75 Best Restaurants in Maui, Hawaii

This popular spot began as a French–Vietnamese bakery on Oahu and has branched into popular small restaurants sprinkled throughout the Islands, with some locations set up as kiosks in malls and others, like this one, as stand-alone spots with a few picnic tables out front. Vietnamese pho (soup laden with seafood or rare beef, fresh basil, bean sprouts, and lime) shares menu space with local-style saimin and plates of barbecue or spicy chicken, beef, pork, or local fish served with jasmine rice.

You'd never guess by the nondescript exterior and the location in an old pineapple cannery-cum-strip-mall, but this restaurant has the feel of a hip urban eatery and is popular with locals for breakfast and lunch, as well as happy hour and dinner—when the bar side opens, the candles come out, and it's time for martinis and fresh fish.

This extremely popular purveyor of all food "local" is bright, shiny, comfortable, and just minutes from Kahului airport. Try the signature mahimahi tempura, loco moco, Hawaiian plate, chicken katsu, and daily mixed bentos; and rest assured that everything on the menu is delicious and portions are gigantic. There's an "express" location in Kihei, but we recommend the happy, always-crowded Kahului location.

Classically trained French chef Gerard Reversade, who started as an apprentice in acclaimed Paris restaurants when he was just 14, has for more than three decades remained true to his Gascony roots. He cooks his way, utilizing island ingredients in such dishes as escargots forestière (with garlic and mushrooms), chilled cucumber soup, and the ahi tartare with taro chips; the wine list is first-class, and the dessert list is extensive.

After more than 30 years, chef Beverly Gannon's first restaurant remains a culinary destination, serving exquisite dishes like Bev's Famous Crab Pizza, sashimi Napoleon, barbecue pork sandwiches, and the macadamia nut–crusted fresh catch, as well as daily and nightly specials, hand-crafted cocktails, and local beers. The rambling former plantation store has two dining rooms, both of which are usually full, so reservations are encouraged.

Just outside of Hana, a former food truck has been transformed into a permanent location with a large, covered patio, real restrooms, and beautiful wood-fired pizzas, calzones, and salads that highlight the vegetables from Hana Farms. While you wait for your food enjoy the free Wi-Fi (rare in the area) and peruse the farm stand for tropical fruits, banana bread, home and bath gifts, and more. For some of the only nightlife in the area, drop by on Friday nights for live music from local musicians.

Fresh, local produce features greatly here, and the menu mixes tasty American fare with local favorites like poke bowls. The quality of food and the prices are reflective of a more upscale restaurant, but the atmosphere is casual (no swimwear allowed, however). The bar, with its decadent craft cocktails (and mocktails) and local beer selection, is one of the area's few nightspots and tends to get a bit lively in the evening.

Located inside the Hyatt Regency, this dinner restaurant sits atop a man-made pool grotto and offers stunning ocean views and a gorgeous glassed-in sushi bar. The fresh local fish is well prepared—as are the sushi and hand rolls—and the desserts are amazing. Don't be afraid to get a little adventurous with trying items that may seem unfamiliar.

Chef–owner Joey Macadangdang, who has been at the helm of fine-dining kitchens for most of his career, brings his good taste to the masses with this unfussy restaurant featuring Filipino, Asian, and American fusion dishes. He's a longtime champion of local producers, so many of his recipes highlight ingredients grown on Maui. Don't be fooled by its under-the-radar location in a strip mall; there's a good chance you'll find yourself returning here several times during your trip.

This signature restaurant at the stylish Andaz Maui at Wailea resort has it all—ingredients sourced from the islands, a marvelous wine list, stellar service, and spectacular views from every table. The whole space has been masterfully designed with a gorgeous exhibition kitchen wrapped by indoor and outdoor seating. The breakfast buffet includes endless, tasty options, and at dinner you can linger while enjoying unique seafood and steak dishes.

Slow down as you drive through the little roadside village of Olowalu so you don't miss this adorable farmhouse-chic restaurant and pie shop, where everything is prepared with care. All the breads are house-made and excellent, and most ingredients are sourced locally—you can't go wrong with a sandwich or a burger with Kula onions for lunch or comfort food like pot pies for an early dinner. Take note if you're in a rush: this is a big fan favorite, and lines are often very long.

The menu at this oceanfront standout features interesting local-style Hawaiian food fusions. There's a focus on ingredients that promote local sustainability, and the cocktail and wine lists are great, too. Daily brunch and happy hours keep guests happy all day, and a late-night menu on Friday and Saturday features raw fish and Wagyu plus discounted cocktails.

Few restaurants in Maui have the reputation of this North Shore eatery, tucked into a small cove just off tthe Road to Hana. You’ll pay for the quality of your meal, but it’s worth the splurge—the fish comes from as close as Maui’s shores to as far away as the deep waters of Antarctica, and the daily menu often tells the story of that catch. This is the place that you must make reservations far in advance (as far out as 12 months), as it's the bucket-list restaurant for most visitors; lunch reservations are a bit more attainable.

Spanning more than 5 acres, the flagship location of Maui Brewing Company includes a restaurant, brewery, tasting room, gift shop, and outdoor space featuring backyard games and a garden. Craft pizzas, burgers, salads, and more highlight a lively menu, as do craft cocktails made with Kupu Spirits that are distilled on-site. Step behind the scenes with a one-hour guided brewery tour on the weekend.

At this restaurant perched above the postcard-perfect Kapalua Bay, chef Peter Merriman highlights Hawaii's bounty by using fresh seafood and ingredients from local farms. The dinner menu features stunning dishes, including some vegetarian options, that represent both the land and the sea, and there's also a raw bar. Don't miss out on dessert—the chocolate purse is the thing that memories are made of.

"Iron Chef" Masaharu Morimoto's eponymous restaurant, located at the Andaz Maui resort, has some of Maui's most creative presentations and, arguably, some of its best food. Poolside tables that sit under the stars, a bustling dining room, and a sushi bar all make it a lively choice, but the food is ultimately the reason to go. Feast on slices of tuna pizza, indulge in premium Wagyu beef (carpaccio or filet), and splurge on some of Maui's best sushi. The service is impeccable, and the standards are high, making this a great place for a memorable meal. 

This elegant eatery at the Fairmont Kea Lani sources the freshest fish possible, and often has beautifully prepared offerings, like opakapaka (pink snapper), that other seafood restaurants don’t. The evening tiki-torch-lit view of palm trees and the hotel pool is enchanting, as is the atmospheric bar area. The wine list is large and diverse, and you can visit the walk-in wine room to really check out the selection. 

If you're okay with communal picnic tables, or taking your meal to a nearby beach, head to this place, which serves, arguably, the best fresh fish—choose from four to six types and four preparations on any given day—for the best prices on this side of the island. For non-fish fans, the menu has burgers, as well as chicken and pasta options. There is also a location in Kihei.

This small, humble storefront is the place to try one of Maui’s most famous baked goods—the giant King David cinnamon roll. Although there are scones, croissants, and breads on menu, and there's pizza available most nights, the breakfast pastry is the big draw. It and other popular items tend to sell out, so although there are usually no lines later in the day, it's best not to wait till then to stop by. In fact, some eager patrons get in line around 6:30 am to ensure they leave with their favorites.

Don't be fooled by its playful name—this place serves high-quality food that befits its chic surroundings. This restaurant's owner is a fisherman himself, so you know the fish here is the freshest available. Lunch features affordable and delicious sandwiches and burgers, but in the evening the space is transformed into an Italian--Greek bistro with entrées like chicken fettuccine and moussaka.

One of Hana’s only sit-down dining options serves frittatas and pancakes at breakfast and everything from salads and sandwiches to hearty steak, pork, or fish entrées at lunch and dinner. Local produce and Maui beef feature greatly on the menu.

Roy Yamaguchi is a James Beard Award–winning chef and the granddaddy of East-meets-West cuisine. His eponymous Maui restaurant, located next to the golf course clubhouse near Kaanapali's main entrance, features signature dishes like fire-grilled, Szechuan-spiced baby back ribs, Roy's original blackened ahi, and hibachi-style grilled salmon, as well as an exceptionally user-friendly wine list.

Sansei takes sushi, sashimi, and contemporary Japanese food to a new level. If you're a fish or shellfish lover, this is the place for you. There are great deals on sushi and small plates for early birds on Sunday and Monday. Reservations can be hard to come by, making takeout for a beach picnic a nice option.

Built in the 1960s at the Napili Kai Beach Resort, before there were laws forbidding construction so close to the beach, this restaurant is literally footsteps from gorgeous Napili Bay. Wear your beach wrap to breakfast and enjoy the signature oven-baked pancakes or the beautifully delicious Molokai sweet potato egg frittata; the menu also offers fish from Hawaiian waters and fresh local produce.

To enter the only steak house in West Maui, you descend a grand staircase into an amber-lighted dining room with soaring ceilings and a massive artificial lagoon complete with swans, ducks, waterfalls, and tropical gardens. Chef Amy Mayers' classic menu features favorites like the bone-in rib eye and tomahawk steaks—with accompaniments that include five house-made sauces and a variety of sides and seafood add-ons—as well as lighter plates like shrimp cocktail and the must-try black and blue ahi starter. The wine selection is one of Kaanapali's best.

It's more "island-style" than Hawaii-style—and yes, it's a chain—but the food is consistently great, the service is filled with aloha, and the ambience is island refined. The cocktails are among the best and most creative on Maui and include well-priced non-alcoholic options. You can enjoy happy hour from 2 to 5 pm and live music from 5 to 9 pm daily.

This longtime Lahaina oceanfront classic is run by the same group of wonderful folks who bring you Old Lahaina Luau. This is the place to try a "plate lunch"—a protein served in Asian-style preparation, along with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad—and also features Hawaiian favorites like laulau, kalua pork, and poi from the restaurant's own farm. Take your plate to a table so close to the ocean you just might get wet. Oh, and don't forget the mai tai!

At this open-air, ocean-view dinner restaurant and lounge, classic Hawaiian recipes combined with Mediterranean cooking techniques result in unique, fresh, coastal cuisine. The Ritz-Carlton resort has an organic garden that provides fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables utilized in the dishes. For a special treat, try a protein cooked in the Spanish Josper oven that grills and smokes at the same time.