Best Restaurants in Maui

Several excellent restaurants have found a home in Maui. While you may go for the weather and views, if you visit some of Maui's best restaurants, you are likely to leave thinking about the food.

Food used in Maui cuisine has often been farmed on the island, making it exceptionally fresh and savory.

While it may be hard to go wrong, a few restaurants stand out and are worth putting at the top of your must-try list.

In addition to highlighting the best restaurants Maui has to offer, this article contains recommendations for a classy luau, exceptional Hawaiian shaved ice, and an unforgettable ice cream stand.

While not technically a restaurant in the traditional sense, my favorite Maui experience is The Feast at Lele luau. Though you may not generally go to a luau for the view, at The Feast at Lele, you will face the ocean as you watch the show.

The food is served to your table, rather than the buffet style that is found at most luaus. You may feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount of food that is brought to your table throughout the night, so try to pace yourself. The show is entertaining and the wait staff is friendly and enjoyable.

The only thing excluded from the price is gratuity, so be sure to bring cash. The Feast at Lele is located in a shopping plaza, so you can take a short stroll to an ATM if you forget cash.

Vegetarians will be happy to know that The Feast at Lele is very accommodating. Let your server know you are a vegetarian when you arrive and they will bring you a separate dish for each course. That is quite impressive for a luau!

Gazebo is a cute little restaurant on Napili Bay. They serve both breakfast and lunch from 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. everyday. Gazebo is a popular pick for many so show up early and prepare to stand in line.

Luckily, it is difficult to be upset over standing in line when you are facing the ocean. Gazebo provides complimentary coffee while you wait, as well as umbrellas in case of rain. There is also a little souvenir stand to browse.

The wait staff seems to be on constant lookout for whales and is sure to let you know when they spot one.

Though the beautiful view is my favorite aspect of Gazebo, every dish my husband and I have ordered has tasted great. If you go for breakfast, I recommend the macadamia nut pancakes. At a nearby table, I spotted a large plate of fried rice that looked amazing.

Star Noodle is a Thai restaurant that is off the beaten path, but worth seeking out.

The menu at Star Noodle has been created by their executive chef, Sheldon Simeon. Sheldon was a contestant on season ten of Top Chef.

Though Star Noodle recommends family-style dining, my husband and I ordered two dishes each and walked away too full and feeling rather silly. Though it is easy to order several dishes, I suggest you do not order more than your server recommends (especially if you do not have a fridge and microwave in your hotel).

The Pad Thai was my favorite dish. I am a vegetarian and they gladly modified the dish so that it was vegetarian-friendly.

Overall, the food was delicious and we will definitely be visiting Star Noodle again.

If you find yourself hungry and in Wailea, I recommend you stop at Monkeypod for a meal. We have always gone for lunch and avoided a wait. However, Monkeypod has happy hour specials and a live band if you stop by later in the day.

We sat on the balcony. Monkeypod is on the second level, which makes for a pretty view with the ocean in the distance.

Monkeypod is known for their ambiance, excellent beer, and tasty desserts.

The view at Honu Seafood and Pizza was amazing. We were seated in the back of the restaurant, where we felt as though we were dining directly on the beach.

Rather than bread, we were given complimentary chickpeas to munch on while we waited for our meals, which was a nice surprise.

We did not have to sacrifice taste for an amazing view to dine at Honu. I ordered a brick oven pizza and it was flavorful and delicious.

The only negative thing I have to say about Honu is they do not provide ample parking. There was only one empty spot when we arrived, and we arrived before the crowd.

A reservation is recommended.

If you are looking for a slightly upscale atmosphere, Lahaina Grill is an excellent option.

The ambiance was nice and the server was very friendly and accommodating.

We were given bread and a pleasant herb butter to munch on while we waited for our meal.

Many of the meals on the menu at Lahaina Grill will nearly melt in your mouth. The food is flavorful and absolutely exceptional.

We went without a reservation and were able to get a table, though it was busy. I recommend making a reservation.

Ululani's is not a restaurant, but I would be remiss if I failed to mention the best Hawaiian ice I have had. If you are a fan of Hawaiian ice, do yourself a favor and go to Ululani's.

There are many shaved ice flavors at Ululani's, from banana to wedding cake.

Ululani's has two sizes, small and large. The large is as big as your face. Okay, so they may not literally take facial measurements, but nonetheless their shaved ice is plentiful. Perhaps too big. Is that a thing?

Sansei has two Maui locations. I have been to the Kapalua resort location and have yet to be disappointed.

They only serve dinner and open their doors each night at 5:30 p.m. There is a line outside the door on most nights, so make reservations or arrive a little early and be prepared to wait for a bit.

While the dinner at Sansei has always been excellent, the item I most recommend is the tempura fried ice cream. I would consider making a trip to Maui just to eat this delicious dessert.

If you like flat bread pizza and appreciate organic food, take a trip to Pa'ia and stop by Flatbread Company.

The pizza at Flatbread is fabulous. Aside from pizza, salad, and beverages, you will not find a lot on the menu. Not that that poses a problem (as long as everyone in your crowd likes pizza).

Flatbread has menu options for vegetarians and vegans. The menu indicates you should let your server know if you have food allergies.

Flatbread Company has a handful of other locations in the United States and Canada.

If you take the Road to Hana, you owe it to yourself to stop for a special, refreshing treat along the way.

Coconut Glen's is an ice cream stand made primarily with recycled materials. Glen offers coconut ice cream in five flavors as well as coconut candy. The ice cream and candy are made from fresh coconuts. They are natural, organic, and vegan.

The best part is how they serve the ice cream. You will find yourself eating from a coconut bowl with a coconut spoon! Talk about a natural experience.