A trip to Maui wouldn’t be complete without a visit to these favorite spots. Everyone goes on and on about Mama’s Fish House, and yes, it is great, and you will be treated very well and have a nice memory to walk away with. The experience is worth the money and that’s what you pay for. Is it the best on the island, though? Depends on your preferences. The below are my favorites for experience, flavor, value, and best overall feeling when I leave.
Shave Ice
Nope, not “shaved” ice – I didn’t spell it wrong. It’s Shave Ice. And it’s more popular than ice cream. Lots of places have it, and only one place does it like a boss. Think – snow cone on steroids.
My favorite, Ululani’s is staffed with friendly teenagers and young people that know how to make you the tastiest treat you’ll ever have. For my 40th birthday, I had a shave ice, not cake. They have multiple locations, but the best one is in Kihei.
Lil advice? Get the three flavors you want the most (for me it’s guava, passionfruit, and pineapple), with macadamia nut ice cream on the bottom, snow cap and coconut shavings on top. Decadent… amazeballs.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in North Kihei: https://g.page/Ululanis
Açai Bowls
My favorite is hands-down, Paia Bowls in Paia. It feels uniquely Hawaiian, it’s tucked back from the road, the flavors are great, the pricing is reasonable, the staff is great… and as an added bonus, there are *always* those adorable little green Madacasgar Gold Dust geckos hanging out nearby. They’re so fun to be around, don’t bite, and aren’t very shy (great for pics!)
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Paia: https://g.page/Paiabowls
Freshest Fish Lunch and Dinner
Paia Fish Market is one of my two favorites. I prefer it to Mama’s actually. They’re on the expensive side, but worth it. You’ll drop $60 for a 2-person lunch (I’m not kidding), but the flavors, the freshness, and everything will be flawless. I’m partial to the one in Kihei (I lived in Kihei, but also they’ve got the most outdoor seating).
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://goo.gl/maps/WrXn7qWCLj4zDaAG8
My other favorite is Coconut’s Fish Café (and in truth, my #1). Everything they have is fresh and their coconut shrimp is incredible. Their prices are more reasonable than Paia Fish Company, and the freshness is equal. I routinely got the Mahi salad, cajun style. Juicy, fresh, tasty, and absolute perfection.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://goo.gl/maps/d9TBrqrWzx1U9xuW7
Coffee
Skip Starbucks. They’ve got enough money. Akamai coffee (parking in the back) is an incredible place that’s super cute and great pricing. Owned by locals, it’s a great place to spend a little time, get a great beverage, and friendly service.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://goo.gl/maps/nG71Vv3WtkpbLZry8
Also noteworthy is Kraken Coffee. My husband was a huge fan, but I never tried it. Call me lazy. I think you’ll love it though. He always raved about the place. Multiple locations also.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kahului: https://goo.gl/maps/B4MixbuzEKCehxRs7
Thai
It needs its own category because it’s that good.
Aloha Thai Fusion food trucks. They have a few; one right next to Kam1 beach. Amazing.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://goo.gl/maps/zB1qAKx825jhLfTh9
Thai Mee Up food trucks; this one is next to Costco in Kahului. Amazing.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kahului: https://goo.gl/maps/jrJ7zdg5F6aNqSLn7
Maui Thai Bistro in Kihei. This one is a great brick-and-mortar location with a great selection of curries. Amazing.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://g.page/MauiThaiBistro
Best on the island. If you want Pad Thai (and I am a fan, I must admit…), these three will knock your socks off.
Sushi
Full disclosure: I am PICKY about Sushi. One bad bite and your stomach will be repulsed by sushi for months, years, or even a lifetime. I’ve had a lot of sushi on Maui. These are the ones I can enthusiastically say were consistently fresh, delicious, and priced fairly.
Isana in North Kihei has incredible flavors and is very very fresh. It’s not in an area where you’d expect to find restaurants, so pay attention. Once you know it and love it, you’ll be back. Reasonable prices.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://g.page/IsanaMaui
Miso Phat is so good and I’ve never been disappointed. Fresh, friendly and creative. Lots of restaurants nearby and reasonable prices also. Small dining room, but so fun! Has a location in Lahaina as well.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://g.page/misophatkihei
and… you’re not gonna believe this but…
The grocery stores offer some great options at lower prices. Check Safeway and WholeFoods for your best options. Pro Tip: let it get to room temperature before you eat it. About 30-45 minutes for the best texture and flavor.
Poke
Now let me give you a little education. Poke doesn’t rhyme with yolk. It also doesn’t rhyme with hokey pokey. It rhymes with okay, accent on the first syllable. Say it with me now… POKE-ay. Look at you, killin it like a local! Poke is the Hawaiian staple for fresh fish and bomb flavors. Two places on the island do it best, and lots of others are worthy competitors. You can get it at most grocery stores and get it by the pound. Want your taste buds to do a happy dance? Try these two:
Eskimo Candy in Kihei is hands-down the best on island, and it’s tucked away on a little side street. Sometimes poke can turn your stomach because you get something that’s not 100% fresh. These folks fish daily and you will never get anything less than 100%. Inexplicably, their prices are great for what you get. Get the poke bowl. You’ll get all 4 flavors of poke and have a very full, very happy tummy.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://g.page/eskimocandy
If you’re more of the grab-and-go kind of person, Tamura’s Liquor store is famous for their poke selection. Wait, a liquor store? Yep. Good prices on hooch and famous for poke for a reason. They have multiple locations.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://goo.gl/maps/Rem6TZ6b5JWmkxJB8
Ocean-Front Dining
There are actually a lot of options. Here’s the list on Google. Some of them allow you to see the ocean a little from where you are and the ocean is WAY across the street, others are right on the water. Look at the pictures to find what you want.
These are the ones I like the most for varied reasons, and these all have incredible ocean views, with the property being right on the water.
Monkeypod Kitchen became my favorite restaurant after my true favorite closed permanently mid-pandemic in 2020 (The Mill House). The food is great. The drinks are off-the-hook amazing, and the happy hour pricing (3:30 -5:00) makes it all even more fun. The service is great. My home was in Kihei, and there’s one there and in Lahaina (ocean views!).
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://goo.gl/maps/e6ZBhwCUdK9qMzCH7
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Ka’anapali: https://goo.gl/maps/gdYBbJM7jtHW6Da57
They’re both worth visiting!
Five Palms in Kihei. My favorite aspects of this place are the cocktails, service and the views. There aren’t many options for ocean-front dining in Kihei, which is why this had to make the list.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Kihei: https://goo.gl/maps/DkLY2pBxyu3JcvdK8
Spago at the Four Seasons is elegant and fancy, and worth every penny. Incredible views (even though you’re set back on the property – you’d never know it), food, service, and you will 100% pay for what you get, and 100% get what you pay for.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Wailea: https://goo.gl/maps/PggC4AHZZV8zLCVb8
Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina has an epic brunch. Go. Sit. Enjoy. You will be so close to the water that you may get splashed.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Lahaina: https://goo.gl/maps/3h25EPtHTAow9Doo6
Star Noodle in Lahaina has incredible Asian-inspired dishes and noodles. Amazing cocktails too. You’ll want to eat everything, and I highly recommend it.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Lahaina: https://goo.gl/maps/HQXaVJEAk8uZQeyc7
Frida’s Beach House is Mexican and has a great tequila list. I love the food and the service is amazing. Love this place.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Lahaina: https://g.page/FridasMaui
Sea House Restaurant in Napili has great cocktails and a lovely view. Bit of a walk to get there, but worth it. Very friendly service. The food is good, I’ve been happy every time.
Open this link on your phone to get directions to this spot in Lahaina: https://goo.gl/maps/o4K9jxGhNw1bErjy5
