best places to eat in kihei
Kihei, HI is known for its tropical splendor and is a popular tourist destination. Kihei sits along the coastline on the Hawaiian island of Maui, which means great places to enjoy fresh seafood and other tasty dishes. If you are traveling to Kihei for vacation or for business, these are some of top places to eat in Kihei! When visiting or working in Kihei, not far from Kihei Town Center, there’s a lot of small, local establishments that you can find on any corner. However, every once in a while, we’re also pleasantly surprised to find a real gem. We’ve listed some of our favorites below.
If you’re looking for the best places to eat in Kihei, you’ve come to the right place!
Kihei is a wonderful place to visit, and it’s easy to find great food wherever you go. Here are some of our favorite places to eat in Kihei:
- The Fish Market Maui: It’s a little off the beaten path—you have to drive out of town a little ways—but if you’re looking for fresh seafood cooked with care and skill, this is your place. Try the coconut-crusted shrimp or one of their signature salads.
- The Shrimp Truck: This truck is parked on the main street by Maui’s best beach, Wailea Beach. They serve up some of the best shrimp tacos on Maui at very reasonable prices. If you want something more substantial, they also have burgers, hot dogs and fries!
- Mama’s Fish House: Mama’s Fish House has been around for over 30 years now, serving up some of the finest seafood on Maui. The restaurant itself is located right on Makena Beach—the view doesn’t get much better than that! You’ll find everything from fresh fish tacos to shrimp scamp
Here are the best places to eat in Kihei:
- Tropical Breeze Café is known for its delicious breakfast dishes, including coconut pancakes and a variety of fresh fruit smoothies. It’s also a great place to get lunch or dinner—the fish tacos are amazing! The restaurant has an open-air dining area, so it’s perfect for people watching on busy Kalapaki Beach.
- Ono Gelato is a sweet little shop that serves gelato in flavors like macadamia nut and coconut. The gelatos are made with local ingredients and include ingredients like Maui Gold pineapple and Hawaiian vanilla beans. If you’re looking for something lighter than ice cream, then this is a great place to stop by!
- Hula Grill is one of the best places to get seafood in Kihei, with an extensive menu of fresh fish and seafood dishes prepared in traditional Hawaiian styles. The restaurant has been featured on several food shows and magazines because of their unique take on the traditional Hawaiian dish called poke (pronounced poh-keh), which means “cut crosswise” in Hawaiian.
best restaurants in kihei with a view
1. Kinaole Grill Food Truck
Kinaole Grill Food Truck is a family-owned business offering local Hawaiian recipes gourmet style in a food truck.
Why This Restaurant Is a Must Eat
With the popularity of food trucks growing and hit movies such as Chef lauding the fine cuisine that comes out of these tiny mobile kitchens, it may come as no surprise to learn that Maui chefs haven’t missed the call on this one.
The Kina‘ole Grill Food Truck is usually parked just off South Kīhei Road by Kama‘ole Beach Park 1.
It’s hard to miss; look for the big food truck with the colorful beach scene complete with a Hawaiian girl sitting under a coconut palm.
Offering delicious local food with a gourmet twist, Kina‘ole Grill Food Truck in Maui serves up generous portions of fantastic food at great prices, and the cute, charming design of the truck never fails to catch the eye.
What to Eat
All of Kina‘ole Grill Food Truck’s fare is excellent; however they are especially acclaimed for their Seared Ahi with Wasabi Cream as well as their Coconut Shrimp.
2. Cuatro Restaurant
Cuatro is a locally-owned BYOB eatery offering a mix of Latin and Asian recipes in a cozy dining room with white tablecloths.
Why This Restaurant Is a Must Eat
If you’ve got a fellow foodie with you looking for the best places to eat in Kihei for Mexican and Asian recipes, you might want to check this place out.
Chef Eric Arbogast puts his culinary expertise and training into mingling Latin and Pacific Rim flavors with surprisingly cohesive results.
Start with their salad, award-winning SPicy Tuna Nachos, or choose from their several other starters before moving on to their entrees that include fish, marinated pork, roasted chicken, and many more.
What to Eat
Their delectable Entrees include: Fresh Hawaiian Fish of the Day, with your choice of four different preparations like roasted chicken breast.
3. Miso Phat Sushi
Miso Phat Sushi is a family-owned and operated sushi bar in Kihei.
It is owned by Joy Steadman, who had 20 years of experience in the restaurant business.
Why This Restaurant Is a Must Eat
Miso Phat Sushi serves the freshest sushi on Maui using high-quality fish hand picked daily, and is known as one of the best restaurants Kihei has to offer for some awesome sushi.
They offer a variety of Nigiri and Sashimi as well as everyone’s favorite Speciality Sushi Rolls and Temaki hand rolls, so if you’re looking for good restaurants in Kihei for some good sushi, head to this spot.
Their affordable combo platters are perfect for get-togethers with friends and family, making them one of the best dinner places in Kihei.
What to Eat
Their Miso Phat and Spicy Salmon rolls earn high points for their freshness and perfect blend of flavors.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Kihei Akahi
Also See:
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Restaurants in Honolulu, HI
4. Nalu’s South Shore Grill
Nalu’s is a locally-owned open-air bar/eatery with seasonal, locally-sourced Hawaiian recipes.
Why This Restaurant Is a Must Eat
Nalu’s is a fun, slightly offbeat spot, with an old wooden koa canoe hanging from the ceiling, colorful beach photographs plastered all over the walls, two feral chickens running around insouciantly, and a live band jamming out in the corner.
It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s why it’s one of the top Kihei restaurants locals love so much.
Nalu’s does delicious comfort food you won’t feel bad about eating.
Everything on the menu is made from scratch using local and (wherever possible) organic ingredients; even the grass-fed beef comes from Makaweli Ranch in Kauai.
Vegetarians can dig in, too: Nalu’s satisfying loco moco is made with tofu, spinach, and quinoa instead of beef and mushroom gravy.
What to Eat
Local favorites and standouts include the fall-off-the-bone ribs and the smoky-sweet apple-brie burger.
affordable restaurants in kihei
Koiso Sushi Bar
Koiso Sushi Bar is a casual eatery for specialty sushi rolls, sashimi, and other Japanese fares in a strip-mall space.
Why This Restaurant Is a Must Eat
Take advantage of fresh local catches and highly skilled chefs by treating yourself to a meal at Koiso Sushi Bar, one of the best rated restaurants in Kihei.
Plan ahead to get a table at this highly desirable restaurant, because the seats are few and the competition is fierce.
With seating for only 15 customers, an advance reservation is a must, especially in one of the best birthday restaurants in Kihei.
This is not a place to come while you’re in a rush, but rather prepare to let time slip away as you take in the atmosphere and a fine meal.
With one sushi chef, Hiro, meal preparation can take time but is well worth the wait.
Koiso is known for their simplistic, traditional menu, but that means they’ve focused all of their energies on perfecting the classics.
Japanese-style nigari, sashimi, and classic sushi rolls make up the bulk of the menu.
What to Eat
For those who aren’t sure what to order, Omakase is the way to go.
Omakase is a Japanese phrase meaning, “I’ll leave it up to you” so benefit from the chef’s creativity!
Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food
Nutcharee’s is a family-owned and operated restaurant where you’ll find Thai curries, noodle dishes and stir-fries served in a warm, casual shopping-center storefront.
Why This Restaurant Is a Must Eat
Their unique and addictive menu was created with the freshest local ingredients in mind, so if you’re looking for fresh Thai food (literally, Thailand is known for their fresh and raw vegetables), this is one of the local restaurants near you to visit.
Traditional recipes and cooking techniques with a modern Maui twist prove there is a difference in Thai food when you focus on flavor.
Your favorite authentic Thai food from Hana, you’ll be having the best lunch in Kihei right here.
Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options are also available.
What to Eat
Fans of Nutcharee Case’s panang curry with fresh fish stand by it like an oath
Pizza Madness Maui
Pizza Madness is a family-owned Casual, art-lined eatery serving choose-your-own-topping pizzas, salads and sandwiches.
Why This Restaurant Is a Must Eat
Stop by for lunch, dinner or just an ice cold beer at one of the most popular restaurants to try for the best pizza.
If their pizza tastes better, it’s because they make their pizza with a secret dough recipe passed down from generations of pizza fanatics.
Nobody else has this recipe so, if you’re a pizza nut, you’re in for a treat.
What to Eat
Don’t leave the island without trying the best pizza on the island, Pizza Madness Maui.