The Maui Tropical Plantation http://mauitropicalplantation.com has been around for a long time but as of late (2016) it has gone through a sort of re-birth and now we really recommend checking this place out as it has beautiful grounds and a good restaurant at the Mill House.

To get there go like you are going to Maalea harbor (where the aquarium is) but when you get to highway 30 turn right instead of left and follow that for a mile or so and you will see the entrance on the left.

The old plantation machinery has been used as decoration throughout the grounds and they even have the original steam locomotive on display that used to transport people and sugar in the 1800’s.

In addition to the Mill House restaurant, they also have a plantation tour tram that will take you through the plantation where you can see a wide variety of tropical plants and trees. They will even show you how to husk a coconut. The Maui Tropical Plantation Express Tram Tours run 7 days a week with seven daily tour times of 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Adult Tickets – $20.00. Child Tickets (ages 3-12) – $10.00.

You can also find the Country Store and the Kumu Farms stand here. On the weekends a lot of local vendors set up in the parking area.

People ask us where’s a good place to eat. We put this together to help with that. And to justify going out all the time (we are doing ‘research’). We have The Best Maui Restaurants book on the shelf, that is a great reference. That book is from 2010 and they seemed to have not updated it since so it is a little dated. So in addition to that book we are going to play a game. The rules for this game are that;

1. We have eaten there
2. It is not ridiculously expensive
3. Has to be no farther north than Ma’alaea harbor
4. I can bend the rules whenever I want

Here we go working south to north…

Mulligans on the Blue

http://www.mulligansontheblue.com

This is located on the golf course in Wailea across from the Fairmont ( take a left on Kaukahi). We have only been there to see Willie K perform at the dinner show so we only know about that. You should go see Willie K, he is an amazing musician. The food was pretty good, we weren’t expecting much given the dinner show setting, but were pleasantly surprised. You get to pick from one of two entrees on the menu, and that changes week to week. This show will be packed. Every night. Make reservations as early as you can.

Tommy Bahama’s

This is located inside the shops at Wailea. This place is too expensive given what you get. The food is ok, the drinks are good (my measure of a good bar is how well they make a Mojito) Iris swoons over this “cloud” drink there. Deserts are really good. I would go here to sit at the bar, or for lunch maybe.

Waikiki Brewing Co

https://www.theshopsatwailea.com/store/Waikiki-Brewing-Co/2138993826/

This is located inside the shops at Wailea. Good burgers and more plus craft brews.

Monkeypod Kitchen

http://www.monkeypodkitchen.com/

This is located in the Gateway Plaza in Wailea  off Wailea Ike Drive (take a left at the light in front of the shops at Wailea). I really like this place. It is expense (remember what country you are in) but the food is very good. Everything I have ordered here was great. Save room for pie, to die for.

Pita Paradise Wailea

http://www.pitaparadisehawaii.com/

This is located in the Gateway Plaza in Wailea  off Wailea Ike Drive (take a left at the light in front of the shops at Wailea). If you have been going to Kihei for a while you might remember there used to be a Pita Paradise there. It was run by the same people who run the 808 Bistro. These are the 2nd generation of that family running this one in Wailea. This is a great restaurant. We go here a lot. Everything there is great. The owner is also the captain of a fishing boat and you will get the fish that was caught that morning. One time we had the poke, the tuna was so fresh it changed my life. I am now a poke snob. It is pronounced “poh kay” not “po key” please! “po key” was Gumby’s pony.

Five Palms

http://www.5palmsrestaurant.com/

This is located a couple of blocks south of the condo, right on the beach at Keawakapu. It is walkable from the condo. Take the Eddie Pu trail, to your left from the grass at Kamaole III beach. Love this place! The location is perfect, beautiful ocean views and sunsets. The food is really good. Great breakfast. Great dinner too. Can’t miss.

Cinnamon Roll Fair

Located just north of the condo in the first shopping area you come to next door to the dive shop. These are the best cinnamon rolls you will ever have. I like macadamia nuts on mine. So bad for you but so good. They have breakfast too.

Coconuts

http://www.coconutsfishcafe.com

News Flash! A new Coconuts location within walking distance! And it is beeeg! Oh no we are in real trouble now. Located north of the condo in the first shopping area you come to upstairs above the cinnamon roll store. Everyone raves about Coconuts and rightly so, the food is amazing.  Fish tacos are the best.

Fred’s

http://www.fredsmexicancafe.com/kihei-hawaii.html

This is located just north of the condo a few blocks on South Kihei Rd. It is walkable from the condo. Taco Tuesday is the reason to go to Fred’s. Other than that it is kind of like any other Mexican restaurant. Wait I have to qualify that statement. For the most part Hawaiians have no idea how to make Mexican food. I’m from California where we have a rich Mexican culture and the resulting awesome food. When I go someplace else and they serve what they call Mexican food I have to remind myself that this is their interpretation of what food might be like in Mexico given that they have only seen pictures of the place. So with that in mind, Fred’s is a pretty good Mexican place in Hawaii. Between Taco Tuesday and Mai Tai Wednesday at the pool, you have a good portion of your week covered.

Cafe O’Lei

http://cafeoleirestaurants.com

This is located just north of the condo a few blocks on South Kihei Rd. in the Rainbow Mall upstairs. This is a pretty darn good place and very affordable. Great for lunch and dinner. They have a sushi bar too!  Everyone raves over the Maui onion soup, you will see many orders go by, but I’m not an onion person so I can’t say.

South Shore Grindz

https://southshoregrindz.com/

This is located just north of the condo a few blocks on South Kihei Rd. in the Rainbow Mall in the back (used to be Da Kitchen). Really impressed by the food here, nice lunch spot. Our new favorite.

Maui Thai Bistro

http://www.mauithaibistro.com

Located sort of behind South Shore Grindz. This is a great place near the condo for lunch and dinner with beautiful Thai dishes and other items. Nice drinks too. Reasonably priced. We like this place more each time we go.

Maui Tacos

https://www.mauitacos.com

Located next to the Rainbow mall north of the condo on South Kihei Rd. An everyday taco joint, but see my disclaimer above about Mexican food in Hawaii, raising my rating to a pretty good taco joint. They have pineapple salsa. Yummy.

Maui Bread Company

Located in the Dolphin Plaza, the bread here is so good!

Kihei Cafe

http://www.kiheicaffe.com

Located on South Kihei Rd across from Kalama Park (the whale statue). This place is a local favorite so it will be crowded early but not too bad late morning. The setup is a little different, don’t just sit down, you have to order first at the counter then they will seat you. Good food and good prices. Breakfast burritos are as big as your head.

Ohana Sea Food Bar and Grill

http://ohanaseafoodbarandgrill.com

Located on South Kihei Rd next to Kihei Cafe. Nice place, food is good and not very expensive. Nice view for watching the sunset.

Three’s Bar and Grill

http://threesbarandgrill.com

Located on South Kihei Rd across from Kalama Park (the whale statue). This place is awesome! One of our most favorite lunch places but they have dinner too. The food is very good and not too expensive.

Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse BBQ

http://fatdaddysmaui.com

Located next to the Foodland on South Kihei Rd. It has been a while since we have been here, so I guess that is my review. Have not seen a reason to go back. Just ok.

Cuatro

http://www.cuatro808.com

Located next to the Foodland on South Kihei Rd. back in the corner. This is probably the finest dinning in Kihei. The food here is on par with the best of the best anywhere on Maui. If you have a special occasion to celebrate this would be a good place. It has very limited seating so reservations are required. It is very expensive but worth it. Love this place.

Thailand Cuisine

http://www.thailandcuisinemaui.net

Just north past the Foodland off South Kihei Rd. in the Kukui mall. I like this place, good Thai food and good service. Reasonably priced.

Eskimo Candy

http://www.eskimocandy.com

On Halekuia St. off South Kihei Rd. (turn right at Maui Dive Shop) at the end of the road. This is a casual dining place but the fish is great. We have an ongoing discussion about which is better Eskimo Candy or Coconuts (see below). Kind of hidden off the beaten path, one of those places the locals go to. Poke is good (but hot!).

Coconuts

http://www.coconutsfishcafe.com

See above there is a new Coconuts closer to the condo. This one is located in the Azeka mall off South Kihei Rd. next to the Longs Drug Store. This locations is always packed to the point where you have to share a table with other people if you’re lucky enough to find an empty spot.

Peggy Sue’s

http://peggysuesmaui.com

Located in the Azeka mall off South Kihei Rd. next to Coconuts. This is your classic ’50s diner with burgers and shakes and yes they give you the rest of the shake in the metal cup. We like this place, the food is what you expect for a ’50s diner (with a few Hawaiian twists) and the service is really good. Check out the photo board in the back of classic woodies.

Fork and Salad

http://forkandsaladmaui.com

Located in the Azeka mall off South Kihei Rd. mauka near to Coconuts. Really fresh and locally grown ingredients make this a special place. Run by the same folks as Three’s Bar and Grill it does not disappoint. You can build your own salad from the extensive list of ingredients, or pick one of the specials. Also have great sandwiches, juice bar, and kombucha.

Nalu’s

http://www.nalusmaui.com

Located in the Azeka mall off South Kihei Rd, the Makai side. There are two Azeka malls next to each other. One on the ocean side (Makai) the other on the mountain side (Mauka). Go towards the back next to the Ace Hardware. Good food, good prices, and quality ingredients make this a good place to go. The salads are tasty and healthy. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner. A koa wood outrigger hangs from the ceiling so these guys must be ok 🙂
Live Hawaiian music every night!

Outback

http://www.outback.com/Restaurant/Locations/HI/Kihei-Maui/Kihei

Located across the street from Safeway in the Pi’ilani Village shopping center off Pi’ilani Hwy. A fake Australian restaurant in Hawaii is just too many levels of indirection for me to handle, but I kind of like their food. If you have been to an Outback anywhere then you have been to an Outback everywhere. Except this one runs the AC way too cold!

Bale Vietnamese Food

http://www.balemaui.com

Located in the food court next to Safeway in the Pi’ilani Village shopping center off Pi’ilani Hwy. This is just a little hole in the wall place in a food court but wow I really like the food here. The menu is way too complicated. Get the opakapaka special.

Amigos

http://www.amigosmaui.com

Located next to Longs Drugs off South Kihei Rd. There are a couple of Amigos on Maui, and this is the better one. See my comments above about how Hawaiians think Mexican food is supposed to be. This is exhibit A.

Beach Bums Bar and Grill

http://beachbumshawaii.com

Located in Ma’alea Harbor near the aquarium, on the lower level. This place is pretty good and hey there just ain’t that much going on in Ma’alea anymore so you could do worse. The place to go after the aquarium.

Zippys

http://zippys.com/kahului

Located near the airport by Home Depot and Target. This place is a locals favorite. Zippy’s is more of a phenomenon than a restaurant. It sort of like a Hawaiian version of Denny’s. But Denny’s does not have Portuguese bean soup or Malasadas. Ok so you are not going to get a high class meal like a fancy tourist place. But listen, if you want to know what it feels like to be a local Maui girl or boy you need to experience this place.

Koho’s

http://queenkaahumanucenter.com/directory/kohos-grill-bar

Located in Kahului in the Queen Ka’ahumanu mega mall out front. You want to eat like a local? This is where the locals go. Plate lunches, lots of food. Is it good? Like grandma Tutu makes. So no beeg deal eh? Jus eat ‘dem an no make stink eye.

Mill House

http://mauitropicalplantation.com

Located inside the Maui Tropical Plantation off Highway 30  this is a really nice place for lunch. Now owned by Cafe O’Lei. Check out our blog post here.