Omg the seared Ahi!!! The quality of the fish is phenomenal. It comes in this tangy onion vinaigrette that is just perfect as a dip for the refreshing jalapeño mashed potatoes. It's so good I'll be dreaming about it. The Mac crusted mahi was very bland. Pretty much no flavor. Fish was fresh. Rice had no flavor. Wouldn't get again Drinks here are always on point! The passionfruit foam is incredible! I love that our server knew the good dishes and was able to give reliable recommendations! read more

This was the only place that I repeatedly visited during a 2 week vacation that wasn't a food truck. Gorgeous restaurant, very friendly and efficient service (highly recommend making a reservation during popular mealtimes), very well made and clean locally sourced ingredients for their menu items. They are one of the few places open a bit later and with all day service that is not in a hotel. Plenty of parking and an elevator for ease of access. They also offer live music and happy hour. They made my favorite salad of my trip... it was a very simple green salad made with local sweet onions and greens that was a must order with every meal. The deviled eggs with lobster was another favorite. The fish and chips, tuna melt, burger, and mahi sandwich were all good. I would pass on the happy hour pizza and fried dumplings - both were more dough than topping or filling. read more

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I had dinner here recently and really enjoyed my meal. I think my waiter was named Russell. He was very friendly and took good care of me. I had a nice table on the outside patio. Its just too loud inside with the musicians playing and everyone talking. I started with a nice Sauvignon Blanc, Stolpman, Santa Barbara, California. Good flavor. For a starter, I went with the Coconut Corn Chowder: local coconut milk, yukon gold potato, celery, local kale, kamuela tomato, local lemongrass. I really enjoy this soup and have had it before. A bit spicy and very flavorful. For my entree, I had the Saimin: iwamoto family noodles with roasted chicken broth, all natural pork, broccoli, bean sprouts, red onion, peanuts, cilantro, mint. This was a huge portion and I could not finish it all. It was very flavorful. I loved all the items in it. I took a piece of pie to go and ate it the next day. I went with the Coconut Cream Pie: local coconut pastry cream, laie vanilla whipped cream, toasted coconut, homemade pie crust. Always so yummy. A big slice. Overall a really nice meal. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Coconut Cream Pie - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Amazing Mai Tai and best macadamia nut crusted fish I've ever had. The entire dish was superb, from the fish, to the bok choy (which I'm not usually a big fan of), it was the best meal I've had in Maui. Really friendly staff, great service, even after I mistakenly made a reservation at their other location on the island. Definitely will be back on any future trips to Maui! read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Mai Tai - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Great spot for happy hour! They offer discounted drinks and half‑off apps, and the place gets busy, so reservations are definitely recommended. Service was a bit slow, but we chalked it up to the happy‑hour rush. The open‑air layout is awesome for enjoying the island weather, with both indoor and outdoor seating available. They're known for their Mai Tai, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The Lilikoi foam and pineapple on top made it the highlight of the visit, excellent drink. We ordered a variety of items to share: Garlic Truffle Fries -- Great flavor, though they weren't very hot. Kalua Pizza with Pineapple -- Sweet and spicy combo that worked really well. Margherita Pizza -- Fresh, tasty, and something we'd order again. Fresh‑Caught Fish Tacos -- Good flavor, and the salsa had a nice kick. Burger with Jalapeño Mashed Potatoes -- The burger was just okay. The potatoes tasted good but were lukewarm. Fish & Chips with Kimchi -- Fresh, lightly fried, and really enjoyable. Fun happy‑hour spot and definitely worth trying while you're on the island. read more

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Had to wait half an hour for a seat but the wait was worth it for sure!! Our waitress was so sweet and accommodating! Live music was a treat! The open kitchen is one of my favorites! The rush of the waves that you can hear from the open back of the restaurant is a treat - an absolute tropical treat! We enjoyed a truffle pizza with the kale salad. The pizza was delicious but the salad was our favorite - the kale melts in your mouth and the Hawaiian onion and mandarins were perfect together. The best part was the Really Good Thyme cocktail - refreshing and delicious and I want to make it at home! read more

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We haven't been back to Maui since 2021 (preoccupied with soccer-themed vacations). We order the Monkeypod Mai Tai, Ube Rey, Poke Mixed Plate, Seared Ahi Steak, Organic Macadamia Nut Crusted Fresh Fish, Strawberry Cream Pie, and Chocolate Cream Pie. There are two locations, so pay attention to which one you're making reservations for. read more

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Literally came for the famous Mai Tai and I was really happy I got to come, even though I didn't get to try the food this time. I came with my boyfriend right after eating elsewhere but knew I had to try their Mai Tai. I'm from Ninth Island and definitely had to see what the hype was about. Entrance is on the second floor, I got greeted by the hosts right away. Excellent service right from the beginning; I had advised that I'm just here to drink so 2 seats at the bar would be perfect. Hosts did their best to find out and another employee had come out saying there was only 1 seat available. They said that we could sit at a table instead with a 10 min wait and they sat us sooner. We got a text that our table was ready, the hosts had us go inside to be seated and we got sat on their outside balcony areas. Great atmosphere with a waterfall right out front and the tiki torches were on. SHOUT OUT TO SIDNEY!! Absolutely amazing service from the get-go. She came over, asked if it was our first time and it was. She dived right into Monkeypod and what they were famous for and how all of their ingredients are locally sourced and everything is fresh. I went straight to the point and said we just wanted a few drinks and she took our order and drinks were brought out immediately after. Mai Tai was so good, I loved the flavor of the foam and definitely mixed it in after taking a couple of sips. My boyfriend got the Sour Ale? I think it was at the top beer on the menu, that was really good too! I'm not much of a beer girl but it had great flavor! On top of the service from the beginning, Sidney definitely ended our experience amazingly! I would love to come back again to try their food next time with another Mai Tai! read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Mai Tai - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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This is a busy second floor restaurant at the top of the tiny Wailea Gateway commercial area with 2 large buildings. Plenty of parking in this ever-changing poorly designed shopping and dining area. On the corner is MonkeyPod. Outside there's a hostess to manage your reservation if you don't want to wait 45 minutes. Lots of action from the open kitchen juggling pizzas, a 30 ft bar with 4 tenders, Surf TV, vintage boards and Vodka bottles, to Live acoustic music in the evenings, if you can barely hear a guitar strum. There's outside dining for cooler evenings and barstools for drop ins. I'm sure regular folks like the casual feel of ball caps, shorts and slippers, cacophony, close quarters and din. The menu is succinct, starting with $20 cocktails. Not cheap, but not a resort. Pretty organized to get you sat, drunk and fed quickly. There is an army of busy relatively young staff and servers hustling to and fro in black uniforms. Food is good, and streamlined but not the proportional value I've come to discover in comparison to other Maui restaurants. Mai Tai has a nice pacojet foam that folks love. Beers are good, but don't know why there's a beef with Maui Brewing. Maybe it's too close for competition down the road. Apps seem almost a second thought. Usually for sharing. Wings, ravioli eggs ok, but soup and 2 kinds of tepid, droopy "hand cut" fries at a 10% food cost make a fool out of you. Leave those to In and Out, not your fancy restaurant. Maybe train prep to make tater tots. Mushroom Truffle oil pizza was ok, but not as crisp, robust, seasoned or flavorful as we've had for the value elsewhere. Fish and chips were a pile of thin brown fried potatoes under 3 strips of nicely battered product that we estimated were 3-4 ounces of fish. After awhile the soggy greasy fries were simply filler with no textural contrast. Not a tourist trap, but perfect for Wailea locals with $3m homes. read more

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This is definitely our favorite restaurant in Maui so far, after trying Koast, Paia fish market and Ferraros. Cocktails: The mai tai has a ton of hype and they do live up to it. They have a great flavor with not too much sweetness and pack a fair amount of alcohol into that glass. We also had the Cabana Boy and After Midnight, which are both highly recommended. Most of the fancy cocktails out there are way too sweet, and we found MP's to be perfectly balanced! Food: We had the Kaluha pork pizza which was one of the best combos I've ever had. You definitely need to have the jalapeños on top--they complement the sweetness of the pineapple. The truffle fries were so delicious as well. My wife and I split the macadamia nut crusted fresh ono--such a meme Hawaii dish, but it was excellent!! Our boys split the chicken platter and the fish tacos, and they loved both. We finished with the banana cream pie which was ridiculously good. Service: All the severs were friendly and efficient, helping create a fun, hospitable, energetic atmosphere. read more

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Unfortunately underwhelming. Fantastic drinks and service but the food is just standard bar food. Fries are excellent but the pizza and fish and chips were just okay. Corn chowder was good but for $16, it better be good. I'd come for the drinks and fries but that it. It's very loud inside and we had to sit next to a local who definitely had lots of drinks and had a lot to say not in an inside voice. read more

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TL;DR - Mediocre service, mediocre food for the price, bird poo on the chairs, and multiple birds flying in the indoor dining room with the open kitchen didn't make for a good experience. It was sad to see the birds fly to the door by the kitchen to try to escape. We watched our food sit in the pass waiting to be served for several minutes while a waiter walked by swinging the mop he was carrying by the food. read more

On our first night in Maui, after our flight landed a little too early for us to check into our hotel, we made our way to Monkeypod Kitchen for happy hour (3:30-5 PM). We were promptly seated, and our server was extremely kind and attentive. We were very hungry, so we decided to order a little bit of everything. We started with an order of the cast-iron skillet shrimp, the Kahlúa pork pizza, and the Bulgogi tacos. I decided to try the blind tiger mocktail while my husband ordered a local beer. The shrimp were juicy and succulent, although I wish they had given us a few more. The Kahlúa pork pizza had a nice spice to it with the jalapeños, and the pork was so juicy and tender. But the winner for us was definitely the Bulgogi tacos. We both could have easily eaten an entire order on our own. To wrap up our meal, we couldn't pass on their infamous cream pies, so we decided to try the banana cream pie for there, and we took a slice of the coconut cream pie to-go. Both pies were absolutely delicious, but I think the banana cream pie slightly edged out the coconut cream pie for me. If you find yourself in Maui and looking for a delicious bite to eat, I would highly recommend Monkeypod Kitchen. Be sure to make a reservation if you aren't feeling in the laid-back, aloha spirit. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Banana Cream Pie - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

This place is awesome and would definitely recommend!!! We had a larger group of 7 people and we didn't have a reservation but they got us in quickly. Service was quick, our server was great and very helpful. The food was delicious, they had so many options too. Our server was able to help us decide as we wanted to try some local fish. The location was very convenient and beautiful, close to the water. The only downside is parking wasn't that easy to navigate but they do have a pay for parking area and they do give you a voucher only for a couple hours after that you have to pay. read more

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Very disappointed with our experience here. We made reservations well in advance for a celebratory dinner after our vow renewal ceremony but still had to endure a long wait to get seated. We even watched people who arrived after us get tables first. We specifically came for the live music, but the restaurant was extremely loud, making it completely impossible to hear the musician. The food was also subpar; the lobster deviled eggs barely had any lobster, and the grilled fish was overcooked and dry. Definitely not the special night we planned. read more

Very nice restaurant and had both indoor and outdoor seating! They had a good mai tai and pina colada drinks here that had a good strength to them! We started with their special potstickers which was very good! I got the fish and chips which was very good and the fries were well done and had good seasoning! The family got the bulgogi pork tacos, jerk chicken, and the kalua pork pizza. The jet chicken was a huge portion of chicken that could definitely be shared. Great dinner spot that had good food altogether! read more

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This is a casual spot with a laid back but pleasant beach vibe. We came four years ago and returned in 2026. It was as great as we remembered. Good service. They are known for the mai tai, which is amazing and served with a pineapple foam. They also have several homemade pies. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Banana Cream Pie - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Amazing views of the ocean. Good is amazing the chef special Ahi Tuna Melt was so flavorful so large I could only eat half. The in house made rye was toasted perfectly. The open air concept was so nice to feel the breeze while we dine. The servers were so kind and on top of service. The banana cream pie so light and full flavor of fresh banana read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Banana Cream Pie - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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Monkey pod was amazing! This was my first time and I couldn't have enjoyed it more. The drinks were the highlight for me; best mai tais on Maui with the lilikoi foam. Their happy hour was busy and the ambiance was popping; definitely a wait but well worth it. Our server was quick and attentive. Will definitely be back!! read more

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It had been many years since my last trip to Monkeypod, so we tried it out! This place runs like a machine- lots of tables, and almost always people waiting outside. We had a reservation and were seated within 10 minutes. It has a lively atmosphere with a lot of families and groups big and small. We decided to stick with drinks and appetizers. We had the Mai Tais, which were truly the best Mai Tais we had on our trip. The Lillikoi foam is unlike any other. We also had the ahi tacos and the lobster deviled eggs. Both dishes we enjoyed and would definitely order again. We finished with the banana cream pie- we asked our server for her recommendation and she suggested we add coconut shavings. It was delicious! I think we could come back just to try all of their pies! read more

Went for happy hour, was sat outside and it was beautiful. Food was great ordered the Kalua Pork & Pineapple Pizza, Taro Ravioli and Mai Tais. The ravioli was soft and out of this world, and the drinks were soft different and delicious. They weee busy but right on top of things. Can't wait to return some day. read more

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Good drinks, quick service, and excellent live music. Our server was very friendly, and gave us some good recommendations. Only issue was that all the dishes were very salty and over seasoned for my palette. A little less salt, and this would have been a 5/5. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Ahi and Macadamia Nut Fish - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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We've tried many restaurants in Maui this week and MonkeyPod has hands down been both the best tasting and highest quality food we've had. Everything is so fresh and delicious I would eat here every day if we could. You can't go wrong with the house Mai Thai + cheeseburger with fresh fries. The fresh caught fish tacos are some of the best I've ever had. Just delicious! The ambiance and service has also been incredible! Would recommend sitting outside with the beautiful view of the mountains. 1000/10! read more

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We had an outstanding experience from start to finish. We walked right in and sat at the bar, where Breanne took excellent care of us as both our bartender and server. She was attentive and friendly. The food was fantastic. I ordered the ahi poke tacos and the bulgogi pork tacos. The bulgogi ones were a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and spicy. This was my third Monkeypod location and they continue to deliver on every level, consistent food, excellent service, and a great atmosphere. If you're visiting Wailea, this is a must. read more

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We wanted to try Monkeypod since we were staying nearby but found it a little overhyped. We had reservations at 7 pm and we got there about 15 mins early and walked behind another couple who did not have a reservation and they were told by the hostess they had to wait for a table. For some reason, the couple with no reservation was seated before us and we did not get seated until about 10 mins after our reservation time while the couple ahead of us got seated within 5 mins of arriving. It made no sense to me and we were all seated inside. I would've thought we would've been seated before a walk-in. We also saw other smaller groups that arrived after us get seated before us. I make it a point because these were groups of like 3 or 4 and when we finally did get seated, we were seated in a table for 4. As the food, it is expensive for the portion of food you get. The food was good, but not something I would go out of my way to experience again. The drinks were fine, but nothing too memorable. The mai tai was good, but I think the lilikoi foam made the drink more delicious than a usual mai tai. The smoke screen was average but was lacking the smokiness taste that mezcal usually has. Overall, it's not decent place to try if you're in the Wailea or Kihei area but for the price point, I rather go to Roy's. Just don't expect your reservation to be honored because they'll sit people on a first come, first serve basis. read more

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We visited Merriman during our last visit to Maui, so this time we decided to check out their sister restaurant, Monkeypod Kitchen. The vibe is definitely more trendy and casual in comparison to its counterpart, with a vast menu of Hawaiian inspired/fusion dishes. We decided to try the: - Taro Ravioli - Waipoli Farm Organic Mixed Greens Salad - Organic Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi - Lilikoi Foam Mai Tai (Original & NA Versions) The taro ravioli was the star of the meal with its unique flavor, followed by the freshness of the Mahi Mahi. They also knew we were sharing, so they conveniently split the Mahi Mahi for us in advance. You also can't go wrong with the infamous Mai Tais - the Lilikoi foam is -chef's kiss-! I highly recommend making reservations prior to visiting, as the restaurant does get pretty busy. Our server was also so kind and surprised us with complimentary champagne (original & NA) for our babymoon, making our visit that much sweeter. read more

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Enjoyed a nice meal tonight. Rachel was our server and she did a good job with recommendations and service. Food was very good and we all liked our meals. The Mai Tai were very good good with a different taste of not on the sweet side. Jerk chicken was flavorful as was the steaks. Deserts were a reminder of the way our mom would make these pies. They had some live music going on. read more

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Apparently, this is not the first time someone complained about the manager/hostess so I thought I'd just add to our experience that we had today The bartender was excellent and the service overall was great. Unfortunately, the hostess--who appeared to be the lead hostess--really put a damper on the entire experience. We were new to the restaurant, and I was simply asking another employee a quick question while she was putting napkins on a table. The hostess suddenly came over and aggressively grabbed the napkins out of her coworker's hands, as though she was upset that the employee had stopped for a moment to answer a customer. I actually said directly to the hostess, "I'm sorry if I'm taking her away from her job. I just had a quick question." Her reaction was shocking. She gave me an extremely dirty look and then actually stepped closer toward my face in a confrontational manner. I genuinely could not believe that was the response to a customer politely asking a question. This also didn't appear to be an isolated interaction. We observed her being abrupt and aggressive with other customers as well, including telling people to move, and her demeanor toward other employees was equally uncomfortable to watch. As a business owner myself, I would absolutely want to know if an employee representing my business was interacting with customers and coworkers this way. The person greeting and managing guests at the front of a restaurant sets the tone for the entire experience. You can have a great bartender, great service, and a beautiful restaurant, but one openly hostile person at the front can undo all of it. Signed, PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS AND FIRE THAT HOSTESS/MANAGER read more

Fantastic food, wonderful staff, beautiful live music and a laidback atmosphere. We thoroughly enjoyed our fish tacos and the banana cream pie! Looking forward to trying the strawberry cream pie next time! Don't miss this spot! read more

I'll put this out there. There's plenty of good food here as I tried a few options. By far the best meal that I've had here was the Jawaiian Jerk Chicken. It's a good bang for you buck, super flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Friendly service & good ambiance. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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Great vibe, excellent service, and we loved the live music; it made for a fun atmosphere. The food was good, but nothing particularly memorable. The real star of the show was the Mai Tai. It was absolutely delicious and the main reason I'd come back! read more

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They get really crowded so make sure you make a reservation! Super fun casual vibes and great food options. My friends and I opted for more shareable food so we went with the pizza and fish & chips which were really good. Definitely recommend the lobster pizza! They're known for their mai tais so even though I'm unfamiliar with them, I still have to say it was really enjoyable! read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Came here one night for an early dinner and we were not disappointing. Beautifully inside area and some nice outside seating with some views of the ocean. We had a couple of Mai Tais and their version of an espresso martini. Both amazing. Mai tai one of the best. We shared fries and a fish sandwich which was made with swordfish. The swordfish was great. For dessert get the banana cream pie. OMG. Ate it so quickly didn't get a chance to take a picture. Oh and have to mentioned the exceptional service from our server Kristina. So pleasant, friendly and attentive. read more

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We were so looking forward to our return visit to Monkeypod Kitchen after a great experience on a previous trip to Maui. We eagerly booked our first dinner reservation of the trip there, but unfortunately, the meal was a major disappointment. Both pizzas we ordered came out incredibly charred--to the point we questioned why the kitchen would even send them out. I am kicking myself for not sending them back, but we had a late 9:00 PM reservation, and by that point, we were exhausted and just wanted to head back to our hotel. Additionally, my fish tacos were lukewarm at best, and the Macadamia Nut Crusted Fresh Fish my son ordered for $54 was so tiny it felt like a complete rip-off. Even the side order of garlic fries we ordered was overcooked Definitely a miss for us this time around. read more

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AMBIANCE: Everybody loves the monkey pod and their Mai Tai. Located on the second floor,You'll be greeted by a host outside and then if you're lucky like us, you'll be sent to the host inside. It is a very casual comfortable wooden atmosphere with seating outside. They have a local live Hawaiian music duo at the front door as you walk in setting the mood. SERVICE: with no reservations, we were seated right away FOOD: our group ordered the Margherita, pizza, fish and chips,Jawaiaan jerked chicken, Keiki swordfish and the macadamia nut crusted fresh fish. everything was exceptional except for the jerk chicken. It was a little too spicy and dry for my palate so I switched plates with my son who had the macadamia nut crusted fish and he agreed. Lastly, the MaiTais group opinion was that they were just OK. nothing to write home about and if it wasn't for the a/c vent above me that kept dripping on my Hawaiian shirt, it would've been a perfect dinner. But Everybody loves the monkey Pod! read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Absolutely loved this place! Everything we ordered was so good and came out looking amazing. The pizza was my favorite -- the crust was crispy but still soft, and the toppings were super flavorful. The jalapeños added a nice little kick, and everything tasted really fresh. The wings were also really good -- juicy, flavorful, and the dipping sauce that came with them was perfect. And dessert was honestly the best way to end the meal. The strawberry cream pie was light, creamy, and not overly sweet, with fresh strawberries on top that made it even better. The drinks were refreshing, the food was great, and the whole meal was just really enjoyable. Definitely a spot I'd come back to and recommend if you're looking for a good meal and a nice atmosphere! Service was good! read more

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Worth the hype, and their happy hour is elite. The mai tai is a MUST. Even if you're not a fan, this one is in a league of its own. So just do it. We ended up splitting all the appetizers for our meal at our table which was perfect, The poke tacos, pork & pineapple pizza, and garlic truffle fries were our standouts for sure. So yummy, service was so good, we were so satisfied. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - New American Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Mai tais live up to the hype. The lilikoi foam is heavenly. Get it for $4 off at happy hour. Wings were good, half off during happy hour. We also got the saimin and ahi tuna steak off the regular menu. Both were okay, but way too salty. read more

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Monkeypod is one of our favorite restaurants on Maui. if you haven't tried their lilikoi foam mai tai you really should!

Granted we came for lunch and while I did enjoy what we ordered, I'm not sure what the fuss is all about. I'll admit, the fries were magnificent, and the burger tasty, and the poke nachos fresh and delicious, but nothing earth shattering. Good, maybe even great, but just not "wow.I'm so glad I waited 2 hrs for a table" great. Even the famous Mai Tai just met expectations. Pretty big place, and I'm glad we made a reservation. They happy hour and music but that was the tailend of our visit so we didn't get to enjoy either. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town, and will go for dinner next time. Perhaps I'll be more impressed then! read more

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