Great fresh sushi, service was on point & staff was very kind. Small place to dine in so try & make reservations.

Dinner at Oao Sushi and Grill was a delicious and delectable experience ~ well worth the drive to Wailea. Nicely located in Wailea Gateway with plenty of parking, we were warmly greeted by a very attentive staff. Upon entering, the interior is nicely laid out, relaxing, comfortable, well lit, and we knew a wonderful evening was ahead. There are comfortable tables, an attractive and inviting sushi bar with a Full bar and a very creative selection including Japanese scotches and craft cocktails. The Lilikoi martini was excellent as was the Shiso Spicy cocktail. It was so refreshing to see these options rather than just beer and sake. Brianna was our knowledgeable and friendly server. The Oao menu features not only tasty appetizers and nice variations on traditional sushi, rolls and cooked dishes, but offers several fusion dishes to create a tantalizing number of choices that warrant return visits to try. The Hamachi carpaccio was excellent, and the spicy tuna rice cakes were some of the best we've had with high quality rice. Black mussels with dynamite sauce was so tasty and the Black miso cod with pickled red onions had a generous portion. The duck breast with mushrooms, bordelaise sauce on a bed of buttery Molokai sweet mashed potatoes was a nice fusion dish. We ended with their Oao baked California roll which melted in your mouth. We cannot wait to return to try Oao's version of seafood dynamite, lamb with red miso, Wagyu beef, stuffed shrimp and Ube pudding as well as taste the fine Japanese whiskeys. Delicious food, great ambience Oao is Wow! read more

Excellent service and delicious sushi, would recommend a reservation for busier season

We've been going here since it opened and always impressed with the quality of the food (the sushi & omakase is killer!) and friendly service. read more

Last minute dinner plans with visiting friends brought us here. I thought the name "Oao" was a play on the expression "Oh, wow" but it's actually the last name of the chef & owner. He started off with a food truck and added this brick & mortar in late 2022. ATMOSPHERE: Located in the Wailea Gateway mall, I didn't step foot inside as we had a quiet & peaceful outdoor table. No breathtaking views here. RESERVATIONS: Recommend as they're pumping! PARKING: Free but can be at a premium as the mall also houses popular eatery, Monkeypod Kitchen. MENU: Izakaya-style apps, sushi & Japanese-influenced entrées. Currently BYOB. FOOD: Fried Brussels Sprouts - $15.00 Simply seasoned with salt, there is no additional drizzle like many places do, so you get a pure & natural-tasting veggie dish. Rock Shrimp Tempura - $24.00 Similar to popcorn shrimp, the shell-less pieces of breaded shrimp were crispy, sweet & savory. Pricey for the minuscule portion. Shishito Peppers - $11.00 Don't let the three listed seasonings woo you as they simply tasted like grilled peppers with no wow-factor. Spicy Tuna Rice Cakes - $18.00 (3 pcs.) We were a party of four so we asked for an additional piece. Our friend ordered this and I was thinking "WTF?" Insert foot in mouth as I loved it! The chewy & crunchy rice cake was an ingenious play on plain ol' boring rice! Excellent textures & flavor. Surf & Turf - $60.00 (entree) I despise when "surf and turf" includes shrimp. Here, you get a lobster tail. My only grievance was that it came smothered in béarnaise sauce which overpowered the natural sweet flavor of the crustacean. I'll take clarified butter any day. The prime ribeye was tasteful but also came lathered in a sauce of bordelaise. So, I had no use for the side of chimichurri which probably would've been a better accompaniment. Purists will balk. I did love the chunky mushrooms and simple mashed potatoes. Surf & Turf (Specialty Roll) The spouse's dish. "Good and creative" was the feedback I received. SERVICE: Brianna took excellent care of us. Friendly, knowledgeable and professional! TIP: There was a free dessert with Yelp check-in but I spaced. OVERALL: I love it when food trucks spawn sit down restaurants. read more

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This is a very Wailea sushi bar. This is where good sushi meets Wailea vibes - and prices. I said "oh Wow!" When I saw my Oao bill. That's the Wailea pricesI think because as a sushi lover I couldn't identify anything that explained the price difference from other sushi spots on island. Drinks were delicious and also very high end Wailea. Cold a/c good service. This is probably a one and done for me but if you are craving sushi in Wailea worth checking out just be forewarned price wise. read more

Fresh sushi, tender steak bites, and the aloha spirit = perfect date night on Maui! This was our second time here, and as residence we really enjoy coming here for fresh, but light fare. The customer service is amazing, we scheduled a reservation in advanced, and they really exhibited the Aloha spirit over the phone when they were taking our order all the way to when we pay the bill. read more

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Had a great last dinner in Maui at Oao, thanks to the recommendation of a local. The restaurant was in a plaza, and the place was very small but trusted the referral. We ordered drinks and were told of the specials of the day, one being a wagyu and crab roll if I recall for $60ish bucks but when on vacay, yolo! It was tasty but honestly I've had better for far cheaper but the experience was great. We also shared an app and the duck entree which was very yummy. We ended up spending a pretty penny which I feel like didn't hit the mark, but the experience on this beautiful island was a 10/10! read more

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So glad we ventured off our resort to try this sushi restaurant. The fish was fresh and delicious. We were able to enjoy both the HH menu and dinner menu. Mai Tai was delicious. Sizzling beef was part of HH and I would recommend it. I will go back next time we are in Maui. read more

We called Oao to make reservations for a party of eleven for Sunday evening. We were greeted at the door and seated upon arrival. Our server Iggy was awesome. He was quick to take our drink and food orders. Our appetizers, sushi and entrees came out in a timely fashion and we happily ate it all. Appetizers: Hamachi Carpaccio - must have Shishito peppers Grilled Corn Cob (requested togarashi butter sauce on the side) Sushi: Shrimp Tempura Soft Shell Crab Spicy Hamachi Rainbow Roll Spicy Tuna Entrees: Black Cod Stuffed Shrimp Grilled Lamb The food was served hot and everything was delicious. No leftovers! We celebrated birthdays and got ube pot de creme and mochi ice cream with candles. Ande(front of the house), Iggy and staff were so friendly. Dinner service was seamless. If you're visiting South Kihei or even staying in another part of Maui, you need to check out Oao. Reservations can be made on Opentable. For larger groups,  call the restaurant. Check Oao out on Facebook and Instagram for specials. read more

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I was, again, craving authenticity in poke and revisited this popular food truck on Piikea Ave. The Hawaiian poke bowl ($24.50) was a very good portion. It's not overloaded with extras and the rice has the chef's signature taste. Fresh tuna. Quick service. Gotta go!! read more

Oao - Hawaiian poke bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Tried 5 different rolls, all were amazing. Service was quick and friendly as always when I come here. Me and my ladies favorite food items are the rock shrimp and the Hamachi Kama. She loves the petals in the wind drink (I do too it's dangerously good). If you have time I'd definitely recommend this place 100% of the time. read more

I came here for my birthday dinner on a whim after our driver recommended this as the best sushi on the island. Boy was he right! Traveling from LA I would like to think we have some delicious sushi spots it couldn't beat but I was completely wrong. We sat at the sushi bar right in front of Chef Johnny and Tak which by the way made our experience unforgettable alongside our waiter Ranson. The attention to detail as well as the hospitality these three provided I will continue to make this a spot everytime I am in Maui. Thank you for making my birthday dinner on the island unforgettable! I will definitely be back in December. Great service, amazing food and a throwback playlist! 20/10 read more

Oao - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Loved this place! Sushi chefs and servers were very friendly and gave great recommendations. We had several rolls but my favorite was the Tuna Emperor, the miso soup was very flavorful. Sake menu had a lot to choose from. A little on the pricy side but what isn't?! Smaller restaurant so reservations are highly recommended. We were able to sit at the bar after a 10min wait. read more

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Best sushi I've ever had. No question about it. I've been eating sushi for 30 years. The taste, the pairing, the detail, the fresh hand made wasabi and sauces...absolutely amazing. read more

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

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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wow! Reading all the reviews-saying great! AND to be fair had a great review from our son-in-law about this sushi place...so not sure what happened when we were there?? we came in early [ 30minutes after opening ] so maybe that was the issue? Only one couple was there. we waited for a few minutes before one of the MANY milling about employees acknowledged us ...before seating us. Waited another appro...15 minutes+ before finally asking the busser if he could get our server. We had to find our own second set of chop sticks and a second small dish for soy and wasabi... sushi arrived quickly and was good... thought about ordering more but decided against it after we had to wait and yet again - working to get the attention of our server to order. i have mixed feelings about writing this review- because the food was good... but we will not be back. The environment - for us- was not welcoming, at all. We are locals but do not look like locals...so was that it?? The entire experience was too weird for me. There is more to a place of business than just the product... how you treat your customer matters. 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 Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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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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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 - 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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Spicy tuna rice cakes!!! Happy hour 12-5. A few bucks off select items and 30% off cocktails. Swanky sushi bar with upbeat music and modern flare. Host said to call if their online reservation system says full - it might not be accurate. read more

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

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 - 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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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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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 - Ribeye with truffle brussels sprouts. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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This place was so good. We experimented with many happy hour appetizers and sushi rolls and they were delicious. Try rice cakes they are not what you think, amazing. 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 - 10 pc Nigiri combo for $65 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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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 - Sashimi, wings.. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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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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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

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 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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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