Top 30 Places for Local Food on Maui

There are a few tables if you do want to stay in to eat. Service is friendly and helpful here. They serve up delicious salads, homemade soups, fresh fruit smoothies, acai bowls and locally made kombucha on tap. They also have a nice selection of vegan, vegetarian and raw options.

We shared the grilled cheese deluxe which came with an amazing homemade pesto sauce, tomato, avocado, crispy lettuce on a yummy homemade sprouted grain bread. We also love the vegan chili with brown rice. It was tasty with just the right amount of zesty spices. The “Maui Fruit” smoothie is so fresh and filled with tropical flavors that include pineapple, banana, and lilikoi (passionfruit). Add the fresh ginger for a fantastic twist that adds a little spice to the taste.

Joy’s place is proud to offer a wide range of healthy food choices for everyone. Also open for breakfast, the organic cold brewed coffee pairs perfectly with the panini egg sandwich or the vegan breakfast burrito.

Definitely, try the Dry Mein at Sam Sato’s, it’s one of the most popular items on their menu. In case you don’t already know, Dry Mein is like Chow Mein…dry noodles, char siu pork, bean sprouts, green onions, dash and shoyu, completed with Sam Sato’s famous seasoning. Must order items at Sam Sato’s are the Dry Mein, Chow Fun, Teriyaki Beef Sticks, Plate Lunches, Kimchi and the Sweet Lima Manju for dessert.

Arrive early, doors close when the bakery sells out. All-time favorites, and must order items at the Komoda Bakery are the Glazed Stick Donuts, Strawberry Doughnuts, the Chocolate & Vanilla Cream Doughnut, Cream Puffs, and the Guava Malasadas.

If you’re planning on checkin’ out Geste Shrimp Truck with your family and friends, definitely think about getting the Party Platter, it comes with 60 pieces of any style shrimp served over cabbage. Oh so good…

***A little-known fact is that ‘Eskimo Candy’ is actually the word used to describe the belly strip of smoked salmon. This Maui seafood market and cafe also have two more locations on Kauai and Oahu.

The coffee and the espresso drinks are good and strong, and the baked goods and desserts are sinfully delicious. Lunch is always a good choice at Grandma’s Maui Coffee Shop with daily specials like spinach lasagna, paniolo pork chops, meatloaf, fresh fish plates, and more. They also have a perfect selection of sandwiches, soups and salads.

There are so many wonderful options including a variety of pho and soups, rice and noodle dishes, clay pots, cold salads, fresh seafood, and meat dishes. Favorite items at Saigon Cafe in Wailuku are the Garden Delight Rolls, Green Papaya Salad with Shrimp, Whole Steamed Opakapaka, Chicken Curry Stew, Mahi Mahi in a Clay Pot, Saigon Egg Noodle Soup, and the Vietnamese Steak. No matter what you choose at this Central Maui restaurant, you will most definitely be pleased.

The Ulupalakua Ranch has deep roots in Maui’s agricultural history, operated by multiple families since 1856. Since 1963, Ulupalakua Ranch (approx. 18,000 acres), including the historic ranch store, has been owned and operated by the Erdman family. We encourage you to take a drive upcountry to see breathtaking views of outer islands, Mt. Haleakala, and the rolling hills and pastures of Kula, Keokea, and Ulupalakua. Definitely plan on pulling over for lunch at the Ulupalakua Ranch Store and Grill while on your way to the Ulupalakua Maui Winery*** Mostly frequented by locals, this Upcountry ranch store has some extra special menu items, sparsely found throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Popular menu items are the famous Ulupalakua Elk Burger, Maui Cattle Company Beef Burger, the Hot Roasted Kalua Pig served on a fresh torta roll, and Uncle Mike’s Steak Chili & Rice Bowl. The plate lunches are to die for, our favorite being the Hamburger Steak served with Kona Coffee Gravy and Roasted Garlic Aioli, with your choice of beef, elk or lamb. At the Ulupalakua Ranch Store and Grill, guests can put their minds at ease knowing that all meats served are 100% all-natural island grazed, with no growth hormones or artificial ingredients.

There are so many favorite lunch and dinner items including Chopped Steak, Loco Moco, Korean Pork Ribs, Extra Crispy Chicken, Saimin, Won Ton Min, Chow Fun, Chinese Chicken Salad, and a variety of sandwiches, burgers, and salads. The list goes on…and on…and on…

Inspired by his upbringing in Hilo on the Big Island, Sheldon has created and polished his recipes to perfection. It was Sheldon’s vision to offer families affordable comfort food made with aloha from quality, plus locally sourced ingredients. All dishes but the poke are just $10 or under. You must try the Mochiko Chicken Bowl! This is hands down the most delicious dish in the house. It’s made from chicken thighs that are marinated overnight in ginger sake shoyu, breaded with sweet mochiko batter, then deep fried not once, but twice. This makes this chicken crispy on the outside and extra juicy on the inside. It is served with your choice of white or brown rice, kale or Chef Sheldon’s famous garlic noodles. For just a dollar more you can add a one minute egg that pushes this dish right over the top. All dishes except Poke include a side of salted cabbage. Other mouth-watering dishes to try here are the garlic shrimp, chopped steak, and the fresh poke bowl that varies daily. Most dishes are available with a gluten-free option when requested. It’s a good idea to get here early before the crowd hits for lunch around 11 am, not just to beat the long line, but because they tend to sell out and close for the rest of the day. Tin Roof is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 am-2:00 pm or until sold out.

Hawaiian fish used throughout the menu include Opakapaka (Crimson Snapper), Ahi (Yellowfin Tuna), Mahi Mahi (Dolphin Fish), and Ono (Wahoo). Not only is the food super good here, but guests will also love that this family-friendly Maui restaurant is fun, with a cool beachy interior and a friendly staff. Favorite items on the Coconut’s Fish Cafe menu are any of their famous Fish Tacos including the Taco Mountain, Coconut Shrimp, any of the Fishburgers, the Seafood Caesar Salad, and the Local Style Fish served with brown rice. Boom!

With options like the Mahi Mahi Omelette, Loco Moco, Garlic Ono Fish with Teriyaki Beef, Chicken Katsu Curry, Beef Noodle Soup, and Kalua Pork and Lau Lau… this place provides mouth-watering local Hawaiian fare at its finest! Broke da Mouth!

Must-haves on the menu include the braised beef ribs. They are so tender that they literally melt in your mouth, and are served with a creamy mac salad and a scoop of rice. The coconut shrimp is also impressive served with a delicious sweet and sour aioli, and the pork adobo fried rice will keep you coming back for more. Breakfast is also excellent here! The light and fluffy banana macadamia nut pancakes are perfectly prepared and served up with warm coconut syrup. You’ll definitely want to ask for extra syrup because it is so tasty! The perfect pair to this is the short rib hash. Wow, is it good, and served over rice with gravy and eggs cooked your way. Joey’s kitchen is a great spot to pick up some tasty comfort food local style for the whole family without breaking the bank. Open daily from 7:30 am-9:00 pm for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Ka’anapali
Whaler’s Village Lower Level

Napili
Napili Plaza Shopping Center

Perfect for a casual date night or a group celebration, every guest always enjoys eating at Sansei on Maui. Award-winning menu items include the Panko Crusted Ahi Sashimi Sushi Roll, Mango Crab Salad Roll, Dungeness Crab Ramen with Asian Truffle Broth, and Sansei’s Shrimp Dynamite: Crispy tempura shrimp tossed with creamy garlic Masago aioli, and drizzled with an unagi glaze. With a lively atmosphere, a delicious menu, and a staff full of aloha, Sansei on Maui should not be missed! (please note the late night hours…that my friends, is a Maui culinary rarity…)

Sansei Sushi Kihei Location
(Kihei Town Center)

Kapalua Resort Location

Guests can order take-out for a family beach picnic, eat inside, or dine outside under the covered lanai. Some of the most popular fresh Hawaiian fish used throughout the menu include Ono, Ahi, and Marlin. Favorite menu items are the super yummy Fish Burgers served with tomatoes, shoyu caramelized onions, and shredded lettuce on an onion roll, Fish Burritos, the Crab Cake Sandwich, Oyster Shooters, Ceviche, and the Seafood Chowder or Lobster Bisque served in a bread bowl. They also serve sushi rolls Tuesday thru Thursday and on Sundays; using Maui caught Ono, Walu, Scallops, Swordfish, Opakapaka, Onaga, Mahi Mahi, Marlin, Uku, Lobster, and more.

All the sandwiches are served on their famous French bread rolls, our favorite being the Chicken Lemongrass Sandwich. If you go to Ba-Le, you MUST order this sandwich. As the locals would say, this sando is broke da mouth, and we aren’t kidding! Other popular items are the Fried Egg Rolls, Pad-Nam Noodles with Chicken, Char Siu Saimin, Fried Rice with Shrimp & Spam, and the Beef Teriyaki. Ba-Le Sandwich Shops on Maui also offer catering. Do not forget to grab some freshly baked bread and a Taro or Mango Tapioca Pearl Drink on your way out…shoots

Kahului Location

Kihei Location

Wailuku Location

Lahaina Location

Whichever one you decide on, you will be thinking about it for the rest of the day and wondering about the others you left untasted. Although all the pies are delicious, the banana cream and chocolate haupia are at the top of our list for must order items. They also serve up some decent salads, burgers, and sandwiches but let’s get back to the pies. Don’t forget to try one of the savory pies. We love the delicious little handheld pies stuffed with sweet Kula corn, Cotija cheese, chives, and a little lime zest. Of course, they offer the classic turkey pot pie with tons of turkey and delicious gravy with carrots, onion, and potatoes. They also do a twist on the chicken pot pie with tender pieces of chicken breast, peas, carrots, and kale. Heed our warning and beware, once you stop here, you may find yourself back for a pie before your departure from Maui. Lucky for you, they are open 7 days a week 7:00 am-8:00 pm.

The most popular Breakfast items are the Southern Style Sausage Gravy and Biscuits (homemade biscuits), Pork Fried Rice and Scrambled Eggs, and Pancakes with a choice of buttermilk, banana macadamia nut, pineapple coconut, blueberry or chocolate chip. They also serve Lunch from 11:00 am-3:00 pm, with a selection of sandwiches, salads and tasty burgers with all the trimmings, including a slice of fresh Maui pineapple* Oh, yeah…

When at this Maui local food restaurant, make sure to try the featured Ali’i Plate, it comes with pork laulau, kalua pork, and cabbage, lomilomi salmon, poi, macaroni salad, rice and haupia for dessert. It’s a top-a-top version of a perfectly traditional Hawaiian plate. The Coconut Prawns served with a pineapple chutney are delicious, and so is the Pohole Ferns salad, the Kalbi Beef Ribs, and the Mochiko Chicken. Aloha Mixed Plate has so many tantalizing local food choices on their menu so you cannot go wrong. They also have a fabulous tropical cocktail menu…that sets them apart from other local food spots on Maui. Try the Mai Tai, Mango Lemonade, Hawaiian Angel, or the Sassy Wahine (a mango margarita with strawberries, and li hing mui powder on the rim).

It’s a hip local-style Hawaiian food restaurant that offers both a traditional and creative menu. Guests can sample their pupus (appetizers) and salads menu and order burgers, sandwiches, plate lunches, pasta, noodle dishes, and many more specialty dishes.

At Da Kitchen, some of the most popular items are the SPAM Musubi, Chicken Katsu Sandwich, Hawaiian Plate, Notorious B.I.G. Moco, Saimin, and the Pulehu Grilled New York Steak.

For accolades and awards, Da Kitchen has many. Da Kitchen cooked at the Inaugural Luau during President Obama’s election, and they’ve been featured on numerous T.V. shows. They were highlighted on The Food Network’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,’ and ‘Man v. Food’ on the Travel Channel. They’ve also won numerous restaurant awards in the State of Hawaii, including the prestigious Aipono Awards.

Kihei

If you’re headed on the Road to Hana, Kuau Store is located before Mama’s Fish House and just a quick 2-minute drive to Ho’okipa Beach Park. The store has a counter for indoor seating and a picnic table outside. They have a small but well-curated selection of groceries and a deli with freshly prepared salads, sandwiches, pasta, and ahi poke. For vegans and vegetarians, Kuau Store also sells a variety of plant-based foods and cold-pressed juices.

Kuau Store is a great place to find Maui souvenirs. They have t-shirts, hats, greeting cards, water bottles, and many locally produced goods. Visitors can easily find Maui made products like local honey, coconut water, coffee, and reef-safe sunscreen.

Kuau Store is a great local spot to visit on Maui’s North Shore. The staff is friendly, and the food is delicious. It’s an ideal spot to grab to-go items when beach hopping and adventuring through Maui.

Their eggs benedicts are amazing! Daily Specials are always varied and well worth taking a look at before you order. The servers are upbeat and full of fun. You’ll love this Maui local food spot.

Also, they also serve up some tasty to Hawaii local food dishes as well. After breakfast, their signature Asian/Hawaiian dishes are stir-fry vegetables with different meats and chow fun noodles. Service is pleasant, efficient and the food is value priced to satiate all budgets.

All poke bowls come with a generous portion of Ahi, your choice of brown or white rice on top of a crispy bed of romaine; topped with wonton strips and a sprinkle of furikake (dried seaweed with spices and sesame seeds). The only downfall is, these poke bowls are super popular and sell out quickly. It’s a good idea to stop by for an early lunch. If you prefer cooked, they have a lime cooked Ahi ceviche with coconut milk that’s to die for. They also serve up a perfect acai bowl and some delicious plate lunch specials. The shoyu chicken is rich and moist. Don’t forget to try the shave ice with all the fixings; mochi ball in the center and a sweet condensed cream drizzle on top. Located in the heart of Paia Town, this is a great spot to order some local grinds, sit out front at one of their tables while enjoying some ono food and great people watching. Open daily from 10:00am-6:00pm.

The Salmon Teriyaki is another favorite. The Chicken Katsu has a different feel and texture than most versions of this classic Hawaiian dish, so you definitely should try it! The quality is quite impressive, and they have super reasonable prices for a traditional Japanese mom and pop style restaurant. If you are looking to try Japanese food done Hawaiian-style, definitely go to Tokyo Tei.

Bailey’s Café is a food truck at the Haiku Marketplace on Maui’s North Shore. You will enjoy the relaxed and inviting atmosphere here, so laid back. Yet, the service is personable and very helpful. After you order just sit back and enjoy a table in the shade. Bailey’s Cafe is very popular with locals in the area, and with the word out, getting more and more popular by the day. We can’t say enough about the food. Our favorites list starts with the chopped steak plate. The steak is 100% grass-fed beef born and grazed in Hawaii. It’s also prepared to perfection, juicy and tender with just the right crispiness around the edges. Cooked in rosemary and balsamic, it’s an age-perfect balance of flavors. We also loved the fried rice and shoyu chicken. Pair any of these dishes with fresh turmeric ginger lemonade or a refreshing smoothie made with local fruits, and you’ll be in heaven. They also offer some delicious vegetarian and vegan options that include a tasty pan-fried tofu plate lunch. All plate lunches come in two sizes half, and full order, accompanied with house made mac salad and fresh local greens salad. Everything prepared at Bailey’s Café is so fresh and yummy, everyone will full, happy and dreaming of their next visit. Open Monday through Friday from 11am-7pm.

If you want to try real authentic local food on Maui, Poi By The Pound is an awesome choice. The breakfast menu offers typical eggs and omelets, and island favorites like a variety of Loco Moco plates, Pancakes, Steak & Eggs, and Saimin.

Lunch items are also available to order during the breakfast hours. Favorites off the lunch menu include the Beef Stew Plate, the Hawaiian Plate, and the Roasted Pork Plate. Lunch plates are big and filling and come with white rice, mac salad or a green salad. If you’re looking for a yummy dessert, we definitely suggest the Ice Cream Floats and the Taro Sundae.

The food will remind you of Sundays at your grandmother’s house. Mama’s is a great alternative to high prices and fast food for both locals and island visitors.

Owners Tootsie and Chef Bonny are famous for making a handful of the most delicious local-style burgers on Maui. All of their burgers are handcrafted from local Maui Cattle grass-fed beef, and each has a unique flavor profile.

Although the menu offers a variety, it’s the Original Korean Burger that supersedes all! It’s dressed with homemade kimchi and the most fantastic secret sauce called ‘Kochu Jang Aioli.’ It’s served on a toasted brioche bun and drizzled with a kalbi style glaze. If you want to skip the bun, you can also order it as a ‘Burger in a Bowl’ served over white rice.

The menu at Fatt Chicks also includes more Gourmet Burgers, Signature All Beef Hot Dogs, Bowls, Plates, Salads, French Fries, and Sides. More favorite items are the Combo Plate, Seared Ahi Steak Salad, Gravy Fries, Beer Battered Onion Rings. They also have gluten-free sandwich buns, and we love their Side of Kimchi and the Aioli sauce.