We have been visiting Mala for the last 14 years and it is always an amazing experience! We first discovered Mala on our honeymoon and now we enjoy it as a special treat each year as a family. The food is delicious and service is always great. You can't beat the view, a gorgeous backdrop to enjoy brunch or dinner. Some of our favorites are the ube hot bread, Greek salad, fresh catch of the day (plate or sandwich), risotto & malasadas. I always get a side of fries and aioli because they are just the best. Don't forget the Mai tai. Thank you Mala! read more

We stopped here for brunch on our last day. I had the pog mimosa which was tasty. I had the ahi eggs Benedict which was yummy the ahi was cooked well and the eggs were tasty. It was a tasty meal. I sampled the monte cristo sandwich with the fry bread which was good. It's a good stop but expect a wait if you don't have reservations. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Pog mimosa - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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Had a great lunch. Service was terrific, as always, and they acknowledged a birthday for one in our group. The food and drinks were very good. This rating is a slight markdown from my last review -- I'd give it 4 1/2 stars if I could -- because the menu was more limited at lunch/brunch and because we had a table farther from the ocean front (though we could still hear and see the ocean). But the service and food/drink quality were still first rate. read more

5 stars because I can't go any higher. Enjoyed live music on the patio at lunchtime. Ashley Toth was playing a fire set so that probably earned a star or two, though the food was very good. Had the best Mai Tai (Malakai Tai) I've ever had in my life here. My wife had the Spa Day, a very refreshing cucumber vodka and watermelon fusion drink. We started with the Tora Sweetbread with Butter honey (great), then had their storied Seared Ahi Bruschetta - also excellent. My wife doesn't like fish usually, but she loved that dish. We also had the Greek Salad, which was huge and delicious, and the Steak Frites with chimichurri - also great. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on this menu. We'll be back. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Patio seating overlooking the channel with Lanai in the background - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Great service, food and location! Really enjoyed the atmosphere and great food! The restaurant was busy the entire time we were there! Parking was a bit tough, which I think has been shared previously. read more

Great staff Ocean view Sticky bun was very tasty served warm The purple pancakes with coconut syrup were amazing The sound of the surf makes everything taste better read more

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Pasta shrimp entree was good, the chicken entree was ok. Has a reservation but waited about 20 minutes, parking here is a challenge

Mala Ocean Tavern features the best ocean-front dining in Maui, with views from every table, overlooking the Mala Wharf. Mala is open daily for brunch, lunch, happy hour, dinner, and late night, and features Pacific Rim and Mediterranean dishes. The watermelon juice was refreshing with a slight tart flavor. The crab frittata was cooked perfectly with plentiful chunks of crab meat (recommend adding avocado). The seared ahi bruschetta featured fresh ahi, as all seafood is caught daily and never frozen. Staff is friendly, professional, and attentive, and works as a team to ensure the best customer experience. A must visit! If I could give more stars, I would. read more

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Dear Chef, I wanted to write this review immediately after I ate the Taro Hawaiian bread with honey butter. I'm sad that I couldn't capture the exact moment and I'm dreading that the taste and experience will escape me. Before my wife and I started our feast I prayed that God would allow us to Praise Him through this dinner, little did I know that I would experience a life changing event. Most people find awe in the sun peaking over Haleakala, see a whale breaching, or seeing your soon-to-be wife walk down the aisle on your wedding day. I was in pure awe at my first bite of the taro Hawaiian bread. It instantly climbed to the top of my list of not just things I've eaten, but things I've experienced. It spoke to my soul. It aligned with my purpose. It gave me a taste of my destiny. It embodied everything I love. How could something so simple allow me to feel so deeply? Chef, thank you for this experience. I've just ordered it again to go. For Yelp readers, service, ambience, and food is superb. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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Thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Mala Tavern. It is right on the ocean which is delightful, the outdoor seating appears to be a renovated parking lot with some funny little umbrellas at every table but you couldn't ask for a seat closer to the ocean! We read several reviews mentioning the Taro bread. I can't eat gluten but my husband couldn't resist giving it a try. It did not let him down. He savored every bite and asked for a to go box to enjoy the leftovers the next morning it was probably his main highlight of the meal. We ordered the POG mai tai as we were intrigued by the foam (sounded similar to the monkey pod mai tai). It was a bit sweet and didn't wow us quite like the monkeypod mai tai but was still enjoyable. My husband ordered the veggie stir fry, it tasted fresh but wasn't anything to write home about, probably wouldn't order it again. My dish on the other hand was INCREDIBLE. I got the fish of the day. Bc of an allerergy I couldn't get the kabocha sauce but the pomegranate, rice, seasoned fish, and veggies all wowed me. I savored every bite. Would absolutely order the fish special again and wish I lived closer to eat it more often!!!! The fish of the day was a Kanpachi, I'd never had that before and absolutely loved it. Will look forward to enjoying another meal here again next time we are back. read more

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Due to a mix up with our reservation and not wanting to wait for an hour for food we came across Mala's and with a quick click I was able to get a reservation for happy hour. Due to the storms the oysters were not viable which was a huge bummer. Luckily they had some oyster shooters and a seared ahi bruschetta for a quick bite! We also got to sit on the patio for an ocean front dinning experience. Although, all the signage states they are known for breakfast and brunch we decided to give this place a chance. Overall the appetizers were fresh but missing the mark. We found the ahi was under seasoned. The oyster shooter was decent but, could have had a dab of hot sauce or even contrast in color and flavors of tobiko. I wish we could have ordered off the dinner menu. Unfortunately, during happy hour no other menus are available. I would love to come back for breakfast or brunch next time. The menu looked spectacular. The ocean front view is spectacular and the waves crashing next to the restaurant has a calming feel. The parking is very scarce so be patient. read more

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We have had dinner at all the upscale restaurants in Lahaina, Kaanapali, etc. - Merriman's, Hula Grill, etc. Although these establishments are very nice and I enjoyed my food and experience there. Mala Ocean Tavern is a more of a wow experience - food and comfortable ambiance. It is not a corporate run operation. First it is a small place where you feel the local culture. It is like that close to home warm friendly place where you can go and be yourself and have good food. Rich, the owner, is a full of life kind of guy. His love of providing people with a "food home" shows. Rich held this gem of a restaurant together after the fire of Lahaina. The fire stopped right next door. I feel that is better than my favorite place at home. The flavors make your mouth sing with excitement. They have cocktails and very decent wine list - should satisfy everyone's beverage preference. read more

***** Establishment....Mala an Ocean Tavern is located on Front Street. Cute little building over 100 years old. Very cute and quaint, right on the water edge. I would suggest sitting on the lanai. I chose Mala Ocean Tavern because yelp reviews were 4s and 5s. All comments had a response from Mala. That to me shows something of pride of ownership for the establishment. *****Covis safety..We made reservations and arrived on time and was seated promptly. Covid safety precautions followed, all wore a mask. *****Welcoming..We were greeted by 2 hostess and our server. ****Food..Pricey for average food.. We ordered rib eye and fish and chips. Rib eye was cooked perfectly and the fish and chips was average. *****Butterscotch custard was very delicious I was given malasadas for my birthday treat. Nice touch. On the way out we chatted with one of the owners, she was very sweet and I told her I loved that she responded to yelp reviews. Wrap it up.. *****Location *****Staff ****food ***price read more

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A local recommended Mala Ocean Tavern, and we are so glad we dined here for lunch! A beautiful oceanfront view with sea turtles swimming just below the patio. The cocktails (the OG and Bloody Mary) we not only delicious but works of art! The presentation of the food was also art! The food was as wonderful as the presentation. I had coconut shrimp and my husband had the Ahi Poke Salad. The setting, the service, the food were all incredible! The sea turtles provided great entertainment! read more

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Cannot say enough good things about Mala Tavern. We stumbled upon this gem 2 years ago on our first trip to Hawaii and it was our favorite memory of our whole trip. We were so thrilled to hear they reopened and were so excited to visit again. I made a reservation for my fiancé's birthday with a note that we had just got engaged, and they met us with 2 glasses of champagne and sat us at the "best table in the house". The food is delicious, and the service could not have been better. We found out they do brunch and stopped on Sunday before the airport. Nothing beats eating next to the ocean hearing the waves crash behind you. We cannot wait for our trip back to Mala Tavern! read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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early fall outdoor dining under the tree and lights. we arrived at 5:30 and some umbrellas were still up to provide some shade. as sunset neared, they removed all umbrella for an unobstructed sunset view we started with the seared ahi bruschetta, the seared ahi bruschetta was tall and took several bites. the majority of the flavor was the seared ahi and edamame hummus. A recommended order. Mahi Mahi Ceviche is mouthwatering, in lime juice and coconut milk you will eat up each bite. The fresh catch was delicious and all the preparations go well with the season offerings. A side salad will round out your meal. No the Notorious POG was a surprise as well as the mac daddy. But very creating and fun. finally an after dinner set of Malasadas with caramel sauce, after stuffing yourself, this was difficult to eat but delicious. Parking can be a challenge, as they old lot was converted into the outdoor dining, so expect to part on the sand/dirt in the nearby neighborhood. read more

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We came here for the view, the sunset. The hostess sat us at an outdoor table. The menu didn't mark vegan items but the descriptions of items were helpful and our server was knowledgeable and listed vegan options for me as well as veganizable items like the Ahi Bruschetta. They switch the bread to gluten free and instead of fish, they use avocado or mushrooms. She recommended avocado. Most of the sides were vegan and they also had a veggie stir fry. The cocktails were noted if they had egg whites in them and some of the wines I can confirm online that they were vegan. These options, plus good service and a view.. not to mention a turtle sighting.. makes for a good stop. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Outdoor seating - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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Absolutely fantastic! Right on the water and the service/food were top notch. Great spot for a date night and very family friendly!

I enjoyed a wonderful dinner here with friends. We started with cocktails and oyster shooters. Had to try both shooters and I couldn't decide which I liked best. Both were tasty! Moving on to the main event: I had the seared Ahi with a Ginger-Shiitaki mushroom sauce, loved it! I got a taste of the scallops that were perfectly cooked, and also the Seafood Brodo that was equally good. We finished off the evening sharing Malsadas with 3 different dipping sauces, Lilikoi, A berry sauce and caramel sauce. Perfect end to a nice evening! read more

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It is so nice to see businesses in the Lahina tragedy are operating again. Great service, great food, great shorefront views including live turtle jams. Support local businesses. We'll see you next year when we're back! read more

Excellent service! The servers made sure everyone had shade and comfort to appreciate the gorgeous outdoor view. All of that paired with scrumptious food in a low key yet respectable Maui setting. I had the Mala Cristo with Build Your Own Mimosa (we chose P.O.D. and Watermelon juices) The Coconut Shrimp and & Seared Ahi Tuna sandwich was fabulous, as well. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Mala Cristo, Coffee & Build Your Own Mimosas - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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One of the best places we ate during our week in Maui. We were in Lahaina for a chocolate tour and an evening luau. So, we needed a lunch spot. It's a little place perched along the oceanfront with a casual vibe. We made online reservations and headed over. We asked to sit in the deck so we could try to spot the surfing turtles. Service was quick, friendly and efficient. I had a Bloody Mary and my dining companion had a Honey Badger. Both were boozy and flavorful, but expect a lot of pepper in the Bloody Mary. I shared the fish and chips with beer battered turmeric. The fish was delicious and the fries were crispy and plentiful. My daughter had the Caesar salad and shared the special of the day, Maui tacos, which they declared was the best fish taco of the trip. Seating is limited, but we never felt rushed. Don't sit along water's edge unless you want an errant wave to crash over and anoint your food with saltwater. This place is a gem and a must visit when in Lahaina. read more

We came here for a less traditional Thanksgiving dinner - one focused on Maui's famous seafood (which often comes with a nice view!) rather than turkey. Sadly, Mala Ocean did not meet our expectations. The root cause is that they did not seem to honor the dinner reservations. We came early at 5:45 pm for 6pm reservations and did not get seated until 6:30pm. The family before me had a similar 30 min wait beyond the reservation. We have never encountered this in Maui, that and coupled with mostly 3-star food leads me to a 3-star overall rating at best. I like to start with some positives. Folks are friendly here and the host did try to make amends with apologies and comping two appetizer plates (Coconut Shrimp and Seared Ahi Bruschetta). Our server Carlos was excellent. These corrective actions saved them from me giving a 2-star review. The octopus salad was decent as well. Dessert was basic but good - souffle with blueberry rum and topped with lilikoi sorbet. The two fish entrees were pricy but far-below the quality of say, Merriman's. The fresh market fish was Opakapaka crusted with garlic and artichoke and then baked. Meat was a but dry. Ditto with the mahimahi ala plancha, a dish that also had too much carbs with both white and purple mashed potatoes. I did like the crispy pita breads with a spicy sauce - almost like a mini pizza. Definitely on the bottom-tier of Maui restaurants we visited this time. read more

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What a location to have breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. The staff is so welcoming, with fast and quality service. The food is fantastic, fresh with great flavor. read more

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Hi - I do not leave Yelp reviews. Ever... But this place is special. 1) Our server Lisa was welcoming, knowledgeable, and just overall awesome. Lots of great recommendations. 2) Mimosas. Hibiscus and POG mimosas were delicious (and the hibiscus was generous on the champs) 3) THE FOOD. Pipikaula was really special. Because Im a basic B****, I got the fish n chips which were flavorful and meaty - locally caught Mahi. 4) STICKY BUNS!!! Just get it. 5) The view. Just come now. read more

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Food was great but our server John acted like it was a bother to even take our order. Seems like he doesn't like POC or something. Everyone else was nice and welcoming though. read more

Excellent food and service! We loved the butter lettuce salad, the pork shank, the risotto, and mahi mahi. Cute atmosphere with a nice patio right on the shoreline. Didn't love the citrus sauce flavor on the bread putting but everything else was great. Very nice staff read more

Good food, good music and turtles! We made reservations for Happy Hour and split the Margarita flatbread, taro rolls and a blue Marlin fish sandwich. It was so good. read more

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Sad I went for the famous waygu burger which I had enjoyed since before they had a two hr wait time. Since they said it was not served during the dinner so I ended up having to order the rib eye which was just ok. Not like I expected during the MARK Ellman era and the price not worth it. Serve was outstanding as the the olden time so thank goodness that has not changed. It was always loud but acceptable. read more

IMHO Truth be told, we chose Mala because they still had reservation openings for Valentine's Day, and because it was a new restaurant for us. Ocean front dining and views are a plus, but our amiable host suggested an inside table due to the blazing sun on the outside patio even at 5 p.m.. We chose wisely and sat inside! Mala gives every table a complimentary starter of pureed edamame and chips. Delicious and refreshing! Hubby ordered Longboard Draft beer, and I enjoyed a lovely cocktail... Alex from Serbia was our friendly server, who started by giving us the daily specials. I'll be honest...I didn't understand her fully due to her accent, but she was lovely and offered suggestions. We had a coupon for a free appetizer of Ahi Bruschetta; flax seed toast, local tomatoes, edamame puree & 20 yr. balsamic ($17) and Alex was happy to redeem it for us. Hubby chose the Balinese Stirfry with Fresh Island Fish; sugar snap peas, shiittake mushrooms, soy beans, cherry tomatoes, Lundberg brown rice, sesame seeds ($36). I ordered the Fresh Island Fish Sandwich; grilled mahi-mahi, tartar sauce, romaine, tomato, chia flax brioche bun, frites ($26). Overall, we enjoyed our meal here. Portions were big and service was good. However I will not forget my walk back from the bathroom. The blue carpet reflected all the food crumbs wiped off the tables onto the floor. 'Nuff said. There's gotta be a better way. read more

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My favorite meal and experience so far! Ellen was friendly and efficient. Amazing patio and the food was unbeatable. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Came here for dinner and have nothing but amazing things to say about Mala. We had no reservations but were seated immediately. The staff was wonderful and friendly and made awesome suggestions. The Spa Day was an amazingly refreshing drink and I had to have 2! All of the food was fresh and tasty and the dessert we chose (chocolate toffee cake) was phenomenal. Of course you can't beat the view, even if you are sitting inside. The atmosphere was great and I will definitely be back whenever I am in the area and highly suggest it to others. read more

Delicious food and friendly service. Accommodated is on my wife's birthday with no plan and a pretty full house. Bartenders were amazing.

1st time in Maui and found this gem of a restaurant (thanks to the lady cashier at the mall). Our server was Jose, and he gave us exceptional customer service. He opened the curtain so we could see the turtles and have a great view. My daughter ordered the Margherita flatbread, and loved it. My husband had the fish sandwich and chilaquiles with pork belly... ah-making!! I ate a quarter of it, but I had my delicious GF Benedict to finish. Overall experience and food was 10/10. read more

Recently went after they reopened up after the wildfires & food was just as good as it was before. We were lahaina locals & would go for happy hour & brunch once a month, but having to move over an hour away makes it harder for us to support this yummy business. Hopefully we'll be able to rebuild & be back soon to enjoy more dinners. I the risotto was one of the best I've ever have. Cocktails are always yummy! Day spa & hibiscus martinis are my fav! Along with the bloody Mary's. Ahi bruschetta is always a must! Also try the oysters shooters, it's the only ones I'll eat. read more

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Overall, it's a great place, our waiter was so pleasant, we ordered a drink that we didnt like and he took it back with a big smile! I ordered the egg Benedict, unfortunately you can't order two different ones, I wanted to order one ahi and one Avo and he said they have to be the same. The Ahi is to die for so you have to get it We ordered the macadamia nut cold brew, it taste good but not worth $9.50 at all. It took them a very long time to get our food that I thought they forgot about our order, so if you are in a rush, I don't recommend coming here and that's why I gave them 4 stars instead of 5. Cody our waiter was amazing, attentive and gave us recommendations to places to go to.. read more

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We were hoping to get an early dinner but they had a limited menu at 3:00. Other than, we had a good experience

Super good food and open late to more convenience! Super good food! Delicious highly recommend! read more

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Went to Mala Ocean Tavern last week! Great food, great service and great views of the water! Our server Kenny was super attentive and a very good guy to talk to. Thanks Kenny! read more

out 2 stars for the lag in service (waitress kept talking to other guests) and putting fermented black bean and ginger in steamed clams dish. we don't put fermented black been and ginger and a steam clams dish. why? because we only put them in when we stir fry. we'll fry them in a oil first to bring out the flavor, then we add the clams in to stir fry. putting ginger and black beans just didn't work here. but i get it the twist. the drinks are okay, duckine makes better drinks. seafood brodo had really great kauai shrimp with head on which was i what i was looking for the entire trip. seared scallops was soft but i didn't trace any sweetness from them. read more