Whenever I'm in Maui, I love going to thr trucks and restaurants in Kihei. Maybe it's just me? But, the trucks and restaurants seem less pretentious and the food is geared towards locals. Don't get me wrong, I love Sansei and Monkeypod,but, it starts to hurt the pocketbooks really fast! Didn't want anymore poke or spam musubi, wanted something different. So I had heard about Kitoko and how it was good priced gourmet food froma truck! Decided to drive there and give it a try! Seafood Loco moco: you can taste the freshnest in ingredients and clean flavor. Short ribs- good portioned ratio of meat and flavor and soft sweet potatoes. Banana Mac tiramisu- must get dream dessert in a jar! Very reasonable price and definitely something different in Kihei. read more

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Like no food truck I've ever visited. Chef in full chef's coat, ceramic plates, fine dining plating and spectacular flavors using all super fresh ingredients. Chef is classically trained, former Spago pastry chef. We had the shrimp plate and marlin bento and both were excellent. The tables, bistro lights and fun atmosphere all added to the night. My only hope is that more if the vendors stay open later so we could sample other things as well. Will absolutely be back! Highly recommend. read more

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Champion!!! Make me feel good by juicy tasty sauce and a fresh papaya salad That brownie sweet aww :) Mahalo Nui for your hard working Chefs. read more

Kitoko Maui - Braised Beef Loca Moco - Caramel Chocolate Tiramisu - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

This food truck adjacent eatery prepared creative and exquisitely fresh seafood. I ordered the grilled shrimp and spouse had the mahi mahi bento. Both were Devine. The surrounding gardens with tables and chairs made for a delightful late lunch. read more

My friend and I came to south Maui garden after a long morning at the beach and landed on Kitoko as most other places were closed. I'm so happy we came! She ended up ordering the braised beef loco moco which came with a side of papaya salad and crispy beef and I ordered the Kauai shrimp bao buns. The loco moco was delicious but made with beef chunks instead of the standard hamburger meat. It was an interesting take on a hearty dish. The Kauai shrimp bao buns were a stand out for me. The dish came with 4 buns and 6 shrimp, which were grilled and had a sweet and tangy glaze spread on top. It came with all the toppings you'd want ( cucumbers, cilantro, tangy green sauce, pickled onions, radish, and carrots.) the service was quick and efficient, with our food coming out in around 15 min. The presentation is beautiful and really highlighted the attention to detail, even though this place is a food truck. There is ample seating around, with most of it shaded by the trees and plants around. I've added this place to my must visit list for the next time I'm in Maui! read more

Kitoko Maui - Kauai shrimp bao buns and braised beef loco moco which came - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Love this place! The food is great! The food truck offers a Tomahawk steak that will blow you away!! The owner works diligently to ensure all customers are happy. Plus the seating has a tropical atmosphere! A must do!! read more

Great dishes and chef was attentive to our special requests. We had the Kauai shrimp that was amazing and prepared to our liking. Busy place and the gardens are lush and different from other food truck venues. Free parking and it is easy to find! We will be back but be prepared there are seats all outside and you need to search for shade- flies are annoying but what can you complain about! You are ON MAUI! Love this place and it's a must if you are looking for a spot that's unique! Plants are incredible and coffee barista is right next door! Enjoy! read more

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Absolutely amazing food experience! Ambiance in the gardens was great. Highly recommend for any locals or travelers. Best meal of the vacation and great service too read more

I had such a high hope for Kitoko from reading all the reviews... but it just was ok. The food didn't stood out to make me wish to come back again. Ok let's break it down. Food : I picked the kauai shrimps and my friends picked 2 moco loco bento. The presentation was pretty and food was served on real plate/ bolws which were nice. The food was ok nothing too special for me. My friends and I love to eat all kind of cuisine so this is our personal opinions. The service was very good people were friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was relaxing and welcoming. The place was surrounded with trees and colorful sheds. It was comfortable and not hot in the late afternoon. read more

Kitoko Maui - Kauai Shrimps - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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This was by far the best meal I had in Maui, and I only wish that we had known earlier so we could go every day. I came here on my second to last day and I ended up coming back to eat here for lunch the next day. It's absolutely a hidden gem and I can't believe it's not more popular (though we did come at 3pm one day and it was very rainy the next day). The service is fantastic; the woman was server, cook, and cashier, and yet she offered to look for us even after she recommended we find seating upstairs. They also have three sauces that you can bring to your table - a special salt, chili oil, and another spicy sauce. + Braised beef loco moco ($19.75) - 10/10 - This was such a high end, glorious version of loco moco; the beef is incredibly tender and delicious, the crispy rice slab is a dream, and the accompanying sauces are total perfection. This is a must-get. + Fresh caught ono poke ($28) - 9/10 - This was a great poke; the portion is very large considering the amount of fish, and the sweet potato chips were a delight. I was astonished by all the sauces and the way they added such refinement to this dish. + Mahi mahi bento ($19.75) - 9/10 - This tasted so healthy AND delicious at the same time; the mahi mahi is cooked perfectly and was by far the best cooked fish we've had all trip. The vegetables were cooked simply, but the miso garlic sauce was addictive and so flavorful. + Lilikoi meringue pie ($10.25) - 9/10 - The lilikoi curd was fantastic. Everything was perfectly executed and I really enjoyed this; the only reason it's not getting a 10/10 is because the passionfruit quark cheesecake at Surfing Goat was even better for a similar dessert. If you only go to one place to eat in Maui, make it Kitoko. read more

Tried the Venison Bao Buns for lunch today and they were amazing!! Super clean and tender with a nice Thai fusion. Definitely will get this again for lunch. read more

Kitoko Maui - Venison Bao buns - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

We've all had Loco Moco, a classic breakfast in Hawaii. I've made better Loco Moco than most restaurants that serve it. Not hard to do, if you can cook some rice, grill a juicy hamburger patty, fry an egg and (the hardest part) is to make some brown gravy, without too many lumps. Now, I must humbly acknowledge the King of Loco Moco. I've heard good things about the Kitoko Pastry and Catering food truck in the Kihei Food Truck Court, behind the Azeka Mauka Shopping Center. I ordered the Braised Beef Loco Moco, from the Bento Menu. It didn't look like a typical Bento when served up in a few minutes. Rather, it was assembled vertically, with the seaweed wrapped furikake rice cakes on the bottom, beef, crisp sprouts and a fried egg. No gravy, but a delightful guava BBQ sauce. A small cup of spicy sauce was included, and I enjoyed that, too. They've really done a lot of creative fusion with this dish, particularly by substituting braised beef for the hamburger. Done right, braised beef takes several hours of slow cooking. Otherwise, it can be dry and tough. This beef was definitely done right. Very impressed that the meat was reheated on a small bbq grill, located outside the window of the food truck. Although I was given a plastic fork and knife, the fork was all that was needed to flake apart the tender slab of delicious rib meat (I assume it's rib meat). The furikaki rice had great flavor, especially with the guava sauce. Normally, I would add shoyu to rice, but this was much better. The crunchy veggies were a very nice addition, too. I liked the fried egg, but I would have preferred it to have a runny yolk. But that's all I would have done differently. The dish was more food than I needed. Should have taken some home, but couldn't stop. Skipped the evening meal instead, lol. Looking forward to trying several of the other items on the menu! read more

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Hidden gem in Maui. We had two specials, grill Hawaii prawns with mango gazpacho and grilled sourdough and crispy pork belly with Okinawan purple potatoes gnocchi over poi. Also had the Maui beef loco moco with crispy rice and papaya salad. Great ingredients, interesting flavors, and delicious. Lilikoi merengue - perfect balance of merengue to crust to filling read more

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This is a gem in Maui. Gormet food in a really cool outdoor setting. Listed as a food truck, don't let that deter you. The food is amazing.

Wow, this place is amazing. I've been twice this week and contemplating a third visit before returning to California. Very healthy and tasty. Really enjoyed the Okinawa sweet potatoes and especially the tofu bento box. read more

Kitoko Maui - Tofu bento box - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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Unique and fun fancy food truck experience! After almost a week straight of delicious but heavy food, we were feeling ready for a clean and light meal. This gourmet fusion food truck came up in our search and ended up being exactly what we were looking for. We tried the chef's favorite Swordfish Bento, which came with swordfish glazed in som tum sauce, grilled eggplant, poi microgreens salad, and furikake rice musubi -- such a delectable assortment! Also intrigued by the signature seaweed foccacia sandwiches, we got the grilled chicken, which was jam packed with greens and artfully assembled with mini dollops of wasabi coconut puree on a furikake butter spread. The presentation and quality of ingredients is quite impressive and up to par with a higher end restaurant. If this were a dine-in spot instead of a food truck, you'd likely be paying double what the owner is charging. Cole, the owner, was the ex-chief pastry chef at Spago Maui and before that spent part of his life making fine desserts in France. His background really shines through in the painstaking details he adds as dainty flourishes to each dish. The name Kitoko means beautiful in Congo, and is indeed fitting for the exquisite look of every dish here. While not necessarily the most authentic due to the fusion style (loco moco without gravy for example), this spot is still an excellent choice if you're looking for a quality, pseudo-fine dining experience without breaking the bank. My only regret is not trying something off the sweets menu, but I've already mentally bookmarked the lilikoi brown butter almond financier and braised beef loco moco for next time I'm in town ;) read more

Kitoko Maui - Grilled Chicken Seaweed Foccacia - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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I saw this place on Yelp and the concept was unique enough that I wanted to check it out. We got the swordfish bento, which came with fish, crispy rice and a salad. The swordfish was thick cut , but fresh and light. The rice was sooo cool because its crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. It gives a nice texture to the dish. I also love the salad and the wasabi dressing. The wasabi dressing was very subtle and so you don't get the heat in your nose. The presentation was beautiful. It was Soo good that we came back the next day for lunch. We got the braised beef loco moco. It was definitely a different take on loco moco as there was no gravy but a light sauce. The braised beef was similar to the pulled pork texture and they used the same crispy rice which was still delicious. Our friends also got the crispy chicken dish and the banana bread. The crispy chicken was not what I expected and thought it was just ok. The banana bread was very pretty and taste good but I didn't think it needed the extra toppings. Price was amazing for the quality of food you're getting. Imagine a farm to table experience but from a food truck with affordable price. Definitely recommend coming here if you're in the area. read more

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Calling all Foodies.....you MUST give Kitoko Maui a try. You won't be disappointed. It is a food truck nestled into the incredible ambiance of South Maui Gardens. The chef knows food and how to take it all up a few notches. Not only is the food delicious everything is a work of art. I had a bento box with steamed mahi-mahi, crispy rice cake, and veggies that were not like any I've ever had, with a touch of ogo seaweed - ALL DELICIOUS! If you have a thing against food trucks, then think of this as a little small restaurant, putting out outrageous food, with tables under a canopy of trees with twinkling lights.... And you can BYOB. read more

Kitoko Maui - Borrowed this photo from his Instagram feed because it showed the food better than my photo - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

OK - honestly, one of the best grinds I've had in Maui/Hawaii/ever! This is a stable food truck type spot and is situated in an open garden along with other cafes and other similar type "trucks". We were just here last week and our family had the pleasure of meeting Chef Cole - super nice and welcoming! He went through the menu with us which has some classic Hawaiian elements but with complex and just special flavors through out. He even brought our food out! We had the Seafood Platter, Mahi-Mahi Bento and the Lilikoi Merengue Pie. Seafood Platter - comes beautifully in a wooden board. The star of the show is the amazingly grilled Kona Maine Lobster but other mains and sides are as so yummy. It also came with a flaky and delicious mahi-mahi, crispy seasoned rice, succulent shrimp, Okinawa sweet potatoes with micro greens and a refreshing salad/slaw. The pie is so good and the sweetness is just right. Seating - there are tons picnic style benches. Parking is limited but when we came for dinner, spaces were available. There is a water station and also love their reusable bento style containers for plates! Our only regrets were not ordering more and coming back during our trip. We will definitely be back again! read more

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Kitoko is my favorite food truck on the island! They make some of the most impressive bento boxes I've ever had, which is not surprising after seeing how much care the guys put into making them. They even opened mid-pandemic! Pictured: Bento box made with locally caught swordfish (bottom), Braised beef open-faced sandwich on seaweed focaccia (top) Their healthy floats are also a must-try, with house-made soda and coconut ice cream. Soooo good. read more

Kitoko Maui - Bento box made with crispy chicken (bottom), Braised beef open-faced sandwich on seaweed focaccia (top) - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

This place is a must try if you see it! Service is great and the location is beautiful. I tried the lobster and the poke and both were phenomenal. I will be back read more

Kitoko Maui - Lobster and poke - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Fanciest loco moco, eva! Say what? Kitoko opened up during the pandemic and initially piqued my interest when I saw my fellow Yelp Elites checking-in and posting their photos. After being fourloughed from his job as Executive Pastry Chef at Spago, chef and co-owner, Cole, finally realized his dream and opened up Kitoko with fellow pastry chef and co-owner, Alice. Now, this isn't your run of the mill food truck folks. Their dishes are not just 'elevated' but they got that next level kinda stuff going on, for real. From the braised beef loco moco to their swordfish bento, each dish is skillfully executed in terms of flavors and presentation. It's almost too pretty to eat. My braised beef 'loco moco' was nothing like I'd ever had before with the furikake sushi rice, the guava bbq sauce, micro greens, and extra crispy egg. They created an amalgamation of surprising flavors that balanced each other out wonderfully. The egg was cooked exactly how I like my eggs (extra burnt to a crisp!), the braised beef, wow. Although I wouldn't call it a true loco moco (no brown gravy), I would still highly recommend this dish! I also got a lilikoi sorbet for dessert (sorbet was the only thing that interested me dessert wise), which was just ok for me and I could've gone without. It was $4 for a small scoop and just wasn't worth the $$ in my opinion. Hence, the 4 stars. I have seen and heard about the other desserts though and will need to come back for those in the future. Stop by this spot if you're ever in Kihei! read more

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Kitoko is a fine dining kitchen located in a food truck. It is located in the attractive South Maui Gardens area so you eat amongst tropical plants. It serves interesting food based on local ingredients. We went twice on our trip. The first time we had the mahi mahi bento box and the pulled pork. The fried rice bar was a highlight. The poke plate we got the second visit was attractively presented and served with homemade chips. The bao were a little doughy but the meat, sauce and pickled vegetables more than made up for it. The lilikoi pastries from the related blue door next door were also outstanding. read more

Came to the food trucks because I was craving a burger but once i saw the Kitoko Maui truck and saw their menu, I changed my mind. I saw ahi and Kim chee in the same menu item and I was sold. My sandwich was DELICIOUS. That seaweed foccacia bread is in a class of its own. At first I was like, hmmmm, that sounds a little TOO interesting (and trust me, I LOVE nori but nori in a bread just didn't sound like it would taste good) but after trying it, I would buy that bread just by itself!!!!!! It is amaaaaazing. I hardly get out to kihei but I can't wait to try more items from Kitoko. It's a little pricey but I would say def worth it. Look how beautiful the presentation is!! And my sandwich tasted superb. Service was great, food was awesome, I am definitely coming back. The chicken breast sandwich is gonna be my next pick! read more

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One of the spots I tell people they have to eat at when visiting Maui! A must. Truly amazing food created by the Chef here. Definitely a must while on Maui!! read more

Cute food truck style place where you place your order at the window and wait for your name to be called, then you pick up your food. There are plenty of seats and tables in the area in front. There is also water and glass cups you can fill yourself. We ordered the Braised Beef Loco Moco, Grilled Shrimp, and Mahi Mahi. All three were incredible and delicious! Each dish had the same assortment of veggies, which were refreshing and a nice balance to the dish. Side note, we sat in an area where there was more greenery and got bit by mosquitos several times so I recommend bringing bug spray or sitting at one of the tables out in the open. Overall, highly recommend this spot if you are visiting Maui! read more

Kitoko Maui - Grilled Shrimp (front) & Mahi Mahi (behind) - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

The food and service here were amazing. I would have given this place 5 stars if it weren't for the SWARM of flies that attacked my party's table for the entire duration of our meal. I literally had to wave my arm the entire time while I was eating. read more

The best food truck in the plaza! My friend and I got the braised beef loco moco and the chicken katsu sandwich, such rich flavors in these elevated local dishes. The plating on the sandwich was also stunning. Really kills the game considering they a food truck! Docked one star because the chef who took our order was condescending and intimidating as we asked questions about the menu, but I appreciate the care he puts into his food! read more

Kitoko Maui - braised beef loco moco - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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This place is a gem! I was a little skeptical looking at how beautiful these photos were coming from a food truck, but we loved this place! Having had loco moco earlier, we liked this fusion style better honestly. The pie was also so delicious! I wish I could've ordered more from here. The space is also beautiful, which seems to be a garden that also has a bunch of food trucks. Kitoko seems separated off from the other group of trucks, so depending on where you enter, you may have to walk to find it at the other side! read more

Kitoko Maui - Beef loco moco - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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During this pandemic, we have been trying to support local at least a couple times a month. A couple weeks ago, a family member had posted about this truck, so we had to go check it out at the lot behind Azekas. They had actually opened during this whole COVID thing, so we definitely wanted to go support them. We went with the braised beef sandwich, crispy chicken sandwich, & the braised beef locomoco bento. Presentation on everything was amazing, perfect shot for the gram & of course yelp. The sandwiches come on a seaweed focaccia, which before say is kinda weird it was good. You really couldn't tell, only thing was that it was sweeter then your normal focaccia. The braised beef came as an open faced sandwich with guava bbq topped with green papaya salad. It had so much flavor, but gave up biting it & ended up using a knife to cut it into pieces. The Crispy chicken sandwich was crispy filled with just the perfect balance of flavors from the furikake butter & wasabi puree. The braised beef locomoco came assembled in a unique bento style. There were 2 musubis on the bottom topped with the guava bbq beef. This was a good pairing & maybe psychologically made the meal seem lighter The wait was a bit long, but when you see the work & presentation of your meal, you will understand why. Pricing did seem a bit a high, but I'm sure it's because of the healthier ingredients used. There are also salads & vegan meals, along with homemade sorbets & desserts. Will have to come back to try something else. read more

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4.5/ Michelin star food from a food truck! The ex-Spago chef brought the refinement and elevation of fine dining to a convenient garden scape. The lobster loco loco was flavorful and the fried egg was crispy with a runny yolk. The crispy seasoned rice that came with it and also the classic loco moco was the perfect portion size and accompaniment. I wish the papaya salad that came with both dishes had a bit more flavor (perhaps an added splash of lime juice) but understand if it was more mild to let the main portions shine. The ono poke came with dollops of purées which paired with the tender fish perfectly. Unfortunately the dessert was not as great as the main dishes. The lilikoi tart was good but nothing exceptional. Also, the tiramisu was a bit on the sweet side due to the caramel but I appreciated the innovation of using banana bread and coffee beans. The server at the dessert stand was standoffish and seemed unwilling to answer my questions. Overall, a wonderful dining experience amidst the myriad Buddha statues, butterflies, and potted plants. Just wish there weren't so many tiny gnats and flies! read more

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The best meal we had in Maui. We are sad we just discovered on our last night in Kihei. They are located in the South Maui Gardens; very nice vibe. We enjoyed the crispy pork belly, the ono poke and the mango tart. The combination of flavors and the presentation were superb. We should have eaten there every night read more

Their tiramisu is soooooo yum!!! Don't leave Kihei without trying some. The dining area around is spacious, tropical & lovely. read more

Kitoko Maui - Delicious Tiramisu!!! - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

A cute little gem tucked inside South Maui Garden. There's a parking lot next door and outdoor sitting within the garden. No wait and the food comes pretty quick. - Marlin Bento This was composed of seared Marlin fish, Okinawa sweet potatoes, eggplants and other veggies. The Marlin taste similar to ahi tuna and it was soft and tender. I loved the sauces and the hearty sweet potatoes. This made us buy more purple sweet potatoes at night to snack on throughout the week. - Beef Loco Moco This was a classic but instead of a beef patty the meat was shredded almost like pulled pork. It was soft and tender. - Kauai Shrimp This was the best dish out of the three that we've ordered. I love the garlic sauce and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. - Lilikoi Pie This pie was delicious. Not only was the custard filling was flavorful, the shortbread crust was crisped and crumbly. There was a miscommunication between us and the cashier because when I asked if there were any desserts he said no mistaking that I meant the sorbet since their machine broke. I overheard another person ordering the tiramisu so I asked him and he said there were some. I asked about the pie too and he said there isn't anymore. So I paid for the tiramisu and was told to go to the bakery next door to pick up the tiramisu. When I popped in, there were rows of Lilikoi pies! The worker at the bakery told me there was a misunderstanding due to language barrier so no big deal I was able to get the pie. Overall it was a good place to pop in for lunch if you're in the area or explore the garden to walk out the food! read more

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So thrilled to have found this spot in my Maui food research - we went on a Saturday night and it lived up to the outstanding reviews. Chef personally brought our food to our table and stayed to chat with us a bit. The ambience was beautiful, lights strung through the trees, plenty of seating, and live music. We ordered a family style seafood platter. Omg. Shrimp, mahi magi, tuna, lobster, local greens salad, sweet potato and I'm certainly forgetting more. Every single bite was perfectly balanced and delicious. And it was $115. Literally like what we would've paid for 4 average sandwiches at our hotel cafe. Stopped at the bakery on the premises for dessert and tried one of each :) I forgot the specifics of each but several were banana based and I think the mini pie/tart was lilikoi. Chef told us he was here at 6 am baking them! read more

Kitoko Maui - All of this for $115!?? - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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The food at Kitoko is world-class, in a stunningly beautiful location. For me, their local venison bento is spectacular. The venison medallions are perfectly done, paired with a fresh green papaya salad and a crispy square of fried sushi rice. It's a perfect midday feast. Meanwhile, their tomato mango gazpacho was clean and refreshing, and their tofu bento was a hit with our group's vegetarian. My son loved the pepperoni pizza at the affiliated Blue Door restaurant right next door. We kept coming back to this place, despite the fact that the other food trucks at South Maui Gardens are great, too! read more

Wish we would've eaten here FIRST! This was the food highlight of our Maui trip and the meals by which all others were judged. I was recommend to try this place from some friends who visited recently and we couldn't have been more pleased with the our experience. The Special of the Day was a fresh catch seafood curry and it was HEAVENLY. It was so good we attempted to make at home because we couldn't stop thinking about it. Literally, everything we had was excellent and I don't know if you could have a bad meal here. If you're a Hawaiian Banana bread fiend then you should definitely try the coffee banana bread if they have it. Chef Cole Hinueber showed us the desserts and they all looked great so we got one of each . Highly recommend this be one of your first spots to eat on Maui. read more

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Gourmet food truck? Check! Serene tropical garden/oasis? Check! The evening we ate here, we enjoyed live flamenco guitar music. The menu included a sumptous grilled lobster and a gourmet short rib (if I'm remembering correctly) loco moco. The desserts were gorgeous and tasted as good as they looked. This place was such a find, and definitely a highlight of the trip. read more

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Consistently beautiful and delicious food, in a gorgeous setting (South Maui Gardens)...great place for lunch or a snack read more

Kitoko Maui - Ceviche Hawaiiana - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Kitoko, holy fuck. Holy fucking fuck. That seafood loco of yours is absurd. This was by FAR our favorite meal in Maui. Cute evening setup with live music (on Sat night) eating deliciousness under the stars. read more

Kitoko Maui - Seafood loco -- deliciously mouth watering and better than anything we've had at any other seafood restaurant on Maui - Food Trucks Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii