97 Best Restaurants in Maui, Hawaii

Delicious artisan sandwiches, classic burgers, and signature items make 808 on Main a local favorite. Their pupus, cocktails, and draft beers will make you wish they were open later (10-3 pm). Check out their counterpart 808 Deli in Kihei for breakfast, paninis, and gourmet hot dogs.

This popular spot began as a French-Vietnamese bakery on Oahu and has branched into popular small restaurants sprinkled throughout the Islands. Some are kiosks in malls; others are stand-alone with some picnic tables out front, as is the case at this location. Ba-Le is also located in Kahului, Lahaina, and Kihei. The Vietnamese pho (the famous soups laden with seafood or rare beef, fresh basil, bean sprouts, and lime) share 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 what's inside by the nondescript exterior and the location in an old pineapple cannery-cum-strip-mall, but this is one of Maui's most overlooked and underrated restaurants. Popular with locals for breakfast, lunch, and a daily happy hour, at night during dinner is when the candles come out and it's time for martinis and fresh fish; you'll feel like you're at a hip urban eatery.

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.

Located steps from Lahaina Harbor, this casual restaurant serves top-notch seafood with Southern flair. The shrimp po'boy, seared ahi (yellowfin tuna) tacos, and fish-and-chips are perennial favorites. Order at the counter and grab a seat at one of the outdoor tables. Nightly live music, big screen televisions, and a full bar make this an entertaining choice any time of the day. For dessert, stop in for shave ice at Breakwall Shave Ice Co. next door, which is run by the same owners, and is also home to the famous "adult shave ice" for the 21 and older set.

While the rest of Makawao Town eases into the day, fuel up with a hearty breakfast at this garden café in the shade of a sprawling Argentinian coral tree. With options like huevos rancheros, French toast, and housemade biscuits and gravy, it feels like Sunday brunch every day.

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.

Chef-restaurateur Beverly Gannon's first restaurant remains a culinary destination after more than 30 years, serving exquisite dishes like Bev's Famous Crab Pizza, sashimi napoleon, BBQ pork sandwich, and the macadamia nut--crusted fresh catch. There are daily and nightly specials, hand-crafted cocktails, and local beers as well. The big, rambling former plantation store has two dining rooms; both are usually full, so reservations are encouraged.

Just outside of Hana is this small food truck that 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 (very rare in the area) and peruse the shelves of 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.

The variety of abundance from local Hana farms is on display here with fresh produce highlighting plates with tasty American fare and a few local favorites like loco moco (white rice, burger patty, fried egg, and brown sauce) and ahi (yellowfin tuna) poke. The quality of meals and the prices are reflective of a more upscale restaurant, but customers can keep it casual here (no swimwear allowed, however). The bar, with its decadent craft cocktails (and mocktails) and local beer selection, tends to get a bit lively in the evening, one of the few options for nightlife in the area.

Located inside the Hyatt Regency, this spot sits atop a man-made pool grotto and offers stunning ocean views and a gorgeous glassed-in sushi bar. The views aside, it's the food that makes Japengo worth a visit; 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. A longtime champion of local producers, 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 Maui's most stylish luxury resort, Andaz Maui at Wailea, has it all: ingredients sourced within the Islands, marvelous wine list, stellar service, and spectacular views from every table. The whole space has been masterfully designed with the gorgeous exhibition kitchen as the focal point of the restaurant and both indoor and outdoor seating wrapping around the space. The breakfast buffet includes endless, tasty options and dinner presents the perfect opportunity to linger over unique fish, seafood, and steak preparations.

This unassuming popular spot across the street from Kalama Beach Park has a breakfast menu that runs the gamut from healthy yogurt-filled papaya to the local classic loco moco—two eggs, ground beef patty, rice, and brown gravy—and everything in between. Unique menu items include corned beef hash and catfish at breakfast and a calamari sandwich at lunch. A second location recently opened in Lahaina.

Slow down as you drive through the little roadside village of Olowalu, about 15 minutes before Lahaina town if you're coming from the airport, 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; try a sandwich or a burger with Kula onions for lunch, or comfort food like pot pies for an early dinner. This is a big fan favorite, and lines are often very long -- don't expect to get through quickly if you're in a rush.

Note: If you've been to Leoda's in the past you may need to modify your expectations; they shifted to a limited menu during the pandemic and breakfast and dinner look a lot different.

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 cocktails and wine list 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 the highway on the 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.

You don’t need to be a beer lover to appreciate a visit to Maui Brewing Company’s flagship location. Spanning more than five acres, the Kīhei compound includes a restaurant, brewery, and tasting room. Craft pizzas, burgers, salads, and more highlight a lively menu, as do craft cocktails. Step behind the scenes with a one-hour guided brewery tour on the weekend.

Perched above the postcard-perfect Kapalua Bay, this is the place to impress your date, as Chef Peter Merriman highlights the Islands’ bounty by using fresh seafood and ingredients from local farms. A nightly changing prix-fixe menu ($120) features stunning dishes that represent land and sea options and a vegetarian option that abounds with local produce. A keiki (children's) menu is also available for $30.

"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 outdoor tables that sit directly 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 the best sushi in Maui.

Find some of the best seafood on the Island at this elegant eatery inside the Fairmont Kea Lani. This dinner-only restaurant sources the freshest fish possible, and often has beautifully prepared offerings, like opakapaka (pink snapper), that other fish restaurants don’t. The wine list is large and diverse and the evening views of the hotel pool underneath tiki torch-lit palm trees add to the ambiance.

If you're okay with communal picnic tables, or taking your meal to a nearby beach, this place in funky Paia town serves, arguably, the best fresh fish for the best prices on this side of the island. Four preparations are offered and, on any given day, there are at least four to six fresh fishes from which to choose; there are burgers, chicken, and pasta options for the non-fish fans. There are also locations in Kihei and Lahaina.

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 mousaka.

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.

Sam Sato's is a local favorite for noodles, manju (Japanese pastry filled with sweet bean paste), and plate lunches. Open for breakfast and lunch; the menu includes favorites like "dry noodles," beef tomato, omelets, and fried rice. Dry mein, saimin, and chow fun come in different-size portions with add-ins to satisfy every noodle craving; try a teriyaki beef stick or two while you wait for your bowl. When it's busy—which is almost always—you will likely have to wait for a table or a stool at the counter; write your name on the little yellow pad at the takeout window.

With locations on three islands, 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. Reservations can be hard to come by, making take out 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 away 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 including 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.

This local favorite, one of Maui's most popular restaurants, recently moved to an oceanside locale. The expanse of the Pacific sets the scene for an eclectic Asian menu with must-try items like the ahi (yellowfin tuna) avo, tempura shrimp, and noodle dishes like the Lahaina fried soup that's served with fat chow fun, pork, and bean sprouts. The cocktail list is similarly fabulous, and the Asian Pear with sake and pear vodka has become a Lahaina classic.

Stillwell's is one of the best bakeries in Maui, so this is the place to come for coffee and an outrageously good strawberry florentine or a renowned cream horn. Their breakfast and lunch offerings are exceptional, from a fried egg sandwich to mouthwatering pancakes and gourmet sandwiches on house-made bread to their famous Chinese chicken salad. Every day is cake day at Stillwell's, so order the perfect cake for that special occasion. The desserts on display will surely make you drool; go ahead, you're on vacation!