Maui Local Food

Lau lau on Maui

If you're towards the island’s southern end in the Kihei and Wailea region, a popular spot for lau lau and lots of other traditional eats is Piko Cafe. This is a local business, formerly known as Da Kitchen, that struggled and had to close some locations during the pandemic, much to the dismay of anyone who has ever eaten at one of them.

However, with Piko, the business is making a comeback. That means you can try their fresh local cuisine, including a classic lau lau plate lunch. They are open every day except Sunday and Monday, 8 am to 2 pm, at 1215 S Kihei Rd, Suite E.

Mixed Plate on Maui

Featured before on our site, a hands-down local favorite for mixed plate on the island of Maui has always been Da Kitchen. When they were forced to close during COVID-19, many were heartbroken.

But now Da Kitchen has been reincarnated as Piko Cafe in Kihei. This is a hybrid - a coffee shop offering breakfast and lunch that will be warmly familiar to any fans of Da Kitchen.

There’s no doubt that plate lunch is a specialty here. There’s plenty more to try, from burgers to saimin noodles, but the classic Hawaiian plate lunches are probably the most popular, and why so many are thrilled to see the kitchen’s resurgence.

Piko Cafe is located at 1215 South Kihei Road. They are open every day except Sunday and Monday from 8 AM to 2 PM.

Malasadas on Maui

Towards the south of the island in Kihei, Maui has its locally-owned bake shop, rivaling even Leonard's in its originality and classic vibe. Sugar Beach Bake Shop is tiny, but big flavors come from it daily and in many varieties - not just malasadas. However, the malasadas are the showstoppers.

Towards the north, in the quaint town of Makawao, a local favorite is T Komoda Store and Bakery. In particular, their guava malasadas are raved about. You could say this bakery is a bit "old-school," meaning, among other things, they don't have a website. However, you'll find them at 3674 Baldwin Ave in Makawao. They're closed Sundays and Wednesdays, and open 7 am to 3 pm every other day except Saturday, which is 7 to 2.

Poke on Maui

The best food on the islands is often tucked away in an unexpected corner. Such is arguably the case on the island of Maui since one of the most beloved and locally recommended poke places is the elusive Takamiya Market, also known as Dani's Catering.

Located in Happy Valley in Wailuku, this little market is open from 5:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. The catering, which includes shockingly delectable poke dishes, is only part of what is available here. It also serves as a charming grocery store that you may be surprised to learn has been there since 1946.

Shave Ice on Maui

The island of Maui is something of a hotspot for shave ice, regardless of which experience on the island you’re chasing and where a shave ice stop will be an easy and welcome addition to the itinerary.

If you’re traveling the famous Road To Hana, just after mile marker 17, you’ll run into Halfway To Hana. In addition to classic Hawaiian shave ice, this charming little shop also sells homemade banana bread, fresh fruits, and drinks.

For not only shave ice, but ice cream, root beer floats, and syrups proudly made with real sugar, you can visit Surfing Monkey Shave Ice in both Wailea and Kihei.

Last but not least, there is Ululani’s. This family-owned Maui original now has no less than 6 locations all across the island of Maui. They also have a location on the Big Island’s Kona coast. From “simple to gourmet,” the shaved ice from Ululani’s shops is created with evident care and sincere pride. From the ultra-pure water they use to form the ice to the technique used to “shave” the ice to the pure cane sugar used to sweeten the house-made syrups, and much more, this is a place where perfecting the craft of shaving ice is nothing short of an obsession.

Loco Moco on Maui

Like every island, loco moco can be found pretty much all over the island of Maui. If you’re intent on only the very best, we recommend Nalu’s South Shore Grill in the Azeka Shopping Center in Kihei.

Not only is this a prime spot to devour highly reviewed loco moco, it’s also a beautiful location and a great place to see live local music regularly performed. Nalu’s is open 7 days a week from 8 am to 9 pm. Happy hour runs every day for three hours, from 3 to 6. The Azeka Shopping Center is located at 1280 South Kihei Road.