Maui Dining Suggestions
MAUI RESTAURANTS & EATERIES THAT WE FEEL ARE WORTHY OF YOUR CONSIDERATION!
("WE'RE NOT FOOD CRITICS, BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE LIKE.")
Our personal favorites are in green lettering...
All listings are displayed alphabetically...
.
"Cheap!" "Inexpensive" "Moderate" "High!"
The above color coding is intended to serve as a "relative" guide only - i.e. a $12 cheeseburger is "High!" while a $4.95 cheeseburger is "Inexpensive."
Bon Appetit! Enjoy!
.Back to the maui-angels.com index page...
. . . New 2 Us . . .
Our two most recent "dishcoveries."
Kihei:
WokStar
International Noodle Café 1913
S. Kihei Rd. (next door to "Life's A Beach.") 495-0066
The
menu proclaims "Simple ... yet unique" which I found
to be quite true! Open only a few weeks (as I
write
this), the buzz on the street is strong, and
well warranted! Their offerings are somewhat limited,
but
the four dishes we tried were all exceptionally good; a yummy chicken satay,
chicken pot stickers
with
a tasty Thai chili aioli for dipping, a Thai red curry with beef over rice
and their "Indo
Peanut
Stir
Fry" featuring sautéed veggies and shrimp in a spicy peanut
sauce with thick egg noodles
topped
with cilantro and bean sprouts. Open daily, 7AM to
Midnight (!),
this smallish,
semi-open-air
place is "happening"
and packing them in! (OK to BYOB)
Pa'ia:
The
Flatbread Company 89 Hana Highway
- 579-8989 Open daily from 11:30AM 'til 10PM The Maui
location
is one of seven restaurants in the chain, the other six are all in (and
all over) New England. (Great
way
for management to write off a trip to Maui to avoid those cold NE winters!)
There's a Hawaiian word,
"pono,"
that translates as "righteous" or "to do right." This is one pono outfit,
beyond any doubt, and
without
exaggeration! So, what exactly is a 'flatbread?' Essentially, a pizza by
any other name, but their
"pizzas"
are far better than, and very different from, most others I've ever had!
So, without belaboring
this
any longer, let me send you to their web
site....it'll save me from writing a much longer overview!
BTW,
Pa'ia is a former sugar plantation town, now a center for "ocean sports"
here on the Island. As
such,
it's a great people watching town! Well worth a visit whether you dine
there or not!
We wouldn't normally post a listing here for a "neighbor island" restaurant, but there's
one in Honolulu (Waikiki) we feel you should be aware of, on the chance you might
have an opportunity to go there someday. It's called Eggs 'n Things, and, as the name
implies, it's more of a "breakfast" place - one of our all-time faves anywhere! Visit
their website for the location, their "unusual" business hours & their yummy menu!
If you do find yourself dining there, be sure to give them our warmest Aloha!
Wailuku: A Saigon Café 1792 Main St, 243-9560 The Island's very best
Vietnamese cuisine. (Possibly the most popular "local" restaurant on the
island!) Note: they don't have a sign on the outside of the building - just
a neon "open" sign at the entrance. Highly recommended.
Wailuku:
A.K.'s Café 1237 Lower Main
St. 244-8774 Creative
dishes
with a local flair. Chef/Owner Elaine Rothermal has
managed
to cram a lot of value into her extensive menu. Out
of
the way but well worth finding. To quote Elaine, "Eat Better!"
A.K.'s
on the Web
Kihei:
Aroma
D'Italia Ristorante Foodland Shopping
Ctr, S. Kihei
Road,
879-0133. A "homey" dining room with some outdoor
seating.
Old-world service, delicious Italian cuisine and great
desserts
- all at remarkably fair prices! Open nightly.
Kahului:
Auntie
Pasto's Restaurant Ground level
at Queen Ka'ahumanu
Center
(near Sears) 877-8711 A Maui addition to a small O'ahu "chain,"
this
relatively new eatery serves great "Italian/American" dishes, from
pizzas
to you-name-it! Perfect for the entire family! Go HERE
for
further
information...
Kahului:
Ba
Le French Sandwich & Bakery
Food Court at Maui
Marketplace,
270 Dairy Rd. next to Sports Authority. 877-2400
Despite
its name, Ba Le is essentially a very good Vietnamese "fast
food" restaurant. They
also serve a variety of tasty sandwiches served
on delicious "homemade"
French rolls. Recommended for their
French pastries, too.
Kihei:
Café O'Lei Kihei ,
2439 S. Kihei Rd. (upstairs at the Rainbow Mall)
This
is the latest (and greatest!) in a series of superb Maui restaurants
owned
by Michael & Dana Pastula, all noted for top notch
cuisine at
moderate
prices. This latest endeavor will surely make all the others
pale
by comparison - believe it! Serving local seafood, steaks, sushi,
and
one of our "Top-5" favorite desserts, a delightful Kona Coffee
Creme
Brulée! Open for lunch and dinner daily except
Mondays.
Dinner
reservations are strongly recommended, 891-1368.
Kahului: Café
O'Lei at The Dunes @ the Maui Lani Golf Course pro shop (enter
off
Hwy. 380) Innovative
preparation of traditional local and "American" favorites.
Open for breakfast, lunch
and dinner. 877-0073
dunesatmauilani.com
Makawao:
Casanova
Italian Restaurant & Deli
1188 Makawao
Ave,
572-0220.
Good Italian food and pizzas, plus live (often
"big
name") musical entertainment on the weekends.
(Tip:
Check out their very cool tee-shirts!)
casanovamaui.com
Pa'ia: Charley's
Restaurant 142 Hana Highway, 579-9453.
If heading to the
top of Haleakala, or on your way to Hana,
Charley's is the
place to stop for breakfast. This is also
where
part-time Maui resident
Willie Nelson and his friends often
hold impromptu back bar
jam sessions. A very casual, fun
experience. Darn good
for breakfast, just "OK" otherwise.
Kahana:The
China Boat 4474 Lower Honoapi'ilani
Road, 669-5089.
One
of our favorite Chinese restaurants. A comfortable and pleasant
environment.
Recommended. New!
Try their "sister" restaurant,The
China
Bowl, along Hwy 30 in Ka'anapali, at the
Fairway Shops "mall."
A
little more casual, with a "smaller" menu than China Boat's.
Lahaina: CJ's
Deli & Diner aka "The Comfort Zone" 2580
Keka'a Dr. in
the
The Fairway Shops at Ka'anapali Resort. 667-0968 Open daily from
6:30
AM 'til 7:30 PM for breakfast, lunch & dinner...especially
noted for
their
"onolicious" burgers! Visit
cjsmaui.com
to learn more . . .
Wailea:
Capische?
at
the Diamond Resort, 555 Kaukahi Rd. 879-2224. Opened in 2002, it took us
awhile
to finally dine here. It was worth the wait! Certainly one of the most
romantic restaurants
on
the island, with one of the very best wine lists, too. Featuring fine Northern
Italian cusine (with
subtle
French influences), nearly every seat in the house has a panoramic view
of the south Maui
coast.
Great food, great service! Go to their web
site to lean more...
Kihei:
Dina's
SandWitch at the Sugar Beach Resort,
145 N. Kihei Rd.
This
is a "smallish" place that's more a local bar that serves truly GREAT
sandwiches
&
pupus! (Homemade pasta dinners every other Wednesday.)
Call
879-3262 for orders to go...
Kahului: Down
to Earth Natural Foods &
Café , 305 Dairy Rd. (across
from
Starbucks.) Vegetarian dishes plus "healthy" baked goods & pastries.
Kihei:
East
Ocean Chinese Restaurant 2463 S
Kihei Rd - 879 1988 The following quote is from an online review
that
someone
else posted, but it says almost exactly what we would've said had
we not found it first! "I am generally leery
of
strip mall establishments, but step inside East Ocean in Kihei and you
discover this beautifully appointed restaurant.
East
Ocean is located on the second floor of the Kamaole Shopping Ctr, adjacent
to a Denny's. The food is marvelous,
the
service attentive & the prices reasonable. It's
the best Chinese food I've had outside of Chinatown in San Francisco."
Our
thoughts precisely, especially the Chinatown/SF reference!
Kihei:
Fat
Daddy's Smokehouse Bar-B-Q
1913 S. Kihei Rd. 879 8711 - Delicious Texas-style
BBQ
prepared from old family recipes. This place is small, casual and worth
checking out.
Open
11AM to Midnight, seven days a week.
Napili:
Fish & Poi at the Napili Shores condos, 5315
Lower Honoapi'ilani Rd.
Despite
its name, this isn't a "Hawaiian" restaurant. However, it is a good
fish
house
- well worth a visit. Nice ambiance, and good (i.e., low) prices, too!
cafeoleirestaurants.com/fishandpoi
Lahaina: Front
Street Grill and Bar, 672 Front St, 662-3003
Serving
Lunch & Dinner, from 11AM 'til 10PM - Upstairs location
overlooking
Lahaina's famed banyan tree, a short block from the
harbor.
A moderately priced menu featuring tasty local seafood,
BBQ,
steaks and chicken entrees.
Napili:
The
Gazebo, overlooking the ocean at the Napili
Shores
Condominium, 5315 Lower Honoapi'ilani Rd.
A wonderful, fun place for breakfast and lunch!
Open
seven days a week from 7:30AM - 2:00PM
Lahaina: Gerard's
174
Lahainaluna Road, just off Front St.
Delicious French
cuisine in a lovely, intimate atmosphere.
Open for dinner
from 6PM Reservations 661-8939
gerardsmaui.com
Kihei:
The
Greek Bistro 2511 S. Kihei Rd., 879-9330 Tasty Greek
and Mediterranean-style
dishes. Indoor/outdoor seating.
Upcountry: Hali'imaile
General Store 900 Hali'imaile Rd, 572-2666.
Famous for Chef Bev Gannon's
crab pizza and tasty Hawai'i regional
treats to delight your
palette. Located in a former plantation camp
store, and well worth
the drive to beautiful upcountry Maui! Visit
their website
for directions, open/close hours and such.
Lahaina: Hecocks
"Oceanfront Dining" 505
Front St. 661-8810
"Sort
of Italian" featuring old family recipies with an emphasis on
seafood
and steaks. Nightly specials include Alaskan King Crab,
Live
Maine Lobster and Prime Rib dinners at remarkably low
prices.
Open for breakfast ('til 1:30 PM), lunch and dinner.
Ka'anapali: Hula
Grill at Whalers Village Shopping Center.
On the most popular beach
on the Island. Recommended for
local "catch of the day"
fish entrees. Lots of vintage Hawaiian
collectibles used in
the decor. 667-6636 for reservations.
Lahaina: Kobe
Japanese Steak House, 136 Dickenson St. 667-5555.
Featuring teppanyaki-style
food preparation, and a great sushi bar.
Gets our "yum! yum! yum!"
rating without question!
Upcountry: Kula
Lodge & Restaurant Haleakala Hwy. 878-1535
Well established dining
room, good food, exceptional views.
Lahaina: Lahaina
Coolers 180 Dickenson St., 661-7082
Open 8AM 'til 2AM, full
menu served 'til Midnight.
Creative menu in a room
with a casual, "surfer" feel.
Kahului:
Las
Piñatas of Maui 395 Dairy Road
(near airport,next
to
FedEx Kinkos.) Featuring
very good ("sorta mild") Mexican
food
in a casual setting. Open most nights until 8PM
Ma'alaea:
Ma'alaea
Grill 243-2206 Overlooking
scenic Ma'alaea
Harbor
at the Ma'alaea Harbor Shops (next to the Maui Ocean Center
aquarium).
Good food & great views! Open for lunch &
dinner only.
Wailuku:
Main
Street Bistro 12051 Main St. Open
Mon/Fri, 11am to 7pm 244-6816.
This
isn't a new restaurant, per se, but it is new to us. Very popular for lunch
since it's very
near
government offices and the court house. They serve a number of daily luncheon
specials,
and
for the "dinner crowd," a tasty selection of tapas-style dishes of all
kinds. The downside is,
they
close at 7pm, making it quite difficult for us to get there before they
close. Read what
Frommer's
has to say about the place (but ignore the hours of operation they show).
Makawao: Makawao
Steak House, 3612 Baldwin Avenue, 572-8711.
A local favorite; open
nightly for dinner (and lunch, M/F only).
Lahaina: Mala
"An
Ocean Tavern" 1307 Front St. (behind Safeway) 667-9394 - Reservations
suggested
for larger parties. Chef Mark Ellman's latest venture. "Very hip" best
describes this
new
eatery. A wine bar/tapas kind of place. We enjoyed their crunchy calamari,
rich potato
soup,
homemade totilla chips & guacamole, an excellent Kobe beef cheeseburger
with "pom
frittes,"
and an absolutely "killer" flan for dessert! Highly recommended! Open for
lunch &
dinner,
Mon/Fri, dinner only Sat/Sun. (Now open at the Marriott Wailea Resort,
too!)
See
photo...
Kahului: Mañana
Garage 33 Lono Ave. (Old Kahului Shopping
Center) 873-0220
Trendy decor with a fine variety of delicious
Latin American-influenced
dishes. Highly recommended.
Kahului: Marco's
Grill & Deli Dairy Rd. at Hana Hwy. 877-4446
Another very good Italian
eatery. The closest restaurant to Maui's main
airport. Open daily for
breakfast, lunch & dinner
- 7:30AM 'til 10PM.
Wailuku: Maui
Bake Shop 2092 Vineyard Street, 242-0064. Delicious baked
goods, along with great
sandwiches, soups and salads. Eat in or take out.
Open 6:30 AM to 2:30
PM M/F ~ 7:00 'til 1:00 on Saturday.
Kahului:
Maui
Coffee Roasters 444 Hana Hwy., 877-2877
Espresso,
pastries and other light fare. Open "early" until
late
afternoon. Retail sales of whole bean and ground
"gourmet"
coffees, roasted on the premises.
hawaiiancoffee.com
Makena: The
Maui Prince Hotel, 5400 Makena Alanui, 874-1111.
Featuring three good
restaurants: Prince Court: An elegant
dining room
with a delightful menu
and a great wine list. (Both resort and formal
attire would be appropriate
here.) Voted the best Sunday Brunch on the
island! Hakone:
A traditional Japanese restaurant, one of Maui's very
best. Superb sushi bar.
Café
Kiowai: For more casual dining - located
next to colorful koi
fishponds.
Wailea:
Matteo's
Pizza & Pasta 100 Wailea Ike Dr. (near
the Shops at Wailea) 874-1234
This
eatery has some of the best, and most inexpensive, Italian cuisine found
anywhere on
the
Island. Their 10" "personal pizzas" (from $8.00) offer a clue here. We
enjoyed a great
spinach
salad, and a small, but very tasty, meatball sub in addition to the aforementioned
pizzas
we tried on our second visit. Here you place your order at the counter,
when you
enter
the restaurant, and your meal is served to you at both indoor and lanai
tables.
Open
Mon through Sat, 11am 'til 10pm
Island-wide: Maui
Tacos Fresh Maui-style Mex made with "healthy"
ingredients. Locations
in Kihei,
Kahului,
Lahaina and Napili.
mauitacos.com
Pa'ia: Moana
Bakery & Café two blocks up Baldwin Ave. from
Hana Hwy.
Open for breakfast, lunch
and dinner. Innovative menu, casual dining and
a very good bakery, too.
(Live entertainment on selected nights.)
Call for more info: 579-9999
~ 71 Baldwin Ave.
moanacafe.com
Kihei / Kahana:
Outback
Steakhouses Pi'ilani Shopping Center, Kihei,
879-8400 and 4405
Honoapi'ilani Highway (Kahana Gateway Center)
Kahana, 665-1822. Put
another shrimp on the barbie! For decent steaks
at reasonable prices.
Lahaina:
Penne
Pasta Café Chef Mark Ellman's cozy
Italian eatery.
Very
affordable and very casual."Our favorite
Maui Italian restaurant!"
180
Dickenson St. - 661 6633 Open 'til 9:30 PM daily, 10 PM Fri/Sat.
Check
out their web site for menu
items. etc....
Honokowai:
Pizza
Paradiso, Honokowai Marketplace, 667-2929.
Casual
sit-down
or take-out of delicious pizzas and other Italian treats. Also
serving
premium Roselani "tropical" ice
creams and frozen yogurt.
Kapalua:
The
Plantation House ~ 669-6299
2000 Plantation
Club Drive. Located within the beautiful
Kapalua Resort, this
is the sister restaurant to Wailea's Sea
Watch. The welcoming
ambiance is enhanced with a central
fireplace, extraordinary
views and fine cuisine & wines.
theplantationhouse.com
Kahana:
Roy's
Kahana Bar & Grill at the Kahana Gateway
Center,
4405
Honoapi'ilani Hwy., 669-6999. Roy's offers some of the best fare
on
Maui, and their fabulous
chocolate soufflé dessert is not
to be
missed!
The dining room is big and vibrant--not the place for a quiet,
romantic
dinner…but definitely a place for wonderful food and good
fun!
(This is where we often go to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries!)
Look
for Roy's in
Kihei
at The Pi'ilani Center (across from Safeway.)
roysrestaurant.com
Lahaina:
Ruth's
Chris Steak House 900 Front Street,
661-8815. Generous portions
of exceptional "American" food in
a casual, yet elegant
setting. Voted "best steaks" in local polls.
Also at The Shops
at Wailea shopping center.
Wailuku:
Saeng's
Thai Cuisine 2119 Vineyard Street,
244-1567.
Our
favorite Thai restaurant on Maui, situated in a pretty, semi
open-air
garden setting. Highly recommended.
Kapalua &
Kihei:
Sansei
Restaurant & Sushi Bar Voted "best sushi" in Maui
News' readers'
polls. Superb! The Kapalua location is at Kapalua Shops and
the Kihei location is
at the Foodland Shopping Center. "Heavy discounts"
on sushi for nite owls,
10PM to 2AM.
Kihei: Sarento's
On The Beach 2980 S. Kihei Rd. 875-7555
Located on the ocean
at the Maui Oceanfront Inn. Italian with
an island flair. Great
food, great service, good views!
Wailea:
The
SeaWatch Restaurant 100 Wailea Golf Club Drive,
Located in the clubhouse
for the Gold & Emerald Golf Courses,
this is a beautiful,
airy restaurant with wonderful ocean views
and superb cuisine. Serving
breakfast, lunch (resort attire) & dinner
(casual-dressy to dressy
attire) with spectacular views overlooking the
ocean and the Wailea
Emerald & Gold Golf Courses. Located conveniently
near our favorite beach
locations in the Wailea/Makena area. Private
on-site ceremony locations.
Reservations recommended - 875-8080
seawatchrestaurant.com
Kihei:
Shaka
Sandwich &
Pizza 1770
S. Kihei Rd. 874-0331 Open
daily
10:30 AM to 9 PM (10 O'Clock on Fridays/Saturdays). Noted for
their
"New York style" pizzas and Philly cheese steak sandwiches. Now
in
their new location near the Kukui Mall theaters. Chance 'um, folks!
Honokowai:
SoupNutz
@Java
Jazz in the Honokowai Marketplace,
3350 Lower Honoapi'ilani
Rd. Small cafe and one of Maui's very best
espresso bars, serving
excellent breakfasts, lunches & dinners. Open
Monday-Saturday: 6AM-9PM
(Call for Sunday hours) 667-0787
javajazz.net
Kihei: The
South Shore Tiki Lounge
1913
S. Kihei Rd., adjacent to the Foodland Super
Market.
An unusual bar/lounge/restaurant serving
pizzas,
gourmet sausage sandwiches and one of
Maui's
better cheeseburgers.
southshoretikilounge.com
Wailea:
Wolfgang Puck's Spago
at the Four Seasons Resort Wailea
3900
Wailea Alanui, 874-8000.
Just like L.A! Dinner only.
Kihei: Spices,
2259 S. Kihei Rd. at the Maui Coast Hotel 891 8860
Pleasant
dining rooms with well prepared menu items served ala
carte.Loved
their sausage and kale soup!
spicesmaui.com
Kihei:
Stella
Blues Café Azeka Mauka Shopping
Center. Not a new restaurant,
just
a new location,
better than ever! Great food in a casual indoor/outdoor
setting
that features owner Ray Ennis' wonderful collection of Grateful Dead
memorabilia.
Also popular for breakfast, lunch and vegetarian dishes, too.
Click
here for photos and contact info...
Wailuku: Tokyo
Tei 1063 Lower Main Street, 242-9630.
Good Japanese food in
a casual dining room setting.
Ma'alaea:
The
Waterfront 50 Hauoli St. at Ma'alaea
harbor
244-9028
Nice dining room overlooking a picturesque small boat
harbor
and outdoor seating, too. Excellent seafood and continental
cuisine
plus a superb wine list. Serving lunch and dinner.
Resort-to-dressy attire. waterfrontrestaurant.net
= DA
KINE ONO GRINDS =
(Delicious Local-Style
Foods)
We're often asked where to find "Hawaiian"
restaurants here in Maui.
Sadly, there are no "pure" Hawaiian
restaurants left. However, if you want
to sample a nice mixture of really
ono
local cuisines - Hawaiian, Japanese,
Portuguese, Filipino, Korean, etc.
- there are a number of good (and cheap)
dining establishments that you will
find quite enjoyable if you make
the effort to experience them. The
following seven listings are very
representative of this genre...
Kahului &
Kihei:
Da
Kitchen Triangle Square (Kahului)
871-7782 and
Rainbow
Mall (Kihei) 875-7782. Kahului serves alcohol and has sit-
down
service. Kihei has self-service without beer or wine. The food is
similar
from one to the other but Kahului's menu is more extensive.
(If
you're on a "low salt" or "no salt" diet, be sure to tell 'em so!)
Wailuku:
Fran's
Island Grill 740 Lower Main Street
242-8580
Breakfast
served all day + lunch and dinner, too. Open from
6AM
to 8PM everyday. Small, clean and very popular!
Kahului:
Ichiban
- The Restaurant &
Sushi Bar
Kahului
Shopping Center, 47 Ka'ahumanu Avenue 871-6977.
Good
Japanese, "local" & American food plus a truly
yummy
sushi
bar! Casual setting. Highly recommended!
Wailuku: Sam
Sato's in the Millyard industrial park,
1750 Wili Pa Loop, 244-7124
Breakfast and lunch only.
Good local food, specializing
in noodle dishes.
Wailuku: Tasty
Crust Restaurant Mill Street near Central, 244-0845.
Very casual, very
local - noted for their exceptionally good pancakes
(served anytime), and
well-prepared "local food" of all kinds.
Wailuku: Wei
Wei BBQ & Noodle House, Mill St. at Imi Kala St. 242-7928
Extensive menu with almost
every kind of local dish known to man (and
woman). Open 9:30 AM
to 9 PM daily. Now open in Pukalani, too.
"RETRO
GRINDS"
Maui has two '50s-style
"burger joints" we think are worth a go. Peggy
Sue's, at
the
Azeka Mauka shopping center in Kihei town (across the side street from
Long's
Drugs), and the Cool Cat Café
,
(website)
atop
the Wharf Cinema
Center,
Front St., Lahaina. They both offer classic American fare that
will
surely take you on a time trip "back to the future."
For our listings of recommended
Maui
nightclubs that serve
food, click here.
Please let them know we sent you!
Every attempt has been
made to list restaurants that
are noted for both
the quality of their food and service.
If you feel that things
are not quite "up to par" you owe it
to yourself to inform
management of any dissatisfaction.
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This page was Created
in June, 2002
(C) 2002-2008
by
Seventh
Wave PhotoGraphics
The
Maui-Angels.Com Index Page
.
Please eMail
us with any questions or suggestions for additional listings.
Had a bad dining experience,
please let us know! A listed restaurant
has closed? Let us know
that, too. Mahalo!
Restaurants still in business
that we've removed from this list include . . .
Big
Wave Cafe, The Pu Pu Lounge, Mama's Fish House, Nazo's Restaurant, Fiesta
Time, Mike's Chinese, Krispy Kreme Donuts, Colleen's, Bada Bing
.
ALOHA!
.