There are so many things I love about Maui that it would be hard to even begin to list them all.

I’ve been lucky enough to make the trip to this tropical paradise a few times, I have snorkeled with sea turtles with whale songs humming in the background,  I have gazed at spectacular beachside sunsets, and have had so many more truly extraordinary experiences there that few other places will ever be as near and dear to my heart.

So while I’m sitting here dreaming of Pina Coladas on the beach, I would love to share with you the few true gems among the island’s many restaurants.

Hula Grill and Barefoot Bar

I always end up eating at this restaurant multiple times every visit.

Located in Whaler’s Village, it is a beautiful beach walk away from many of the prominent hotels in Lahaina. The food is amazing and the drinks are delicious.

We normally eat in the “Barefoot Bar”section which has a casual atmosphere, amazing views, and some tables are even on sand (hence the barefoot part).

Be warned the menus ARE different depending on which section you are in, with the Hula Grill offering more gourmet selections than the Barefoot Bar.

I apologize for the half eaten picture but y’all had to see the size of the Calamari!

I have never seen calamari as large as they serve here (not going to lie at first I thought they brought me mozzarella sticks by accident).

They have an amazing drink variety but their Pina Colada’s are my absolute favorite.

For your main course I highly recommend the Kapula Joe with Mac Nut Slaw, and be sure to indulge yourself with a piece of their Pono Pie. (You are on vacation after all!)

Mama’s Fish House

Okay, this is the priciest restaurant I am including on the list, but I promise it’s worth it!

In our family, we make it a point to have one “dress up” dinner here every trip. All of the fish served is caught by local fisherman and served within 24 hours of being hand delivered to them.

Their menu even includes the name of the individual fisherman and where the fish were caught!

Because of their locally sourced food supply, the menu tends to fluctuate a lot day to day and season to season, guaranteeing  a unique experience every time you go.

Their dessert menu is a bit more stable and let me tell you the “Polynesian Black Pearl” is not only the prettiest dessert I have ever had the pleasure of eating put also one of the most delicious!

Not only is the food unique and out of this world, but the location really cannot be beat.

Of course pretty much every restaurant has a beautiful beach view but this one takes the cake.

There is a beautiful scenic beach front perfect for family or romantic photos and just North of the restaurant you can see windsurfers depending on the time of day!

I will add in that reservations are a must given the status of this particular restaurant.

Sunrise Cafe 

This one was a “by accident” find, we were on our way back to the hotel from a early morning whale watching excursion when tummies began to grumble, so after a quick search of the area around us we landed here.

Can I just say I have craved these pancakes ever since?

Nothing is worse than being pregnant and craving fresh tropical pancakes near the beach and being almost 4,000 miles away.

BJ’s Chicago Pizzeria (Now Lahaina Pizza Company)

My extended family is originally from the chicago area, so it takes GOOD pizza to impress this lot.

We are used to the amazingness that is Lou Malnati’s and while I can’t say that this place was quite as good (because that would be sacrilege), it comes pretty close.

They serve a variety of deep dish pizzas and tropical drinks, with a beautiful ocean view.

Bubba Gump’s

I know Bubba Gump’s is in a lot of locations these days, but no one does Bubba Gump’s like Hawaii does Bubba Gump’s.

The restaurant is set up to be open air, allowing you to enjoy the wonderful weather and ocean breeze. Plus as a shrimp fanatic this place is pretty much my idea of heaven.

There are so many amazing restaurant’s in Maui it’s hard to narrow it down to 5, but these are the ones that are must-visits for us every single trip!

If you are headed to Maui sometime soon, first I am green with envy, and second let me know if you find any other amazing restaurants to add to my list my next trip!