Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine presents the 2023 ‘Aipono Restaurant Award Winners
What’s in a name? In Hawaiian, ai means “to eat,” and pono means “excellence.” Put them together and you have an awards competition that honors Maui’s best restaurants, as voted by the readers of Maui Nō Ka ʻOi. This year, we announced the winners at a special ʻAipono Awards Reception, held at Seascape Restaurant, that raised funds for UH Maui College’s Culinary Arts Program.
SPECIAL AWARDS
FRIEND OF AGRICULTURE
Kyle Kawakami – Maui Fresh Streatery
EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY
Jaron Blosser, Cody Christopher and Travis Morrin – Fork & Salad
“BEST OF” CATEGORIES
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
GOLD Huihui**
SILVER (tie) Monkeypod Kitchen, Lāhainā Grill**
Honorable Mention: Kō, Mama’s Fish House
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
GOLD Duckine*
SILVER Lima Cocina + Cantina
Honorable Mentions: Marlow, Tiffany’s, Oao Sushi Bar & Grill
BEST OCEANFRONT DINING
GOLD Māla Ocean Tavern
SILVER Sea House Restaurant
Honorable Mentions: Seascape Restaurant, Star Noodle, Honu Oceanside*, Pacific’o on the Beach, Kimo’s
MOST “MAUI-EST”
GOLD Huihui**
SILVER Mama’s Fish House
Honorable Mentions: Kō, Māla Ocean Tavern, Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST SERVICE
GOLD Lāhainā Grill**
SILVER Kō
Honorable Mentions: Māla Ocean Tavern, Mama’s Fish House, Monkeypod Kitchen, Ka‘ana Kitchen, Huihui**
BEST CHEF’S TABLE
GOLD Ka‘ana Kitchen
SILVER Fond
Honorable Mentions: Māla Ocean Tavern, Monkeypod Kitchen, Lāhainā Grill**, Huihui**
BEST LOCAL FLAVOR
GOLD Tiffany’s
SILVER Star Noodle
Honorable Mention: Kō, Monkeypod Kitchen, Down the Hatch**, Huihui**
MOST ROMANTIC SETTING
GOLD Mama’s Fish House
SILVER Merriman’s Kapalua
Honorable Mentions: Cafe O’Lei, Japengo, The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea, Lāhainā Grill**
BEST HEALTHY FARE
GOLD (tie) Choice Health Bar, Moku Roots
SILVER Fork & Salad
Honorable Mentions: A‘A Roots, Earth Aloha Eats, It’s Cherry**
MOST INNOVATIVE MENU
GOLD Kō
SILVER (tie) Lineage, Duckine*
Honorable Mentions: Ka‘ana Kitchen, Moku Roots, SixtyTwo MarcKet
BEST BREAKFAST
GOLD Papa‘aina at Pioneer Inn**
SILVER SixtyTwo MarcKet
Honorable Mentions: Mala Ocean Tavern, Gazebo Restaurant, Ka‘ana Kitchen, Kihei Caffe, Down the Hatch**
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
GOLD SixtyTwo MarcKet
SILVER Marco’s Grill & Deli
Honorable Mentions: Cafe O’Lei, Lima Cocina + Cantina, Star Noodle
BEST PIZZA
GOLD Maui Pizza Truck
SILVER (tie) Marlow, Sale Pepe*
Honorable Mentions: Flatbread Company, Pizza Paradiso, Lāhainā Pizza Company, Prison St. Pizza
BEST HAPPY HOUR
GOLD Monkeypod Kitchen
SILVER Down the Hatch**
Honorable Mentions: Esters Fair Prospect, Māla Ocean Tavern, Sea House Restaurant
BEST PACIFIC RIM CUISINE
GOLD Kō
SILVER Japengo
Honorable Mentions: Māla Ocean Tavern, Huihui, Pacific’o on the Beach
BEST HAWAIʻI REGIONAL CUISINE
GOLD Kō
SILVER Monkeypod Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Ka‘ana Kitchen, Lineage, Tiffany’s
BEST LŪʻAU
GOLD Old Lāhainā Lū‘au
SILVER (tie) The Feast at Mōkapu at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Maui Nui Lū‘au at Black Rock at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Honorable Mentions: Drums of the Pacific at Hyatt Regency Maui, Feast at Lele**
BEST GOURMET GRAB & GO
GOLD Island Gourmet Markets
SILVER Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
Honorable Mentions: Choice Health Bar, Tin Roof Maui
BEST ASIAN CUISINE
GOLD Star Noodle
SILVER Duckine*
Honorable Mentions: Isana, Japengo, Lineage, Nuka
BEST SOUTHEAST ASIAN CUISINE
GOLD Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food
SILVER Thai Mee Up
Honorable Mentions: A Saigon Cafe, My Thai, Duckine, Star Noodle, Thai Chef
BEST MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE
GOLD Pita Paradise
SILVER Pizza Paradiso Mediterranean Grill
Honorable Mentions: Café des Amis, Mediterranean Grill
BEST MEXICAN CUISINE
GOLD Amigo’s
SILVER Roasted Chiles
Honorable Mentions: Acevedo’s Hawaicano Cafe, Las Islitas, Las Piñatas of Maui, Tight Tacos**
BEST ITALIAN CUISINE
GOLD Sale Pepe*
SILVER Taverna
Honorable Mentions: Bistro Casanova, Fabiani’s, Marco’s Grill & Deli, Matteo’s Osteria
BEST BURGER
GOLD Cool Cat Cafe
SILVER Havens
Honorable Mentions: Māla Ocean Tavern, Monkeypod Kitchen, Teddy’s Bigger Burgers, Swagyu Hawaii*
BEST SHAVE ICE
GOLD Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
SILVER Breakwall Shave Ice Co.**
Honorable Mentions: Bling Bing, Tobi’s Poke & Shave Ice, Waikomo Shave Ice
BEST NOODLES
GOLD Star Noodle
SILVER Thai Mee Up
Honorable Mentions: Lineage, Sam Sato’s, Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food, Tin Roof Maui, Duckine*
BEST FISH AND SEAFOOD
GOLD Mama’s Fish House
SILVER Lāhainā Grill**
Honorable Mentions: Ka‘ana Kitchen, Paia Fish Market, Honu Oceanside, Huihui*
BEST STEAK
GOLD Ruth’s Chris Steak House
SILVER Duo Steak & Seafood
Honorable Mentions: Fuego Argentinian Steakhouse, Monkeypod Kitchen, Son’z Steakhouse, Lāhainā Grill**
BEST SUSHI
GOLD Miso Phat Sushi
SILVER Japengo
Honorable Mentions: Isana, Nuka, Sansei, Oao Sushi Bar & Grill
BEST LOBBY LOUNGE
GOLD (tie) Alaloa Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua; Lobby Lounge at Four Seasons Resort Maui
SILVER Botero Lounge at Grand Wailea Maui
Honorable Mentions: Lehua Lounge at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, The Birdcage at Hotel Wailea, The Sandbar at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
BEST BAR
GOLD Monkeypod Kitchen
SILVER Down the Hatch**
Honorable Mentions: Esters Fair Prospect, Lima Cocina + Cantina, The Pint & Cork
BEST HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS
GOLD Monkeypod Kitchen
SILVER Esters Fair Prospect
Honorable Mentions: Lineage, Māla Ocean Tavern, Duckine*
BEST WINE LIST
GOLD Lāhainā Grill**
SILVER Ka‘ana Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Kō, Māla Ocean Tavern, Merriman’s Kapalua, Monkeypod Kitchen, The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
GOLD Down the Hatch**
SILVER Māla Ocean Tavern
Honorable Mentions: ‘Umalu, Tiffany’s, The Pint & Cork
BEST PLATE LUNCH
GOLD Kalei’s Lunchbox
SILVER Tin Roof Maui
Honorable Mentions: Da Kitchen, Tobi’s Poke & Shave Ice, Nagasako General Store**
BEST COFFEE SHOP
GOLD Akamai Coffee Co.
SILVER Espresso Mafia
Honorable Mentions: Bad Ass Coffee, Kraken Coffee Maui, Maui Coffee Roasters, Napili Coffee Store, Wailuku Coffee Company
BEST FOOD TRUCK
GOLD Thai Mee Up
SILVER Maui Fresh Streatery
Honorable Mentions: Maui Pizza Truck, Sun’s Out Buns Out, It’s Cherry**
BEST RESTAURANT POKE
GOLD Down the Hatch**
SILVER Tobi’s Poke & Shave Ice
Honorable Mentions: Star Noodle, Huihui**
BEST DESSERT
GOLD Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
SILVER Kō
Honorable Mentions: Monkeypod Kitchen, Lāhainā Grill**
BEST FARM-TO-TABLE CUISINE
GOLD Pacific’o on the Beach**
SILVER Moku Roots
Honorable Mentions: Ka‘ana Kitchen, SixtyTwo MarcKet
*Temporarily closed **Permanently closed