Category Archives: Restaurant

Havens Haborside in Maalaea

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If you’ve spent time in Kihei over the past several years, you might have had an opportunity to grab a burger at a small window in a Shell station out on Piilani Highway, near Ohukai Road. That would have been at Havens, and you may have thought, hey, pretty good burger for a gas station. Or you may have gone there with intention, knowing that something was up at that Havens in the Shell station. And probably you were glad you went.

Well, Havens has grown up. In a BIG way. I’m not sure exactly what part of the original burger stand crew is part of this new large high-end Havens in Maalaea, but the emphasis on good food is most definitely there.

Raw Bar special

What you’re looking at there is the special appetizer. Four oyster shooters, four big and juicy and springy shrimp with cocktail sauce, and some ahi poke. Liked it a lot. It could maybe use some fine-tuning as there was no real way to get that oyster shooter to shoot, but the flavors where there and the presentation was fun and the $65 was gone. So here’s a good place to mention: Havens is not cheap. Is $65 too much for this reinvented, low-brow seafood plateau? Yeah, probably. But this Maui.

Really, most everything we had here was pretty excellent. The Caesar was surprisingly good actually – I’d have another one of those right now. I was a little less enthused with my cioppino but maybe I should have ordered something more on the fresh side. We didn’t try the steaks (also quite pricey). Brussels sprouts: two thumbs up. And the fried chicken (Bucket List) was definitely a winner (especially the side of mashed!).

I’d go back. I will. And I’ll update this post when I do. I left feeling like yes, very good food, but two issues:

-pricing – maybe they just started high out of the gates so they wouldn’t have to raise prices again soon? I mean, this was pretty much Wailea hotel pricing (but for better food)

-location – I guess you take what you can get, and they have a lot of space, both inside and out. But it’s Maalaea, so it’s windy AF and that doesn’t really make for a relaxing meal. But it might be OK for a quick burger? If you’re weather-sensitive, consider an inside table

They deserve another shot and I will give them that for sure when I’m ready for another high-end meal.

Havens Harborside

Address:

300 Maalaea Rd

Wailuku, HI 96793 (note, this is really in Maalaea despite the USPS address in Wailuku)

+1 808 214 6503

Wabisabi Paia Soba and Sushi

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I’ve only been to Wabi Sabi twice now, but I’m really liking this place. And I think the name is pretty accurate too. It’s an unusual outdoor space between two buildings, but worked out with intention and thought and made very comfortable. I love just being in there. Even the bathroom is pretty wonderful in a cute way.

Primarily Wabi Sabi is known for their soba noodles. I’m known to really really like soba noodles. That’s what first drew me in. And the soba was really pretty good. But could it be a bit thicker? I mean, they’re the soba experts. But, I mean, just a little bigger? I’m not saying these should be udon noods, and I’m not like the Soba King here at all. I just like soba. So, like, maybe offer two sizes? I’d really dig them more if they were just a little tiny bit thicker. OK. But that’s me. Maybe not you. But if I could choose, I’d say thicker. Just sayin.

Cold Soba

Come for the soba for sure – it’s got a nice kinda rough texture and some definite bite and the few versions I’ve tried have either a light cold broth or a dark hot meat broth – both really tasty. I prefer the cold, especially on a hot Pa’ia day. And my pro tip here – even though I’m not a soba pro! – is to pour just enough soba sauce into your bowl so that you don’t have too much at the end. Then, you can drink up the last part after you’ve chopsticked all of your noodles out. You’ll find some strands of nori, maybe a few sprouts, some tempura crumbs, and, if you ordered well, a wisp or two of that silky bright orange yolk from the onsen egg that was sitting on top. That last slurp, lip to bowl, really seals the deal.

Beyond the soba, there’s really a decently large menu. There’s sushi and sashimi – all very fresh and tasty, Like any restaurant serving fish on Maui, I with they’d call out which is local. Do we really need to be flying in fish to Maui? Anyway, the cooked mackerel is fantastic!

Mackerel

And the veggie winner is for sure the tofu salad (apparently the tofu is from Japan, which maybe be why it’s so light and fluffy, but that seems a long way for refrigerated food).

Tofu Salad

I wasn’t really as enamored of the nasu (eggplant) miso as I was hoping – the version over at Nuka pretty much blows this one out of the water.

Nasu Miso

The vibe is a really relaxing mix of well-executed Japanese restaurant on a backdrop of chill Pa’ia. I think they kinda nailed it, frankly. I know this is a relative newcomer on a street of bars and pizza and ice cream, but in a lot of ways it just feels most right here.

Wabisabi Pa’ia

Website: https://wabisabihawaii.com/php/restaurant.php

Address:

161 Hana Hwy

Paia, HI 96779

+1 808 318-3342

Monkeypod Kitchen (Wailea)

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Let me start by saying that I am really not the target audience for a restaurant like Monkeypod. I’m not a big drinker, I don’t like super-loud places, and I don’t like to wait. No hate for anyone who disagrees with me, but just so you know where I’m coming from when I throw some shade on Monkeypod in Wailea.

This is a busy, bustling, loud affair of a restaurant, just up the hill from most of the Wailea hotels and resorts. It’s actually a nice walk if you’re staying down there.

Monkeypod has a big bar area with live music most nights, both indoor and outdoor seating and also bar seating, naturally. And if you want to eat there at any reasonable time, there’s also a wait. No reservations. If you like to hang out and wait with a drink, this is the right place. And the drinks might be the best part.

Monkeypod is justifiably famous for their Mai Tai. Besides the six or seven liquids in the drink (very strong) they top it with a lilikoi-honey foam. So, sure, a sweet drink with that pretty delectable passionfruit foam on top – what’s not to like? It really is tasty. And alcoholic. And probably caloric, but who knows. It’s a thing, and I agree it deserves recognition as a thing, so if you’re up there, just get one. Consider it a down-payment on dessert maybe.

Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea’s Mai Tai with Lilikoi Honey Foam

OK – so here’s the bad news. It’s kinda downhill from the Mai Tai. So one option is, just get the Mai Tai! Short or no wait for the bar, great drink, and then bolt. I think that’s the right move. Just don’t drive after that! Walk. Or nap.

I don’t mean to say that the food here is bad, it’s just that it’s mediocre, and it’s expensive. I know, Wailea is expensive. But usually you get better food for you money. The pizzas are not well crafted. The salads aren’t really like a good healthy salad full of local veggies. The fish – and on Maui, how can the fish not be excellent? – is not excellent. Best bet is really the hamburger in my estimation.

I think you get the picture. Loud, raucous, food like from TGI Friday’s. And you get to wait and the overpay for the privilege. That is all.

Website: https://www.monkeypodkitchen.com/

Address:

10 Wailea Gateway Pl
Suite B-201
Kihei, HI 96753

+1 808 891-2322

Spoon and Key

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Spoon and Key is a newcomer to Wailea – it opened in 2024. And it’s a newcomer to my YCGW list!

Spoon and Key is a great breakfast and lunch option in Wailea – easily the best non-buffet option, and also probably better than most buffets. And two nights a week they serve a truly outstanding price-fixe dinner. They also serve a more casual dinner on Wednesdays that I haven’t yet tried. But I’ve had breakfast/lunch there twice and the set meal dinner there twice and I can affirmatively say that this place is truly fantastic! I highly recommend it.

Hamachi crudo
Tomato salad
Gnocchi with duck
Panna Cotta with dried Kula berries

Here’s the full menu from our most recent dinner there – the pictures above are some of the dishes that really stood out.

These dinners, available Friday and Saturday only, are made with primarily local Maui ingredients, and it shows in the freshness. I think the only major part of what we ate that wasn’t local was the scallops. We didn’t opt for the caviar or the steak, and we had more than enough food. Fresh, local, healthy, and scrumptious. Top that off with a nice atmosphere and very, very welcoming service that was educated but not over-the-top preachy. Pretty ideal evening.

I believe the breakfast and lunch menus are both served all day. There’s also an espresso machine, so any coffee drink you want pretty much is available. I’d still give a slight edge to the coffee at Akami in the same complex, but the coffee here was solid.

On the breakfast menu, I’m really taken by the Treehugger yogurt parfait for some reason.

But the best dish you can get here for lunch that I’ve had is easily the fish tacos. I know that’s a bold claim since they don’t seem like they’re in the wheelhouse given the rest of the menu, but the chef has really worked these carefully and with great results. The times I’ve had them, they’ve been made with seasoned and seared ahi – cooked pretty much all the way through. The fish is on a homemade flour and corn purple tortilla that alone is flaky and delicious. Then there is some pico de gallo and a little avocado and a flavorful crema, none of which are very spicy and all of which enhance each others flavors just a bit. Nothing is overwhelming – you can really taste each ingredient here. They thought this one through and tested, and these are just great.

Fish Tacos at Spoon and Key in Wailea

Finally, I’ll give a shout-out to the banh mi. I’ve eat a lot of banh mis in a lot of cities and I’ve definitely never seen one like this before. It was on two slices of sourdough bread instead of a baguette, and full mostly of ham. I’m not really the biggest fan of sliced ham, to be honest, so I was a little disconcerted when I pulled mine in half at the cut and saw all of that pink meat staring back at me. I was hoping for some more crispy pork belly, with maybe just one slice of ham standing in for pate. But then I took a bite and the bright mint and pickled veggies really took over and brought me back to banh mi land. I won’t say it was the best I’ve ever had, and I still think eliminating the ham and going all pork belly would be better, but this was really pretty good and I’d order it again.

I’m excited to have such a great restaurant in Wailea!

Spoon and Key

Address:
108 Wailea Ike Dr
Wailea, HI 96753

+1 808 879-2433

Website: Spoon and Key Market

Paia Fish Market – Paia and Kihei

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Paia Fish Market has occupied a prominent corner in Paia for as long as I can remember, and always pumped out dependable food. Sometime in the last decade, they multiplied out their simple formula and opened additional locations – and they work just as well.

The deal here is pretty simple: Choose a type of fish and a preparation, and then sides. I recommend always checking to see what’s local and fresh – it’ll taste better, support local Maui fishermen, and probably be healthier fish.

If you don’t want a piece of fish with slaw and sides, you’ve got a few other options like burgers and fish or chicken tacos. Again, all dependably good if not earth-shattering or unusual.

The best burger is the off-menu Obama burger – I think it’s blackened ono with butter. He knew what he was doing here.

I don’t consider this place gourmet, but it’s not too expensive and it’s also great for take-out. It’s also much better than the a lot of the restaurants along Kihei Road, so if you’re in Kihei looking for a casual, reasonably priced, dependable meal, you could do a lot worse than Paia Fish Market.

Here’s the Paia location:

100 Hana Highway, Paia HI 96779

And here’s the Kihei location:

1913 South Kihei Road, Kihei HI 96753

Broth Cafe at Alive and Well Market – Kahului

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This is the kind of place that, if you blink, you’ll miss it. It’s just down the street from Tight Tacos at the corner of Hana Highway, located in a health food store. It’s worth finding.

Broth Cafe does, like the store around it, basically serve health food. It’s not vegan – it’s not even vegetarian – but it does try to pack a lot of healthy, local veggies into each item on its menu. And they also pack those items with some good flavor.

Broth offers take-out (which is how I generally use it) or you can eat there at their small counter, which is pleasant enough too.

They serve a huge variety of fruit and veg smoothies, but also more traditional fare like breakfast burritos, rice bowls, and ramen. I personally think their take on tofu poke is the best around (although Foodland in Pukalani comes in as a close second).

And if you’re looking for a really easy lunch to eat on the go, check out their banh mi sandwiches. All the flavor you’d expect from a Vietnamese restaurant but packed with veggies and overall, probably a little healthier given their great quality meats and mostly organic produce.

Don’t forget to grab a kombucha on tap!

Website: Broth Cafe

Address: 340 Hana Hwy, Kahului, HI 96732

YCGW – You Can’t Go Wrong – Top Restaurant List

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The idea of YCGW is that you can basically order anything on the menu at these restaurants, and you’ll be eating great food. So even if you don’t gravitate toward my favorite dishes, I stand by these restaurants as being of such good quality that they won’t put a bad food option on their menus. I can’t say I’ve eaten every menu item at each of these restaurants, but I’ve literally never had a food item at these places that was a problem. To me, that’s a pretty high bar, and it says that the chefs take their food preparation and their own reputations seriously.

So here’s the list:

Upcountry/North Shore

Marlow

Nuka

Mahalo Aleworks

Kahului and Wailuku

Tin Roof

Tiffany’s

Kihei and Wailea

Lineage

Nutcharee Thai

Spoon and Key

West Maui (Lahaina, Kapalua, etc.)

Star Noodle

Lineage – Maybe the best food in Wailea

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Let me start by saying that I’m not really into hotel dining. Yes, I’ve had great meals at Morimoto (although that seems to be slipping) and yes, I enjoy a long meal with great wine and then a short slow walk back to a nice hotel room. But really, for the food itself, hotels just never really rank up there.

Lineage is right smack in the hotel zone of Wailea, just not in a hotel. It’s in the uber-fancy Shops at Wailea mall. But it’s not quite in the main mall – it’s just off to the north side abutting the Island Gourmet Markets, and upscale ABC store with the same ownership as Lineage – ABC Stores.

I think I’m making Lineage sound bad. It’s in Wailea. It’s in a mall. But not quite. And it’s owned by the parent company of ABC Stores. So even with all of that going against it, I’m going to tell you that Lineage is most definitely in my CGW (Can’t Go Wrong) club, which means that you can really truly order anything on the menu and you’ll be in at least very good shape, if not truly excellent shape.

The menu does change over time, but it was originally designed with Sheldon Simeon, a local Maui celebrity chef. And his touch is still evident in the food coming out of the kitchen.

I’d say highlights are the egg and croquette appetizers, and the fish of the day (generally offered steamed or fried – fried wins hands down, but steamed is still great), the mountain veggies over whatever crisp starched they’re serving, the fried chicken, and the noodles (usually two options – one with lobster and the other without). I will say that I kinda hate getting Maine lobster on Maui because Maine is more than 5,000 miles away and we’ve got everything you could want living in the water right here, but I get it. And it’s good.

Bottom line on the food though: get what looks good to you on the menu, and talk to your server about what they like. You will -not- be disappointed.

Further, their drink list is excellent, they usually have a fine and local beer selection, and their desserts are another surprise altogether.

Make reservations for this place pretty far ahead of time – it gets booked up weeks if not months in advance. And get a table outside. I don’t see any reason to sit inside here ever, frankly.

Lineage is heavenly.

Nuka – Excellent Japanese Izakaya in Haiku

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Nuka is very, very easy to love because it’s simply put, great. It really only has one problem: the wait. So I’ll tell you up-front: no reservations and waits can be long. They open for dinner at 4:30 PM and I’ve never had a problem getting a table right away if I show up at 4:15. But starting at maybe 5:30, especially on weekends, you could be facing a 90 minute wait. Of course, in the evening on the North Shore, the weather is likely to be heavenly, so 90 minutes of enjoying that isn’t the worst thing.

OK: about Nuka. Nuka is an izakaya, which, for those who don’t know, is a lot like a Japanese gastropub. They serve alcohol, but also a lot of great casual dishes that really work well with sake and beer. For an izakaya, Nuka actually has a pretty wide range of food styles including sushi and sashimi, some udon soups, a couple of rice bowls, some salads, and a whole array of small plates that are usually vegetable-heavy, and while all of these options are very tasty here, I think the small plates and the salads are where Nuka really shines.

The nasu miso (eggplant) and karaage (fried chicken) are probably my two top small plates here – essentially perfect every time. I also like the agedashi tofu (very umami broth), the crispy calamari (which you can also get on a salad), the miso butterfish (I know, it’s everywhere these days, but for a reason!), and, how can you not get ahi tataki here since you know they’ll prepare it well and the ahi couldn’t be fresher!

I put this place on my You Can’t Go Wrong list – I’d be really really surprised if you ever found a bad item on this menu!

Just a few more notes: the sushi and sashimi are great. The udon? Fine, but I’m just not often in the mood for udon unless it’s an unusually cold day. Always get something pickled – I think they do their pickling in-house. And make sure to get the black sesame ice cream for dessert! They do make this in-house and it’s really, really stunningly good.

Nutcharee Thai

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I found out about this place pretty recently and I’m really sorry I didn’t know about this before.

Maui has a few Thai restaurants and several Thai food trucks. Of all of these, I think Nutcharee is easily the best. Not that the others are bad at all – in fact I really like the Thai food truck at South Maui Gardens in Kihei.

The menu here is decently extensive, but I do feel that it lack enough good vegetarian options.

My highlights are: the Ahi Laab (basicaly a laab or larb salad made out of raw ahi – really an excellent adaption of a classic dish to local ingredients), the E-san sausage (which I think they even make in-house – it has a tiny bit of funk which I love about it, but if you’re looking for regular sweet Italian sausage, this is definitely not it), and the Panang curry. I’d say we get those three dishes almost every time we eat here, and then we add a few other things depending on the size of our party.

They do have some beer, but not a full liquor license. But no matter – this isn’t really a place to sit and relax for a long meal. Nutcharee’s is a full table-service restaurant but the ambiance isn’t really amazing. Remember how I said they adapter their larb to use local ingredients? Well, they haven’t adapted the dining room to embrace outdoor seating, which I consider a negative.

I personally haven’t tried take-out from Nutcharee, but I’m willing to bet it’s pretty great, especially if you avoid the fried items.

Website: Nutcharee Thai

Address: 1280 S Kihei Rd #124, Kihei HI 96753