94 Best Restaurants in Maui, Hawaii

Nestled on the slopes of Haleakala, this bistro evokes trattorias in northern Italy, serving homestyle food with a dash of Italian. Start the day an egg dish or the indulgent white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes; opt for a panini at lunch; or, for dinner, enjoy anything from specialty pasta dishes and signature pizzas to prime rib to the local favorite loco moco.

It's been a popular casual spot with locals since it first opened in 1989, and to be around that long, it's got to be doing something right. You can get everything from huevos rancheros to local-style fried rice at breakfast; plate lunches, salads, wraps, and more for lunch; and fresh fish, chicken, steak, and pasta for dinner; plus there are separate pizza, pupu, and bar menus. Since this restaurant buys its fish from Lahaina Harbor anglers, the catch of the day is always a good bet.

Both fun and photo-worthy, this restaurant features classic Peruvian dishes with a Maui influence thanks to the incorporation of fresh, local ingredients. In addition to serving both lunch and dinner, it offers a daily happy hour (actually, three hours from 2 to 5 pm) and live music or DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.

Set in an intimate location on the beach, Mama's has been the Maui destination for special occasions for almost four decades. A path of gecko-shape stones leads to an ever-changing fantasyland of Hawaiian kitsch, where savvy servers can explain the various fish types and preparations, and you'd be wise to heed their recommendation; the fish is so fresh that the daily menu lists who caught it that morning.

One of the go-to places for airport comers and goers, this popular Italian restaurant also draws a steady crowd of residents, mainly for business lunches. Meatballs, sausages, and sauces are all made in-house, a long list of sandwiches is available all day, and the affordable salads are big enough to share. Substitutions or special requests are not recommended.

Momona is the Hawaiian word for "sweet," and this place definitely lives up to its name with the variety of flaky treats that are available every morning. The bakery is especially known for its cinnamon rolls and its medialunas, Argentinean croissants with sweet or savory fillings such as Nutella, dulce de leche, custard, lilikoi (passionfruit), or ham and cheese. In addition to baked goods, you'll also find sandwiches and dishes like avocado toast. The coffee is available with your choice of four types of milk, various sweeteners, and cinnamon or other toppings that perfectly complement the confections.

The wooden surfboards hanging above the bar and surf videos playing in the background create a decidedly chill vibe at this buzzing restaurant, the creation of Hawaii celebrity-chef Peter Merriman. He offers a menu that highlights local bounty, with such standout dishes as poke tacos, lobster deviled eggs, and wood-fired pizzas.

This authentic Indian restaurant offers stunning ocean views and appetizers like papadum chips and samosas served with homemade chutneys. There are 10+ breads—naan and more, including a gluten-free option—that come hot from the tandoori oven, along with mix-and-match curries, lots of vegetarian and vegan selections, kebabs, and biryanis.

Don't be fooled by the casual warehouse setting, as this family-owned and -operated restaurant is one of the best places for Thai food on Maui. Dishes here are made using fresh ingredients, homemade sauces, and imported specialty items, and your food comes out quickly and hot through a self-service window in the open-air dining area.

This roadside Thai food truck fronts the 40-acre Maui Nui Farm, owned by Nui and Kit, so you can stop to grab a bite and then tour the beautiful farm. Although the menu changes with the seasons, everything is delicious, and the curry and pad Thai are perennial favorites.

This off-the-beaten-path izakaya-style Japanese eatery is worth the trek to sleepy Haiku. The eclectic menu includes everything from specialty French fries and fusion sushi rolls to sashimi and some of the best tempura around—all based on what's fresh from local farmers and fishermen. Nuka is the Japanese word for rice bran, and the restaurant mills its own rice and creates pickles from the byproduct of the milling process.

The seasonal, handcrafted plates and the chef's table concept at this intimate, 14-table restaurant have helped fine dining get a foothold in Paia. There are just two prix-fixe seatings a night, and dishes are always memorable thanks to the use of high-end ingredients like caviar, A5 Wagyu beef, and foie gras.

A stop at this popular coffee spot, tucked just behind the main buildings on Hana Highway, is a great way to start or end the day. Grab a coffee or tea along with avocado toast or banana bread for breakfast or lunch, or come during happy hour (2 to 5 pm) for a reasonably priced, island-fresh cocktail followed by live music (four nights a week) or trivia (Wednesday night).

Fresh gelato made with locally sourced ingredients is the big draw here (try Surfing Goat Dairy's Lilikoi Quark flavor and thank us later). You'll also find jams, jellies, and dressings from Jeff Gomes, coffees from Maui Coffee Roasters, and picnic lunches from Hana Lunch Co.

This small place packs a powerhouse of a menu with reasonably priced pizzas, pastas, salads, and sandwiches. As the restaurant's name suggests, several dishes feature penne, and portions tend to be generous enough so that two people can easily split a salad and entrée and leave completely sated.

For a little break from the Maui sun and fruity cocktails, spend an afternoon digging into elegant pub fare backed by an excellent, expert cocktail program with a focus on whiskey. This is the type of place where you want to sit at the bar and talk story with the bartender (if they’re not busy), and, though it may not seem like it at first glance, this is a family-friendly restaurant—it even has a keiki (kids) menu. 

When it opened in 1995, this was a counter-service pizza place, but it's evolved over into a local favorite, serving Mediterranean-style pizza and comfort food including pitas, gyros, and kabobs.

It's a bit of a drive, but when you get to this beautiful, comfortable restaurant, you'll find expansive views of the ocean below and the majestic mountains above. Chef Jared Krausen sources as many ingredients as possible locally, offering up an eclectic and elevated menu. Desserts are not to be missed here.

A Makawao staple since 1981 and set in the town's only intersection, Polli's is a lively Mexican restaurant that serves up the island's best fish tacos. The portions are generous, with classic fajitas, burritos, and enchiladas, and there are vegetarian options, too.

This restaurant proves that good food doesn't need to be complicated, using many local Maui products to do what the Italians do best: craft simple, delicious food that lets the ingredients shine. Must-haves include the panfried gnocchi Genovese, risotto-crusted fresh catch, and the deconstructed tiramisu.

This family-run restaurant serves authentic flavors from Mexico City and just about everything—from the furniture to the artisanal plates on the wall—has been brought directly from Mexico as well. All menu items are made in-house—try Grandma’s classic chicken mole recipe, which packs in more than 25 ingredients.

Locals have been flocking to this off-the-beaten-path gem for years, lured in by the reliably delicious family-style Vietnamese cuisine at decent prices. It's tucked behind a nondescript overpass—and only recently did management put a sign on the building—but you can't go wrong with the green papaya salad, mixed fondue, and the make-your-own Vietnamese burritos.

This upscale Italian restaurant's setting right on spectacular Keawakapu Beach, with views of Molokini and Kahoolawe, is irresistible. The brunch menu lasts until 2 pm, and dinner has a decidedly Italian bent, with dishes like seared ahi over lemon-butter pasta and veal osso buco. In whale season, they even set binoculars on the table so you can watch for whales from your table.

The breakfasts and lunches served here are crafted by chefs who use various cooking styles and techniques to showcase Maui's seasonal bounty. Menus change every 62 days to ensure that dishes use the freshest farm ingredients. It's not only a restaurant but a market, too, featuring chef-crafted spices, rubs, and sauces made from local herbs and vegetables.

It's a marriage made in Hawaii heaven—the California cuisine of celebrity-chef Wolfgang Puck combined with Maui flavors and served lobby-level and oceanfront at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Maui. Try the spicy ahi (yellowfin tuna) poke in sesame miso cones to start, and then see what the chef can do with some of the island's fantastic fish. It will cost you, but the service is spot-on, and the contemporary interior allows the food to claim the spotlight.

Acclaimed chef Roger Stettler leans on his Italian heritage to create this rustic, open-air restaurant's award-winning menu. Lunch features hearty soups, salads, and sandwiches, and the house-made pastas are the highlight of the more upscale dinner service. Belly up to the lively bar or request an outdoor table to enjoy sweeping ocean and mountain views.

Sure it's in a shopping mall, but the care and expense that has gone into the interior—glittering Buddhist shrines, elaborate hardwood facades, fancy napkin folds, and matching blue china—also applies to the cuisine. Start with the coconut-ginger chicken soup, then continue with flavorful pad Thai and curries before finishing off this authentic meal with fried bananas and ice cream. There's a second location in Kahului's Maui Mall, a perfect choice before or after a movie at the megaplex.

The name of the restaurant comes from the three young chefs who each have a distinctive culinary style (Hawaiian, Southwestern, and Pacific Rim), but somehow it all works. The space is as big as the menu—there are salads, burgers, steaks, and fresh fish, as well as a raw bar with sushi and hand rolls—with three separate dining areas, plus an outdoor patio. The daily happy hour from 3 to 6 pm features discounts on popular menu items, sushi, and cocktails.

The menu at Top Chef Sheldon Simeon's newest restaurant features "Hawaii classics," namely a fusion of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Portuguese flavors. Chef Sheldon has become a culinary ambassador for this diverse cuisine, and the menu here showcases the best of it.