Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
Are you wandering around Kahului, unsure of what to eat? Well, you’ve opened the right article on the internet. Whether you want local cuisine or international gourmet, cash-depleting luxury, or frugal deliciousness - this centrally-located town hides somewhere you desire.
Here are our picks for the 10 best restaurants in Kahului, Maui.
Tante’s Island Cuisine
Tante’s is a favorite Kahului spot for traditional island cuisine located at the Maui Seaside Hotel. They also offer American and Asian cuisine, making their menu quite diverse without sacrificing quality. Owner Tante Urban is proud of this diversity, attributing the restaurant’s many local favorites to “Hawaii’s mix of ethnic cultures.” Tante is also active in the local community and frequently hosts fundraising events.
Location: 100 W Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului (Maui Seaside Hotel)
Hours: Every Day, 7 AM - 2 PM, 5 PM - 8:30 PM
Prices: $$
Brigit & Bernard’s Garden Cafe
Brigit and Bernard appeared on Guy Fieri’s show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and are proud to serve authentic German food in the heart of Hawaii. Oktoberfest is a particularly big deal here, so if you’re coming to Maui in October, you won’t want to pass up a visit. More impressive than the authentic German menu is the fact that the restaurant makes virtually everything from scratch - right down to the sauces and dressings used.
Location: 335 Hoohana St, Kahului (Wakea Business Center)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 AM - 2:30 PM (Lunch) & 5 PM - Closing (Dinner); Saturday, 5 PM - Closing (Dinner)
Prices: $$
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Bistro Casanova
Tasty Italian food can also be found in Kahului. Bistro Casanova is known for inventive specials and awesome wood-fired pizza. Rounding out a beach day with a glass of wine and some delectable pizza or pasta dish is hard to argue with. Like some other Maui restaurants, but with its unique style, Bistro Casanova balances the relaxed with the regal. Great service, high-quality authentic food, and a beautiful dining area are complemented by a relaxed atmosphere that suits the island spirit.
Location: 33 Lono Ave, Kahului
Hours: Monday - Friday, 11 PM - 2 PM, 4 PM - 9 PM; Saturday 4 PM - 9 PM
Prices: $$
Tiki Tiki Thai Cuisine
Of course, there are Thai cravings - it’s imperative to have a safety plan whenever they strike. Kahului is another “safe zone,” thanks to Tiki Tiki Thai on Dairy Road. Adequately accommodating for vegetarians and meat lovers, the menu plays all the greatest hits and plays them well. Noodles, curries, salads, soups, desserts - no craving withstands the reliably mouthwatering onslaught. If you love Thai food, Tiki Tiki Thai (sometimes simply called Tiki Thai) in Kahului is exactly what you’re looking for.
Location: 395 Dairy Rd, Kahului
Hours: Every Day, 10 AM - 10 PM
Prices: $$
Marco’s Grill & Deli
For Italian food with more of a local neighborhood vibe, Marco’s Grill & Deli on the Hana Highway is a great spot for sandwiches and homestyle Italian dishes. It’s also a great breakfast place, open every day of the week from 7:30 in the morning. Marco’s is approaching its 30th birthday, and its central location on the way to the North Shore from Kahului shows every sign of continuing to serve vodka rigatoni and locally roasted fresh coffee for years to come.
Location: 444 Hana Hwy, Kahului
Hours: Every Day, 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Prices: $$
Kahului Ale House
Sometimes harder to find in Hawaii, The Kahului Ale House is the place to go for pool tables, sports on TV, great food, and - shockingly - lots of beer to choose from. Given the initial conjurings of the obvious aesthetic, Kahului Ale House is full of surprises. It’s actually quite family-friendly. The menu is also really diverse, and some of its most unexpected items are some of its best - for instance, the sushi rolls.
Location: 355 E Kamehameha Ave, Kahului
Hours: Monday - Wednesday, 11 AM - 9 PM; Thursday - Saturday, 11 AM - 10 PM; Sunday, 7 AM - 10 PM
Prices: $$
Restaurant Matsu
Look no further for delicious, affordable Japanese food in a casual setting. Restaurant Matsu is famous for its family-style dishes, straight from the classics of the Japanese culinary tradition. Tempura, fried noodles, tofu, katsu, nigiri - expect it to most likely come on a portable combo plate and expect to be surprised, if not outright amazed, by the quality-to-price ratio. This place is definitely a “hook-up” when it comes to great food, served quickly and without engulfing the credit card in smoke.
Location: 161 Alamaha St, Kahului
Hours: Monday - Wednesday, 10 AM - 3 PM; Thursday & Friday, 10 AM - 6 PM
Prices: $
Zippy’s
15 Ho’okele St in Kahului is the original location of Zippy’s, a Hawaii legend that traces back all the way to 1966. Specializing in “island favorites,” Zippy’s is an iconic spot for plate lunch and Ohana meals - but those are just the tip of the iceberg. The whole family can find something to chomp down on here. Make sure to try the famous chili while you’re at it!
Location: 15 Ho’okele St, Kahului
Hours: Every Day, 6 AM - 10 PM
Prices: $
Jack’s Inn
Jack’s is cash-only, affordable, and a local-heavy destination for Hawaiian breakfast and lunch plates. Do you know what all that means? It means that Jack’s Inn is delicious. As wonderful as indulging in fine dining on Maui, sometimes it can be just as wonderful, if not more, to discover a truly local haunt. This is one. Just wait until you try the peach pancakes.
Location: 312 Alamaha St, Kahului
Hours: Monday - Friday, 5 AM - 2 PM; Saturday, 5 AM - 1 PM
Prices: $
Tight Tacos
An important thing to make sure you always have access to while roaming around a wonderland like Kahului is quality tacos. The place to hit is Tight Tacos on Hanakai Street. It’s such a hole in the wall you might miss it the first couple of times you drive by - but trust us, it’s worth finding.
Location: 349 Hanakai St B, Kahului
Hours: Monday - Saturday, 11 AM - 7 PM & Sundays, 11 AM - 4 PM
Prices: $
We hope you find this to be a helpful guide to dining during your time in Kahului. As always, mahalo, and best wishes for your visit!
