We had a fantastic experience from beginning to end. The food was absolutely delicious, the prices were surprisingly affordable, and the setting--right on the harbor--is beautiful. The owners have operated several restaurants in Maui over the years, and they've all been wonderful. Café O'lei is a beautiful culmination of their experience, passion, and dedication to creating memorable dining experiences. The staff were warm, friendly, and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. It's clear they genuinely care about creating a lovely place for people to enjoy great food and good company. The locals clearly love the owners' restaurants, and it's easy to see why. They've built a wonderful reputation for serving delicious food and creating welcoming places for people to gather. If you're visiting Maui, don't miss Café O'lei--it's a real winner! read more

I was so excited to see that Kahului was going to have a nice sitdown restaurant as there really isnt any. Upon coming, I was happy to see that the prime rib sandwich was a permanent item on the menu as that was one of my favorites which in the past at their other restaurants was only available when they had extra meat. We pulled up to a packed parking lot & people waiting to be seated. Luckily, we had reservations. A very nice atmosphere & we got a table that a view of the water. I Opened the menu, spotted that prime rib sandwich, quickest decision ever. There were 4 of us & 3 out of 4 got the same sandwich & my dad got the pork belly. I did think it was odd though, that there were no specials that day. It took a while to get our food. Once our food did come out, our fries were cold & stale. Not sure if it was because they were waiting for my dad's pork belly dish to be completed,so we could all get our food at once. The sandwich, although way smaller then I remember was still as good as I remember it. Our server Kala was great. He was quick to take our order & kept us updated on the progress of our meal knowing it was taking quite long. read more

What a fantastic addition to Maui! We had such a great experience at the new Cafe O'Lei Oceanside Kitchen location. The setting alone is worth coming for -- absolutely beautiful ocean and mountain views, a gorgeous lawn, and such a relaxed Maui atmosphere. The food was excellent. Everything came out fresh, beautifully prepared, and delicious. We tried a couple of different sandwiches along with a Caesar salad and fries, and everything was spot on. What impressed me just as much as the food was the service. The manager was literally running around making sure guests were taken care of, checking on tables and helping wherever he was needed. I even happened to catch a photo of him in action! You could really tell that he cared about the guests and about making this new location a success. Beautiful location, wonderful food, attentive service and one of those views that makes you remember how lucky you are to be on Maui. We will absolutely be back. Highly recommend! read more

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*** Follow up to SLANDEROUS response from "Cherub" who was not even in the restaurant on this occasion because you never came to check on our large party once and I never saw your face that is on your profile picture, in the restaurant that day. First: your response doesn't surprise me. In fact, it must be management's position to not accept any responsibility for their actions and now you are blaming me the paying customer and slandering me, saying I was "angry" and your staff and the waitress was "scared" of me? Seriously? The waitress didn't even come to our table more than four times in 2 and half hours and when she dod bother to check on us her face was just fine: no made up "tears" as you state and she didn't seem rushed or "afraid" of the table, let alone me as she never bothered herself to check on me at all. When I spoke to the supposed manager at the hostess stand, I have witnesses who were waiting to be seated less than two feet away from me and guess what, they were my personal friends and they can testify I was utterly professional, calm and spoke to this manager with respect. Second: in reviewing your responses to other Yepers, You take zero responsibility for your poor management and put blame on everyone else but management. You are defensive and sarcastic to the people who pay your salary. I have a feeling you might be an owner who can't take any criticism. Third: I'm giving you feedback of my personal experience and what actually happened. I guess you have never heard that the customer is always right (while I don't concur with that 100%) as a manger YOU should attempt to follow up with the customer and address the situation AT THE TIME OF SERVICE instead of waiting to respond so unprofessionally on YELP. You (or any other manager) did not show up, didn't have the courtesy to even bother yourself to show your face at our table, where there were 12 other diners who were just as hungry, thirsty and frustrated as myself. AGAIN: YOU SHOULD BE FIRED YOU ARE SO OFFENSIVE! And if you are the owner, you need a reality check as to how abusive you are to your customers. **************** ATTN OWNERS OF CAFE OLEI: Dana and Mike Pastula of Makawao:. FIRE THESE MANAGERS!!! YOUR STAFF AND MANAGERS PROVIDE the WORST SERVICE EVER! This is my second time "dining" at this location. The first time the burger came out raw when ordered medium and it took 45 minutes to come. The second time, today with a party of 13 we literally waited 45 minutes for drinks of which half of them were wrong and never had our water refilled . 1 hour 15 minutes after being seated, I complained to a manager, I believe her name was Molly who blamed the kitchen. The first round of food started to be delivered at 1 hr 25 minutes with the last order, mine, being served at 1 hour 45 minutes and everyine on the table nearly finished. The other manager (a blonde lady) came by to refill waters, and she never finished because, off she ran to something else. I can't believe your management and staff made us pay for the meals and drinks. I myself have been in the f&b Industry for 20 yrs and the issue is your management: who does not provide training to the staff to follow up with guests, no refilling of water, no offer of a appetizer or bread or absolutely nothing but blaming the kitchen. Let me be clear: the kitchen knows what they are doing by now 3 weeks into opening as the food tasted great once we got it. The problem is your management: they need to train the staff on how to "serve" and how to deliver as the delivery folks were asking us who ordered what. THAT IS APPALLING. Take a lesson from Merriman's where the waiters MEMORIZE the orders and have a clear system for food delivery to the right person by the food expediters. I am not going to teach you how to do that. You can ask Peter Merriman how to do that. My biggest frustration is the absolute utter lack of an apology from management and absolutely zero good will in comping anything. Our entire group wanted dessert at the get go but we all didn't order it because we didn't want to chance waiting another 1 hr and 45 minutes for it. FINALLY; when your staff delivers food they should deliver the silverware with the food and they should immediately follow up within 2 minutes and come back to check on the table. THIS IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD on 60 years of living AND AM NEVER COMING BACK! read more

New place to dine but same great food! Margarita hit the spot and don't forget to save room for dessert! Happy to have another Cafe O'Lei to go to close to town. Service was great from beginning to end. Staff was friendly and helpful with our big party of 17! There is a nice semi private area to have a small group on the side. Nice island view and ambiance! Definitely will go back! read more

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We have been anxiously awaiting the opening of this restaurant mostly because of the location. It's right on the water with a gorgeous view! The restaurant itself is beautifully done and holds around 200 people so it can accommodate a large crowd with indoor and outdoor dining. The bar is located in the center of the restaurant with lots of seating so if you want you can just sit at the bar for quick service. The restaurant is very busy because we went on the second day of opening. Derrick was our server. He was excellent. He was friendly and professional and made us feel at home. I ordered an Aloha Spritz and my husband ordered his usual a beer. For lunch I ordered the Polynesian Chicken and he ordered the Pork Belly. Both entrees were delicious. We can't wait to come back to try other menu items because we saw so many entrees we wanted to try. read more

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Overall a really nice looking new location for cafe o lei the inside was nice and the harbor view was nice as well. Unfortunately deciding to go opening week on a Friday night was not the best choice. Parking was packed and difficult to find. It was very packed and the kitchen was backed up food took about an hour and a half to arrive. The waitresses were nice about in going around sitting people and checking up on them. Food wise was good on par with the other locations calamari was crispy and the pasta was good. The only thing is that the lettuce wraps used thin lettuce which made it difficult to wrap. As well as feeling that the portions were small. Will need to give another go and hopefully the issues will be addressed by then. read more

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Talk about true VIP service! Knowing how consistently delicious the other Cafe O'Lei locations across the island are, we decided to try our luck for dinner without a reservation. There were no slots online, so we gave them a call and were told walk-ins were welcome with about an hour wait. When we arrived to a packed crowd outside, we were fully prepared to wait it out--but since it was just the two of us, we snagged open bar seats right away! The team here is incredible. Even with a bustling, packed dining room, every single staff member we encountered went above and beyond. They were upfront that drinks and food might take a beat during rush, but the service was remarkably smooth--waters stayed constantly filled, orders arrived fast, and the warmth of the hospitality truly stood out. They were even so sweet and accommodating about taking photos and posing with menus! The Drinks The Waterman: Blue spirulina, coconut water, cucumber, and citrus. My absolute favorite of the night--refreshing, clean, and genuinely tasted like high-end spa water. 10/10, will order every single time. The Roselani: Fid St Gin, pineapple, hibiscus, and mac nut orgeat. Dangerously good and gave vibrant POG-style tropical vibes, though The Waterman still took the crown for me. The K-Harbz Rita & Cane Fire Martini: Jae loved the sweet-tart kick from the li hing mui rim on the Rita, and the subtle heat from the chili peppa watah in the Cane Fire Martini added such a fun contrast. The Food Asian Chicken Salad: Crisp cabbage, tender chicken breast, crunchy cashews, cilantro, and a savory sesame ginger vinaigrette that pulled everything together. I practically licked the bowl clean. Mac Nut Crusted Mahi: Jae swapped the rice for mashed potatoes alongside the Caesar salad, and it was classic Cafe O'Lei perfection--flaky, flavorful, and beautifully balanced. Walking in with good vibes and being treated to genuine island hospitality made for an unforgettable first visit. So thrilled to have this stunning new location added to our dining rotation! Until next time! XOXO, ChelsieFletcher read more

This new Wailuku location opened about two weeks ago in the former Chart House space, so we decided to check it out with friends for lunch on September 12. We had a 12:30 PM reservation, and the parking lot was already very full--a good sign for such a new restaurant! As soon as we walked in, the restaurant felt open, airy, and beautifully designed. We were seated near the window overlooking the beautiful marine-blue Maui waters, with a gorgeous view and a gentle breeze. We started with Bloody Marys, which were okay but could have used more spice--and definitely a little more vodka! For appetizers, we ordered the calamari and fried eggplant. Both were delicious and crispy, especially with the wasabi aioli sauce. However, we noticed the portions were significantly smaller compared with the Kihei location. Also, just a heads-up: they are not serving their usual lunch specials at this location yet. For my main entrée, I ordered the sweet-and-sour snapper. The portion was generous and served with rice and bok choy. The snapper was meaty, flaky, slightly sweet, and firm in texture--very good! Our friends ordered the crusted mahi-mahi, which was also delicious, with a nice firm texture. Another entrée was the half chicken thigh, which was just okay and unfortunately tasted as though it had been sitting in the kitchen a little too long. Finally, we shared the mud pie, and it was delicious! It melted in your mouth with a crispy Oreo cookie crust--the perfect ending to our lunch. Overall, this new location is off to a good start. Beautiful atmosphere, spectacular Maui views, and some very enjoyable dishes. There are a few things to fine-tune, which is understandable for a restaurant that has only been open for two weeks. We'll definitely be back soon! read more

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A friend and I wanted to try a new spot and just so happened this was week 2 of opening! So we decided yup..we'll do a walk in. The wait wasn't that long for walk in. Saw a lot of people coming in with reservations so was like ok. We waited maybe 20 mins during peak lunch time too! Ok though it was super duper hot..stinking hurricane Lowell bringing all the humidity. But luckily we got to sit outside and had a little breeze, but still super hot!! We of course got a Cane Fire Martini to start off and ohhh it's a must have!! The spicy & sweet mixture is just what a girl needs Then I did the mahi tacos from the starters section but oh it was well enough for my lunch!! Will totally be back when it's a little cooler and for a GNO! The ambiance was right on point for it!! read more

Cafe O'Lei Oceanside Kitchen - Mahi tacos - American Near Me - Maui, Hawaii

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Very disappointing experience, especially since we've enjoyed other Cafe O'Lei locations on Maui for years. Despite having a reservation, we waited over 15 minutes to be seated. We specifically reserved indoors because of the heat but were told, "Outdoor is all we can do for you." Several menu items were unavailable because they were "still working out some small quirks since opening." Unfortunately, it showed. Our food took over 45 minutes, portions were small for the price, and the famous French onion soup we've enjoyed at other locations was barely filled and had very little cheese. Our second round of drinks never came. After waiting about 30 minutes, our waitress asked if we wanted to cancel because the bartender couldn't keep up--which was surprising since we ordered canned drinks. The bright spot was our waitress and the bus staff. They were amazing and clearly doing their best. Overall, this location simply did not seem ready to open. The other Cafe O'Lei locations on Maui have been 1000% better, and those are the ones we'll be sticking with from now on. Very disappointing. read more

Cafe O'Lei Oceanside Kitchen - American Near Me - Maui, Hawaii

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Happy to have ocean front dining without having to go to Kihei. Went to the bar around 11AM on a Sunday. By 12:30 the bar was full. Great bar service. read more

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Large open space restaurant with a separate room that has pocket doors for private parties. Outside lanai looks nice. The decor is light-colored with all hard surfaces, so the sound level is relatively high. The tables are spaced decently apart. They were playing recorded music through speakers. Pretty much all we could hear was the bass line. Very different vibe from Cary & Eddie's and the Charthouse. We walked in at 5:00pm and immediately got the last 2 seats at the bar. There were several groups with reservations waiting outside to be seated. The restaurant does not appear to be air conditioned. The front and rear doors and windows were open and there was a slight breeze coming thru, but it was still too warm. It is just like their restaurant in Waikapu. I wonder what it feels like at mid-day? The bar staff were friendly and helpful, but they were obviously affected by the heat. Although they wore thin white shirts, they were perspiring and looked uncomfortable, although they did not say anything about it. The food quality was mixed. See comments with the photos. The wine prices are marked up pretty high. The bottle of rose wine we ordered was too warm for our liking so we asked for an ice bucket. They didn't have one so the server offered to keep the bottle in the refrigerator. Only at the 3rd pour was the temperature proper. Unlike many others, I have never been a big fan of Cafe O'Lei restaurants. Quality is ok. They appear to have a successful business model that works for them. Similar menu selections across their three locations. I was hoping for some kind of a lounge that you can sit in, order pupus and drinks, like the previous owners had, but nope. I'm probably too nostalgic for the old Charthouse's ambiance and food. read more

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Café O'Lei in Wailuku has been open for two weeks and it's already packed--you definitely need to book a week in advance! The food is incredible, and the Lilikoi Cheese Pie is absolute perfection. However, the service was quite slow, taking over an hour to serve just two main dishes (a burger and pork kimchi rice). We were pretty disappointed by the wait, but since they're brand new, we really hope they'll smooth out the serving times as they settle in. read more

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This place came highly highly recommended by one of the vendors I came upon during my visit to Maui. He stated it was newly opened, but the ambience and the food were spectacular and I absolutely have to go. So obviously, I had very high expectations for this place. Since they were newly opened their current Rezi online reservation system didn't work very well, so I tried calling, but nobody returned my phone call. No big deal, I figured I would just go and check them out. We arrived in the afternoon and were greeted by some hostesses that seemed a little overwhelmed. They were friendly though and quoted me an hour wait. I walked around the restaurant and checked out their menu during my wait. The place is beautiful. I could see the bay from out their windows and in their patio. The food that was coming out the kitchen and being served also looked spectacular. My anticipation grew. It was a little strange that I saw so many empty tables over on the far right of the restaurant, yet so many people were waiting. I thought maybe it was a staffing issue so I didn't give it a second thought. The place is brand new after all. Finally we were seated around the 45 minute wait mark. Right away, my water glass had lipstick stained to it. I mentioned it and it was replaced immediately. Finally our waiter came was very friendly, but seemed a bit rushed. We had already set our minds on the plate lunch special and the catch of the day, but he had to explain that due to the newness of the restaurant and kitchen staff, those would not be available. That began the first of my disappointments. Finally, we decided on the pork belly and burger. When the pork belly came out, there was a long blonde hair attached to my plate. Again, the staff was very apologetic and took the plate back into the kitchen to be replaced. I decided to wait for my husband's dish to come out before starting mine but didn't expect it to take so long. By the time his replacement plate came out, my burger was pretty cool. That was my choice though so I just ate it. It was fine but a bit dry and the outer sides of my bun were honestly a bit stale. And my fries had gone a bit hard from being cold. The pork belly was fabulous though. Once our meal finished, I noticed there was someone who was walking around asking if everything was OK. I had given a half hearted smile and shrugged my shoulder in a "it was just OK" way. I don't think he picked up on my disappointment and seemed a bit rushed to just move onto the next table. Honestly, all in all we spent about 2 1/2 hours of our vacation here and I really don't feel it was worth it. I understand that they are new and these are all very common for restaurants who are just working out their kinks. read more

Cafe O'Lei Oceanside Kitchen - American Near Me - Maui, Hawaii

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Mali is a blessing!!!! She literally made our night! Food was really good, and the vibe of the restaurant was alive. read more

Cafe O'Lei Oceanside Kitchen has finally opened, and it was worth the wait! The beautiful, spacious setting blends contemporary style with retro Hawaiian charm. The menu has something for everyone, and everything I tasted was delicious. I was there Monday evening when the cruise ship sounded its whistle at 6 o'clock and sailed away--a breathtaking sight and a perfect ending to a wonderful evening. read more

We had our 2nd lunch since they opened earlier this month! Food was excellent, just like the other Cafe O Lei Restaurants! Service was excellent and faster! Drinks were a slight different menu from others., so you can choose and many beers! Highly recommend and suggest you make your reservations on RESY vs calling in, especially when they are busy! Beautiful location, lots of room and we will definitely be back again! We didn't take pictures, Ono Pork Belly w Kimchi Fried Rice, Ono Taro patties, deep fried egg plant and their favorite lettuce wraps! read more

Unfortunately, our experience was quite disappointing, especially considering the prices. We were a large party, so we understood that things might take a little longer than usual. However, we waited approximately 20-30 minutes just to be seated, nearly an hour for our food, and then another 30+ minutes just to receive our check. Our server was okay, but didn't really check on our table throughout the meal. As for the food, some dishes were good, but overall we felt the portions and quality did not justify the prices. Several people in our party ordered the ribeye, and unfortunately, the steaks were mediocre in flavor and quite dry. I ordered the Lobster & Kauai shrimp, which was nearly $50. The half lobster tail itself was delicious, but there were only three pieces of shrimp, and the mashed potatoes that came with it were chunky and lacked flavor. For that price, I expected a much more substantial and well-executed entrée. The appetizers were actually the highlight. The Ahi Poke Nori Bowl and Calamari were both really good, but the portions were quite small for the price. Overall, there were definitely some things we enjoyed, but the combination of the long wait times, small portions, and food that didn't consistently meet the expectations of the price point left us feeling that the experience simply wasn't worth what we paid. read more

I would have given them a 5, but a few days before we went to celebrate a birthday dinner, I tried to make a reservation online, but the online Resy was not working so I called and the man who answered the phone confirmed that the online RSVP was glitching so he took my reservation over the phone for 5 adults at 5:30 for Sunday, Sept 13. When we got to the restaurant, two hostesses checked and they could not find the reservation so one gal said no problem she was going to put us on the waiting list, but bump it up so that the wait at most would be 30 minutes. She took my phone number and I immediately got the text confirming we were on the waitlist. We decided to sit at the bar for some drinks while waiting for our table. Just before 30 minutes were up, I got a text saying our table was ready and had 10 minutes to show up. I go up to the check in counter and the hostess tells me that the other gal would be seating us at our table so two of us follow her along with another couple who also was being seated. She seats the couple and goes to a table with a group of guys who she starts flirting with. I say excuse me are you going to seat us and she looks at me and says who said that? I told her that the gal in the front told us to follow you. Meanwhile my other friend is at the bar closing our $150 bar tab so we can start a new dinner tab. She ask where were we and I told her that we were at the bar while waiting for our dinner table. She said go back to the bar until we are ready to seat you. I tried to tell her that I got the text, but she continued to talk to the guys. I go back to the bar and immediately the bartender asks me what happened. I tell him that I got the text that our table was ready, went to let the check in counter know that I got the text and told us to follow that girl who is flirting with those guys. He was ashamed and went to the check in to talk to the hostesses. He came back and apologized and said one of the owners who was at the front check in now would be taking us to our table. The five of us went to the check in and she clearly knew we were disappointed at this point. She took us to our table which had a beautiful view and we proceeded with ordering dinner. The prime ribs were all cooked perfectly and the macadamia crusted mahi was always one of our favorites. We tried new appetizers including the eggplant fries. We would order that again along with our favorites, lettuce wraps and calamari. The food was really good and so were the drinks! I hope Resy is working properly soon so we can celebrate more birthdays without hiccups. I want to acknowledge Weston, the bartender who stepped up to help us get our table after he saw the gal who was supposed to seat us was busy flirting with the guys at another table. He even came by our dinner table to check on us. Kolette was an amazing server too! I give the food, drinks, Weston, and Kolette 5 stars! read more

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The food was good as it usually is at all the cafe o lei restaurants ! The renovation is outstanding ! The windows all open to the ocean with outside seating as well ! The place is huge and very open but still feels cozy and friendly . Great layout and wonderful high ceilings ! Love the bar in the center . It was very busy but service was still reasonable wait time , I sat at the bar and girls were friendly . I would love to see the daily specials brought back , especially fish special one of my favorites ! The portions are good , prices are reasonable. Would like to see the Macnut Chicken dinner with mashed potatoes on the menu ! A favorite read more

I had Drew as my server today and she was the best! Great speedy service, funny, and attentive! The food was delicious too! I would recommend the macadamia nut crusted mahi! The pork belly was delicious too! read more

Great location, staff are super friendly. And the food was great. Highly enjoyed and recommended read more

Cafe O'Lei Oceanside Kitchen - Calamari with wasabi aioli. - American Near Me - Maui, Hawaii

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Brand new and a wonderful experience! The view is breath taking. Quinoa salad- fresh and delightful! Lobster tail with shrimp was perfectly cooked! Service was attentive, accommodating, and genuinely friendly. We will be back :P read more

Beautiful space, excellent food, and a friendly, efficient staff--all topped off by unbeatable views. The menu offers something for everyone. They did a wonderful job with the decor/design, making it a wonderful place to relax and enjoy a meal. What more could you ask for? A fantastic addition to the Central dining scene, and definitely a spot worth visiting. read more

Chicken way overcooked on salad and portion too small , fries were frozen fish was frozen expected more noise level is really bad as all hard surfaces with no attempt to control. read owners comments about how hard it was on her family to open this place guess what nobody cares about that do not use it as a excuse read more

My wife and I went to Cafe about two weeks ago and we waited and waited for our food to came out. The manager approached us and apologized and said we just opened and we are working through the kitchen challenges. We were not thinking of returning but my friends invited us todat- September 20th, we waited for ever and the manager came and said the same thing we are working with our kitchen. However, the drinks took forever. Nothing related to the kitchen. The problem is the manager she didn't offer anything for the delay poor service. We had a table of 13 No One ordered Dessert because we knew it would take an hour....there is no excuse. We are not going back. read more

Everything was great! Definitely would go again. Suggest making reservations, they were busy on a Monday night

Cool new spot for Maui..... better option then ale hale we walked in for 2 people sat at the bar, it was super packed since it's been open for only a week or so, good service our waiter was nice and a sweetie pie.. the bartender lady was super fast and fun to watch she makes good drinks the food was good the loco moco could've had more salt we thought, but seems like this spot is gonna be super action. the view was awesome plus looks like there's out door seating too which is cool too! excited to try more things from here read more