Best Restaurants in Kihei, Maui
Kihei is not fine dining -- it is a working town with real food, reasonable prices, and a few places that make you want to come back for more. The tourist-facing spots near Kamaole Shopping Center are inconsistent. The places locals eat are better and cheaper. Here is the honest breakdown.
Breakfast and Brunch
Kihei Caffe
The most reliable breakfast in Kihei. A simple outdoor counter where they cook serious portions of eggs, pancakes, and classic diner food. Expect a wait on weekends. Cash only. Worth the line. On South Kihei Road near Kamaole I.
Lulu's Surf Club
A broader menu than Kihei Caffe with drinks and an ocean view from the upper deck. Good breakfast burritos and a bloody mary worth having on a slow morning. The food is solid without being exceptional.
Poke and Plate Lunch
Eskimo Candy
A fish market with a small counter that serves the freshest poke in Kihei. They source locally and the selection changes based on what came in that morning. Poke bowls run $14 to $18 and are as good as anything you will find on the island at twice the price. On Lipoa Street, slightly off the main tourist strip, which is why it stays manageable.
Coconut's Fish Cafe
The fish tacos here are consistently good -- fresh grilled fish, house slaw, corn tortillas, and a price point that makes it easy to eat here more than once in a week. The line moves fast. North Kihei location.
808 Deli
Sandwiches, plate lunches, and a rotating daily special that skews toward local comfort food. The servings are large and the prices are honest. A good option for packing lunch before a beach day at Kamaole or a drive to Hana.
Cook in when you want, eat out when you want
Unit 711 has a full kitchen and is a short drive from Kihei's best restaurants and fish markets. The best breakfasts in Kihei often happen on the lanai with eggs from Foodland and coffee from the unit.
Check availabilityDinner
Pita Paradise
Mediterranean-inflected menu with good hummus, grilled fish, and lamb dishes in an outdoor garden setting. The prices are reasonable for Maui, the portions are generous, and the kitchen is consistent. One of the better dinner values in Kihei.
Kama'ole BBQ and Sports Bar
Not fancy. Reliably satisfying. Good for groups or families who want food that arrives quickly, cold beer, and no dress code.
Five Palms (at Mana Kai)
The best dinner view in Kihei. Five Palms sits directly on the beach at Mana Kai resort. The food quality varies but the oceanfront outdoor seating is genuinely special, especially around sunset. Book in advance for a window table. This is where guests from unit 711 go when they want a beach-edge dinner without driving to Wailea.
Worth the Drive: Beyond Kihei
Mama's Fish House in Paia (north shore) is the best restaurant in Hawaii by most measures. The fish is caught to order and named with the fisherman's name and location. The setting is exceptional. Reserve weeks in advance. Worth it.
Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea is ten minutes from Kihei and offers one of the best happy hours on the island (4 to 5:30 p.m.) with excellent bar food and a lively crowd. Good for a pre-dinner drink that becomes dinner.
Grocery Run Instead of Going Out
Some nights, the best restaurant in Kihei is your own kitchen. Fresh poke from Eskimo Candy, fruit from the Maui Swap Meet, and a bottle of wine from Foodland on the lanai at sunset beats most things you could book. See our grocery guide for the best shopping options near Kihei.