Best Food on Maui

*** We are heartbroken about the recent devastation caused by the wild fires. Over the years we have spent many hours in Lahaina, the memories will always hold a special place in our hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Maui. Please support if you can. ***

It’s no secret that we love food. So we thought of putting together a list of our favorite foods and beverages on Maui, since our Kauai version has been quite popular. This is our list of the best food on Maui, in no particular order…

*** Unfortunately due to lockdowns related to COVID-19 some of these businesses might not yet have re-opened or might have closed permanently. ***

Fresh Burrata Mozzarella – Honu 

I am not sure if it is the hazelnut cherry bread, but there is something about this appetizer that is highly addictive. It’s the perfect combo of crispy and creamy and so very tasty. 

Honu is open 11 am to 9 pm daily. And, the perfect place to catch a jaw dropping Maui sunset.

Ahi Eggs Benedict – Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop

It might seem a little pricey but where else can you get an Ahi Eggs Benedict? Fresh seared tuna, eggs poached to perfection on a house made english muffins covered in hollandaise sauce is the perfect breakfast.

They are open from 7 am daily for breakfast. Stop by if you get the chance! To read our full Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop post, click here.

Burger – Maui Brewing Company 

This was a bit of a surprise, but Maui Brewing Company, Hawaii’s largest craft brewery, offers a farm to table menu. They have many great food options but you can’t go wrong with the Jalapeno Bacon Burger. It’s served with house-made jalapeño bacon, fried avocado, jack cheese, cilantro mayo and a side of their house cut fries.

They have two locations on Maui. The original one is in Lahaina and, the newer one in Kihei. We have been to the Lahaina location during past visits, but this was our first time visiting the Kihei location. At this location they offer brewery tours several times per day and are open 7 days per week from 11 am to 11 pm.

Acai bowl – Island Vintage Coffee

There are plenty of places where you can get acai bowls on Maui, but this one has my favorite. It’s not because of the acai bowl itself, but because of the house made almond butter topping. It has been a little while since our last trip and I still crave it. I have tried replicating it but, it wasn’t the same.

Island Vintage Coffee on Maui is located in Whaler’s Village in Ka’anapali. They are open daily from 6 am to 10 pm, but only serve food from 6:30 am to 2 pm.  

Sushi – Japengo 

A Hawaiian spin to classic sushi is the best way to explain what to expect at Japengo. A sophisticated dining experience, they server dishes made with Hawaii’s freshest, locally grown products. Located lobby level of the Hyatt, guests can enjoy Japengo’s indoor and outdoor patio seating overlooking resort’s waterfalls and Ka’anapali Beach. You can even or watch as creative sushi is rolled to order in the Sushi Lounge.

Open from 5 pm to 10 pm daily, with a great Happy Hour from 5 to 6 pm.

Fish Tacos – Leilani’s 

When you think Maui food, one of the first things that comes to mind for many is Fish Tacos. And, you can’t go wrong with Leilani’s fish tacos. Made with fresh caught grilled fish, they are in our opinion some of the best on the island.

Open from 11 am to 11 pm daily, they are just steps away from Ka’anapali Beach’s soft sand.

Leoda’s pies – Leoda’s  Kitchen and Pie Shop

At Leoda’s, all of their pies are outstanding, but in our opinion, you can’t go wrong with any of them.  The Olowalu Lime pie is so good that it appeared on Cooking Channel’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” series. Duff Goldman claims that it’s the best pie that he has ever had and that it made him weak in the knees.

Apparently, this lime pie was inspired by the citrus trees growing across the street in the orchard of one of the owners. Stop by anytime between 7 am and 8 pm to taste it for yourself. And, we promise not to judge if you have it for breakfast!

Macnut pancakes – The Gazebo 

Macnut, white chocolate pancake with coconut syrup! YUM! The Gazebo is a small restaurant located on the grounds of Napili Shores Maui and the best place for pancakes on Maui. Only open from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm and very popular. It’s pretty small with only about 30 seats, but it has fantastic views.

You might be shocked to learn that one of the most popular foods on the menu is the huge serving of fried rice. But, we haven’t yet tried it.

Go early to beat the crowds! If you are there around 7 am you should be able to get seated fairly quickly after it opens. If you have a large group, go earlier.

Mai Tai – Monkeypod 

Everywhere you go on Maui, you can get a Mai Tai and they are all made slightly differently.  The Monkeypod Mai Tai is special and at a great price during Aloha Hour! If you have checked out some of our other Hawaii related posts, you might have noticed that we do mention it quite a bit.

Lokahi Pilsner – Kohola 

Since our last visit, a new brewery has opened up in Lahaina and their beer is good. Kohola Brewery’s Lokahi Pilsner is fantastic and very popular. It kept selling out everywhere we went. If you want to visit their brewery it is tucked away. It’s open daily from 12 pm to 9 pm.

If you can’t make it there, their beer can be found on tap at several establishments around the island. Even Safeway and Foodland carry some of their beers in cans.

Here’s a tip for you. Kohola Brewery doesn’t serve any food but, they allow you to bring in food. In the same parking lot, there is a Mexican Food Truck, Ono Tacos, that serves excellent food. So, walk over and get a snack to enjoy with your pint.

Maui, Feta, Onion Salad – Leilani’s 

Made with locally grown greens, sweet Maui onions, feta for a salty addition, walnuts for crunch and topped with papaya dressing it is the perfect salad. Top it with grilled fresh fish or chicken to make it the ultimate warm weather meal. Open from 11 am to 11 pm daily, it’s easy to drop by for a quick lunch while enjoying a day at the beach.

To read our full Leilani’s post, click here.

Wok fish – Honu

Whole Wok Fried Hawaiian Snapper at Honu is any seafood lover’s dream. The whole locally caught fresh fish is wok fried and served with fresh vegetables over a bed of quinoa in a black pepper sauce. It is a massive meal for one, and great for two or more depending on the size of the fish you select.

Not only can we promise that you will love the dish, you will also get some of the best service on Maui. Open daily from 11 am to 9 pm, make sure to check them out.

Wood Fired Pizza – Flatbread Company

The Flatbread Company is located in Pai’a Town on Maui. And, it has been one of our go-to places when visiting Maui. They have plenty of tasty flatbread options but our favorites are the Pa’ia Bay Ohana and the Mopsy’s Kalua Pork. Usually, we can’t decide some we just order a half and half. Start with their salad, since we think its one of the best things to eat on Maui.

Monday to Thursday they are open from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm. And, Friday to Sunday 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Malasadas – Japengo

What are malasadas you might ask? They are fried type of doughnut, made of small balls of yeast dough, coated with granulated sugar. The traditional Portuguese malasadas don’t contain holes or any type of filling, but some variations, like the ones made in Hawaii, do.

Not only are the ones at Japengo served to you hot, but also with three dipping sauces. One was a chocolate , another a salted caramel and the third one a guava sauce. All so tasty.

Obviously, we haven’t tried every restaurant or every food. If we have missed something that you think should be on our best food on Maui list, comment below!

Also, if you are planning and trip to Maui and looking for helpful information, read our Maui Travel Tips post.

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