17 Best Places to Eat on the Island of Maui (Paia, Lahaina & Kahului)

If you're traveling to Maui, chances are you're going to want to enjoy some of the incredible restaurants and places to eat on the island. After our most recent trip, we put together a list of our favorite cafés, restaurants, and of course a pizza place or two on the island. Each spot on our list is organized by proximity to Paia, Lahaina, and Kahului so you can decide which place is best for you.

Our Essential Travel Resources :
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For flights, we recommend Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates.
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Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you!

We always use Expedia's easy to use platform for hotels.

To keep cell service while traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Get Your Guide also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for any international or domestic travels.

Getting Around on Maui + Where to Stay

Lumeria Resort Poolside

Lumeria Resort

Getting around on Maui can be pretty easy, even if you decide not to rent a car. The island of Maui has a public bus system that has 12 different routes and covers a majority of the main tourist areas like Kahului and Lahaina. Single tickets cost $2 and a day pass costs $4, so if you're on a budget, this is definitely the best way to get around the island. Another option is of course Uber. We didn't have any issues using it while we were there, but we've heard during certain times rides might not be as available, especially if you're in a more remote area. The final option is just renting a car. If you have the budget, this is definitely the easiest and most reliable option, and gives you the most freedom if you're looking to explore more remote areas of the island.

When you're visiting Maui you'll also need a place to stay. We stayed at the Lumeria Resort, which wasn't beachside, but it was hidden and secluded. Their resort focused more on well-being and health, so we had lots of fresh fruits and organic ingredients in our included meals. There was also lots of classes on site like sound healing and yoga, so it was the perfect stay for us that left us feeling completely relaxing and refreshed.

 -> Book your stay at Lumeria Resort Here <-

Our Favorite Tours on Maui : 
- Road to Hana with Lunch
- Molokini with Turtle Town Snorkeling
- Haleakala Sunrise Tour with Breakfast

Best Places to Around the Island of Maui

The Boba Bar

Paia Fish Market

Flatbread Company

Belle Surf Cafe

Where to Eat Near Paia

• The Boba Bar - this cute little boba tea bar is right in downtown Paia, and in addition to delicious boba they also have matcha, regular coffee drinks, and some great grab and go items like cookies
• Paia Fish Market Restaurant - chances are you'll be able to spot this restaurant just by the line of people waiting to order, we actually stopped here twice during our time in Maui because it was so good, our favorite was the Mahi Burger!
• Flatbread Company - of course Tyler had to try a local pizza spot, the Flatbread Company is also located right downtown Paia and they have plenty of veggie and vegan options as well​
• Belle Surf Cafe - this adorable cafe used to be located in Lahaina, but since the devastating fires they moved over to Paia - they have great smoothie bowls, smoothies, juices, and other items for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Paia Gelato

Cafe des Amis

Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm

Halfway to Hana

• Paia Gelato - we stopped here late one night, and even though there was nothing super unique about this stop, you can't ever go wrong with gelato
• Cafe des Amis - this restaurant is a great option if you're looking for a Mediterranean and Indian fusion cuisine, we got their hummus platter and it was enough for a meal for the two of us​​
• Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm - although technically not a restaurant, their café on site has some unique items that infuse lavender from their farm, we highly recommend stopping to try their lavender coffees, teas, brownies, sweet potato chips, and even honey
• Halfway to Hana - this spot is a little ways away from Paia, but if you're driving the road to Hana, then it's a must stop for a little snack - they claim to have the best banana bread in the world!

Down the Hatch

Paia Fish Market

Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice

Where to Eat Near Lahaina

• Down the Hatch - located right on the main road in town, their Shrimp Po'Boy was absolutely amazing, however, since the devastating fires, they've temporary closed down and plan to reopen in 2027, this time they'll be closer to Ka'anapali rather than downtown Lahaina
• ​​​Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice - Ululani's is known for having the best shaved ice on the island, and they have multiple locations, not just on Maui, but throughout Hawaii and the United States, so we highly recommend (we added mochi on ours and it was amazing!)
• Mala Ocean Tavern - is brightly colored restaurants sits right on the ocean and has amazing panoramic views, they're known for their fresh seafood and we recommend trying their ahi bruschetta for something unique!
• Leilani's On the Beach - this steak house is located right on Ka'anapali Beach, and also has incredible panoramic views overlooking the ocean, we recommend trying one of their many fresh seafood dishes or of course, one of their steaks

Wailuku Coffee Company

Pearl's Korean BBQ

7/11

Where to Eat Near Kahului

• Tin Roof Maui - this restaurant is "to-go" only, and even though they don't have seating inside, their prices and food make it worth a stop (we recommend trying their poke bowls!)
• Sparky's Food Company - chances are this locally owned restaurant will be busy, and even though others said they had great burgers, we recommend trying their katsu or shrimp meals!
• Wailuku Coffee Company - this local coffee shop is usually pretty busy, but it's a great stop if you're looking for something on the go, or if you want to dine in - they have great breakfast sandwiches, wraps, bagels and of course coffee drinks
• ​Pearl's Korean BBQ - this small restaurant is actually located inside the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center food court, but if you're on a budget or short on time, it's a great option - plus they had some great bibimbap and dumpling soup
• ​7/11 or ABC Stores - ok, hear us out, these two places have the best spam musubis we tried while on Maui, and even though they're not a restaurant or café, they're the perfect snack or meal if you're on the go or on a budget

Watch our Maui Adventures here!

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Other Hawaii Blog Posts :
-> 10 Best Things to Do on Maui
-> 15 Best Places to Eat on Oahu
-> 10 Budget Friendly Activities on Oahu

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