The 24 Best Maui Restaurants, According to a Local Expert
Maui’s reputation for beauty is deserved: strings of crescent beaches give way to lush rainforests and rolling green ranchlands. Opulent resorts line the island’s leeward shore, each with flashy restaurants offering front row seats for the nightly pyrotechnic sunset show. But, having grown up in Hawai’i and covered food on Maui for 20-plus years, I’ve […]
Maui’s reputation for beauty is deserved: strings of crescent beaches give way to lush rainforests and rolling green ranchlands. Opulent resorts line the island’s leeward shore, each with flashy restaurants offering front row seats for the nightly pyrotechnic sunset show. But, having grown up in Hawai’i and covered food on Maui for 20-plus years, I’ve watched as the island’s best chefs have migrated away from the big hotels to their own humble kitchens. High rents have forced independent restaurateurs to maximize unconventional spaces. The most righteous meals on Maui can now be found in strip malls, food trucks, and even farms.
This is especially true after the catastrophic August 2023 fire, which hit the island’s restaurant industry hard. Overnight, chefs and waitstaff turned into emergency responders; many lost their homes and businesses. While some West Maui restaurants have reopened (Sala Pepe and Star Noodle), others still hope to rebuild. Despite considerable challenges, Maui’s sous chefs and shave ice makers still show up, tie on aprons, and nourish their community.
Speaking of nourishment, Maui’s “eat local” trend continues to blossom, resulting in dynamic collaborations between chefs, fisherfolk, and farmers. Menus routinely feature Hawaiian flavors such as opakapaka (snapper), pohole fern, and haupia (coconut custard). Bartenders mix cocktails with fresh lilikoi (passionfruit) juice and locally distilled spirits: rum, vodka, and okolehau (a plantation-era moonshine made from ti root and sugar cane). Before leaving Maui, head to a farmer’s market or grocery store for island-grown chocolate, macadamia nut butter, and coffee to stash in your suitcase.
In this latest refresh, we’ve revamped our write-ups to include even more relevant info for diners, including a rough range of pricing for each destination — ranging from $ for quick, inexpensive meals with dishes largely under $10, to $$$$ for places where entrees exceed $30.
New to the map in 2025: Komo, the retro-futuristic sushi bar at the Four Seasons; vegan and gluten-free brunch with stunning ocean views at Mala Ocean Tavern; Italian bistro favorite Sala Pepe, revived following the 2023 fire; and oceanfront fan-favorite Star Noodle.
