Your Favorite Maui Restaurant
 

Please advise, what are your favorite restaurants in Maui. Any detail regarding location, best time to go (breakfast, lunch, dinner), whether there is a great view and favorite menu item would be very much appreciated!

General Store <BR> <BR>Mama's Fish House (DRINKS ONLY!!) - near Paia <BR> <BR>Joe's Bar and Grill (although a friend of mine went there last week and said it wasn't as great as previous times) <BR> <BR>Getting some food from the local store and eating it on the beach while I watch the sunset. . .

I used to go to the 7-11 type stores there and buy the Hawaiian equivalent of the hot dogs and nachos they sell at most places here: Teryiaki chicken or ahi wrapped in rice. I would take it to the beach for lunch! Sure beats what we get on the mainland. Mmmmmmm!

u are so lucky--maui has great food! i live in honolulu and was surprised during a recent trip to find that maui's become something of a magnet for great food, in many ways comparable to honolulu. <BR> <BR>haliimaile general store--no view here; it's in a tiny town on haleakala in the middle of cane fields, but the chef is nationally known and it's been a local favorite for years. the hoisin-sauce lamb is to die for and better than any other lamb preparation i've had. the duck taco w/ slaw, dried cherries and cracklins was up there too. famous for mango margaritas. i wasn't too thrilled w/ any of the fish or desserts i tried. <BR> <BR>mama's fish house--in paia, w/ a great view of a lovely beach and windsurfers, so you need to go for lunch or an early dinner, or all you'll see is flaming tiki torches against the night. fresh fish caught daily by their own boats. i'd go w/ the server's suggestions, but on the day i went, the mahimahi in a butter-caper-garlic-white wine sauce melted in my mouth. very popular and you may need reservations. <BR> <BR>merriman's bamboo bistro--at maalaea, between lahaina/kaanapali and anywhere else on the island. right on a small-boat harbor looking out toward deserted island of kahoolawe. very good all around; if a tapas sampler is offered, try it. <BR> <BR>all these restaurants have excellent servers who are very good at helping w/ menu suggestions and explaining local fish and preparations. 2-course meals for 2 w/ wine would be $60 or more, w/ mama's being pricier. have also heard good things about pacific'O and longhi's in lahaina, also very expensive. happy eating!

Favorite can mean lots of things. We had a really great time at the Hula Bar and Grill at Whalers Village in Kaanapali. Its right on the beach, mostly oudoors with sand under your feet. Had a great Hawaiian Band and a sunset view. Fun! I'm really picky about my fish and my meal was good.

A Pacific Cafe, Kihei - located in a strip mall but the food is THE BEST! Have the garlic sesame-encrusted mahi-mahi. Another day, have lunch at The Maui Onion at the Renaissance Wailea Resort, by the pool with - the world's best onion rings!

Wow! What great suggestions, my mouth is watering as I type. More please!

Our anniversary dinner was at the Plantation House Restaurant in Kapalua, great food, and the best view on the island. Drinks and dinner for around $100. <BR> <BR>For a fun place, go to Bubba Gumps in Lahaina.

Any restaurant that serves those wonderfully sweet Maui onions!

Get it to go and head to the beach is a great idea. Maui Taco, Kihei, would be good choice. Bubba Gumps??? Why not just head to any US tourist city? There are some good restaurants in Lahaina, ask other visitors in the hotels as to which are good. Check out some hotels too. Lunch at the Maui Onion!!! Got to get the rings!! <BR>Nice dinner...One more thumbs up for Pacific Cafe, Kihei. Would make a good start. Remember, Mahi Mahi sandwich shacks anywhere is usually pretty good. Not too exciting to the locals but, good stuff for visitors.

Another vote for Pacific Cafe - great desserts. Try the sampler. We also enjoyed Bubba Gumps and Roy's.

I absolutely agree with Mama's Fish House. We had lunch there and it was fantastic! If you are trying to save $$, just get a salad or sandwhich--enough to fill you up for lunch and only around $35 for two. <BR> <BR>Also, if you are looking for an upscale, great service experience, I recommend Nick's Fish Market in the Kea Lani hotel. This place has great food and the service is amazing! My husband and I were trying to guzzle our water just to see how long it would take them to fill it up. NEVER had even a half-empty glass! :) <BR> <BR>For a fun, casual, relatively inexpensive meal, we liked Cheeseburger in Paradise in Lahaina. The burgers were good and we enjoyed sitting in the open-air dining room hearing the surf below. <BR> <BR>Enjoy!! <BR> <BR>

Mama's Fish House - Paia (L/D)VIEW! <BR>Picnic's - (sandwiches) - Paia (B/L) <BR>Roy's (D)Kaanapali <BR>A Pacific Cafe (D) Kihei <BR>Haliimaile (sp?) General Store(brunch/D) <BR>Maui Tacos (fast food)various locations <BR>Gerards (Lahaina) <BR>Sansei (Kapalua) - Sushi - <BR>Pacific 'O - Lahaina - VIEW (D) <BR> <BR> <BR>

Absolutely agree with Gerard's in Lahaina - very romantic with wonderful food. Very expensive, but worth it. Also agree with A Pacific Cafe in Kihei. Great food!

Pacific 'O at 505 Front Street in Lahaina is our personal favorite. Great outside seating with sunset views and the best seafood I have found on the islands. Get a reservation right before sunset.

We totally enjoyed a casual sunset dinner at Kimos. Food, service, moderate price and great view. I had fish my husband had chicken/steak kabob, both good, as well as bread...Speaking of bread, had THE BEST bread for breakfast at Cafe Cio in the Kei Leani hotel on the beach...Great coffee, and we would buy the bread by the load...asiago cheese was Super!!

My favorite is the Avalon in Lahaina for dinner. If you don't mind eating early, they have a two for one early bird special until 6pm I think. The entire menu is available on the special.

Richard, how long ago were you at Avalon's? I used to LOVE it too, but it closed about 2-3 yrs ago. Has it re-opened?

I can't believe that no one has mentioned Longhis! We spent out honeymoon in Maui and Kauai a year and a half ago and everyone we spoke to before we left told us to go there for dinner. We were thinking that it had been built up too much for us and that we'd be disappointed, but the food is phenomenal! It's pricey, but worth it. <BR> <BR>For less $$, try Va Bene in the Marriott Hotel on Kaanapali Beach. Great italian food! Make sure you ask to be seated away from the luau - it gets really loud! <BR> <BR>I agree that Bubba Gumps is a good place, but more for pre-dinner drinks.

Ooops, forgot to give menu suggestions! At Longhis try the Filet Longhi style - excellent filet mignon. Also, they'll make you just about anything you ask for - just tell your waiter what you like! <BR> <BR>At Gumps, drink a Lava Flow! <BR> <BR>At Va Bene, the pizza and pasta was good!

Loved Hula Grill where you could sit outside in the sand, watch the crowds go by, and have great sashimi for lunch.

Another vote for Roy's (there are a few locations on the islands). check out the website - roysrestaurant.com You will not regret it. It was fantastic. Get the chocolate souffle for dessert. <BR> <BR>David Paul's in Lahaina

Swann Court restaurant at the Hyatt is very good but pricey. Believe it or not, one of our favorite places was Cheeseburger in Paradise, fun and casual atmosphere and great burgies.

David Paul's Lahaina Grill for dinner - the lamb chops were incredible. <BR> <BR>Roy's in Kahana - get the chocolate souffle for desert. <BR> <BR>Nick's Fish Market at the Kea Lani in Wailea for dinner. Excellent service and food.

Me am my wife found what we considered to be the view and value. On Kannapali Beach there is an upscale, one-air shopping mall. In the rear on the right hand side, on the lowest level, right on the beach is a restaurant. It is more expensive to eat indoors there (go figure). Arrive about 6:00 pm, and they will give you a beeper. You can shop, visit a whaling museum, etc. In about 30 minutes the beeper will go off, and you will be seated on the beach, listing to live island jazz, while you see the line to get in get rather long. The sunset will just starting if you are going in June, and it is breathtaking. Don't forget your sunglassess. It's just wonderful. The prices are quite reasonable too. My wife an I don't drink and we spent about $30-$35, tax and tip included. We never dine at the same place twice while on vaction, but just had to make an exception for this place. Regarding the grocery stores, that it where the prices get ridiculously expensive. We spent about $20 for a pinic lunch of cold chicken, fruit, ect. Lahaina, the old whaling port, has tons of funky bars and restaurants right on the shore, most with open air dining rooms. One last thing, and I know this might sound cheesy, but you just have to do a luau. If you go all the way to Maui and leave without having attended a luau, you will have missed a cultural treat. We found out that you have to book the Old Lahaina Luau very early, possibly even before you go. Hope this helps. Have a great time

I have never eaten at a 5-Star restaurant. They say there are many on Maui. So, if you like that kind of thing, I'm sure you'll find one you'll enjoy at any of the big resorts. <BR> <BR>In simpler terms, I liked Kimo's in Lahaina. Here's their menu (you'll have to copy and paste it into your browser): http://www.maui.net/~paradise/restaurants/kimos.html <BR>Watching the sun settle into the ocean between Lanai and Molokai with the gentle waves lapping the shoreline below (the dining area is over the water) was awesome. It was a most memorable dining experience for us. The food was good and the prices fair. We loved it! <BR> <BR>We also found a little local diner in Lahaina on Prison Street very near Front Street. I can't remember the name. It had very tacky decor and wasn't the prettiest place but the food was real good. Mostly oriental-style dishes. <BR> <BR>There were many others where we ate. But the names don't come to mind right now.

David Paul's was great -no view <BR>Roy's was fun but no view <BR>Kimos is great for an early dinner and or drinks. Casual hang out place to enjoy the sunset. <BR>Cheeseburger in paradise for another casual place or lunch <BR>If you have a kitchen you have to pick up Azeka's ribs and make them at home. <BR>Delicious!!! Enjoy.

Has Roy's closed? I just looked at the web page and they don't list a Maui location. Am I missing something?

As a matter of fact, Roy's just opened a new branch in Kihei - my sister ate there on Valentine's Day - and as far as I know, you still have Roy's Kahana and Roy's Nicolina, side by side, right down below Kapalua?????

We ate at Roy's Kahana in February 2001, there was no indication of it closing.

One of the best meals (dinner) I've ever had (and I work in New York and eat out there a lot) was at David Paul's at the Lahaina Inn in Lahaina. Tremendous service and outrageous food. Not cheap, but WOW!! Get to Lahaina before sunset. It is amazing. A good place for cocktails to watch the sunset before dinner is Cheeseburger in Paradise. Despite the cheezy name, you can't beat the open-air, second-story location to watch the sunset with live tunes. Also, A Pacific Rim was phenomenal (also dinner). Really inventive food and a cool atmosphere if you can get past the stip mall location. You need your head examined if you go to one single chain restaurant (other than the Hawaiin ones like Merriman's or Roy's) while anywhere in Hawaii. The local, authentic food is just way too good. Why would you go to Bubba Gump's?? What next? Pizza Hut?

We recently went to The Waterfront restaurant in Malaea (Sp) about half way between the airport and Lahaina. It is right on the water so would be nice for sunset dining. From now until mid Dec. they have buy one entree and get a second for half price for dinner. I had fish cooked in parchment paper that was out of this world! It is in a condo complex so you kind of have to look for it. Get directions when you call for reservations.

Can anybody give a recommendation on Sea House? I think it's at the Napili Kai Beach Resort. Someone gave it a good review, I just can't remember who.

Longhi's in Lahaina is a bit of a tourist trap (and has a few too many tanned silver haired men with fancy gold watches) but it was the food was fantastic - My best meal in Maui.

In Lahaina (town): Cheeseburgers in Paradise (more laid-back) and Longhi's (for excellent cuisine). <BR> <BR>MAMA'S FISH HOUSE IN PAIA - absolutely fantastic. <BR> <BR>Once you're out in the "country", try Casanova's in Makawao(known as the "cowboy town")-great food and a tasty bakery. <BR> <BR>Lastly, as I stayed in the Kaanapali Beach area, Hula Grill, Leilani's and Rusty Pelican(fish/seafood) deserve a nod - beautiful ocean views.

Fish & Game Pub Brewery!!! It's in Kapalua. When we went they had a deal between 5-6pm, buy one entree get the other free. AND IT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. You have to try the Clam Chowder.. the best I've ever tasted. <BR> <BR>And of course all the restaurants mentioned in other replies are great too!

My husband and I enjoyed Kimo's in Lahaina for dinner. The views are wonderful and the prices are moderate. We also enjoyed Cheeseburger in Paradise on Front St. for lunch. We stayed at the Westin in Kaanapali and had several dinners at the Hula Bar and Grill next door. We like to eat outside. The outside menu is less expensive. The atmosphere is terrific and they have a band. Drink a Lava Flow or two.

Mama's fish house. we've flown to maui just to have a meal there! One time we even took the kids for dinner...the server brought the best Pb&jelly sandwich for 1 and Plain pasta for the other.Charged us almost nothing! <BR>also bubba gumps in on a pier over the water in lahaina. Lots of fun and cheap seat over the water!

My husband and I honeymooned in Maui 10 years ago and we still talk about Longhi's. The menu is huge, I wonder if it is still spoken to you by your waiter instead of read? It was hard to remember everything but it was great!

Mama's Fish House was my favorite. It had everything (atmosphere, great food, great service, etc.). Unfortunately, the prices were great too. <BR> <BR>I also enjoyed LeiLani's on Ka'anapali Beach. The Hula Pie was delicious!