Wonderful food! Favorites were the pork and the bruschetta, we are also now addicted to the Broccolini Ceviche needed just a little more kick of something and the calamari is just a style we don't prefer, a little too heavy breading but it was done perfectly and the flavor was still wonderful. read more

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Great food and ambience. Service was top notch, we were checked on and had our needs promptly met the whole time. The Taro bread with the sweet and salty butter is to die for. I've been eating too much poke so went for the steak frites and it was cooked to perfection. The keiki menu was good too, coloring for the kids, it was nice. One of us got catch of the day, some type of Marlin and it was melt in your mouth. Highly recommend a stop here for a good meal. read more

Definitely a must visit when on Maui. A perfect treat urself dinner with family and friends because every single dish was perfection. No complaints here! read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Bone marrow - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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Amazing restaurant with exceptional staff and some of the best food in Lahaina. Not to mention a beautiful waterfront view.

My soulmate and love of my life took me here for dinner one evening last week. We had been in Maui for about a week and dined at many fine and high end establishments during our stay, but none came as close to the experience we had at Mala that evening. We were very happily shown to our outdoor table by the hostess. While walking back, the energy from the young man helping to tend tables (water, bussing, etc) was absolutely electric. His smile would light up the darkest night! I am energy sensitive and knew this would be great. Our waiter came to greet us shortly and offer us a wine list. He spoke to us in such a beautiful accent. His name is Amilcar, and was from Guatemala by way of LA. We live in the greater Los Angeles area and were happy to see someone escape to paradise. Hes been on Maui for 25 years now! He also exuded such kindness and love. We had not even ordered yet and were having such an amazing time. We started out with "Da Beet Box" a variegated display of fresh beets, radishes, hummus and arugula. It was presented to us in something similar to a bento box and was absolutely delicious! We also ordered the fried tofu with papaya mostarda to start. Again, another lovely dish. For our main, we shared the Catch of the Day, a perfectly prepared piece of Mahi Mahi. The views were incredible. Listening to the ocean lap the shore as we dined was surreal. By far our favorite experience during our 10 days in Maui. I also don't want to overlook the comedian that the valet is!! What a perfect evening. Mahalo, Mala!! read more

Amazing food and great service. We had breakfast and returned for dinner on a different day. We will definitely be back here on our next Maui trip read more

I had eaten lunch at Mala several times before my last visit to Maui for my daughters wedding. This time the food was mediocre and the waitress who waited on us was quite rude. She asked if we were ready to order and I looked around the table to see if my family members were ready and the waitress said "am I the only one who speaks English here?". She was quite impatient and was a bad representation of the restaurant owner's motto of live Aloha. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Hate to say it but the food was bland and overpriced. Out of all the restaurants we've been to in Lahaina, this one was the most disappointing. I had the catch of the day fish and it was tasteless. My fiancé had the steak and he said it was fine, just not great. Not trying to be purposely harsh, only sharing my experience. Maybe this restaurant only catered to a certain crowd with specific tastebuds-just wasn't for us. On a brighter note, our waitress was great and the drinks were strong. read more

There's probably nothing better than having a meal right on the water. The Mai Tai was the best I've ever had, and being a vegetarian, their vegetarian bowl did not disappoint. I can see why their waiting times are so long, because the food and atmosphere are excellent, thus I recommend placing a reservation. The staff is wonderful and friendly as well. read more

By the water dining.. in Maui. Great food & service / this is usually one of our first stops every year when we land in Maui. Great spot to turtle watch while eating fresh Hawaii rolls, fish & drinks. read more

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Went here 7/25/2024. Family of five. Amazing!!! Eggs Benedict was gourmet, ahi poke was outstanding, made to order omelet was perfect, and Mahi Mahi as fish of the day was as fresh as can be. Service could not have been better. Every one of the workers were so friendly and so happy to have us as tourists coming back after the devastation last year. Best part is, of we keep our receipt we can use it for 20% off a return visit...we will be back again this trip! Parking was easy as well, even woth nearby construction. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Pic from our visit to restaurant. - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

All of our food was delicious and the server was great! Ordered waygu burger, Greek salad with Mahi Mahi. So good!

Mala is located right on the water, in the harbor, so expect some ocean scents while you eat. However, you can't be more modern beachy than this! Check out the view too. The food is wonderful, they serve breakfast through 2 PM... which suits this family just fine. Eggs, Benedict with ham, vegetarian, or ahi pokey with wasabi sauce...loved it! Hubby loved the fish and chips. Waitstaff super friendly and we were seated promptly- we alway make reservations though. Kids might struggle if they do not have a decent palate, so check the menu ahead of time. read more

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

Great food - loved the scallops with risotto it was excellent. My husband had the mahi mahi The views were special. So glad to see some restaurants coming back. read more

Everyone says to goto mamas fish house in Maui but we couldn't get a reservation, so we went with Mala. I can't compare them but I thought Mala was great! Everyone was happy with their meals and the view is awesome. I would go back if I ever visit Maui again. read more

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Exceptional experience. Quality food, kind servers, and a shore side dining experience that's unrivaled.

Went to Mala as we have been there before and loved it. Both of our steaks were cooked rare although we asked for medium. They put the same steaks on the grill again and they came back well done. Manager offered us desert that we didn't want as compensation. Really poor service by the manager and kitchen staff. Won't be going back much better restaurants on the island and better value read more

Ate here for happy hour and it was amazing!! The food was delicious and the ambiance was welcoming. They followed CDC regulations. I am glad this place was open during this pandemic. For the food, I would definitely recommend the ahi bruschetta!! They put a good amount of ahi on the bruschetta. The flavors on that was just delicious. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Seared Ahi Bruschetta - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Still hands down my faaaaaavorite restaurant on Maui. If I could eat anywhere on this island, this is the place I would choose every single time. Unfortunately I only get to eat here on special occasions (like my birthday or in this case, we came for our 10 year wedding anniversary) because it is a little on the pricey side. But it is 110% worth every single penny. If I could give any place more than 5 stars, this place would be it. As soon as you sit down, you get served thick and delicious tortilla chips with salsa and an edamame puree (its almost like an edamame hummus). So good. But try not to fill up on that (even tho it is extremely hard because it is so yummy) because what's coming next will be just as amazing. We have always ordered the ahi bruschetta as an appetizer and it never disappoints. Flax seed toast, edamame puree, tomatoes, and balsamic drizzled over. My main course has been the Balinese Stirfry. It comes with a generous amount of fresh fish, shittake mushrooms, edamame, snap peas, and a large scoop of brown wild rice on the side. So delicious. My husband got the Asian Fried Chicken which came with Molokai sweet potato, yum. He enjoyed that dish but did say it was a little hard to eat. My son loved his pasta with red sauce and I am surprised at how much he ate of that because he ate so much of the tortilla chips and edamame puree! Annie was our server on this particular evening and she was wonderful. Very nice, friendly, and personable. Definitely can't wait for another special occasion to come back and enjoy the food at my favorite place. Think I can talk my husband into coming for Brunch over the weekend? We haven't done that here in a while! Special Occasion brunch coming right up! read more

We called since we didn't have reservations and Sergio was very helpful in letting us know that walk ins are welcome (first come first serve) and also bar seating. Since we were coming in early didn't worry too much. They opened at 4pm and we got there 4:30pm and was immediately seated inside for two with a spectacular view. The hostess was super friendly as well. They will ask for your name and phone number for their records in case you leave anything behind - such as your payment. I guess it happens more than we know. We had Katie as our server and she was excellent. Prompt, attentive and boy she sure knew the specials and menu inside out! Super knowledgeable and informative. We started off with some cocktails. I'm am not much of an alcohol beverage person but tried their Ube Bang Bang and loved it - tasted like a nice shake. Husband got the Orange 45 (close to a classic old fashion). We ordered some pupus - sweet taro bread with honey butter! Not only was it cute but perfectly baked! Delightful bread - four buns. We ended up bringing two back with us. We also had the fish of the day poke with taro chip! The special fish was a Hawaiian fish raw Kajiki. It was da bomb. Kajiki has a mild flavor profile and cooks to a firm and flaky white meat. Many consider kajiki to be an even better grilling fish than swordfish. It is nearly as firm, but tends to have a more delicate taste. We shared a Greek salad which was huge portion that probably could be shared with 3-4 people! Super fresh and clean. For the main course we shared the seafood brodo (seafood stew) and rib eye steak perfectly cooked medium rare. Huge portions so obviously we were full after our pupus and salad so just ended up taking our main course and taking it back with us. Seriously two people can share one dish here and still be full. The seafood brodo broth was light and clean - very savory with enough seafood inside. The steak came with awesome truffle fries and kale salad with turnip. The view of the sunset and the ocean breeze made the dinner experience super satisfying. Staff was super attentive and Sergio walked around checking on customers experience etc. Highly recommend What a beautiful restaurant with excellent food and service! Mahalo! read more

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Great location with a table for two right next to the water, a shade sunscreen to filter the sun, perfect setting. Waitstaff Carlos and Jose absolutely rocked it. All food was prepared with love, we ordered craft cocktails, POG foam on the MaiTai was next level stuff. Loved the Calamari, Ahi bruschetta, and Seafood Brodo. Our best dining on Maui on this trip, hands down. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Seafood Brodo, very nice. - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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China, our server was friendly and kind. We stopped in for hearty appetizers on our way from the airport to our hotel. Live music, delicious Mai Tais, island ocean views and cool breezes. A perfect combination to begin our vacation! Thanks China - it was great. read more

Absolutely awesome. Best Oceanside food I have had in a long time, with excellent plating and balanced flavors it's hard to compete with this. Jake took care of us and was professional, detail oriented and made sure our anniversary dinner was special. Great ambiance! read more

We are from Nashville, TN. MALA was recommended to us by a friend who is from Maui. I hand down recommend MALA! Not only was our "Fresh fish catch" sandwich, which was mahi mahi, fantastic, but so was Dalia, who waited on us! Don't think twice; come and eat here and support the locals! We plan to come back before we leave! read more

First went here in 2019 and loved this place giving them 5 stars. Back in Maui and was looking forward to going back. The only reason I'm giving 3 stars is the food is still very good but the experience was not great. It's hard to get last minute reservations, so we ended up getting in at 8:15. There were only 3 or 4 parties coming that late and the big dinner crowd was passing us on the way in. Our server was awful. When we asked for recommendations, he was basically a "it's all good guy". In short, no help at all. After bringing the food, he did not check back. A random person asked how it was 1 minute after we got the food and tried nothing yet and I had to flag someone down to get another beer. He finally came back after we were done and asked if we wanted dessert. I told him we were considering it yet he neglected to bring us back a menu to even see the choices. The server and the rest of the staff were super focused on cleaning up and closing down. We were there for maybe an hour. My advice is stop taking reservations that late if you don't want to be there. You are making your customers feel rushed and unwelcome. We are paying the same money as those who got in at 6 or 7. The experience should be the same. read more

Had a great dinner last night. My only beef was when the bill came and there was a 4% "Kitchen Service Charge" at the bottom. Didn't see it anywhere on the bill nor did the waitress mention it. We love Maui and decided to come this year to support the island and we always tip 18-20% but this extra surcharge just rubbed me the wrong way. read more

Māla Ocean Tavern is a spectacular little restaurant located right on the waterfront. We had booked a reservation for 5:45 through our hotel the Four Seasons - we did have an issue when we had arrived that when we had gone to check-in for our reservation time, they didn't have anything for us on file (luckily we had our itinerary printed with the email confirmation from our concierge). The General Manager, Lisa, was able to get us a table inside at our allotted time, which we were very thankful. With this being said, you need to ensure you book a reservation beforehand. The restaurant does have a nice amount of outdoor seating overlooking the water but inside seating was very slim. Onto our drinks, appetizers, and dinner: DRINKS: 1. I had 2 Socks on the Beach - it was so light and refreshing, and came beautifully presented in a fall class with dried fruit as garnish. 2. My husband had 1 Lion's Tail and said it was incredible. It came in a smaller coupe but he said it was so smooth and refreshing as well. He also had a local beer and said that was great as well. APPETIZER: 1. Our waitress had recommended their house speciality Ahi Bruschetta. We had ordered 2 pieces of the bruschetta as opposed to the 4 piece option and while I wouldn't normally eat/order Ahi tuna, we ordered it and we're glad we did. It came on a stiffer bread with an edamame spread, tomatoes and the most light, flavorful, and thinly sliced ahi tuna on top. It was absolutely incredible. It was the perfect sized appetizer for 2 adults. The balsamic on top was slightly sweet which added so much flavor, and the ahi had a crust on the outside that was very complimentary to the fish. Highly recommend this as an appetizer. DINNER: 1. I had ordered the Seafood Brodo which was like a soup broth with couscous, prawns, clams, sausage and the best mini baguettes I've ever had. The broth again was light and very filling, and was a silky smooth. I'd highly recommend letting the mini baguettes soak up the broth and then eating them - they had a garlic aioli and were out of this world flavorful. Highly recommend. 2. My husband ordered the Catch of the Day - the fish was flakey and cooked to perfection. It had a squash purée I believe and that was also very complimentary to the dish. He said he would highly recommend as well. Overall we were very impressed with Māla Ocean Tavern from the food, to the drinks, to the wait staff, it was a wonderful experience and was the perfect restaurant to watch the sunset from. We'd go back again! *Pro Tip for Parking: there is a valet right next to the restaurant - so long as you are dining there, valet is free, you just have to provide your valet with a code from your server (don't forget to ask at the end of the meal). It's done off of an App, and you can request your car right after you finish. read more

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So glad that this restaurant was able to reopen. Ambiance, food and service were all outstanding. I forgot to take a photo of my food, but I ordered the pork shank and let me tell you, it was delicious!!! Didn't need a knife as the meat was tender. Wife had the seared ahi and she too said it was delicious. Would definitely recommend and return. read more

Such a beautiful spot! My (newly) fiancé and I sat outside just as the sun was setting and it was beautiful! The servers were so sweet and welcoming and very excited to celebrate our recent engagement. We got the mahi mahi, amazing sauce and cooked very well, plus we got a couple of oyster shooters which were recommended to us by our bed and breakfast host. Would certainly recommend and return. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - View from our table. - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

First time back to Mala Tavern. Very accompanying when we added 5th guest to the reservation at the last minute. Waterside dining. Jake , our server ; exceptional in every way. Food was outstanding but the seared ahi...., melt in your mouth . Will be back again read more

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Absolutely the best meal of this trip!!! The passion margarita was delicious and the best pork shank of any of the expensive restaurants in Maui! Spectacular view and great service! 10 stars if I could! Make a reservation early and enjoy the view! read more

The whole fish is very delicious. The catch of the day marlin fish is very firm and tasty. and our server Kat is excellent. She is very attentive to details. She really made a special birth dinner super special. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Whole snapper fish, very delicious! And Kat our server is of 5 stars rating! - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Friends invited us to Happy Hour at Mala and we jumped at it as we love the food here, plus we knew they were following a strict covid code to keep customers safe. We managed to nab a park outside on the street, and the greeter took us to our friend's table straight away. We were already wearing masks so they thanked us, and reminded us to wear them when we left, and if we visited the rest room, or walked around the restaurant. Not a problem, happy to oblige, we want everyone wearing masks so we can keep the community safe. We always wear them when we go out to a restaurant, store, beach walk, etc. Service was quick! I had hardly warmed the seat before I had a Mai Tai in my hand, at happy hour pricing which made it all the sweeter ;) I plumped for the calamari which was also on happy hour pricing, and it was a big serve of hot crunchy golden goodness...nom, nom, nom. Hubs went with the flat bread which was good, but not as good as my calamari...hahaha. The couple we were with chose the calamari and flatbread too. Everyone found their food finger licking good, and the cocktails were good, strong and flavourful, with a foam on the Mai Tai's. I don't know if Maui will close down again as numbers are spiking in the past few days,( it wasn't bad at all when we visited for Happy Hour - there hadn't been a case in over 2 weeks), but if you want to escape the Covid craziness and feel normal dining out you can't go wrong with Happy Hour at Mala's outdoor restaurant. read more

Just landed in Maui earlier today and came here for dinner. Saw the food reviews and photos and definitely wanted to try them out. Overall ambiance was cute and good, we sat right by the water and the service was great! We got the ahi bruschetta, seafood pasta, sautéed market fish and the huapai tart for dessert. The ahi bruschetta was awesome! Super delicious and flavorful. I had a bit of an issues with the seafood pasta, the first time around the pasta came out really sandy. Every bite I took there was several not normal crunches, loud enough for my friend to hear as I ate. And she tried it too and it was a weird sandy texture to her as well. I feel like maybe the clams were fully cleaned? Either way I told the waitress and they were super nice about it and made me a new dish. They said they took out the fennel this time and there was no more "sandy" crunches but I don't think fennel was the issue. The new pasta dish was much better. Flavor wise I feel it was good but not amazing. My friend liked the fish, she did feel it was a bit bland but the sides and potatoes made up for it in flavors. The tart was really good though! Love the sweet and tart mix of flavors. Overall the service and ambiance was great but the food was just ok (some super good and some meh) and I feel a bit pricey for what you are getting. read more

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Definitely have fish and not steak. Try to go before/during sunset to enjoy the view. Cute space, gorgeous views, good service

At first glance, the menu at Mala looks a bit average. But the food here is so amazing and elevated. The coconut shrimp comes with a Poquillo pepper coulis and mint Chutney. I've never had that before in my life...usually coconut shrimp comes with the same ol' sweet chili dipping sauce. This was special. The Greek salad has the most amazing house-made salad dressing. We also tried the eggs benedict with seared ahi & wasabi Hollandaise, it was delicious. The hash browns were perfectly cooked--golden brown on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The cocktails are made with fresh juice and the flavor conos are inventive and super yummy. Service was great on both our visits. read more

Mala Ocean Tavern - Eggs Benedict - Seafood Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

This place is fantastic and beautifully located right in the water so get the soothing sound of the ocean and the nice ocean breeze to keep you cool. Please do make reservation as is the safe way to get in. Dinner was amazing and our server super friendly and took her time explaining different things on the menu. Appetizers we had their seared ahi bruschetta and ceviche both were scrumptious , our dinner choices were fabulous and loved every bite of it. My husband told the restaurant we were celebrating my 40th bday so our amazing server brought a cute plate with their famous masaladas (Hawaiian donuts) with a caramel sauce and she even got us a free one. read more

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Perfect piece of paradise. Right on the water. Food so good. Open after the fires. Support their business.

Went on a Wednesday which is Date Night and they offer a 4 course menu for 2 for $75. Thought it was a great way to give Mala a try. Our original order was a 12 oz pork tomahawk and the catch of the day for the main entree specials. Our reservations were at 5:45pm. After we got our appetizer and salad, our server comes out and notifies us that the pork tomahawk was sold out and the only meat entree left was the New York Steak. We enjoyed the food and the ambiance in the new garden setting but we were so disappointed that the special was sold out so quickly by 6:30p. The manager kindly apologized and assured us it would not happen again and gave us his business card. Overall, it's a great place, food is good, but just dissatisfied from the fact that the special that we were looking forward to sold out so quickly. Also, Mala and Down the Hatch are owned by the same owners read more

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I never write reviews but this place deserves one. Sat at the bar and the bartenders were excellent, the food came quick, and the food was AMAZING. Such an awesome atmosphere too. If you're reading this come eat here every bad review is not real they're just plants from other competing restaurants trust me. read more