The community of West Maui is recovering from the wildfires that devastated Lāhainā. Many restaurants are no longer in business or are temporarily closed. Please check their websites for the most recent information.
After a day exploring the Valley Isle, enjoy some of the best dining experiences on Maui’s West Side. Whether in Kaanapali, Kapalua, or Lahaina there are plenty of opportunities to taste local favorites, fresh fish, world-class cocktails and more.
But wait, there’s more. We’re here to help demystify some of the unusual words you might see on menus like furikake, laulau and lilikoi — and explain which meat is being served and why. And possibly most importantly of all, provide the fun facts on the origins of local dishes.
If you’re happy with your meal, tag us @LocalGetaways on Instagram to share the love.
Feature Image: HuiHui
Hula Grill
Pina coladas, mai tais, and the other classics — Barefoot Bar has them all in spades. Be sure to try their Maui mule made with local vodka and mint for a regional twist on this refreshing favorite. Open daily from 11am to 9:45pm. hulagrillkaanapali.com
Japengo
Happy hour drinks are great, but you need some sushi to sop up that booze, look no further than Japengo. With plenty of hand-rolled options as well as half-sized portions, here you can try a wide variety of some of the best sushi on the island. Open daily 5pm to 9pm with happy hour on Thursday 5pm to 6pm. hyatt.com
Star Noodle
1285 Front St., Lahaina
808.661.3322
Temporarily Closed
It’s no surprise that this award-winning restaurant is one of Maui’s favorite food spots, thanks to their fresh noodles, sake cocktails and Asian-inspired dishes. Their “Ahi Avo“ poke bowl features raw ahi tuna with avocado and lemon pressed olive oil — it’s a must-have, as well as several other items on the menu!. Open every day 10:30am to 9pm. Reservations required. starnoodle.com
Roy's
Renowned chef Roy Yamaguchi is at the helm of Roy’s, one of Hawaii’s most famous restaurants. The menu offers many different dishes and flavors, plus daily specials and a few sushi options. It’s best to come with a group so you can order an array of menu items. We recommended the Yamaguchi spicy ahi sushi roll, the short rib loco moco, and the “Sunset Prix Fixe Menu.” Open daily 11am to 2pm for lunch, and 4pm to 8pm for dinner. royyamaguchi.com
HuiHui
Few chefs in Maui have been fishing, diving and making poke for as long as Chef Tom Murumoto. Formerly a pro surfer, Murumoto loves the ocean and is intimately familiar with ocean in Maui as well as the fish. Look for his poke on the lunch menu, where he makes it with Hawaiian ‘inamona (roasted candlenut seasoning), ogo (seaweed), scallions, onions, ginger, sesame oil and Nioi (Hawaiian chili pepper). Open daily 7am to 9pm. huihuirestaurant.com
Leilani’s
Reopened in spring of 2018, Leilani’s features not only a killer happy hour, but breathtaking sunsets too. A unique cocktail list and diverse menu make this a local and tourist favorite. The chef’s tasting menu is $21 from 4pm to 5:15pm daily and it’s a delicious steal. Open 11:30am to 9pm. leilanis.com
Monkeypod Kitchen
Just cause it’s an island doesn’t mean you need a fruity cocktail, and Monkeypod Kitchen is a beer lovers heaven. So there are 36 beers on tap here, and they’re all handcrafted. Of course there are cocktails as well, all of which are made with fresh ingredients (read: less of a hangover.) Open daily 11am to 10pm. Happy hour is daily 3:30pm to 5pm. monkeypodkitchen.com
Did we miss your favorite restaurant?
Our always-hungry team team of foodies have compiled this list.
Please let us know if we’ve missed your favorite eat@localgetaway2.wpengine.com
