This time let’s skip the intro and get right down to business: here are the 7 best new restaurants on The Valley Isle, in no particular order.
Fork and Salad
Blackened ahi salad at Fork and Salad
“Fresh, local ingredients” and “farm to table” are definitely restaurant buzzwords these days, but Fork and Salad actually delivers on the promise. The small Kihei eatery is clean, cheerful and well-lit, with an impressive ingredient menu board that changes depending on what’s fresh and in season.
Choose from several signature salads, including Buckwheat Noodle and Watermelon & Feta, or create your own from dozens of ingredients and dressings — theoretically you never have to eat the same salad twice. You can also grab sandwiches, wraps and fresh made kombucha.
Hours: 10:30am – 9pm every day
Address: 1279 South Kihei Rd Unit 204 Kihei, HI 96753
Phone: 808-879-3675
Website: http://forkandsaladmaui.com/
Yelpers say: “This place is great!! One of the best Cobb Salads I’ve ever tasted. Also they buy their produce from over 25 local farms which are listed on a big chalkboard.”
Nalu’s South Shore Grill
Poke Bowl at Nalu’s – WOW
Locals and visitors alike are raving about this open-air, counter-order eatery that serves imaginative and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Nalu’s is known for — well, lots of things — like its Cubano Sandwich; Lobster Truffle Flatbread; Crab Cake Salad; Malasadas w/fresh whipped cream, macadamia nuts, and pineapple; complimentary infused waters and waaaay more. Tasty drinks also served.
Hours: 8am – 9:30pm every day
Address: 1280 S Kihei Road Suite 132 Kihei, HI 96753
Phone: (808) 891-8650
Website: Yelp
Yelpers say: “Quality portions at decent price with great live tunes.” “NALUS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN ALL OF KIHEI. No joke people. You must eat here. Multiple times.”
Sangrita Grill and Cantina
“Deliciosa” as they’d say in Spanish
Mexican food can often be a toss-up authentic and meh and sheer culinary wonder. Sangrita happens to nail both authentic and genius in one fell swoop, with a great tequila and mescal selection to boot.
Named “Best New Restaurant” from Hawai‘i Magazine in 2015, this Lahaina hotspot is run by owner and chef Paris Nabavi, who’s comes from a classic French cooking background. “I love to cook and I put my heart and soul into it,” he says. Need we say more?
Hours: 11am – 9:30pm every day, Happy Hour 4pm – 6pm daily
Address: 2580 Kekaa Drive, Lahaina, HI 96761
Phone: (808) 662-6000
Website: http://www.sangritagrill.com/
Yelpers say: “OMG, food here was fabulous!!! Being a SoCal native it’s tough for me to find good Mexican food in Hawaii.”
Paia Fishmarket
Blackened ono with hand-cut slaw
Generous portions of food at reasonable prices? Yep, and a nice selection of fresh-caught fish plates and tacos (Mahi maui, ono, snapper, ahi and opah), burgers, pastas, salads and other yummy treats like onion rings, clam chowder, blackened sashimi and more.
The original restaurant opened in 1989 in Paia, and now we’ve been gifted with two new locations in Kihei and Lahaina.
Hours: 11am – 9:30pm every day
Address: Lahaina: 632 Front St, Lahaina, HI 96761 (across from the Banyan tree) and Kihei: 1913 South Kihei Road 96753
Phone: Lahaina: 808-662-3456, Kihei: 808-874-8888
Website: https://paiafishmarket.com/
Yelpers say: “What a fabulous place. We plan on making Paia Fishmarket a stable eatery on our next trip back to Maui.”
Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food
Thai basil and eggplant with chicken
“Not all Thai food is created equal” brags Nutcharee’s website. Not a bad brag either, considering this popular Thai eatery serves (according to a fellow Yelper) “the best thai food on Maui without question.”
The place is packed for dinner — always a good sign — and menu is chock full of both classic Thai dishes (Pad Thai, Tom Kha, curries, etc.) and more adventurous items such as Fresh Ahi Laab, Deep Fried Soft-shell Crab and Whole Fresh Fish Branzino. FYI, it’s BYOB.
Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 9pm every day (Fri / Sat open until 9:30pm)
Address: 1280 S. Kihei Road Kihei, HI 96753
Phone: (808) 633-4840
Website: http://www.nutcharees.com/
Yelpers say: “Tried Nutcharee’s this past weekend and WOW, like super WOW!!”
Tin Roof
A simple but to-die-for shrimp bowl with kimchi and vegetable tempura
This mom and pop lunch hotspot with a curious name does not disappoint in the least. Locals line up for a fresh take on local favorites, such as the Mochiko Chicken and 6-Minute Egg, Napili Bahn Mi with spam pate, Saimin Bowl (Hawaiian-stlye ramen) and Bibinka birthday cake.
Prices are very reasonable, and the chef — Sheldon Simeon — is a local boy from Hilo who was a finalist on the popular TV show Top Chef.
Hours: 10am – 2:00pm Mon – Sat
Address: 360 Papa Place Suite Y Kahului, HI, 96732
Phone: (808) 868-0753
Website: http://www.tinroofmaui.com/
Yelpers say: “Their food is excellent, and what the chef is doing is inspired, fun and delicious. I can’t wait to go back to Hawaii just to eat here.”
The Mill House
A sampling of food from The Mill House
The charismatic chefs at the Mill House in Wailuku don’t have to search far for fresh ingredients. They often just harvest fresh food from the surrounding plantation to create dishes prepared with “integrity, expertise and fearless creativity.”
An open-air kitchen sets the tone as you watch dishes being prepared — Caraway Gnocchi, Seafood Cappellaci, Chickpea Panisse, Chocolate Bar to name a few…hungry yet? Also, The Mill House is known for its craft cocktails, extensive wine list and impressive beer menu.
Hours: 11am – 9pm every day, Happy Hour 3pm – 5 pm
Address: 1670 Honoapiilani Highway, Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: (808) 270-0333
Website: https://www.millhousemaui.com/
Yelpers say: “This is a very beautiful restaurant with a great food cooked and served by fantastic people.”
We would be delighted to be part of your next Maui vacation. If we can assist you with planning your perfect Maui vacation, please contact our Sunny Maui Vacations’ team at info@sunnymauivacations.com or at 808-240-1311 Extension 21. Let us help you reserve your vacation rental condo in South Maui and assist you with island recommendations and activity planning through our in-house Concierge at 808-240-1311 Extension 71.
Images courtesy of Yelp.
Need a hand with your next Maui vacation? Please contact the Sunny Maui Vacations team at info@sunnymauivacations.com or call 808-240-1311, ext. 21. We’ll find you the best vacation rental condo or rental home in South Maui and help you with any and all recommendations and activities across Maui.
