary sorceress behind this destination dining spot is chef Bev Gannon, one of the forces behind the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement. In-the-know…

  • Hana Farms Grill

    Hana & East Maui

    Behind the Hana Farms stand, this little gem is the local choice for a lunch stop. It serves fresh seafood plates – with lilikoʻi (passion fruit) butter,…

  • Monkeypod Kitchen

    Kihei & South Maui

    Happy hours are crowded but convivial at this ever-popular venture from chef Peter Merriman, where the staff, your fellow drinkers and the 36 craft beers…

  • Shaka Pops

    Hana & East Maui

    A friendly shaka wave greets travelers passing this happy mobile tricycle, where frozen treats-on-a-stick come in fresh, tropical flavors from Lilikoʻi…

  • Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop

    West Maui

    Wear your stretchy pants to Leoda’s. Diet-busters at this simple-but-stylish restaurant include savory pot pies, topping-laden burgers and rich sandwiches…

  • Thai Food by Pranee

    Hana & East Maui

    Hana’s ever-popular Thai lunch is served from an oversize food truck surrounded by picnic tables. Step up to the counter for a large and tasty meal,…

  • Aunty Sandy's Banana Bread

    The Road to Hana

    ‘Da best’ banana bread on the entire Road to Hana is baked fresh every morning by Aunty Sandy and her crew, and it's so good you’ll find as many locals as…

  • Tobi's Shave Ice

    North Shore & Upcountry

    Come for the shave ice (flavors: tiger's blood, blue vanilla, sour grape and more), but stay for the poke. The raw-fish dish at this low-frills joint is…

  • Paʻia Fish Market Restaurant

    North Shore & Upcountry

    The communal picnic tables are perpetually packed inside this consistent and longtime favorite, where the fish is always fresh, tasty and affordable. Ono…

  • Maui Chef's Table

    ʻIao Valley & Central Maui

    In one of the priciest but most memorable dining experiences you're likely to have on Maui, gourmet fare is whipped up by the top chefs of the Mill House…

  • Bistro Casanova

    Kahului

    An offshoot of the popular Casanova in Makawao, this is Kahului’s classiest dining option. Seafood and steaks are great quality and come with plenty of…

  • 808 Grindz Cafe

    Lahaina

    This is the Maui we love. Ono kine grinds (good food), budget-friendly prices and down-home aloha. This reincarnation of the beloved North Shore Cafe in…

  • Lahaina Grill

    Lahaina

    The windows at the Lahaina Grill frame a simple but captivating tableau: beautiful food being enjoyed in beautiful surrounds. Once inside, expectations…

  • Upcountry Farmers Market

    North Shore & Upcountry

    It's a rainbow of color at this happening farmers market: yellow apple-bananas, orange carrots, green broccoli, red strawberries. Plus starfruit, avocados…

  • Kula Lodge Restaurant

    North Shore & Upcountry

    Assisted by its staggering view, one of the best of any Maui restaurant, veteran chef Marc McDowell has the kitchen humming to a farm-to-table variety…

  • Maʻalaea General Store & Cafe

    ʻIao Valley & Central Maui

    Located in the only building left from the days when Maʻalaea was a small Japanese fishing village, this friendly general store and cafe offers locally…

  • Star Noodle

    Lahaina

    This hillside hot spot is constantly busy – and rightly so. Inside this sleek noodle shop, grazers can nibble on an eclectic array of Asian-fusion share…

  • Nalu's South Shore Grill

    Kihei

    This open-air eatery may sit in a strip mall, but the decor embraces all things Hawaiian, from the koa canoe hanging overhead to the enormous beach photos…

  • Pa‘ia Fish Market Southside

    Kihei

    Word is out about this fantastic seafood joint, a spinoff from the popular Pa‘ia Fish Market in the Upcountry. Across the street from Kalama Park, the…

  • Kula Bistro

    North Shore & Upcountry

    This superb family-owned bistro offers a friendly retro dining room, sparkling service and delicious home cooking, including fabulous pizza, pasta and…

  • Café O’Lei

    Kihei

    This strip-mall bistro looks ho-hum at first blush. But step inside: the sophisticated atmosphere, innovative Hawaii Regional Cuisine, honest prices and…

  • Moku Roots

    Lahaina

    This small but snazzy vegan restaurant is garnering kudos across Maui. With a commitment to zero waste, evidenced by cloth napkins and no single-use items…

  • Joey's Kitchen Napili

    West Maui

    If chef Joey Macadangdang is working the counter, grab a seat and let him tell you what's fresh and what's good. But really, it's all good. Macadangdang…

  • Sam Sato’s

    ʻIao Valley & Central Maui

    On busy days, Sam Sato's may use 350lb of noodles to keep the crowds sated. A Hawaii classic, this retro diner packs them in with steaming bowls of…

  • Coconut Glen’s

    The Road to Hana

    From his inviting roadside food truck Coconut Glen (aka Glen Simkins) is trying to ‘change the world one scoop at time.’ Pull over for his rather good 100…

  • Aʻa Roots

    West Maui

    There are lots of 'Hey babes' flying around between owners and regulars at this welcoming place, where bronzed and waifish surfer girls and health-minded…

  • Hula Grill & Barefoot Bar

    West Maui

    Coconut-frond umbrellas, sand beneath your sandals, guy strumming guitar. The Barefoot Bar is the best spot on the beach walk to sip mai tais and nibble…

  • Hana Pizza Company

    The Road to Hana

    This sophisticated street-side stall is a welcome break for road trippers on their way to Hana. Hardworking pizza chefs cook fresh, 10in island-style…

  • Grandma’s Coffee House

    North Shore & Upcountry

    Worthy of a Norman Rockwell painting, this charming island landmark with its creaking screen door and carved wooden tables grows its own coffee and dishes…

  • Hana Huli Huli BBQ

    The Road to Hana

    The smell in the air tempts you in before you've even parked your car. The flavorsome chicken and pork ribs are cage-grilled over an open fire and turned…

  • Veg Out

    North Shore & Upcountry

    Tucked inside a former warehouse, this rasta-casual vegetarian eatery serves up a dynamite burrito loaded with beans, hot tofu and jalapeños. Also right…

  • Mill House

    ʻIao Valley & Central Maui

    With an emphasis on local farm-fresh food and set in an upmarket farmhouse, the Mill House restaurant is impress-your-friends-dining without being stuffy…

  • Farmacy Health Bar

    ʻIao Valley & Central Maui

    The acai creations are so cold they chill your teeth at this counter-serve eatery where you'll feel invigorated just reading the menu. Smoothies are…

  • Gazebo

    West Maui

    A wait is inevitable, and you'll need to queue by 6:45am (!) to nab a table here at the 7:30am opening. But the wait is worth it for this beloved open-air…