Top 10 Maui Sushi Restaurants

The fish here is light and buttery; it literally melts in your mouth. The rice is cooked to perfection with just the right amount of mirin (vinegar), making the rice the right texture of unbroken grains. The rice to fish ratio is just perfect, with small balls of rice and a good-sized piece of fish. Although many argue that uni is an acquired taste, if you are brave enough to try sea urchin, this is the best place to do it. The uni here is so creamy and fresh that it tastes like a delicate bite of sea heaven. Hiro is the soul sushi chef here and has been for going on 20 years. Regulars around here rave about Hiro and will only order the Omakase, content to leave themselves in his capable hands. We decided to trust Hiro, and we are happy we did. We watched him at work, shaping, rolling, and cutting. Everything he made us was flawless.

The Omakase has 12 pieces that included the usual cuts of fish plus uni and tamago. It was the best tamago we have ever had. Light and fluffy and very tasty. The service is pleasant and helpful. Hiro even engaged us with conversation as he energetically prepared everyone in the place’s orders. He is the only sushi chef, so be prepared to wait a bit, but don’t worry, it will be worth it. Koiso Sushi Bar is an excellent place for a date night with a partner who will appreciate some of the best sushi they will ever taste.

Nuka’s lunch menu is small and straightforward, serving lunch and dinner. They offer fresh lunch plates, noodles, saimin, dry mein, or stir fry with your choice of two toppings. They also serve burgers and a dish they call “Chop Chop,” which is fresh local fish chopped with veggies.

The dinner menu is more extensive, and there are no wrong choices. We love the “Haiku Roll,” which is one of Hiro’s creations that always keeps us coming back for more — made with delicious seared tuna, cucumber, and papaya wrapped in soy paper and topped with a tasty spicy mayo. Another favorite is the Haleakala Roll, a baked California roll with salmon, dynamite sauce, tobiko, eel sauce, and bonito flakes. This roll is mouthwateringly yummy! Don’t worry if you or a guest happen to be someone that prefers their food cooked; Nuka’s menu has that covered. The Karaage Chicken, which is a Japanese fried chicken, is a must-have. These tasty little bites of heaven are cooked to perfection. Also, the Hurricane fries (sweet soy, spicy aioli, furikake, sriracha) and the best miso soup on the island are excellent choices from the cooked items on the menu.

“Nuka” means rice bran in Japanese. This is a proper name for this restaurant that earnestly sources their own brown rice, milling it themselves in house. Using the whole product, they utilize the bran to create their own pickled vegetables. Check out the drink special of the day. Always made with fresh ingredients that are in season. Also, you can have any of the cocktails on the menu made with sake. The food here is simply divine and is a local favorite. It can get busy, and they don’t take reservations. You may need to wait a bit for a table; however, we assure you that the wait is worth it!

• You can pre-order for next day pickup.
• They also have incredibly tasty donuts.
• Catering services also provided.

The atmosphere is that of a modern Japanese beach house with sushi bar, dining room and poolside seating, or sit out at the bar which is an outdoor terrace. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and gets very busy around sunset, so make reservations. Some of our favorite starters are the tuna pizza and spicy king crab served with a tabanjan aioli and micro cilantro. Both of these disses are packed with a flavor punch. The Octopus carpaccio is so tender and delicious, we ordered a second round. Every sushi roll that we had was tasty and the sashimi is tender and remarkably fresh.

If you’re going with a group we recommend ordering the Morimoto Omakase, which is a multi-course tasting menu that allows you to taste the best of Morimoto’s cuisine. If someone in your party prefers something besides sea food the offering of steaks here is impressive as well.

Sansei is also very popular with the 21+ crowd when this restaurant transforms into an intimate late-night karaoke lounge with discount sushi, appetizers and drink specials. The award winning “Shrimp Dynamite” is one of the most popular dishes. This crispy tempura shrimp tossed with a garlic masago aioli and unagi glace drizzle is packed with flavor. Also, we really enjoyed the taste and textures of the Panko-crusted fresh ahi sashimi that is rolled with arugula and spinach, panko crusted and then flash fried and served with a soy wasabi butter sauce.

Sansei showcases fresh, unique dishes and sushi rolls. They also have some delicious cocktails like their refreshing lychee or mango martini’s. Make sure to save room for the tempura fried ice cream!

After tasting their unique and vibrant sushi rolls we can see why. The words that come to mind are fresh, fresh and fresh. Their rolls, sushi and sashimi are made from the freshest fish around. Owner, Shawn Steadman catches most of the fish himself from his own boat. Check out their Facebook page to see what freshly caught specials of the day are made by expert sushi artists in both of their locations.

Everyone raves about the ahi poke bowls. Word around town is that the ahi is so fresh that it jumps into your mouth. Other house favorites include the TNA roll, which is a California roll wrapped with salmon and topped with scallops and a spicy aioli that’s garnished with bonito flakes and furikake. Or, try the TNT Roll, also known as MISO the Bomb, this is a shrimp tempura and crab roll topped with fresh tender Ahi Poke Unagi sauce and agave honey, full of delicious textures and flavors. We ordered the Hamachi Kama right away, because it states on the menu that it takes 20 minutes. We were so glad we did. It was prepared to perfection, ridiculously fresh and melted in the mouth.

Miso Phat offers a daily happy hour from 3-5, offering Nigiri and sushi roll specials, as well as special prices on beer, wine and sake. This is a great place to bring the family with a fun and inviting atmosphere, great service and amazing sushi.

Master Sushi Chef Chai is taking sushi to another level with special rolls like Beauty and the Beast. This is a crowd favorite, made with snow crab, shrimp tempura, cream cheese, cucumber, topped with BBQ eel and fresh tuna. Also, the poke bowls here are a must try. The “Combo Poke” is a generous portion of island fresh Ahi, salmon, yellowtail in a spicy poke sauce with a delicious ginger dressing.

If you are a sake enthusiast, this is the place for you. Lahaina Sushi Ko has an amazing selection of premium sake, beer and wines. Make sure to ask if they are you are serving the special Lobster roll. If you are lucky enough to try it, you are in for a real treat. Open for lunch and dinner every day of the week from noon to 10 PM.

The emphasis at M Sushi is placed on upholding traditional Japanese cuisine, but with a twist. Although the menu is small, it’s full of only the most excellent seasonal seafood. Some of the menu items are actually shipped in directly from Japan. The traditional sushi and sashimi plates are top-notch; the fish is so fresh that it literally melts in your mouth. Chef Martin prepares all of his dishes with real grated wasabi, you won’t find any imitation crab on his menu, and the sushi rice is deliciously authentic and cooked to perfection. FYI, this restaurant is BYOB. Our favorite items are the Sashimi Omakase, and the Oyster Shooters (be sure to ask for the oysters because they’re not on the menu!)

If you prefer not to eat raw, there are also delicious cooked items on the menu. Try the grilled octopus with arugula, or the wok fried beans served with a yummy aioli sauce. The house favorite is the mouthwatering salmon kama, broiled to perfection with a scrumptious miso marinade, and served with a traditional ponzu sauce.

The sushi bar gets crowded, but if you can, try to dine at the bar so you can watch the chef up close and personal. M Sushi is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM for lunch, 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM on weekdays, and until 10:00 PM Friday and Saturday.

Sushi Paradise is a Maui favorite, and many locals claim that it is the best sushi on the island. The secret is to make a reservation, and then get there 15 minutes early. Owner and Chef Watanabe is the only sushi chef in the house, so be prepared to wait. Don’t worry, it’s worth the wait. You’ll be rewarded for your patience with fresh high-quality sushi that is delivered in generously sliced portions. If you prefer cooked seafood, the Hamachi Kama is to die for. Also, the saimin is very popular. The pork is so tender, it melts in your mouth like butter. The noodles are cooked to perfection, and the dashi broth brings it all together into one of our favorite bowls of saimin on Maui.

You’ll definitely want to save room for the homemade green tea ice cream. It is the perfect way to end a delicious meal at Paradise Sushi. Open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner only 6PM-10PM.

This is not your typical sushi bar, even with its beach theme; everything about this restaurant screams authentic Japanese. If you are an uni lover, this is the place to order it. It’s straight from Japan and is full of creamy fresh deliciousness. The fish is always fresh here, and they know how to serve sake right. You must order it yourself to see.

Reservations are highly recommended; there are only a few tables and a sushi bar. With just the two of them, you may have to wait, even if you see an open table. We love to order the Satoe-san omakase, which includes a 7-course meal that is chosen by the chef. We enjoyed a mouthwatering yellowtail carpaccio, a variety of sushi, sashimi, oyster shooters, miso shiru, and chawanmushi. It’s a little pricey but impeccable and so worth it. The albacore here was the best I have ever had; if I weren’t so full, I would of orders a dozen more! You can’t go wrong with 1054 Togoshi, with its delicious fresh food and calm homey atmosphere. Open for dinner only.

Kojima’s Sushi and Japanese Cuisine Restaurant on Maui offers a laid-back family atmosphere. Chef Kojima remains an icon, known for his traditional style of preparing sushi and his authentic Japanese recipes. You will love his skillful merging of Japanese traditions with local ingredients. The end result is a delicious fusion of Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine that is bursting with flavor!

This is a great spot to enjoy delicious sushi and sashimi when exploring Upcountry Maui. If you prefer your food cooked, our favorite dishes here are the tempura udon and the chicken katsu, a Japanese style fried chicken that is very tasty. Keep in mind that this is a BYOB restaurant, so you will want to grab your sake, wine and/or beer (No hard liquor allowed) on the way in.