Pedantic point noted :rolleyes:, but sorry a couple of sorry scraps of fish do not a fish restaurant make.

Compared to the dinner menu which has Hawaiian Fresh Fish! as a section, followed by a From the Ocean section.

Perhaps you could point me to the fish section?

747FC that also crossed my mind, might be something up on a board, but hoping it isn't quite strong enough for a booking, and nowhere near enough for a restaurant claiming to specialise in it.


Anyway back to my original question, is it a 'thing' that lunch menus are very limited? just looking in the last few moments at a couple of restaurants mentioned here:

Ka'ana Kitchen, hours breakfast: 6:30-11am, dinner 5:30-9pm, menus breakfast & dinner, no lunch shown.

Merriman's, also only a brunch and dinner menu

Fleetwoods, dinner menu only

Taverna maui, lunch: sandwiches/pizza, dinner: pasta, risotto, veal etc


Guess I've answered my own question really, but just curious more than anything.

Fish don't magically appear at the restaurant for your enjoyment, especially at lunchtime in Maui.

If you want the freshest, "today's catch" fish someone has to have caught it, returned to port, and sold it to the restaurant or middleman. Since the earliest most local fisherman return is late morning, this leaves little time for fresh fish for lunch. Basically, it means lunch is yesterday's fish or fish bought at the auction on Oahu (also probably yesterday's fish) and air-shipped to Maui. Even dinner may not be today's fish due to the vagaries of the catch and the weather.

With such supply chain limitations in mind, and wishing to deliver best fish for fair price, most restaurants are limited in their lunch offerings, with their freshest best supply set for the evening meal.

Your best chance for fresh fish at lunch on Maui is Mama's Fish House. Yes, they're expensive.

Try KO's at the Fairmont if in Wailea. Or try Monkeypod as well. Both really good. And if you fancy a pint with your fish, then Monkeypod is an excellent choice.

Most of the higher end restaurants on Maui are focused on the dinner client, and not the lunch crowd, who tend to be out and about at the beach during the lunch hour. So, yes, in a way, it is a "thing" for Maui restaurants to have limited lunch offerings.

Just back from Maui, and the best fish I have ever had was at KO's. A nice Monchong in a delightfully creamy sauce. And it was lunch time to boot!

Merriman's for Brunch on Sunday was really good too. If you like local Hawaiian coffee, they do an excellent French press. Their malasadas just melt in your mouth!

It's kind of quaint that you seem to believe that these restaurants are all discarding all of the fish that they bought yesterday and didn't sell to customers that very night. They do all have refrigerators and freezers, I believe.

How you get from "lunch is yesterday's fish" to my supposed belief that yesterday's fish are discarded is opaque to me and others. Perhaps you're just "trolling", though you seem more of a bottom fisher.

My point was, these places most certainly have fish available to put on the lunch menu, if it was on the dinner menu the night before.

We had a few great meals while in Maui 2 weeks ago.
The Fish Market in Lahaina, they also sell all kinds of fish to people to cook. had some great fish tacos and panko Mahi.
The other great meal was in Makawao, had an awesome Shutome fish sandwich.

So, Mama's is still good or at least reasonable? It's been decades since I was last in Maui (usually went to the GH Kauai and bodysurfing near Princeville so knew most of the local eateries there especially Hanalei.) We're doing the Westin timeshare deal-6 days/5 nights on Kaanapali with rental car for $647 last week of August. I remember some of the restaurants around there being so-so but expensive. Any recent, recommendations, especially any Thai as my GF is Thai and she usually defaults to that. She's from Surin so likes to stay out of the sun, not a swimmer, and boats can be a little scary for her, so I'll have to figure out some non-beach activites besides the timeshare presentation. Your upcountry suggestion seemed to fit in well here. I know, should probably just have taken her to Phuket.

Mama's
 

Mama's is GREAT and will equal or exceed a preconceived conception of the ambiance and look of the ultimate Hawaiian restaurant. How ever, it is not reasonable with entree prices around $40 plus. Well worth it! Reservations should be made well in advance.

Actually, every entree was well over $40, and most $60. That's some expensive scenary.

My all time favorite in Maui is The General Store. It is in the upcountry. Maybe a 30 minute drive from Wailea or the airport. I always eat here at least 3x per trip. Crab pizza app is a must. Reasonable (for Maui), high quality, and great service. I like the ambiance, too, even though it is not on a beach. Enjoy!

https://hgsmaui.com/

The Fish Market is actually a few miles north of Lahaina in Honokowai. Agree that it is a great place for a reasonably priced seafood meal. Not fancy and they only have a few tables.

Maybe he meant Paia Fish Market Lahaina.....always great also. 3 Location, original in Paia is the best, IMO.

About to go back to Maui (Andaz).

Planning dinners at:

-Morimoto
-Monkeypod
-Humble Market Kitchin

I need a place for a fourth night in Wailea/Kihei. Any recs? I never like the Fairmont restaurants for some reason.

I hate a long drive after dinner, so I'd like to keep it to that area. Any good new places I should know about? I realize that two of the three I listed above are in hotels, but I typically prefer non-hotel restaurants.

thx

We liked Cafe O'Lei in Kihei. We also thought Coconuts Fish Cafe had quite good fish tacos, but that is more of a fast casual place. Was somewhat disappointed by Monkeypod.