We went there for a late dinner. Sat at the bar and had a great time. Our bartender (and server) was very nice and welcoming. Small-ish place, but it doesn't feel overcrowded; relaxed atmosphere. You'll even get the staff singing you Happy Birthday We tried an assortment of sushi and loved it. The biggest surprise was the calamari steak. Never had in that form/shape before and absolutely loved it. Must try for everyone! read more

We came back for a second visit because it was so great the first time. We started with a miso soup and spicy edamame. Both were great. I ordered a spicy yellowtail roll and yellowtail sushi, excellent again. My wife ordered the Japanese wings - again, they were terrific. She also ordered the spicy tuna on crispy rice. There were three of us so we also shared mackerel sushi yellowtail sushi and toro tuna sushi. Everything was excellent! read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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Food was an unforgettable experience for me. Getting to watch the elegance and precision that went along with the preparation of all my various nigiri was jaw dropping. I got the Uni, Tako, Anago, and Hamachi and I recommend all of them! Our server Dwayne was extremely quick, kind, and overall a dope ass person! Environment is great for friends and dates. I would say dressing nice is recommended as well. (i went in jorts and they still treated me as a quality customer lol) I will be going again tomorrow and I wish I could go every day until I die read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Duck Breast this was so good the sweet plum mashed potato's changed me as a person - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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We had such a great experience here! Our kids were still on California time so we came for "dinner" at 3:30PM. Lucky for us, that meant happy hour prices! One of my favorites was the salmon fried rice cake, which has onigiri vibes going in the crunchy pan fried rice. However unlike onigiri, the fish tops the rice patty instead of being enveloped by the rice as a filling. This is a must try! We also got the Wailea Rainbow roll, which was a whopping $40 but had incredibly tender and fresh fish. And for the kids, we got a bunch of California rolls, salmon avocado rolls, and spicy tuna rolls. The vegetable tempura was very good too and I liked how they included vegetables like purple yam which were more unusual. Service was so, so friendly. Even when my kids were making a ruckus, the waiter was so patient and helpful. We'll be back! . read more

Headed here for a generously timed happy hour- 12-5! - which has expanded from a previous 3-5 and replaced a locals discount. I'm vegetarian and there were good options: spicy edamame (savory, chili spiced and a good serving), fried Brussels (on the oily and charred side but very tasty), vegetable tempura (7-8 pieces, thinly sliced carrots, green bean, sweet potato, eggplant etc) served with a slightly sweet dip to name a few. The regular menu is also available which has avocado rolls, veggie rolls, cucumber roll, etc. My husband enjoyed the plentiful nigiri- fresh fish - and my daughter enjoyed a tamago roll. There's a kids keiki menu also with tempura chicken fingers. And the mai tai with coconut foam and fresh pineapple juice was great on a warm day after the beach. What was most impressive besides the good food and happy hour deals was the lightning fast service! Friendly and attentive and surprisingly fast despite an afternoon rush. Definitely worth a trip if you'd like good sushi! read more

I really enjoyed the Duck Breast with purple sweet potatoes. The wagyu is also amazing. My first time trying it and it melted like butter in my mouth. read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Ribeye with truffle brussels sprouts. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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This is a popular sushi spot. Only took half hour wait though. Excellent rolls. We got the specialty roll Spicy Crunch Dragon and it was amazing! We also got a free dessert with our Yelp check in. Love it! Love it all! read more

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BYOB! How did I not see any reviews that mentioned this is BYOB!??? Ok so the good news is that food wise this is close to 5 star. The service and timing can be improved upon. Got there and was told walk ins at the bar/sushi counter only. No problem for us. We chose bar because there is a little more room. "Bartender" was our server. Got us situated pretty quickly and since we had perused the menu we knew what we wanted. Started with a miso soup that was an extraordinary $8. I thought it might be a bay or a large bowl but it was just your average miso bowl. It came out very rapidly and was hot and DELICIOUS. Seriously good. Like worth the $8. The broth was deep and flavorful and there was a lot of tofu and fresh scallion. First negative: I asked the barkeep for soy sauce. When he brought it I tasted it and it was for sure low sodium. He told me I was wrong. I argued a bit because girl knows her soy sauce. It has no flavor and no salt. There is no shot it was full sodium soy. For dinner hubs got surf and turf and I got a spicy tuna roll sub soy paper. After my soup, the surf and turf came out pretty quickly. Portion sizes for the price were a little small but the smell was amazing. Rib eye was supposed to be medium and it was Med rare but no complaints by us when it's a little under. First few pieces were very fatty but hubs said it was delicious. Came with a chimmichurri sauce on the side that I literally could eat every meal the rest of my life with. It was soooo good. The mushrooms were big and meaty. Needed some salt. Negative 2- asked for salt and got these shakers that DUMP salt. See the photo where it's all over? That's AFTER you turn it and ruin your good. Poor design and had to wipe off our meal after that. Lobster side of the meal was poached and covered in this buttersauce. Also delicious. Plenty of sauce on the plate but you were happy with it because it was heavenly. Mashed taters under the proteins were fine. Nothing special. You'll notice, nothing about my sushi roll. That's because it still hasn't come out. Hubs was 10 min past finished when the barkeep finally delivered it. Certainly would have been nice to eat TOGETHER. Especially seeing as I was waiting for a roll. That's negative 3. The roll itself was basic. Super crunchy cucumber, flavorful tuna that wasn't so smothered I. Aioli you couldn't taste it. Some avo would have been Nice but the fish was very good. Roll was loose and not as well constructed as it could have been. Also, my last 2 pieces had half the tuna they should have had. Notice the side by side of the middle piece and the end piece. I didn't get ginger or wasabi with my sushi. I tracked down a busser though and he brought me a heaping pile. The ginger was cold and spicy. Very good. Backtracking, while I was waiting for my roll I observed the bartender mixing up mock tails. Looks like he needs to work on his pours. Some martini was only half filled at best and a green drink in a hurricane but was half filled as well. Made up for it in whipped cream but I'm sure those drinks aren't cheap and should be full. Negative 4 was when we got the check. There is a 4% "kitchen charge". When I asked about it the bar guy said 'it's a tip that goes straight to the kitchen. We have always done it'. Always is an interesting use since they've been open less than 6 months. I didn't see notice of it anywhere and I thought it was weird. Why am I tipping the kitchen? It's their job to make food. Also, what about the sushi guys? Do they not get tipped? I mentioned it was weird and he aggressively offers to remove it. His voice dripping with disdain. I said he could leave it but that it was weird. Overall, the food here is great from a flavor standpoint . The bartender needs some polishing and the timing of service could be better. So some minor tweaks. But since it's a new place hopefully that all falls into line. read more

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Absolutely incredible experience!!! Everything was DELICIOUS, the staff were SO friendly, and the ambiance was so comforting & relaxing. Every moment was wonderful.We will be coming back next time we are in Maui! Thank you so much OaO team!! read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Sashimi, wings.. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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This is my 4th time dining at Oao. If you haven't been they have an amazing one Happy Hour from 12 pm - 5 pm. Wait what?!! The fish was incredibly fresh, and each piece of sushi was crafted with precision and care. The ambiance was quaint, cozy and relaxed, making it a perfect spot for both casual lunches and special dinners. The staff were always attentive and knowledgeable, adding to the overall exceptional dining experience. Whether you're a sushi aficionado or just love great food, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommended! read more

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New-ish restaurant in a small but nice strip mall in Wailea. They don't yet have a liquor license but for now it's BYOB. Restaurant is small to medium in size and is slightly loud but not in a bad way. Servers were very friendly. Food is fantastic! Poached lobster dinner was amazing. Spicy edamame as an app was so good we destroyed the large serving quickly. More than enough for 2 people and probably enough for 4 to share. Place is so good we're going back tonight to try the sushi. The Doctor ( NMD) highly recommends Oao for a great dinner at prices much better than hotel restaurants. read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Poached lobster w mushrooms. Large amount of lobster meat. Amazing flavor. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Good little gem in Wailea. They have Happy Hour everyday from 12-5pm. However it's pretty much the same price as regular hours. Besides the high price point you will get fresh fish, delicious sushi rolls and appetizers like oysters, hamachi carpaccio was fresh, tempura was lightly floured, fried to perfection, was good and delicious. Everything we ordered was fresh and good. Definitely can taste the quality here. The spicy hand rolls were not spicy so you will have to ask for siracha or have them add some chili peppers to it. The server said they don't make anything spicy here even though it's called spicy whatever on the menu. Overall, the ambience was good, server was nice. Hopefully they bring down the price to create a better value for Happy Hour. read more

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My family and I dined here twice during our Maui trip. The fish were amazing. My wife and I tried many sushi places over the years and the bluefin tuna here is probably the best we've ever tasted. Like absolutely the best bluefin tuna. read more

Was planning to make a spot at the Monkeypod that's in the same strip mall as this place but b/c of the reviews (and cheaper prices) I decided to give this place a shot - and I'm glad I did! The sushi is about as fresh as it can be - so much so, I ended up coming back a second time later in the week! read more

I do love this place and their staff too. I'm a little overwhelmed by their use of lobster tempura in so many rolls but maybe they'll get over this. It's not like Maui has lobsters, why is it such a dominant ingredient?. Highly recommend the carpaccios and sashimi. The fish tastes very fresh. Loved the rolls and hand rolls. The Fried calamari steak strips were decent. Note to self: their Japanese highball is too sweet so skip that unless you can ask them to tone down the sugar. And if this is any indicator, maybe ask them to reduce sugar and whatever cocktail order. read more

Decided to come for happy hour with parents and the ambiance is great.I like the simple vibe Very casual. Prices were decent for happy hour. Staff are attentive and knowledgeable. However,I do see some staff with gloves walking back and forth from the back room to the sushi counter. Felt like gloves should only be used when touching food, not cabinets, etc. Their happy hour Sashimis are great and tasty. Hand cut rolls are not bad as well. read more

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I had high hopes as someone I follow had described it as the best fish they've ever had outside of Japan. Unfortunately this wasn't my experience. I got the chef's choice 10 piece nigiri combo for $65 but the chef didn't take the time to describe any of the nigiri. Luckily I could recognize most of them. I would say 50% was tasty and 50% meh, the nigiri I liked best was the toro, salmon, and unagi. I had a unagi hand roll too for $13 and that was very good. Their special rolls seem overpriced at $30+, they better be huge to justify that! I sat at the sushi counter but still had minimal interaction with the chef. There is free parking right in the mall area. read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - 10 pc Nigiri combo for $65 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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A hidden gem in the wailea gateway center. Sushi were excellent while the staff were friendly. It was unfortunate that I didn't get to experience omakase. read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Sushi was amazing, staff are warm and welcoming. Whole experience was 5 stars. Chef J.R. and our server Jerome were awesome. read more

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I was impressed with this place. Wasn't expecting to actually love their sushi menu. The whole menu set up reminds me of Morimoto Maui. There's regular food and sushi. Everything I ate was sooo good and fresh. Salmon, Hamachi, Ikura nigiri , baked mussels, rock shrimp tempura, soft shell crab roll , oao roll was all sooo good and fresh. The service was good too, they were always so attentive and making sure we were doing okay. The environment was actually too loud for me. I felt like I was in a bar and not a restaurant setting. The tables was too close to each other you can feel the others/strangers breathing. Hahaha. read more

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Amazingly fresh fish. The sashimi combo was so good I almost ordered two. Pro tip get a side of sushi rice to dabble in. We also had an amazing special roll with three types of tuna. The cocktails were perfection as well. We sat at the bar and it was super chill only complaint was the AC was blasting but that's obv a personal thing - but bring a jacket! read more

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Food quality and taste is amazing at this new restaurant. Our first dining experience was so good we went again a second time within a week. Elevated sushi menu compared to their food truck (Oao Sushi Go) menu as well as many other non-sushi dinner options offered in the restaurant. Freshest ingredients in all the dishes, especially the ahi in the hand rolls. Spicy Tuna Rice Cakes were a favorite at the table and we placed multiple orders for them during both visits. Flavor combinations were uniquely delicious especially the yuzu dressing on the spinach dry miso salad with crispy leeks. The poached lobster was my favorite and the best I've ever had - lobster tails perfectly cooked and served with miso compound butter and bernaise sauce. The combination was fantastic. Service was friendly and attentive even during the busiest time of the evening. All employees were friendly, plenty of smiles, not just our server. Makes a difference in the dining experience when the staff enjoys being there. They didn't have their liquor license yet since they are newly opened but allowed guests to bring their own alcohol in the meantime. Small inconvenience and worth it for the excellent food and service which is lacking in a lot of places these days. Location is in a small strip mall in Wailea. Interior is fairly casual with wood chairs and tables, a sushi bar where one can sit, and a small cocktail bar where one can dine and "drink". It's not a large interior and the crowd outside looking to get in was large the both times we were there for dinner, so reserve or arrive early to get a table. read more

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Celebrated our twins birthday dinner here (at their request). We had a fantastic meal, including chatting with the owner (JR). The firecracker roll and hamachi jalapeño rolls were my favorite. They are large portions so plan accordingly. Our server, Ronson, was great and a really positive vibe. A must go to every time we visit Maui. read more

My friend took me here for my bday when they first opened. The vibe and food quality was great, personally, is the price match the food? Little over the top but overall it was great. read more

Friendly and awesome service! Great, quality food and varied menu. Something for everyone. Four of us enjoyed sushi and two non seafood diners , truly enjoyed their sides and prime ribs: We will want to visit again. The restaurant was decorated nicely and clean. Make reservations. The restaurant is small and extra busy! read more

Amazing sushi! Fresh fish, tender sticky rice. Fast service. Casual atmosphere. The place was already busy at 4:30 pm for dinner, so I think that tells you something. In the same shopping area of Wailea as Monkeypod, which I reviewed earlier. read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

We were expecting something special and everything was very mediocre. Spicy tuna roll was mushy and almost inedible. Rock shrimp tempura tasted like it came from a chain restaurant and miso soup out of a box. Wine list is very compact while they have an extensive selection of sake. Would not come back, too many other sushi spots on the island. read more

Upscale dining, good service, and excellent food - we came at an odd hour in the middle of the afternoon, so pretty much had the place to ourselves. We ordered the broccolini, spicy hamachi, spicy crunch dragon roll, and grilled lamb. It's super expensive but everything was delicious. In particular, the grilled lamb was melt-off-the-bone tender and moist. The spicy crunch dragon roll was phenomenal- the crunchy tempura mixed with the (I can taste the ocean) freshness of the spicy tuna and perfectly flavored with the aioli and unagi drizzle. Divine! read more

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Great service and excellent food! Anything i ordered on the menu was so tasty and fresh! Even the match green tea panna cotta was out of this world! Highky recommend it in wailea! Cant wait to try the Kahului restaurant once it opens. Happy hour is long too from 12pm to 5pm. Try it uou qont regret it! read more

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4.225 stars. So hard to rate this restaurant as the food was excellent, the service was decent and the pricing was crazy! The sushi and sashimi is excellent, on par with the best places in San Diego where I'm from, but Oao loses a star due to its insane pricing. I'll go into detail. We are used to things being expensive as we live in apparently the most expensive city in the country. We aren't sticker shy when we eat out, but $48 for a roll and $95 for a sashimi platter is pretty much double of anything I've seen anywhere. When you are spending this kind of money ($100-150 a person for sushi) I expect a higher level of ambience and service. The restaurant is set up like a fast casual chain maybe a chipotle or something like that with standard quick service restaurant tables and chairs, no tablecloths, no partitions between patrons, etc. Service was friendly, but after coming from Mama's fish house with similar pricing and perfect service, we found it lacking for a fine dining establishment. They didn't take away menus, refills had to be requested, they gave us disposable chopsticks and napkins, plates were not cleared at the end of the meal, etc. Now, for the good part, the food (which is why we eat out!). The hamachi carpaccio ($25) was fresh and delicious, the sashimi ($95) was fresh and tasty (please work on presentation), and the rice cakes were so good! We also had two rolls, the Alaskan something and the Emperor Tuna ($33-49) rolls which were phenomenal. They should have priced these around $25 and the sashimi around $50-60. The ube pot de creme and the matcha panna cotta ($14 each) were excellent. On top of the insane prices they add a 4% service charge which they do all of the time in SoCal but when prices are already inflated it adds to the eyeballs emoji. I did not tip 20% because I didn't think that the level of service we got added up to that dollar amount but overall very happy we went as the food was excellent. I am unsure if we will return in the future the pricing was so off. read more

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I wanna start with the Ambience of this place, for me idk about others but this place was too crowded/loud to my liking it felt like I was at a bar? Then an actual sushi restaurant. Service is on point though, They took our drinks order and starters which usually some restaurant forgets they also provide a cup for your drinks bought from the store lol BYOB! Sushi was good and fresh, forgot what we order since this was a while ago , just reviewing what I remember now, they also do serve regular food. Will be coming back again for sure. Good job Oao. read more

This place is phenomenal. Some of the best sushi rolls. The edamame was really delicious as well. Great great drinks. Good cocktail menu great service. Everybody was friendly very welcoming. Will be coming back here all the time. If I lived here, I will be back the next time I come to Maui !!! Forget nobu lol and come here. read more

Great sushi spot! Hubby and I dined here with 3 other couples (we're all here vacationing together) and the service and food were fantastic. Hubby had the surf and turf (lobster and steak) and it was amazing. I had the Alaskan king crab roll and the rainbow roll and they were fab. Everyone in our group raved about their food, actually. This place is a winner for sure! Update: we went back again a few days later and I had the surf and turf and it was UHHHMAZING!!! read more

I love sushi and eat it pretty often, so I was excited to try Oao. Located in a strip mall, I expected the sushi would really shine, as the ambiance could have been found in any city in the US, and the place was rated super highly on yelp. I sat at the sushi counter, and the fish on display were gorgeous, especially the salmon. The chefs didn't interact with you, though, and I was pretty glad of it, because the one standing right in front of me making my sushi was glassy-eyed and sniffling the entire time. I felt super uncomfortable. I got a couple nigiri, which were fine, and one of the special rolls, also fine, but not spectacular. Neither was memorable or made in a unique way, as one might hope to try on Maui. The matcha hot tea was nice. All of the special roles are tempura-based--not really my style... All in all, even knowing island pricing well, the prices were exorbitant for a sushi experience that was bland and average. It was filling at least, and I was glad I hadn't ordered anything else--I was eager to get out of there as fast as I could because I didn't wanna catch a cold from the chef who was standing across from me. When they brought by the check, the suggested tips ranged (if I remember right) 25-35%. I thought, you've gotta be kidding me--I interacted with the server once and only interacted with the chef to accept the two dishes when they were passed to me. On the positive side, the place was clean and comfortable, and the presentation was nice. But still...was like any sushi restaurant on the mainland, but more expensive and not special. Overall, I was disappointed and won't be back. read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Hamachi Serrano Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Wow the food was amazing and I had the best cod in my life!!! Service amazing and food was coming soooo fast. I loved this place n 100% recommend. We had 2 sushi 1cod, 1 miso and one yellow tail for 110$. Superb read more

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I am truly SO satisfied with the quality of food AND service at this establishment. The atmosphere at Oao is so friendly and fresh. Those that work there make the environment so positive and happy. You have to try hamachi carpaccio and the sashimi trio. The oysters are FREAKING DELICIOUS! WOW level 10/10 read more

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Parking: easy and free parking lot Location: all the way in Wailea, not hard to find. It is located in Wailea Gateway and it is a corner restaurant. Ambiance: little more dressy casual but then again, it's Maui so wearing casual clothing like beach shorts and slippers are okay. But it's NOT the place to wear just bikini or be topless. Be respectful of others who are there for a nice dinner. Service: I came in during their grand opening so giving them some slack with orders that has been confused and we had to let our waiter know that we did not order certain things or we were still waiting for some dishes for a while. But overall, staff were very nice and attentive. Food: fresh fish, creative specialty rolls, tasty sides like the edamame sauce and the grilled lime over shishito peppers. We ordered the Big Eye Tuna, Hamachi Carpaccio, Oao Baked California Roll, King Dragon, Wailea Rainbow, Uni nigiri, Spicy Hamachi hand roll Overall, food and service was great but minus one star because I personally don't think the price is worth it. But I guess I also gotta understand fish prices fluctuates a lot too. read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Sushi bar + tables - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

The best sushi here! Located in a shopping center, this place is where any sushi lover should go! Everything was fresh. Everything was presented beautifully and it was an experience. Our service was amazing. The ambience was great. You must come here and experience this restaurant! 10/10 for everything! read more

Everything about this place was amazing. The drinks, the sushi & the service were all great. The uni we had was the best uni we have ever had. 10/10 I cant wait to come back! read more

Oao - Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea - Shishito peppers & love potion drink - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Amazing sushi and rolls . Service was amazing as well!! Best sushi we had during our trip to Maui!,