It’s no secret that we love traveling for the food (NY food, Boston food, Austin food, Jackson Hole food, Portland food just to name a few). We’ve been to Maui before (here’s what we ate last time!), so we couldn’t wait to get back to eat some of our favorites, and try other places we didn’t get around to eating at the first time!
Also, if you’re visiting Maui sometime relatively soon to when this post was written there are likely still COVID precautions in place (read my 8 tips for traveling to Hawaii with current restrictions in place). If you plan to go to any sit-down restaurants, I would HIGHLY suggest you make reservations ahead of time (like before you arrive on the island). I made a lot of our reservations through Open Table – but check out each restaurant specifically to see how their reservations are made. A lot of the sit-down restaurants did take out/to-go as well!
Protip – even not in COVID era, try to snag reservations for dinner around sunset for those restaurants with a view!
Related MAUI 2021 posts: Photo Diary // Maui 2021 Travel Guide // tips for traveling to Hawaii with COVID restrictions
[coming this week]: Maui 2021 travel budget + the most epic 1 week Maui travel itinerary + Hawaii packing guide
MAUI 2019 posts: Travel guide // food guide // Road to Hana guide // Vlogs // Maui Wedding posts
Tin Roof Maui
Fresh off the plane, we made a pit stop in Kahului for lunch before heading over to our hotel. We had plans to visit Da’Kitchen since we loved it so much last time we visited Maui, but they have since closed. But! This was a good alternative. The chicken was so juicy and flavorful! And honestly, we could’ve shared a bowl there was so much food packed inside.
Da Nani Pirates –
This is a food truck inside Whaler’s village (although I think they have another location/truck down in Kihei as well). The days and weeks leading up to our trip I was craving some fish tacos. We took a stroll down to Whaler’s Village for dinner on our first night on the island, and we weren’t prepared to wait for a spot to open up at one of the many sit down restaurants over there (because the hangry was kickin’ in after our long day of travel). So we settled on Da Nani Pirates food truck for dinner with the hopes of curing my fish taco craving. Then we learned that they were fresh out of fish (womp womp), so we opted for the shrimp tacos that were actually pretty good!! But just didn’t quite hit the fish taco spot.
Choice Health Bar
For a delicious acai bowl, this is your go to place. We ate here multiple mornings because they are just THAT good and refreshing. They have multiple locations around the island, and a whole menu full of other items (juices, smoothies) but when in Hawaii opt for the Acai bowls. Their regular size is enough to split between two people.
Umalu (Hyatt Regency’s poolside eatery + bar)
Like I mentioned in our last Maui food round up post, hotel food is expensive. We don’t normally eat at hotels unless it’s the Andaz (see below) or if we’re chillin by the pool. So make sure to try to snag your drinks and food during happy hour for a better (but still expensive) deal. We opted for the nachos on multiple occasions, and then their fresh fruit platter with a yogurt dip for a refreshing pool side snack.
Star Noodle
This was on my list last time we visited the island but never got around to going. I made sure to make reservations ahead of time because of COVID restrictions, (and to put it in our schedule to make sure we got there). They have a farm on the island where they source a lot of their food, so it’s all fresh! We split the chicken wings, Singapore noodles, pork buns, and broccoli (because #greens and #balance). All of it was delicious and you can’t beat those views, even on a cloudy and misty evening like we got.
Uluani’s Shave Ice
Did you even go to Maui if you didn’t get shave ice from Uluani’s? It’s unlike any other shave ice (at least that we’ve had) and they have multiple locations around the island. It deserves a stop if you’re ever on the island! You HAVE to get the ice cream on bottom and a snow cap – it would be a waste of a visit if you didn’t.
Gazebo Restaurant
Prepare to wait – either in line, or for them to open because you got in line early. But either way, it is SO WORTH IT. This restaurant is literally in a gazebo, and no frills (so much so, they don’t even have a website), and is tucked away around a smaller, older, resort, right off the beach. Once we finally got seated, we got their most popular items: mac nut pancakes with coconut syrup, half order of fried rice and split the Big Kahuna scramble. We probably overdid it with the food, but after waiting in that line, we wanted to make sure we didn’t miss anything! PLEASE carve out some time to head here, it’s worth it.
Monkeypod Kitchen
This was one of those places we visited last time we were on the island and knew we wanted to come back – if for their mai tai topped with lilikoi foam alone! We made reservations during their happy hour to be able to take advantage of their happy hour menu pricing. I highly suggest reservations at least a couple days in advance -I overheard someone put their name in and the hostess telling them it would be a 1.5-2 hour wait!! A visit to Monkeypod is worth it for their Mai Tais alone.
Island Vintage Coffee
We visited their Whalers village location on multiple occasions, because it is right next to Choice bar where we picked up our acai bowls. And if you’re staying in Ka’anapali it’s a nice stroll down to Whaler’s Village in the morning for your morning coffee! On one morning I got an iced Hawaiian latte which has macadamia nut milk and coconut syrup and I’m obsessed. I’ve been trying to recreate it since we got back home. They also have acai bowls, but I personally prefer Choice Health Bar’s acai bowls over Island Vintage Coffee’s.
Ono Tacos taco truck
This is a – you guessed it – taco truck. It’s situated in a parking lot in Lahaina, and I finally got my fish tacos! But what we really loved was the chicken quesadilla and salsas! Being from So Cal, these weren’t the best tacos we’ve ever had but they were pretty good! If you’re in downtown Lahaina, it’s worth a stop.
Leoda’s pie shop
I knew going into our trip, since we were there to celebrate my 30th birthday, that I wanted my birthday dessert to be a pie from Leoda’s pie shop! We ended up with an apple crumble and a chocolate mac nut pie. Both so good and I love that they are small, almost individual sizes, so you can try more flavors!
Pacific’o
Ok we know that the fancy place to eat on Maui is Mama’s Fish house. But with COVID restrictions, we couldn’t get a reservation during the time we were there (and we checked a couple weeks ahead too!). So! We landed on Pacific’o for my birthday dinner. And while it started down pouring rain towards the end, the views, food and service were incredible. And, they are a farm to table restaurant, so their menu changes quite frequently to reflect what’s in season.
Grandma’s coffee house
If visiting Haleakala National Park is on your to-do list while in Maui, I highly suggest a stop at Grandma’s Coffee house for breakfast! This is a no-frill restaurant that seems like a locals only hot spot, but everyone was nice and friendly. Their fresh made banana bread is worth the stop alone, but kalua pork benedict is worth a try.
Down The Hatch
Another Happy Hour stop – and probably my favorite for the vibe and location. It’s located right along Front street in downtown Lahaina, and they have live music during their happy hour. Order some food and drinks, and sit back and enjoy the chill vibes. And like, how cute is the cup my mai tai came in?
Lapperts
When you’re done with happy hour at Down The Hatch, walk down Front street and pick up a Dole Whip from Lapperts while you sit under the Old Banyan Tree and enjoy the scenery. #perfectafternoon
Teddy’s bigger burgers
Their menu is overwhelming, but just go with an original Son of a Burger and some fries. I would suggest a hand scooped shake too, but apparently we showed up too late and they stop making shakes at a certain time. Since they were closing, and COVID restrictions prevented us from sitting inside their restaurant, we took our order go and ate it back at the hotel. It was a pretty good burger, but I’m sure it’s even better when eaten fresh!
Three’s bar and grill
On our way from one hotel to the next, we planned to stop in Kihei for a quick Happy Hour at Three’s. I love that their happy hour isn’t the typical fried food appetizers, and includes a good selection of sushi! And fun fact – Three’s catered our wedding, so it was fun reliving our special day through the food again. Here’s what we got: kalua pork quesadilla, hurricane fries and whole wheat flatbread salad. But if you get one thing, make it that kalua pork quesadilla!
Maui brewing co
This review is solely based on their take out food, because their Kihei location is pretty cool and would be an awesome spot to order a flight of beer and relax. But their take out food sucked, well at least the service did, the food was decent (we ordered a pizza and their kale salad). We ordered online ahead of time, and when we got there to pick it up it, it clearly wasn’t ready. So 45 minutes AFTER we showed up we were given our food (but it was the wrong order). So after another 20 minutes we FINALLY had our correct order in hand and headed back to the hotel to eat. Our Andaz hotel room was stocked with Maui Brewing Company sodas, so I thought it was only fitting that we drank one along side our food. If you opt for Maui Brewing company, maybe plan to dine in and forgo their take out options.
Ka’ana kitchen – Breakfast
If you read our previous Maui food blog you saw that the Andaz breakfast buffet was up there with my favorite breakfast of the trip. And yep, it was at the top of my list of things to do during this trip too. And yep, it was just as good as I remembered. Even with COVID restrictions, the staff was behind glass and served us our food (as opposed to before when we served our selves in traditional buffet style). Never not dreaming about breakfast here!
Visit Ka’ana Kitchen at the Andaz Maui
Ka’ana kitchen – Dinner
We made reservations at Ka’ana kitchen for our first night at the Andaz – just like last time we were on Maui. Trav, being a creature of habit, ordered the chicken and waffles because he liked them so much the first time around but sadly the dish wasn’t quite up to par with what we remembered from our previous visit. I ordered the fish special and we split their salad that was delish! The atmosphere and view can’t be beat, but I guess the food isn’t always consistent from one visit to the next. We would still would highly recommend if you’re in the area and want a nice place to eat!
Visit Ka’ana kitchen at Andaz Maui
ANDAZ MAUI BUMBYE BEACH BAR
Another repeat from our previous trip because it was THAT good. This lobster grilled cheese while sitting pool side at the Andaz is everything. I grabbed this Vitalitea Kombucha (brewed locally on Maui!!) from the hotel market to drink along side our grilled cheese. Perfectly paired pool food if you ask me!
Sugar beach bake shop
Did we even go on vacation if we didn’t get some kind of donut?! Not according to Travis we didn’t! We were tipped off by our friends that THIS is the place to get malasadas in Hawaii. Malasadas are a fried dough dessert, that can be filled with a custard or rolled in cinnamon and sugar, and are actually a Portuguese dessert that are popular in Hawaii. We waited in quite the line for these, but they are fresh made to order and WORTH IT.
Akamai Coffee
For our last meal on Maui, we checked out Akamai Coffee just down the street from the Andaz in Wailea. They have a full coffee bar, and a great breakfast selection too. After learning we were visiting Maui for my birthday, the barista taking our order covered the cost of our drinks. How sweet was that! Such a good ending to our trip. And that loaded pesto egg toast – I’m going to have to recreate that one at home ASAP.
Best Breakfast: Gazebo
Best Lunch: Andaz pool side (only because their Lobster mac n cheese is literal perfection!)
Best Dinner: Pacific’o
Best Dessert: Ululanis Shave Ice
Best Happy Hour: Monkey Pod
So there you have it – where we ate in Maui this time around! Some places that are still on my list to try: Mama’s Fish house (we’ll get there one day!), Moku Roots, The Mill House, and 808 Grindz Cafe.
Have you been to Maui? What’s your favorite place to eat?
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