Top Places for Local Food in South Maui

Food in Hawaii is incredible – from freshly caught fish to local produce, everything is delicious and mouthwatering. Every culture that has immigrated to Hawaii has left its mark on the Island's culinary scene. Their flavors and recipes elicit the history and traditions of Polynesian, American, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Filipino, Spanish, and Korean cultures. While there are many food trucks, cafes, restaurants, diners, and markets across Maui, there are several that are favorites with locals and tourists alike.

Akamai Coffee

Akamai Coffee Co. is a Hawaiian business that sources 100% Maui grown coffee and roasts them specifically to bring out mouthwatering flavors. Hawaii is the only place in the United States where coffee is grown for general consumption, and Maui has established itself as a high-quality treasure in the coffee world. Akamai (which means “smart” in ʻŌlelo Hawaii) has won multiple prestigious coffee awards and continues to be a local favorite.

Their coffee offerings include a frappe (what I got and loved!), brewed coffee, cold brews, pour-overs, and espresso-based drinks like americanos, cappuccinos, cafe mochas, and lattes. The cafe has a small, but diverse menu serving breakfast, lunch, and sweet treats. These include items like avocado toast, Belgian waffles, soups, salads, freshly baked pastries, and ice cream sundaes.

Coconut’s Fish Cafe

For over ten years, Coconut's Fish Café has been one of THE places to get seafood. In 2013, Travel & Leisure featured Coconut's Fish Café on their "Top 10 Places to Eat Like a Local" list. Since then, their reputation has only grown, and they are one of the best local food joints on the island. Not only is it a great place to get food, but the atmosphere is second to none, with colorful walls, beach-themed décor, and comfortable seating.

The restaurant's menu features an array of tasty (and affordable) seafood, including its famous fish tacos. It also offers various Hawaiian fish, such as Ahi (Yellowfin Tuna), Mahi-Mahi (Dolphin Fish), Ono (Wahoo), and Opakapaka (Crimson Snapper). All of its sauces are made from scratch, and it uses time-tested family recipes.

Da Kitchen

If you're looking for reasonably priced authentic Hawaiian food, Da Kitchen is the place to go. One of Maui's most recognized restaurants, Da Kitchen serves Pacific cuisine staples in a relaxed and laid-back diner. This local joint boasts an array of accomplishments, from appearing on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives to receiving Hawaii's The Ilima Award to Diners. Da Kitchen fully embraces the aloha lifestyle and provides high-quality service and delicious food to every customer.

With so many options, it can take time to decide what to get. There are Pupus (traditional Hawaiian appetizers), plate lunches, specials, noodles & burgers, and combination plates. Some of the most popular options are the Lau Lau Plate – steamed pork and butterfish Lau Lau's wrapped in taro leaves and served w/ Lomi salmon, Da Kitchen Bento Plate – Teriyaki chicken, Teriyaki beef, chicken katsu, two shrimp tempura, and spam musubi, and Notorious B.I.G. Moco – a 10 oz. hamburger patty over white rice, chili, Portuguese sausage, bacon, & spam topped with brown gravy, eggs, and sautéed onions.

Kihei Caffe

One of the best places for breakfast on Maui, Kihei Caffe, is extremely popular with locals and tourists. For over ten years, it has been voted “Best Breakfast” by Maui Times, Maui No Ka Oi Magazine, and Maui News’ Readers Poll. Since opening in 1998, Kihei Caffe has perfectly captured the ‘aloha’ lifestyle—everything is laid-back and relaxing, with a focus on good food and great company.

There is something for everyone at Kihei Caffe – the restaurant offers over 40 breakfast dishes, so there’s something no matter what you’re in the mood for. If you’re craving something light, try the Mueslix Bowl, a rich, creamy cereal served with granola, overnight oats, and berries, or the Lox & Bagel – your choice of bagel with smoked salmon, lettuce, and tomatoes. For traditional dishes, their pancakes are delicious and come in flavors of buttermilk, pineapple coconut, chocolate chip, blueberry, or banana macadamia nut. You could opt for the Loco Moco, a conventional Hawaiian breakfast with two eggs of any style and ½ lb of Kalua Pork, Black Angus burger patty, Corned beef, Spam, or chicken fried steak over steamed rice.

Lappert’s Hawaii

The spirit of aloha is at the heart of Lappert’s Hawaii. Since opening in 1983, Lappert’s Hawaii has become The Aloha State’s largest ice cream chain. Perfected over the decades, their family recipes and flavors use only the finest ingredients, whether in the ice cream or bakery goodies. Their passion for quality shows that all their products are made fresh daily. In addition to the traditional ice cream flavors, Lappert’s also features Polynesian tastes such as Maui Mango Madness, Caramel Coconut Macadamia Nut, Kona Coffee, and more.

The shop has been roasting its own premium blends of gourmet coffee since it first opened. Each coffee is hand-selected from the best Hawaiian-grown beans and blended with the best worldwide. Years of experience have gone into creating each premium coffee product they offer, from the soil to the bean and all the way through the selection process, blending, and brewing. This attention to detail and passion for quality set them apart and give their ice cream and coffee a unique taste.

Maui Bread Company

Since opening in 2016, Maui Bread Company has sought to spoil its customers with local and international flavors. The company has two different lines of baked goods, the “Hawaiian Artisan Bread” and the “German Artisan Bread.” The “Hawaiian Artisan Bread” line consists mainly of savory and sweet breakfast items, sweet breads, gluten-free items, biscotti, cookies and brownies, scones, and different wheat and multi-grain bread loaves. The “German Artisan Bread” line includes different German rolls and breads based mainly on multiple sourdoughs, unbleached and organic, and unenriched flours like oat, rye, wheat, and spelt.

In addition to various decadent baked goods, Maui Bread makes unique condiments and syrups. Available in their online store, they can be shipped to other Hawaiian islands and the US mainland. These include Lilikoi Butter, Mango Butter, Hawaiian Jelly, Kula Strawberry Jam, Mango Jelly, Pineapple Coconut Jam, Upcountry Guava Jelly, Lilikoi Jelly, Flavor Herb Salt, Upcountry Guava Butter, Mango Chutney, and Pineapple Chutney.

Maui Sweet Shoppe

If you’re like me, you have a big ‘ole sweet tooth that is impossible to ignore. Fortunately, Maui Sweet Shoppe is the place to satisfy that craving. This quaint, family-owned joint offers decadent treats and fantastic customer service. Using the freshest ingredients from local farmers and ranchers, Maui Sweet Shoppe prides itself on being homemade and homegrown.

Their homestyle ice cream comes in a variety of classic and unique flavors, from salted caramel and traditional chocolate to pumpkin cheesecake and ube (purple sweet potato). They also showcase soft serve ice cream, Dole pineapple whip, and ice cream sundaes. While their main claim to fame is their ice cream, the shop also boasts a huge selection of candy, chocolate, toffee, cookies, and cakes. It’s basically any child’s (or sweet lover’s) dream come true!

Monkeypod Kitchen

With the motto of “Lucky Live Hawaii,” Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman is an ideal spot for families, foodies, and alcohol lovers to enjoy a tasty meal in a comfortable environment. The award-winning, classically trained Chef Peter Merriman has run Monkeypod Kitchen as a combination of local traditions and passionate creativity. Dubbed “The Pied Piper of Hawaii Regional Cuisine” by the Los Angeles Times, Peter is highly dedicated to showcasing Hawaii’s delicious cuisine and aloha lifestyle.

All the offerings on Monkeypod’s menu are supported by local and organic fishing, ranching, and farming. In addition to hand-crafted culinary cocktails like Ho’opono Potion, Ali’i Margarita, and Big Beach Energy, the restaurant offers 36 craft brews on tap (which include lagers, ales, ciders, and seltzers.) To eat, try their hand-tossed pizzas with scratch-made crust, fish & lobster pasta, or Maui Cattle Company cheeseburger.

Ohana Seafood Bar & Grill

Quality is at the forefront of Ohana’s Seafood Bar & Grill – not just in the food they offer but in the service of the friendly staff. The chefs here have over 80 years of combined cooking experience for the finest restaurants. Ohana’s sources fresh ingredients from fishermen and farmer’s as much as possible. Located right across from the shore, Ohana’s is an excellent place to get delicious food and a great place to sit outside and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Ohana’s Seafood Bar & Grill has a multitude of dishes for every seafood and meat lover, including Huli Huli chicken, Makena style Poke, Tempura Ahi sushi rolls, fried calamari, and the grilled local fish of the day, to name a few. My favorite dish is their fish and chips—battered with Maui Brewing Company’s tempura beer batter; the appetizing fish is served with Ohana tartar sauce, island slaw, warm French fries, and tasty macaroni salad.

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

Since its opening in 2008, Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is the best place to get shaved ice on Maui. With their service mindset of “Alohatude” (the Spirit of Aloha with Gratitude), Ululani’s is an extraordinary island experience. Founded by the shop’s namesake, Ululani, and her husband, David, the couple set out to bring everyone the one-of-a-kind Hawaiian shave ice.

The shop prides itself on putting its heart and aloha into everything they do, and that’s evident by its unique shave ice process. It starts with the water – Ululani’s uses 100% pure, clean water to make their ice and then shaves it to perfection. Next, they make the syrup (using signature recipes) with 100% pure cane sugar. Each syrup is made with premium all-natural purees and select extracts. Each of the 50+ flavors is bold and mouthwatering. Additionally, all products are served in environmentally friendly compostable bowls, straws, and spoons.