The 5 Best Maui Restaurants in 2024
Find out which Valley Isle eateries made the Top 5 in our 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Maui has a range of culinary options, from hole-in-the-wall eateries to upscale dining experiences in five-star hotels. If you’re planning a trip to the Valley Isle soon, make reservations at one of these five restaurants, favorites of our readers in our HAWAIʻI Magazine 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.
1. Mama’s Fish House Restaurant & Inn
The coconut chiffon cake from Mama’s Fish House.
Photo: Courtesy of Mama’s Fish House
Mama’s Fish House in Pāʻia is a Maui icon. You really shouldn’t go to the Valley Isle without dining here. Family-owned and -operated since 1973, this fine-dining restaurant situated on a picturesque cove has earned numerous accolades, including a semifinalist for a James Beard Award in the outstanding restaurant category. (It has also topped our list of best Maui restaurants for years.) One of the big draws is its seafood offerings, from ʻahi poisson cru to diver-caught local octopus to Kona-grown kampachi stuffed with crab and lobster. You can’t go wrong with the fresh island fish, either; each fish is listed on the menu along with who caught it and where. 799 Poho Place, Pāʻia, (808) 579-8488, mamasfishhouse.com
2. Merriman’s Kapalua
ʻAhi ginger poke from Merriman’s Kapalua.
Photo: Courtesy of Steve Czerniak
Local chef/restauranteur Peter Merriman is all about fresh, local ingredients—and that philosophy is evident on the menu at Merriman’s Kapalua. Dinner features Maui venison, poke made with local ʻahi and house-made cavatelli pasta with locally grown mushrooms, asparagus and cherry tomatoes. Plus, the oceanfront location is breathtaking. 1 Bay Club Place, Lahaina, (808) 669-6400, merrimanshawaii.com/kapalua
3. Hula Grill Kāʻanapali
The spread at Hula Grill Kāʻanapali.
Photo: Courtesy of Hula Grill Kāʻanapali
This family-friendly spot on Kāʻanapali Beach is everything you’d want in a beach-y eatery in the Islands: fresh local fish, tiki-inspired cocktails and a bar where your feet are literally in the sand. Some of the more popular items include poke tacos with fresh ʻahi and Maui onions, crab-topped macadamia nut-crusted mahi mahi with coconut sesame rice, and the crazy-good Hula Pie (macadamia nut ice cream on a cookie crust and topped with hot fudge, toasted mac nuts and whipped cream). The Sunday brunch is also popular. 2435 Kāʻanapali Parkway, Lahaina, (808) 667-6636, hulagrillkaanapali.com
4. Roy’s Kā‘anapali
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James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Yamaguchi opened this eponymous restaurant on Maui 30 years ago, following the success of his Hawaiʻi Kai location on Oʻahu. Always popular are Yamaguchi’s signature dishes: blackened island ʻahi, misoyaki butterfish, wood-smoked Szechuan-style baby back pork ribs, slow-braised beef short rib and the gooey chocolate soufflé. The wine list is great, too. 2290 Kāʻanapali Parkway, Suite A, Lahaina, (808) 669-6999, royyamaguchi.com/roys-kaanapali-maui
6. Humble Market Kitchin
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Another Yamaguchi concept, this restaurant is located at the Wailea Beach Resort Marriott and boasts gorgeous ocean views and outdoor seating. Much of the ingredients—even for cocktails—are locally sourced, and dishes are rooted in Hawaiʻi’s plantation days with modern updates. While the menu has many of the signature dishes found in Yamaguchi’s other restaurants, this one has a few original plates, including the potato-crusted local catch with a creamy risotto-style couscous, Japanese-style chicken and mochi waffles, and gyoza made with Maui beef. There’s a vegetarian menu, too. 3700 Wailea Alanui Dr., Kīhei, (808) 879-4655, royyamaguchi.com/humble-market-kitchen-maui
