For many years, readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine have voted Maui the "Worlds Best Island" - in fact the island has won the award 13 times. There is something quite magical about Maui and perhaps that accounts for its popularity or it could be the mystical feeling you get when you drive through the low clouds to the top of Mt. Haleakala in the middle of the night and watch the sun rise over the crater. Or it could be the breathtaking beauty of the island, the hospitality and charm of the residents, the clear blue Pacific Ocean, rainbows almost daily, the road to Hana or even the laid-back town of Pa'ai where some of the most reasonably priced restaurants are - not only reasonable, but offering really good food.
Food is also an important part of Maui with its multi-cultural population and variety of Pan Asian, Hawaiian Regional, Thai, Japanese, French and almost every other cuisine one can think of. Not as much variety as Oahu, but then the population is considerably smaller. Unfortunately, Maui restaurants have a reputation as being quite expensive, which many of them are. But there are many restaurants on Maui that serve excellent food at reasonable prices and that is where you will usually find the local residents. The larger visitor areas tend to have the most expensive restaurants with some of the least expensive in outlying neighborhoods.
There are no absolutes - some very reasonably priced restaurants with excellent food are located in the heart of Lahaina, the visitor center of Maui. And some outlying neighborhoods have overpriced menus with average food. These are recommended only restaurants by the Senior Website Editor, a former magazine restaurant reviewer for 25 years in Hawaii. Most of the restaurants are neighborhood places where the food is good and the prices are lower. The philosophy behind the recommendations is good value for your money, whether it is a budget or a high-end restaurant. Restaurants will continually be added, as well as sections for the islands of Kauai, Lanai, Molokai and the Big Island. Bon Appetit!
| $ | Inexpensive (less than $10) |
| $$ | Moderate ($10 to $17) |
| $$$ | Expensive ($18 to $35) |
| $$$$ | Very Expensive ($40 and up) |
Price for entrees per person, not including drinks, taxes or gratuities. Unless otherwise noted, all major credit cards are accepted.