Bruce & Kolleen Wheeler's
Maui Dining Suggestions
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= OUR LISTINGS FOR A VARIETY OF "BETTER"
ISLAND EATERIES, ONES THAT WE BELIEVE ARE ESPECIALLY WORTHY OF YOUR CONSIDERATION
=
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" WE'RE NOT FOOD CRITICS, BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE LIKE, AND WE WANT YOU
TO KNOW, TOO."
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Our personal favorites are in green lettering.
We do not list hotel (house-run) restaurants
"Cheap!" "Inexpensive"
"Moderate" "High!"
Bon Appétit!
please visit maui-angels.com
= GO HERE FOR ADDITIONAL DINING RECOMMENDATIONS =
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= AND HERE FOR A LIST OF ISLAND NATURAL FOOD STORES & VEGAN / VEGETARIAN CAFÉS =
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Listings are alpha, arranged by region:
= South Maui ~ West Maui ~ Central Maui ~ Upcountry =
SOUTH MAUI ~ Kihei - Wailea - Makena - Ma'alaea
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Kihei: La Poblana Mexican Food Kihei Gateway Plaza, 362 Huku Lii Pl. 868-4466 "Authentic poblano Mexican food." In our minds, the best on the Island. Not a margarita bar (BYO beer and wine), and not at all fancy, we love the food! Open daily 6am to 9:30pm, more info on their Facebook page.
Wailea: Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman 10 Wailea Gateway Pl. 891-2322 Celebrity Chef Peter Merriman's latest Maui eatery is a fun adventure in casual dining. Serving Maui's largest selection of beers and ales, and a menu to please almost every taste. Visit their website for further info. monkeypodkitchen.com
Kihei: Nutcharee's Authentic Thai Food in the Azeka Shopping Center Makai, 1280 S. Kihei Rd. 633-4840 Another Maui restaurant that is neither new, nor new to us - it's just taken us awhile to finally give it the recognition we feel it justly deserves. Nutcharee's got it's start some years ago in Hana town, where they had a rustic semi open air operation under tenting. They were extremely popular there, but they eventually moved to their current Kihei location (and we're glad they did). Maui has a wealth of decent Thai places, but these folks are a cut above the rest in our minds. As such, if you're hungry for Thai, this is the place to try. Open daily for lunch - 11am to 3pm - and dinner - 5 to 9 Sun/Thurs, 5 to 9:30, Friday and Saturday (closed 3 to 5pm). More here: nutcharees.com.
Kihei: Penny's Pizza & Pasta > rear of 2511 S Kihei Rd. 874-7000 Open 4:30-8:30pm daily, our favorite South Side pizza - by a mile! We've never tried their pastas, the pizza is hard to pass up on. Online here.
Wailea:
Pita Paradise 34 Wailea Ike Dr.
(at the Wailea Gateway Center)
879-7177 11am 'til 5pm for lunch, 5 'til 9:30pm for dinner. Without
going into great detail, this quote from their website about says it all:
"Pita Paradise offers flavors and freshness found nowhere else on the
island. Our time tested family recipes blend the rustic-style of Greece and
Italy with fresh ingredients from Maui’s farms and waters to produce a flavor
that is simply unmatched." and "Featuring fresh fish caught (daily)
by the owner."
WEST MAUI ~ Lahaina Area - Honokowai - Kahana - Napili - Kapalua
Regrettably,
some of the following restaurants are no longer
in business as a result of the tragic August, 2023 wildfires that
took out much of the town of Lahaina. We grieve their loss.
Those shown in purple are forever gone, and we are so very sorry.
Napili: The Gazebo at the Napili Shores Condominiums, 5315 Lower Honoapi'ilani Rd. A wonderful place for breakfast and lunch! Open daily 7:30am - 2:00pm
Ka'anapali:
Hula Grill at Whalers Village
Shopping Center. On the most popular beach on the Island. Recommended
for local "catch of the day" fish entrees. Lots of vintage
Hawaiian collectibles used in the decor. 667-6636 for reservations. hulagrillkaanapali.com
Kapalua:
Merriman's Kapalua One Bay Club Pl. 669-6400 Chef Peter Merriman
is called "The Pied Piper of Hawai'i
Regional Cuisine" by the Los Angeles Times. There must be
some truth in this since he's developed a very loyal following over
the past twenty years with his innovative, delicious creations. One of Maui's
best restaurants, Merriman's has few peers in this realm.
Not only is the food great, the restaurant's location, overlooking
beautiful Kapalua Bay, is quite easily the "most scenic" anywhere on the
island. If you're planning to be wed on Kapalua Beach, this fine dining
establishment is perfect for post ceremony dinners. Open daily for dinner
from 5:30~9pm. Happy Hour is from 3 to 5pm, with a limited menu.
Reservations highly recommended. "Resort wear" apparel is
appropriate. merrimanshawaii.com/maui
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Lahaina: Penne
Pasta Café Owner/chef Juan Gomez's cozy Italian eatery.
Quite affordable and "Maui-casual," one of our favorite island
Italian restaurants. 180 Dickenson St. - 661 6633 Open 'til 9:30
pm daily, 10 pm Fri/Sat. Check out
their web site for menu items,
etc.
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Kapalua:
The Plantation House 2000 Plantation
Club Dr. 669-6299 Their website proclaims, "Casual Elegance ~ Island Style." We're
completely in agreement here, and then some! We dined at this beautiful
establishment for the first time on our own the other evening. (Our
previous three experiences were as guests of wedding couples, never allowing
us to get very "adventuresome" with menu selections.) Now that we've
finally had the opportunity to be more "selective," we can say our dining
experience easily met our expectations and beyond! Open daily; breakfast,
lunch &
dinner. theplantationhouse.com
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Ka'anapali: Roy's Ka'anapali Bar & Grill at the Ka'anapali golf course clubhouse,
2290 Ka'anapali Parkway ~ 669-6999. Roy's offers some of the best cuisine
on Maui, and their fabulous chocolate soufflé dessert is
not to be missed! (We often celebrate birthdays or anniversaries
here.) roysrestaurant.com Chef Roy Yamaguchi's other Maui restaurant, Humble Market
Kitchen, is at the Marriott Wailea Beach Resort. Like Roy's, it's
among the best!
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Kapalua: Sansei Restaurant & Sushi Bar Voted "best sushi" in many polls. Superb! In the Kapalua Resort at 600
Office Rd., Call 669-6286 for info.
Lahaina: Sale Pepe Pizzeria e
Cucina in the Old Lahaina Ctr, 878 Front St. 667-7667
We love Italian cuisine! We can eat it almost every day. So, this restaurant
was a pleasure to finally check out (they'd already been open for a few years).
Everything we tried was a delight - THE BEST PIZZA ON THE ISLAND - and the staff
was "just right" too - fun to relate to, knowledgeable and
attentive to our needs without being "in our face" every few
minutes (a pet peeve of ours). We go there as often as we can, and we
would encourage you to do the same. Dinner only, from 5 to 10pm
daily except Sunday. Visit salepepemaui.com
to learn more.
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Lahaina: Star*Noodle
on Front Street, near Old Lahaina Luau. 667-5400 This popular local eatery
takes the old time noodle house concept to a whole new level. If there ever
was a "fine dining" noodle house, this is it! Great food, great decor and
great service. Go see for yourself! Open Daily star*noodle.com
Lahaina: Teddy's Bigger Burgers 335 Keawe Street, in the Lahaina Gateway center, 661-9111 Teddy's is a growing chain, with several locations on O'ahu, and another in Woodinville, Wa. (We tried the crispy chicken sandwich and fish & chips, both very disappointing. But, their hamburgers are great, and that's what a burger joint is all about, yes?) Their fries are quite good, but not too outstanding, while the"potato flour" hamburger buns are always "fresh" and tasty. Teddy's yummy shakes are extra thick, and made with Maui's premium Roselani ice creams. Bottom line; if you want a decent burger at a reasonable price, Teddy's has 'em! Open 10am to 9pm daily. teddysbiggerburgers.com
With aloha from...
...mahalo for visiting this page!
CENTRAL MAUI ~ Kahului - Wailuku - Waikapu - Airport..
Wailuku: 808 on Main 2051 Main St. (between Church & Market Streets) 242-1111 Opened in September, 2015, this spin-off of the popular 808 Deli, in Kihei ("Maui's Best Sandwich Shop") is another example of the new influx of quality eateries that are beginning to make Wailuku Town a "foodie paradise." A full menu is served from 10am 'til 7pm, Mon. through Friday. We're not sure what their reservations policy is, but I know they are very busy at lunchtime, so a wait might be in order if you go then. Their menu is diverse, with a nice selection of pupu, soups, salads, entrees and panini sandwiches, something to please just about everybody! This link to their Facebook page should prove useful.
Wailuku: A Saigon Café 1792 Main St, 243-9560 The Island's very best Vietnamese
cuisine. (One of the more popular "local
style" restaurants on the island.) Recommended. Online Menu
..
Kahului:
Bistro Casanova 33 Lono Ave. 873-3650
A very good Mediterranean-themed menu. One of our favorite places for birthday
and pre or post concert dinners, and among the best for "business
lunches." bistro-casanova.com
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Kahului: Maui
Coffee Roasters 444 Hana Hwy., 877-2877
Espresso, pastries and other light fare. Open "early" until late afternoon.
Retail sales of whole bean and ground "gourmet" coffees, roasted on the
premises. hawaiiancoffee.com
Wailuku: UMI 1951 E Vineyard Street, between Market St. & Central Ave. 269-1802 It's a very rare thing when we fall in love with a restaurant at first bite. At UMI, we did exactly that. They are open seven days a week, from 5 to 9 - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, they're a Ramen Noodles house, Thursday through Sunday, their focus is on Sushi. (BYO, no reservations.) Talented chef Jayse Sato and his staff create "fusion dishes made up of sushi and hot food." Including the very best calimari we have ever had! Simply wonderful! Do yourself a favor, and head for Wailuku, we don't think you'll be disappointed. umisushimaui.com
Wailuku: Wailuku Coffee Co. 26 North Market St.
495-0259 (808) 495-0259 Mon/Sat. 7am to 5pm, Sunday 8am to
3pm. "Our mission is to be a gathering
place for all the diverse people of Maui, to provide all with excellent
service, delicious, healthy and affordable food and the best espresso on
earth." wailukucoffeeco.com
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UPCOUNTRY ~ Hali'imaile -
Makawao - Kula - Ha'iku - Pa'ia
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Hali'imaile: Hali'imaile General Store 900 Hali'imaile
Rd, 572-2666 Noted for Chef Bev Gannon's "famous" crab pizza, and a nice
variety of tasty Hawai'i regional treats to delight your palette. Located
in a former pineapple plantation camp store, and well worth the drive to
beautiful upcountry Maui! Visit their website
for directions, open/close hours and such.
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LUAU SUGGESTIONS
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OLD LAHAINA LUAU
In Lahaina Towne, on the ocean behind Long's Drugs.
oldlahainaluau.com
OUR LUAU PICTURES HERE
808 667 0700
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DRUMS OF THE PACIFIC
HYATT REGENCY MAUI
maui.hyatt.com/luau
808 661 1234
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= DA KINE ONO GRINDS =
(Delicious
Local-Style Foods)
We're often asked where to find "Hawaiian" restaurants here in Maui
Sadly, there are very few "Hawaiian" restaurants left. However,
if you want
to sample a nice mixture of really ono local cuisines - Hawaiian,
Japanese,
Portuguese, Filipino, Korean, etc. - there are a number of good
(and cheap)
dining establishments that you will find quite enjoyable if you
make
the effort to experience them. The following four listings are very
representative of this genre...
Kahului: Ichiban - The Restaurant & Sushi Bar Kahului Shopping Center, 47 Ka'ahumanu Avenue 871-6977 Good Japanese, "local" & American food plus a truly yummy sushi bar! Casual setting. Highly recommended! Online Reviews.
Kahului: Poi By The Pound 430 Kele St, 283-9381 "Much More Hawaiian" is an apt description. See their website for the usual stuffs.
Wailuku: Sam Sato's in the Millyard industrial park, 1750 Wili Pa Loop, 244-7124 Breakfast and lunch only. Good local food, specializing in noodle dishes.
Click here for our listings of Maui nightclubs with dinner options.
"Please let them know we sent you!"
Mahalo! Bruce & Kolleen
Every
attempt has been made to list restaurants that
are noted for both the quality of their food
and service.
If you feel that things are not quite "up to
par" you owe it
to yourself to inform management of any
dissatisfaction.
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Page created in June, 2002
Major revision July, 2011
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Had a bad dining experience,
please let us know! A listed restaurant
has closed? Let us know that,
too. Mahalo!
.
A L O H A !