14 Best Restaurants in Lahaina, Maui

Located steps from Lahaina Harbor, this casual restaurant serves top-notch seafood with Southern flair. The shrimp po'boy, seared ahi (yellowfin tuna) tacos, and fish-and-chips are perennial favorites. Order at the counter and grab a seat at one of the outdoor tables. Nightly live music, big screen televisions, and a full bar make this an entertaining choice any time of the day. For dessert, stop in for shave ice at Breakwall Shave Ice Co. next door, which is run by the same owners, and is also home to the famous "adult shave ice" for the 21 and older set.

Classically trained French chef Gerard Reversade, who started as an apprentice in acclaimed Paris restaurants when he was just 14, has for more than three decades remained true to his Gascony roots. He cooks his way, utilizing island ingredients in such dishes as escargots forestière (with garlic and mushrooms), chilled cucumber soup, and the ahi tartare with taro chips; the wine list is first-class, and the dessert list is extensive.

The menu at this oceanfront standout features interesting local-style Hawaiian food fusions. There's a focus on ingredients that promote local sustainability, and the cocktails and wine list are great, too. Daily brunch and happy hours keep guests happy all day, and a late night menu on Friday and Saturday features raw fish and wagyu plus discounted cocktails.

This local favorite, one of Maui's most popular restaurants, recently moved to an oceanside locale. The expanse of the Pacific sets the scene for an eclectic Asian menu with must-try items like the ahi (yellowfin tuna) avo, tempura shrimp, and noodle dishes like the Lahaina fried soup that's served with fat chow fun, pork, and bean sprouts. The cocktail list is similarly fabulous, and the Asian Pear with sake and pear vodka has become a Lahaina classic.

This cute, casual café by Valley Isle Kombucha is part kombucha tasting room, part eatery. Try one of the many kombucha flavors on tap, which is crafted in small batches using local ingredients, and comes in flavors like guava pineapple and Kula strawberry. This place is located in an industrial area and is only open for lunch, but is worth seeking out for a fun tasting experience paired with healthy and flavor-packed dishes. Try the banh mi bowl or lobster panini and grab a loaf of sourdough to take with you.

This longtime Lahaina oceanfront classic is run by the same group of wonderful folks who bring you Old Lahaina Luau. This is the place to try a "plate lunch"—a protein served in Asian-style preparation, along with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad—and also features Hawaiian favorites like laulau, kalua pork, and poi from the restaurant's own farm. Take your plate to a table so close to the ocean you just might get wet. Oh, and don't forget the mai tai!

A chain joint on Front Street, this place is known for—what else?—big beefy cheeseburgers, not to mention a great turkey burger, as well as healthier options such as smoothies and hearty salads. The second-floor balcony gives you a bird's-eye view of Lahaina's Front Street action.

No matter the cuisine, serial restaurateur Mark Ellman always delivers, as he does yet again with this oceanfront eatery along Front Street. The setting is reason enough to dine here, but the food—specializing in Latin-inspired dishes—attracts diners all on its own and 40 varieties of tequila dominate the bar.

This oceanfront fish house and pizza restaurant began as a way to showcase the work of celebrity chef Mark Ellman before recently changing ownership. Guests can expect a lot of their favorite dishes to remain on the menu, with some fun food and cocktail additions to come. Much of the seafood comes from New England and the Pacific Northwest, and the pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired brick oven.

It's been a popular casual spot with locals since it first opened in 1989, and to be around that long, it's got to be doing something right. You can get everything from huevos rancheros to local-style fried rice at breakfast; plate lunches, salads, wraps, and more for lunch; and fresh fish, chicken, steak, and pasta for dinner; plus there are separate pizza, pupu, and bar menus. Since this restaurant buys its fish from Lahaina Harbor anglers, the catch of the day is always a good bet.

At the top of many "best restaurants" lists, this expensive upscale bistro is about as fashionably chic as it gets on Maui, and the interior is as pretty as the patrons. Wagyu beef ravioli, bufala salad with locally grown tomatoes, and Kona-coffee–roasted rack of lamb are a few of the classics customers demand; the full menu—including dessert—is available at the bar.

Sophisticated outdoor dining on the beach (yes, truly on the beach) and creative Island cuisine using local, fresh-caught fish and greens and veggies grown in the restaurant's own Upcountry Oo Farm (and, quite possibly, picked that very morning)—this is the Maui dining experience you've been dreaming about. Start with a variety of fresh vegetable dishes on the appetizer menu, move on to any of the fantastic fresh fish dishes, and for dessert, finish with the banana bread ice cream sandwich.

A couple of blocks off Front Street in Lahaina, this small restaurant packs a powerhouse of a menu with reasonably priced pizzas, pastas, salads, and sandwiches. The name can be found on the menu in four dishes; two can easily split a salad and entrée and leave completely sated.

Aromas from a wood-fired oven lure you into this cozy Italian restaurant set just off of Front Street, and the wine list tempts you to stay awhile. Quality is paramount here—many of the ingredients are imported directly from Italy, while farm-fresh produce and meats come from Maui. Chef-owner Michele Bari (also from Italy) honed his skills at the prestigious Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli (International School of Pizza) in Venice. The desserts change regularly—if you’re lucky, the addictive tiramisu will be on the menu.