31 Best Restaurants in Maui, Hawaii

You'd never guess what's inside by the nondescript exterior and the location in an old pineapple cannery-cum-strip-mall, but this is one of Maui's most overlooked and underrated restaurants. Popular with locals for breakfast, lunch, and a daily happy hour, at night during dinner is when the candles come out and it's time for martinis and fresh fish; you'll feel like you're at a hip urban eatery.

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.

While the rest of Makawao Town eases into the day, fuel up with a hearty breakfast at this garden café in the shade of a sprawling Argentinian coral tree. With options like huevos rancheros, French toast, and housemade biscuits and gravy, it feels like Sunday brunch every day.

The variety of abundance from local Hana farms is on display here with fresh produce highlighting plates with tasty American fare and a few local favorites like loco moco (white rice, burger patty, fried egg, and brown sauce) and ahi (yellowfin tuna) poke. The quality of meals and the prices are reflective of a more upscale restaurant, but customers can keep it casual here (no swimwear allowed, however). The bar, with its decadent craft cocktails (and mocktails) and local beer selection, tends to get a bit lively in the evening, one of the few options for nightlife in the area.

This signature restaurant at Maui's most stylish luxury resort, Andaz Maui at Wailea, has it all: ingredients sourced within the Islands, marvelous wine list, stellar service, and spectacular views from every table. The whole space has been masterfully designed with the gorgeous exhibition kitchen as the focal point of the restaurant and both indoor and outdoor seating wrapping around the space. The breakfast buffet includes endless, tasty options and dinner presents the perfect opportunity to linger over unique fish, seafood, and steak preparations.

This unassuming popular spot across the street from Kalama Beach Park has a breakfast menu that runs the gamut from healthy yogurt-filled papaya to the local classic loco moco—two eggs, ground beef patty, rice, and brown gravy—and everything in between. Unique menu items include corned beef hash and catfish at breakfast and a calamari sandwich at lunch. A second location recently opened in Lahaina.

Sam Sato's is a local favorite for noodles, manju (Japanese pastry filled with sweet bean paste), and plate lunches. Open for breakfast and lunch; the menu includes favorites like "dry noodles," beef tomato, omelets, and fried rice. Dry mein, saimin, and chow fun come in different-size portions with add-ins to satisfy every noodle craving; try a teriyaki beef stick or two while you wait for your bowl. When it's busy—which is almost always—you will likely have to wait for a table or a stool at the counter; write your name on the little yellow pad at the takeout window.

Built in the 1960s at the Napili Kai Beach Resort, before there were laws forbidding construction so close to the beach, this restaurant is literally footsteps away from gorgeous Napili Bay. Wear your beach wrap to breakfast and enjoy the signature oven-baked pancakes or the beautifully delicious Molokai sweet potato egg frittata; the menu also offers fish from Hawaiian waters and fresh local produce.

Stillwell's is one of the best bakeries in Maui, so this is the place to come for coffee and an outrageously good strawberry florentine or a renowned cream horn. Their breakfast and lunch offerings are exceptional, from a fried egg sandwich to mouthwatering pancakes and gourmet sandwiches on house-made bread to their famous Chinese chicken salad. Every day is cake day at Stillwell's, so order the perfect cake for that special occasion. The desserts on display will surely make you drool; go ahead, you're on vacation!

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!

Its proximity to Maalaea Harbor means this joint is always jumping, and the look is funky, beachy, and kitschy. The draw here is definitely the barbecue—ribs, chicken, and prime rib, all smoked on-site—but so is the Tuesday night lobster fest and the Wednesday night ribs fest. In West Maui, there's another location in the Napili Plaza shopping center.

Paia is one of Maui's most interesting food towns, and this colorful, airy, and brightly painted hangout is right in the thick of things. The menu features everything from burgers and fish to three different preparations of duck, and aside from the great food, the people-watching is fascinating.

The food is so fresh at this Waikapu standout that you can see the fields where the food was grown while seated at your mountain view table. This family-owned restaurant creates rich cuisine from mauka (mountain) to makai (ocean), boasting seasonal produce. With every bite, you know it was made with aloha. Reservations encouraged.

An authentic Italian ristorante, Casanova is smack dab in the middle of Maui's paniolo (cowboy) town of Makawao. Imported from Italy, the brick wood-burning oven has turned out perfect pies and steaming-hot focaccia for more than 20 years. Sunday brunch is new and exciting, with omelets ordered to your liking, specialty benedicts, and flowing mimosas. Generous portions and fresh, local ingredients make Casanova the perfect stop.

A Maui institution since 1969, Charley's is known for satiating your cowboy-size breakfast appetite: omelets, pancakes, and sausage biscuits with country gravy lure customers in. Charley's also serves hearty portions for lunch and dinner, including handmade pizzas and awesome burgers.

Chef Christian Jorgensen left fancy hotel kitchens behind to open a casual place serving simple, delicious food—mango-glazed ribs, burgers, and classic Reuben sandwich—at reasonable prices including a vegan menu and kombucha on tap. If you're staying in a condo, the Chefs to Go service is a great alternative to picking up fast food (run-of-the-mill and usually lousy) as everything is prepped and comes with easy cooking instructions.

The spot's the thing—the view is amazing—at this casual eatery just steps from the beach on the grounds of the Honua Kai Resort & Spa. The food is reliable—fresh fish is a good bet—the style all surfer-dudes and little grass shacks, and the signature cocktails big and pineapple-garnished.

Though it may seem like a tourist trap, this oceanside restaurant does not disappoint in the quality of its food, paired with an ambience steeped in Hawaiian history. The restaurant is named for famed surfer Duke Kahanamoku, and guests can learn about his life through memorabilia throughout. The seafood menu is downright astounding, and the famous Hula Pie—macadamia nut ice cream on a cookie crust served with hot fudge—might have you rushing to get to dessert, but you’ll definitely want to linger over dinner and drinks while enjoying nightly live music.

If you're taking a drive through the gorgeous Upcountry, this is a great place to stop for a truly homegrown, organic cup of coffee. The Franco family has been perfecting their coffee since 1918, growing the beans, handpicking, drying them under the Maui sun, then roasting them at the coffeehouse. Their menu is a true reflection of local culture, the meals tutu (grandma) made for the ohana (family). Pop in or order take-out online; the baked goods, bagels, or burgers will hit the spot.

The 5,000 square-foot venue Huihui, meaning “constellation,” is a new shining star in the culinary scene in Hawaii. Executive Chef Tom Muromoto created a menu featuring unique Hawaiian dishes using fresh local ingredients, showcasing the Island's diversity. The restaurant also serves as an educational tool for Hawaiian cuisine, cooking, and traditions in wayfinding. Micro-greens, ulu, venison, and fresh ocean fish are some of the island's offerings woven into modern fusion cuisine. A calm dining experience and breathtaking ocean views are the perfect backdrops for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Savor a cup of signature coffee and Poi French Toast in the morning, grab a venison burger and Poke Holokai for lunch, or paddle your way back at sunset for Pau Hana in the lounge for locally inspired cocktails like the Lilikoi Mojito and Smoked Li Hing Margarita. Traditional Hawaiian cooking is the focus of dinner service from koala (barbecue), lawalu (wrapped in a ti leaf and grilled), and Chef Muromoto’s signature Laulau steamed in luau (taro leaf).

This Polynesian-style thatch-roof, open-air restaurant "floats" atop a saltwater lagoon, which gives it an exotic romantic feel that's suited for special occasions. Daily breakfast features hearty, yet elegant options. The restaurant is named for Hawaii's state fish, so it's wise to try at least one seafood dish at dinner. There are also flavorful options like prime beef and lobster, unique combinations like ahi (yellowfin tuna) and foie gras, and a not-to-be-missed dessert menu.

Nestled on the slopes of Haleakala, this bistro's atmosphere is reminiscent of trattorias in northern Italy. Serving up home-style food with a splash of Italian, this eatery makes the scenic drive worth it. Start the day with any of their benedicts, frittatas, or the indulgent white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes. Grab any one of their outstanding paninis for lunch, or enjoy dinner from specialty pasta, prime rib, house-made vegetable lasagna, signature pizzas, to the local favorite loco moco.

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.

One of the go-to places for airport comers and goers, this popular Italian restaurant also draws a steady crowd of local residents, mostly for business lunches. Meatballs, sausages, and sauces are all made in-house, there's a long list of sandwiches that are available all day, and the affordable salads are big enough to share; substitutions or special requests are not recommended.

The start to a lovely day in Paia begins at this popular coffee spot tucked away just behind the main buildings on Hana Highway. Grab a coffee or tea along with avocado toast or banana bread for breakfast or lunch. It’s also a great place to wind down the day, with their daily happy hour with Island-fresh cocktails at good prices (2--5pm) followed by live music in the evening every day except Sunday.

Fresh gelato made with locally sourced ingredients is the big draw here. Try Surfing Goat Dairy's Lilikoi Quark flavor and thank us later. You'll also find jams, jellies, and dressings from Jeff Gomes, coffees from Maui Coffee Roasters, and picnic box lunches from Hana Lunch Co.

Located in Wailuku on Market Street, serving breakfast and lunch crafted by chefs utilizing various cooking styles and techniques to showcase the seasonal bounty Maui has to offer. Rotating menus (every 62 days) are created using seasonally fresh farm ingredients. It's not only a restaurant but a market too, featuring chef-crafted spices, rubs, and sauces made from local herbs and vegetables.

Breakfast is the reason to seek out this restaurant located poolside at the Napili Shores Resort. The food is standard diner fare, but the portions are big, the prices are low, and many folks think the pancakes—with bananas, macadamia nuts, or white chocolate chips—are the best in West Maui. The ambience is a little funky but the oceanfront setting and views are spectacular—including the turtle, spinner dolphin, and, in winter, humpback-whale sightings. Expect a long line any day of the week.