Food · Maui · United States
What to eat in Maui
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Maui, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Niagara66, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Poke, Plate lunch and Loco moco. A traditional feast with kalua pig from the imu, poi and other Hawaiian dishes, accompanied by hula and storytelling; reputable lūʻau on the west and south sides sell out in season. Most restaurants close relatively early; plan dinner by 8pm outside the resort areas.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Poke
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 3
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing…
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Poke
Cubes of raw ʻahi tuna or octopus seasoned with shoyu, sesame oil, onion, limu seaweed and ʻinamona (roasted kukui nut), eaten over rice as a poke bowl.
Where: Supermarket poke counters and fish markets in Kahului and Kīhei; buy by the pound for a beach lunch.
Dish
2.Plate lunch
Two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and a main such as teriyaki beef, chicken katsu or kalua pig — the everyday meal of Hawaiʻi, shaped by plantation workers from Japan, the Philippines, China and Portugal.
Where: Drive-ins and lunch counters in Kahului, Wailuku and Kīhei.
Breakfast
3.Loco moco
Rice topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and brown gravy; a filling breakfast before a long day on the road.
Where: Local diners and breakfast spots across the island.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Shave ice
Finely shaved ice drenched in tropical syrups such as lilikoʻi, guava or li hing mui, often with ice cream or sweet azuki beans underneath and a condensed-milk 'snow cap' on top.
Where: Shave-ice stands in Kīhei, Pāʻia and Kāʻanapali.
Snack · Vegetarian
5.Banana bread on the Road to Hāna
Warm, dense banana bread from roadside stands along the Hāna Highway has become part of the drive; the Keʻanae Peninsula stand is one of the best known.
Where: Roadside stands on the Hāna Highway, especially around Keʻanae; bring cash.
Dish
6.Kalua pig
Pork slow-cooked in an underground imu oven until smoky and shredded, the centrepiece of a lūʻau, often served with cabbage.
Where: Lūʻau in Kāʻanapali and Wailea, and plate-lunch counters island-wide.
Street food
7.Huli huli chicken
Chicken marinated in a sweet soy-ginger sauce and grilled over kiawe wood on rotisserie racks, sold by the half from roadside stands.
Where: Roadside stands on weekends, including on the road to Kahakuloa and around Kahului.
Dish
8.Saimin
A plantation-era noodle soup of wheat noodles in a light dashi broth with green onion, fishcake and char siu pork.
Where: Old-time diners in Wailuku and Kahului.
Snack
9.Spam musubi
A slice of grilled, teriyaki-glazed Spam on a block of rice wrapped with nori; the standard Hawaiian road-trip snack.
Where: Convenience stores, petrol stations and lunch counters across Maui.
Dish
10.Fresh island fish
Mahimahi, ono (wahoo), ʻōpakapaka (pink snapper) and ʻahi grilled, seared or in fish tacos, often caught the same day.
Where: Fish markets and restaurants in Kīhei, Pāʻia and along the north shore.
Dessert · Vegetarian
11.Lilikoʻi desserts
Tart passion fruit turns up in butter, chiffon pie, cheesecake and malasada fillings; Upcountry bakeries also sell cream puffs and stick doughnuts.
Where: Bakeries in Makawao and Kula, and farmers markets.
Food experiences
Lūʻau
A traditional feast with kalua pig from the imu, poi and other Hawaiian dishes, accompanied by hula and storytelling; reputable lūʻau on the west and south sides sell out in season.
Upcountry farm stands
Kula's farm stands and markets sell onions, strawberries, avocados and tropical fruit straight from the volcanic slopes.
Poke picnic
Buy poke and rice from a supermarket or fish-market counter and eat it on the beach at sunset.
Roadside fruit on the Road to Hāna
Honour-system stands sell coconuts, bananas, lilikoʻi and banana bread along the Hāna Highway; carry small notes.
Quick bites and street food
- Loco moco — Local diners and breakfast spots across the island.
- Banana bread on the Road to Hāna — Roadside stands on the Hāna Highway, especially around Keʻanae; bring cash.
- Huli huli chicken — Roadside stands on weekends, including on the road to Kahakuloa and around Kahului.
- Spam musubi — Convenience stores, petrol stations and lunch counters across Maui.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 3 are usually vegetarian: Shave ice, Banana bread on the Road to Hāna and Lilikoʻi desserts. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Most restaurants close relatively early; plan dinner by 8pm outside the resort areas.
- Book popular dinner spots and lūʻau days or weeks ahead in winter and holiday periods.
- Groceries are expensive; a condo with a kitchen helps keep costs down.
- Plate-lunch counters and food trucks offer good value compared with resort restaurants.
- Carry cash for roadside stands, especially on the Road to Hāna.
Tipping
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and 15–20% for snorkel, whale-watching and tour crews, who rely heavily on tips.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aloha | Hello, goodbye and love |
| Mahalo | Thank you |
| Mauka / makai | Towards the mountain / towards the sea |
| ʻOno | Delicious |
| Pau | Finished, done |
| Kapu | Forbidden, keep out |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Maui famous for?
Poke, Plate lunch, Loco moco and Shave ice. Cubes of raw ʻahi tuna or octopus seasoned with shoyu, sesame oil, onion, limu seaweed and ʻinamona (roasted kukui nut), eaten over rice as a poke bowl.
+Is Maui good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Shave ice, Banana bread on the Road to Hāna and Lilikoʻi desserts.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Maui?
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and 15–20% for snorkel, whale-watching and tour crews, who rely heavily on tips.