My Favorite Restaurant on Maui

Always include a request for a front window table

If you ask someone who has been to Maui what their favorite fine dining restaurant is, they will most likely answer Mama’s Fish House. I’d give you the same answer. We’ve been every year for the past 15 years and have never been disappointed. It’s a bit of a drive from most resort areas and you should plan on spending at least $100 a person if you do several courses. I’m telling you…it’s worth it! Read on for my money-saving tips below if you want to give it a try and not kill your budget in one night.

SECRET (before you arrive): Reservations are required since it’s completely full most days, so do yourself a favor and book them before you get on the island. I ask Siri what time sunset is on Maui and use Open Table to reserve our table about an hour before the sun goes down. I like the ambiance equally during daylight and when it’s dark, so this way I get to enjoy both! Be sure to request a table by the window in your notes and mention if you are celebrating any special events for VIP treatment.

Perfect lighting for sunset portraits

Bring cash for the valet and plan to arrive early to take pictures on the beach. Since the sun sets on the opposite side of the island, the lighting is perfect for photos with the ocean as the background. The grounds are gorgeous and the flower arrangements are stunning!

People often ask if it is ok to bring young children. We’ve brought our boys several times, and they’ve always been welcomed (it was a disaster only once). However, I recommend you leave them with someone else in your party or hire a babysitter through Happy Kids. This is a dinner to be savored and not rushed through. If you bring them, do yourself a favor and allow electronics at the table and consider packing their food if you have picky eaters that will most likely not appreciate an expensive meal. (If you kids are older and safe around water alone — and you have a window view — you could probably get away with letting them play in the sand in front of the restaurant if they get antsy toward the end.)

While this is one of our fancier dinners on the island, it is not incredibly formal. Wear your favorite aloha attire! Men could get away with shorts and a collared shirt or pants with casual shoes like flip flops, sandals or boat shoes.

What to Order

Gorgeous both day and night

If you are on a budget, skip the appetizers (and alcohol for that matter if you don’t “need” it; I enjoy a “roadie” at Ho’okipa Lookout before our reservations…shh!). They are amazing but expensive and small portions. We like the seared beef tenderloin on papaya, macadamia nut crab cakes (you only get two but almost all crab; best I’ve ever had), and once we went out on a limb and tried the wild fish collar (cheek). It was great and tasted like fried chicken. The lobster soup is fantastic with lobster in every bite and is my current favorite.

SECRET: A complimentary amuse bouche soup taster is provided along with delicious bread, but don’t fill up! Entrée portions are actually a good size and many (like the curry) can easily be split if on a budget.

For an entree, my husband always gets the Traditional Hawaiian duo or sometimes trio (currently mahimahi, ahi and wild boar — aka Kalua pork). The dish also includes a few other Hawaiian specialties and is a great way to sample multiple items. Simple preparation and is great for picky eaters.

My favorite Panang Curry with the Traditional Hawaiian Duo in the background

Without fail, I get the ahi, opah and mahi-mahi in Panang coconut curry. It is seriously my favorite dish on the planet! So many amazing flavors and textures. I always tell people to get it and 9 times out of 10 they end up with the stuffed mahimahi (a little dry IMO) and after tasting mine are so mad they didn’t listen. I think the word curry scares them, but it isn’t too spicy and is actually a little sweet because of the coconut milk, palm sugar and Thai basil.

We usually skip dessert because they are expensive, and we are usually stuffed — but they are all pretty tasty. The chocolate pearl is an Instagram worthy choice. They give you a small dessert bite with your bill if you are craving something sweet. Or you can stop in Paia for dessert and coffee on your way back to the hotel if you need a few minutes to recover.

Here’s the current menu. What is your favorite dish at Mama’s Fish House?

Multi-colored anthurium flowers

Tiki torches light up the landscaped garden

Photo opp in the outrigger canoe