Maui Guide: 12 Places to Get ‘Ono Grinds on Maui

Our favorite part of traveling? The food! Here are the Maui spots you shouldn’t miss.

November 24, 2015

SHANNON WIANECKI,

Humuhumu serves up uni with shellfish coconut emulsion, ogo and sea beans.

Photo: Courtesy of Grand Wailea

Ka Mālama dinner at Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a

Chef Mike Lofaro and Hawaiian Cultural Ambassador Kainoa Horcajo forage and fish for these monthly celebrations of the Hawaiian moon calendar. Local delicacies (‘opihi, ‘ulu, akule) get sophisticated treatment. Lofaro mesmerized guests at a recent dinner with mango-shiso shave ice and violet meringue, chilled with liquid nitrogen on the spot. The five-course feast includes wine, cocktails, mo‘olelo and a Kealopiko moon calendar.

Third Thursday of each month. $150 per person, Grand Wailea Resort & Spa, 3850 Wailea Alanui Drive, Kīhei, (808) 875-1234, grandwailea.com

Joey’s Kitchen

At Joey Macadangdang’s takeout joint in Whaler’s Village, you can get a killer ‘ahi poke bowl, short ribs with kim chee or a Hawaiian plate, made with mostly local produce.

2435 Kā‘anapali Parkway, Kā‘anapali, (808) 868-4474

Sale Pepe

This is where off-duty chefs hang out, noshing on house-made pasta and perfect Italian pizza pulled from the Marra Forni brick oven. Ingredients are grown here or flown from Italy. Everything is under $26, a steal for spendy Lahaina.

878 Front St., Lahaina, (808) 667-7667, salepepe.com

Mala Ocean Tavern

Snag a table overlooking the surf, where turtles snack on seaweed. The adult mac-and-cheese is crazy decadent and the vegetable sides are good enough to share as entrées.

1307 Front St., Lahaina, (808) 667-9394, malaoceantavern.com

Choice Health Bar

During the day, this is a mecca for Maui’s health conscious, who stop in for acai bowls and plate lunches with garlic quinoa and kale Caesar. At night, the Garden Sushi chef turns out veggie nigiri and rolls so perfect you won’t miss the fish.

1087 Limahana Place, Lahaina, (808) 661-7711, choicehealthbar.com

Cow Pig Bun

Tucked away in the Kīhei Tech Park, this tavern serves broke da mout’ Sunday brunch, craft cocktails and some of Hawai‘i’s best burgers. Bourbon-bacon jam anyone? The kitchen is open until midnight, an anomaly on Maui. Inquire about the monthly after-hours “knife fights” among top local chefs.

535 Lipoa Parkway, Kīhei, (808) 875-8100, cowpigbun.com

Nuka

This sophisticated, charming izakaya in Ha‘ikū packs a lot into a small menu, everything from gobo chips and Nuka bowls (rice topped with veggies, peanuts, mint and sesame lime dressing) to the creative lollipop roll—four types of fish rolled with asparagus and masago in a thin cucumber sheath.

780 Ha‘ikū Road, Ha‘ikū, (808) 575-2939, nukamaui.com

Migrant Maui

The “Mean Kine Ramen” from Chef Sheldon Simeon’s Migrant Maui.

Photo: Courtesy of Migrant Restaurant

Chef Sheldon Simeon of Top Chef fame brings Filipino home cooking to tony Wailea. My mouth waters just thinking about the spicy hibachi hangar steak with watercress sprigs, and the hand-cut fat chow funn noodles come with pipinola shoot salad.

3700 Wailea Alanui Drive, Kīhei, (808) 875-9394, migrantmaui.com

Coconut Glen’s

Everything about this vegan coconut ice cream is perfect: creamy, flavored with local tropical fruits and served in a hollow coconut shell. Find it on Hāna Highway, just past Nahiku.

(808) 248-4876, coconutglens.com