Top 10 Restaurants in Kaanapali
June 3, 2023
West Maui consists of a coastline full of small towns, resort areas, historic sites, and incredible Maui beaches. When traveling to Maui, many visitors find their accommodations in the Kaanapali Beach area due to the many vacation conveniences; activities, beaches, boat tours, and incredible restaurant options.
Without having previous experience visiting West Maui areas, how will you know where to eat? If you’re on Maui for your honeymoon, where is the best fine dining restaurant to celebrate your love? Or, if you’re headed out for a beach day, where is the best place to order takeout from?
Enjoy Kaanapali and West Maui areas, and be prepared to savor some of the tastiest menus and island-grown foods on island. Whether you’re looking for a casual eatery, places with a kids menu, or a fancy spot for a Maui dinner date, this list has you covered.
1. Duke’s Beach House at Honua Kai Resort
Maui’s Duke’s Beach House is located oceanfront at the Honua Kai Resort in Kaanapali. The restaurant is a complete homage to “Hawaii’s Favorite Son,” late surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku. He was a world famous Olympic athlete, an innovator of modern-day surfing, and a man that always exuded the true essence of Aloha.
At Duke’s on Kaanapali Beach, guests enjoy dining and relaxing with gorgeous ocean and outer island views while learning more about Hawaii’s cultural history. The vibes are always positive, the bar is fun, the menu offers something for everyone, and daily entertainment features local Hawaii musicians.
The restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch, Happy Hour, and Dinner daily. On Saturday and Sunday, guests can also take advantage of their lovely Weekend Brunch. If you’re looking for a casual spot with reasonably priced food, tasty cocktails and a gorgeous Maui sunset – look no further than Duke’s Beach House in Kaanapali.
5 Favorite Items: Poke Tacos, Crab & Macadamia Nut Wontons, Chef’s 1/2 LB Cheeseburger, Seafood Risotto, Banana Leaf Steamed Island Fish & Chips
2. Japengo at Hyatt Regency Resort
Japengo is an amazing Asian fusion restaurant located beachfront at the Hyatt Regency Resort in Kaanapali. The restaurant is Hawaii-famous for having a distinct menu that blends the cuisine of Asian cultures with island-grown ingredients and flavors.
The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining areas that boast beautiful views of the West Maui coastline and the outer Island of Lanai. Their dining room and sushi bar are open for Happy Hour and Dinner service daily.
The menu at Japengo is as diverse as can be with Starters, Tengu Specials, Wok-Fired and Roasted items, Sushi Rolls, Sashimi, and many palatable side dishes. Throughout the menu, guests can also find ‘special items’ that can be ordered as half-plates. This is an amazing advantage for diners that would like to taste a full spectrum of Japengo’s menu in one visit.
Another great aspect of the Japengo menu is that ingredients are sourced from local Maui farms like Simpli-Fresh Farm, Surfing Goat Dairy, Kula Farms, and Maui Prime Fine Foods.
5 Favorite Items: Sashimi Style Hamachi & Watermelon, Lobster Dynamite, Rising Sun Roll, Miso Glazed Salmon, Makai-Mauka
3. Hula Grill & Barefoot Bar
Located at Whaler’s Village on Kaanapali Beach, guests can enjoy true island comfort food at both Hula Grill’s Dining Room, and Hula Grill’s Barefoot Bar (literally situated on the sand). The menus at the two locations are different, but both include their most popular items.
The restaurant is well-remembered for it’s celebration of Hawaiian culture through aloha, design, and its menu. Menu’s were created by Chef Peter Merriman, an innovator of Pacific Rim cuisine.
Not only does Hula Grill’s menu allow you to explore the flavors of Polynesia, but also the freshness of Maui’s local farms including Kumu Farms, Kula Country Farms, Manu, and more.
Hula Grill’s Dining Room is a great place for a date night, family dinner, or birthday party. The Barefoot Bar is convenient and easily approached after a sunset stroll or walk on Kaanapali Beach. It’s a perfect spot to cozy up with appetizers, cocktails, and friends.
5 Favorite Items: Coconut Calamari, Ahi Katsu, Surfing Goat Cheese Flatbread, Whole Crispy Hawaiian Snapper, Hawaiian Salt & Pepper Ribeye
Over 27 years ago, Roy’s in Kaanapali was opened by restauranteur Roy Yamaguchi. To say that it’s an iconic Maui restaurant is an understatement.
Located at the Kaanapali Resort, the restaurant offers a legendary Asian and island fusion menu with views of the West Maui Mountains, and the 18th hole at the Kaanapali Golf Course.
With an upscale dining environment, restaurant-goers travel from around the world for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Maui’s Roy’s location. The menu is full of options for everyone with savory selections throughout the day and it's an ideal Maui restaurant for a dinner date or anniversary celebration.
If you’re visiting Roy’s with a larger group, we highly recommend that you order from the ‘Family-style Appetizer’ menu. The appetizers are wonderful and robust with flavor, the sushi rolls are delicious, and the dinner menu is broken down by well-designed entrees that are ‘From the Sea’ and ‘From the Land.’
5 Favorite Items: Szechuan Baby Back Pork Ribs, Confit Duck Lumpia, Flying Dragon Roll, Misoyaki Butterfish, Surf & Turf
5. Monkeypod Kitchen - Ka’anapali
West Maui’s Monkeypod Kitchen is located at the Whaler’s Village Shopping Center at Kaanapali Beach. It’s the third restaurant in the Monkeypod family, and offers a singular menu compared to its sister locations throughout Hawaii.
One of the best things about dining at Monkeypod is that culinary aptitude and sustainably sourced ingredients sit highest on the list. There’s live music throughout the day, and Lunch and Dinner menus are offered 7 days a week.
Monkeypod’s menu is broken down by creative Craft Cocktails, Wines and Craft Beers, Appetizers, Pizzas, Salads, Burgers, Fish and Taco Plates, Noodles, Makai (from the ocean), and Upcountry (from the land) entrees. We love that they have a Kids Menu, and the Daily Happy Hour Menu offers 50% off a selection of Craft Cocktails and Appetizers.
5 Favorite Items: Garlic Truffle Oil Fries, Rosemary Roasted Chicken Wings, Hamakua Wild Mushroom & Truffle Oil Pizza, Banh Mi Burger, Organic Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi
6. Pulehu Grill at Westin Kaanapali
The Pulehu Grill is located at the Westin’s Ocean Resort Villas in Kaanapali. The restaurant is popular with both locals and visitors, and a repeat winner of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine’s ‘Best Italian Restaurant’ on Maui award.
Pulehu consistently offers an Italian grill-style menu with authentic favorites combined with an island twist. By utilizing local ingredients and traditional Italian cooking methods like a wood stone oven, their menu items are delicious.
Pulehu has a full bar, an award-winning wine list, and both indoor and outdoor seating areas. From all parts of this restaurant, diners enjoy a relaxing resort atmosphere decorated by a tasty Italian menu, Pacific Ocean and sunset views.
If you’d like to visit Pulehu Grill in Kaanapali, we definitely suggest that you make a reservation. They are open for dinner service Thursday-Monday (closed on Tuesday and Wednesday).
5 Favorite Items: Maui Beet Salad, 109 Pizza, House-Made Lasagna, Veal Ossobuco, Seared Ahi
7. Joey’s Kitchen at Whaler’s Village
Joey’s Kitchen at Whaler’s Village is certainly the most casual restaurant on this list, but definitely not a Kaanapali restaurant to be overlooked. Owned by a local Maui family, Joey’s is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week.
At Joey’s, diners will find that the menu is full of ‘Maui-style soul food’ options. Local-style cuisine in Hawaii is a combination of foods from Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Mexican, American, and more international food cultures.
Popular local-style plates are throughout the menu with iconic items like Macadamia Nut Pancakes, Ahi Poke, Adobo Fried Rice, Kalua Pork, and more Hawaiian-style plate lunch varieties. More great things about eating at Joey’s Kitchen is that price points are reasonable, and they offer both a Keiki (kids) and Vegetarian menu.
5 Favorite Items: Curly Kale Caesar, Ahi Poke, Coconut Shrimp & Chips, Huli Huli Chicken Plate, Classic BBQ Kalbi Beef Short Ribs
8. Lahaina Grill
Although Lahaina Grill isn’t technically located in Kaanapali, we absolutely must include this West Maui restaurant in our list. From Kaanapali, Lahaina Grill is found just off Historic Front Street in Lahaina. It’s only a quick 5-minute resort shuttle or drive away, and most definitely worth the short journey.
Lahaina Grill is numerously awarded for their fine dining menu and service. In fact, they were most recently voted as one of the ‘Top 10 Fine Dining Restaurants in the US’ by TripAdvisor. Since 1990, Lahaina Grill has been satiating guests from around the world with their contemporary yet unique bistro-style menu.
Lahaina Grill is open for dinner 7 nights a week, and we definitely suggest that you make reservations. Bar seats are typically available, but dining at a table is the top experience here. Lahaina Grill is a perfect Maui restaurant to celebrate life occasions.
The menu at Lahaina Grill is broken down by Appetizers, Soups & Salads, From the Land, From the Sea, Vegetarian, From the Farm, and a decadent Desserts menu. Their wine menu is fantastic, and the culinary cocktails are also award-winning. If you love a traditional Moscow Mule, make sure to order their famous Maui Mule made with local Ocean Vodka, and Maui Brewing Company’s Ginger Beer.
5 Favorite Items: Wagyu Beef Ravioli, Maui Onion Soup, Sautéed Local Mahi Mahi, Kona Coffee Roasted Rack of Lamb, Surf & Turf
9. Fish Market in Honokawai
The Fish Market in Honokowai is certainly one of West Maui’s secret gems! It’s tucked into a strip mall on Lower Honoapiilani Highway, and just steps away from a variety of North Kaanapali resort and vacation rental accommodations.
Throughout the Island of Maui, guests can taste the flavors of the islands and fresh seafood varieties at many local spots. At Honokowai’s Fish Market, guests can dine-in or order takeout from a menu full of fresh fish caught daily by local Maui fishermen.
It’s a casual restaurant, and offers a streamlined menu of fish tacos, fish sandwiches, chowders, burgers, and more. For those looking to buy seafood for dinner at home or for a large party, Fish Market also sells fresh cuts of Ahi, Mahi Mahi, Opakapaka, Ono, live Lobsters, and cocktail platters for gatherings with friends and family.
5 Favorite Items: Ono Fish Burger, Two Fish Taco Plate, Panko Crusted Fish & Chips, Baja Fish Sandwich, Coconut Shrimp & Fries
10. Leilani’s Beachside Grill
Leilani’s is located oceanfront on Kaanapali Beach at Whaler's Village. We love this restaurant for the obviously beautiful setting, and because they support over 40 family owned Maui farmers throughout their menus.
When visiting this iconic West Maui restaurant establishment, guests can eat in the Dining Room or at the Beachside Grill. The Dining Room is more formal, and although the two menus have crossover selections, they are different, and suggest two separate visits.
Leilani’s menus are broken down by Pupus (appetizers), Fresh Greens & Veggies, Seafood, Off the Hook, From the Aina (land), and Desserts.
If you’re eating in their Dining Room, we highly suggest their Chef’s Tasting Menu when available. The Aloha Hour at the Beachside Grill is a super deal with live music, appetizer and drink specials everyday. If you’re visiting with kids, you’ll be pleased to know that their Keiki Menu (12 years and under) offers a variety of tasty selections that are more like smaller portions of their regular menu items.
5 Favorite Items: Ahi Poke Bowl, Sriracha-Guava Chicken Wings, Fresh Fish Tacos, Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich, Chef’s Fresh Hawaiian Catch
For more information about our recommendations of things to do in Maui, read more of our articles on the Maui Resort Rentals Blog