Maui is a paradise for food lovers, offering a variety of traditional Hawaiian flavors, innovative cuisines, and seafood. Local beachside eateries offer high-end dining experiences that provide a feast for your taste buds. The city is home to pineapple farms that produce amazing varieties, such as the Maui Gold Variety. It has abundant hidden gems and local spots that offer memorable experiences. You can indulge in food and drinks during culinary events like the Káanapali Fresh or during personal explorations. Visit Maui to have an unforgettable experience, exploring hidden gems and top tourist spots.
01 Indulge in the fresh flavors at Mama's Fish House
The restaurant is nested on a secluded white sand beach and a beautiful coconut grove. Mama's sites and settings are reminiscent of travels through Polynesia. The staff wears vintage Mu'umu'u and fresh flowers picked around the property. The menu comprises cocktails, lunch and dinner, and dessert. Some of their best meals to try out include Waipoli baby romaine salad, Mama's ahi and mahi-mahi curry, and Kanpachi collar with ponzu and namasau. Tourists like the place due to its five-star service and stunning views of the Ku'au Bay on the North Shore.
02 Experience the artisanal cuisine at Hali'Imaile General Store
This store was founded in 1988 and has since been a popular destination for locals and visitors. In the early 1920s, plantation workers used it as a camp store. They used it for groceries, as a fish market, a butcher shop, and a post office. The restaurant's menu provides special dishes for kids and vegetarians. Popular vegetarian dishes include the upcountry farm salad, blackened seared tofu noodle bowl, and coconut veggie curry. Your kids get to enjoy meals like Teriyaki fresh fish, baby blue whale, and liliko'l sunrise. There is also a happy hour menu daily from 2 pm to 5 pm, comprising refreshments and bites.
03 Sip on craft beer at Maui Brewing Company
The Maui Brewing Company is Hawaii's largest brewery, founded in 2005. Its distillery, tasting room, and full-service restaurant are located in Kihei. At the Kihei tasting room, the company offers beer tastings and VIP guided brewery tours, allowing you to explore the cellar, brewhouse, and packaging line. The VIP tour lasts approximately 25 minutes and is available for ages 10 and above. Brewing ingredients are sourced locally, malted, milled, and mashed until they mature for packaging. The craft beer selections include Big Swell IPA, Bikini Blonde, and Pineapple Mana Wheat.
04 Savor gourmet pies at Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop
Leoda's kitchen and pie shop has been open since 2011, offering casual family-style dining. The pie shop's menu features handcrafted sandwiches, baked goods, and fresh salads. Their focus on sustainable, farm-fresh ingredients makes the shop a must-stop destination during your travels. Customer favorite pies include banana cream pie, Olowalu lime pie, and apple crumb pie. Savory sides that you must try include potato salad and hand-cut fries. For a casual dining experience with your kids, the pie shop offers grilled cheese, plain hot dogs, and kids' cheeseburgers.
05 Try farm-fresh food at the Mill House
It sits upon the Maui tropical plantation and has acted as a hall for special events for a long time. The restaurant is known for its extensive list of wine, beer, and cocktails. The staff uses local farm-fresh ingredients like lemon, ginger, orange, and sugar cane to make light drinks. Some of their signature dishes you can enjoy include the chickpea panisse, pork tacos, and gnocchi ragu. Their innovative menu has everything, from green salad and fish to steak salad and giardiniera. The venue's romantic lighting and swaying palm trees make it perfect for a date night or fun outings with friends.
06 Grab the best shrimp plate at Geste Shrimp Truck
This is a Hawaiian food truck serving juicy shrimp on the roadside in Kuhului, Hawaii. The truck is white in color and has a small sign and menu. It is an ideal spot for takeout lunch since there are no chairs or tables. The truck's garlic shrimp is a favorite for the locals, served in styrofoam with plasticware. The shrimp plate is a popular entrée, consisting of two rice scoops, 12 shrimp, and a side of crab macaroni salad. When selecting the flavor for the shrimp, you can choose between the Hawaiian Scampi, spicy pineapple, hot and spicy pineapple, or lemon pepper.
07 Explore authentic Hawaiian fare at Tin Roof
Chef Sheldon Simeon opened the Tin Roof restaurant in 2016. The casual lunch shop serves dishes like poke bowl, pork belly, and mochiko chicken. It works closely with the local farmers, artisans, and ranchers to provide fresh delicacies. The restaurant offers Sheldon Simeon's flavor-forward recipes comprising Chinese cooking techniques, Hawaiian traditions, and Filipino flavors. You can order your food online to avoid long queues and get your hunger resolved quickly. If you like desserts, a customer favorite is the mango pono pie. This features a custard inside a crumb-style crust with macadamia nuts and powdered coconut.
08 Devour sweet delights at Ululni's Hawaiian Shave Ice
Ululani Yamashiro and David started the Hawaiian Shave Ice business in December 2008. They freeze pure water while agitating the mixture to prevent the entry of impurities. They use pineapple, mango, guava, banana, and passionfruit syrups to make the Hawaiian shave ice. Popular flavor combinations include the No Ka Oi Sunset Beach and Haleakala with toasted coconut and the Haleakala and No Ka Oi combinations with fruit. The shaved ice became the region's staple due to its popular use by Japanese immigrants to cool off. Its distinct feature is its thin shave that creates a snow-like and powdery texture.
09 Savor upscale dining at Merriman's Kapalua
This restaurant is located on the Northern Shores of Maui. The restaurant is set within the Kapalua Resort, offering beautiful tropical sunsets nightly. The setting provides a breathtaking oceanfront view, which is best for relaxation and memorable moments. As a carbon-neutral business, the restaurant has demonstrated its commitment to environmental protection through its partnership with GreenPlaces. The restaurant is open daily for dinner reservations from 4 pm to 8 pm. The menu is locally sourced from the island and incorporates fresh fish, seafood, and meat. During the happy hour session, you can enjoy specialty cocktails and small plates.
10 Taste heavenly banana bread at Aunty Sandy's
Aunty Sandy's is a famous banana bread food stand in Ke'anae. The route to the shop provides a relaxing scenic drive on the Hana Highway. It features rainforests, waterfalls, one-lane bridges, and sand beaches. Bananas thrive in Hawaii and the Western Pacific Islands, making them a ready ingredient for making banana bread. The popularity of the bread comes from its softness, sweetness, and nutritional merit. Some of the shop's banana bread selections include the banana bread mix, coconut chews, and Aunty Pearl's coconut candy. All their offerings are available for in-person and online purchases.
11 Relish gourmet sushi at Koiso Sushi Bar
The Koiso Sushi Bar is a favorite spot for sushi lovers in Maui. It provides traditional, simple Japanese-style dishes made with sashimi and nigiri. You must make a reservation to enjoy the restaurant's delicacies since the space accommodates a few people. The restaurant offers a fresh, local menu comprising the Hamachi, King salmon, and the red snapper. Its dishes are flavorful and of high quality and provide a tantalizing experience. The bluefin toro is among the sushi bar's standout dishes to try out. It is fatty, pretty solid, and feels like the best-tasting sushi.
12 Enjoy casual seafood at Paia Fish Market
The Paia Fish Market opened in 1989 when the residents were mainly fishermen and sugar mill workers. Residents and visitors enjoy fresh-caught fish served on a warm bun with shredded cheese, tomato slices, and homemade tartar sauce. The menu comprises fresh catch plates, charbroiled burgers, lunch and dinner plates. Fresh catch plates are made up of your choice of fish, preparation, and side dish. Fish selections include Mahi charbroiled, Ono, Snapper, and Salmon. You can enjoy other dishes, including chicken pasta, seafood pasta, and fajitas. Fish and chips are served with lemony and flavorful tartar sauce and chunks of pickle relish.
13 Delight in creative cocktails and pub fare at the Pint & Cork
The Pint & Cork was established in 2016 at the heart of Wailea. Its immersive menu showcases the finest fresh ingredients in the island, crafting a flavor symphony. Their happy hour menu offers the ideal selections for unwinding, and the environment provides a laid-back charm defining Maui living. Some of the dishes to try include pork adobo slider, garlic parmesan fries, and fried chicken wings. You can also opt for refreshing drinks, including the pint and cork lager, signature menu cocktails, well drinks, island time mule, and mid-day margarita.
14 Indulge in luxurious dining at Spago
Spago is located at the Four Seasons Resort in Wailea. Despite the recent popularity of fast foods and canned soups, Wolfgang Puck showcases the art of the fine dining experience at the Spago Restaurant. The Spago Menu incorporates the best of the island's dishes, fusing Asian influences with traditional Hawaiian delicacies following Puck's signature California style. Spago offers private dining, allowing you to be a guest at your own event. The dining venue can host large and small groups in the Lanai spaces or in the full restaurant. The menu is divided into two options: the main menu and the table menu.
15 Treat yourself to an Unforgettable Meal at the Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
Hotel Wailea was built in 1991 and features the world's finest restauranteurs, chefs, and hoteliers. It provides the perfect setting to reconnect with nature and enjoy coastal experiences. The restaurant at the hotel relies on fresh seasonal ingredients sourced from fishermen and farmers in the region. Its menu offers starting and main courses that promote a leisurely dining experience. To start, the menu provides roasted carrots, hamachi crudo, walipoli greens, and more. The main dishes include Japanese eggplant, Maine lobster, and kanpachi. The Kanpachi comprises forbidden rice, baby turnips, meuniere, and shimeji mushrooms.
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