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Central Maui – is it a foodie destination? Yes indeed! It’s actually the perfect place to sample some local dishes and treats that you might not find in the resort areas of South Maui and West Maui.
This post is designed as a self-guided/DIY takeout food tour of Central Maui that I put together to explore some great spots in the towns of Kahului and Wailuku (aka Central Maui). It can be done in one day (if you have a huge appetite or if you have a solid eating partner at your side) or you can split it up into separate visits.
What’s even better is that this little food tour showcases restaurants and shops that won’t break the bank! As you probably know, dining out on Maui can be pretty spendy, so it’s always good to find those little mom and pops that are pushing out affordable and tasty food for locals and visitors alike.
If you’re interested in more about what Maui has to offer, be sure to check out my full Maui restaurant guide!
Read more about Maui’s food scene: A Guide to Maui’s Best Eats!
Below are five Central Maui foodie stops to try on your visit to Maui. I’ve listed them in the best order for visiting them in one day. Alternatively, you can split up stops and visit them in any order that you like!
Best Days to Visit These Restaurants
- Tuesday – Saturday (Saturdays are best to hit every spot on my list!)
- Many places are closed Sundays/Mondays
Stop No. 1: Dry Mein at Sam Sato’s
1750 Wili Pa Loop, Wailuku, HI 96793
First up is a stop at a true local gem – Sam Sato’s in Wailuku. While they serve a variety of items like breakfast plates, homemade manju, burgers, and other Hawaii staple dishes like chopped steak, I recommend getting the dry mein (aka dry noodles).
Dry mein (invented many years ago by one the restaurant’s Chinese cooks) is a simple dish with al dente saimin noodles, char siu pork, bean sprouts, and green onion, along with a small side of broth. Even though it’s simple, the flavors meld well together into a craveable savory bowl of noodles.
Sam Sato’s noodles are also made locally on Maui by Iwamoto Natto Factory in Paia. Buying noodles at Sam Sato’s = supporting two local Maui businesses!
For the takeout food tour, you only need the small dry mein even if you are sharing with another person (unless you want to have leftovers for later). Just make sure you get the broth! It makes it much easier to eat the noodles, in my opinion, and adds extra flavor.
Pack up your dry mein and head to the next stop (there will be tables here where you can sit and eat!).
Call ahead to Sam Sato’s when you are on your way. Waits can be long even if just ordering from the takeout counter, especially on Saturdays!
Stop No. 2: Ululani’s Shave Ice
Ululani’s | 50 Maui Lani Pkwy e1, Wailuku, HI 96793
The words “shave ice” are synonymous with Hawaii, as it is a well-known island treat. Ululani’s is a top spot for shave ice on Maui, with several locations on the island. Their pillowy soft ice and locally-made syrups are worth the visit!
The concept of shave ice was originally brought to the Hawaiian Islands by Japanese plantation workers who would chip ice off blocks and cover it with syrup or juice for a refreshing treat (called kakigori in Japanese). With all those hot Hawaiian days, I can definitely see why this refreshing treat made its mark and stuck around all these years!
Shave Ice Toppings
You can get real fancy with toppings, such as adding ice cream, Azuki beans, condensed milk, toasted coconut, mochi…you name it – the list goes on! I like to keep mine simple with ice, syrup and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
From Ululani’s, I got the lilikoi and guava flavors since those are two of my favorites. I tend to stick with tropical flavors when in Hawaii! The addition of the vanilla ice cream makes everything so creamy and extra delicious. If you aren’t lactose intolerant, I highly suggest you do the same!
Ululani’s Outdoor Seating
There are several outdoor benches and tables next to Ululani’s at the Maui Lani Marketplace in Wailuku, making it the perfect place to sit and feast on your noodles from Sam Sato’s and your refreshing bowl of shave ice. This, my friends, is a perfectly acceptable meal combo any day of the week.
Stop No. 3: Poke from Like Poke
Like Poke | 70 Lono Ave, Kahului, HI 96732
Visit Like Poke and order up a heaping plate of fresh Wasabi Shoyu Poke and Kim Chee Poke! The fish here is so fresh and cut into beautiful big chunks. In my opinion, this is definitely some of the best poke on the island. There are tables to sit at and eat or you can take it to go to the next spot to enjoy an extra treat at the same time.
Stop No. 4: Kau Kau Tins at Tin Roof
Tin Roof | 360 Papa Pl Ste 116, Kahului, HI 96732
Tin Roof is a special little place in Kahului that serves up bowls known as Kau Kau Tins of local-inspired foods created by Top Chef alum Sheldon Simeon. He and his wife run this ever-popular and always busy takeout spot in Kahului, pleasing the masses with affordable and flavorful food.
Order ahead online before you make your way to Tin Roof; otherwise, you risk waiting around a while as Tin Roof is very popular at any time of day!
Specials are released daily, which you can find on Instagram. Otherwise, they have a few staples you can always choose from on their regular menu, like the Mochiko Chicken, Chop Steak, Garlic Shrimp, and Pork Belly.
I highly recommend the Mochiko Chicken Kau Kau Tin: “Chicken thighs marinated overnight in ginger sake shoyu, covered in a sweet mochiko batter, then fried twice, topped with house-made su-miso sauce & gochujang aioli & mochi crunch dime bag mix” – per tinroofmaui.com.
The Kau Kau Tins are packed with food, so if you’re on my little takeout food tour, one is enough to split between two people – especially if you’ve already hit up all of the above!
Tin Roof Seating
There may only be a handful of small tables out front in the parking lot to sit down and eat near Tin Roof. Additional options for eating your food from Tin Roof:
- Eat in your car in true takeout fashion
- Head over to the Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary where there is a small little bench with views of the wild birds
- Make your way to the Maui Mall and find some bench seating (this will be the final destination on the food tour anyhow)
Stop No. 5: Tasaka Guri Guri
70 E Kaahumanu Ave, Ste C13, Kahului, HI 96732
The last stop on this little self-guided food tour of Central Maui takes you to Tasaka Guri Guri at the Maui Mall, which serves up one of my favorite childhood treats called guri guri! The Tasaka family has been operating their store for over 100 years, serving up guri guri for a large portion of that time. It’s a Maui staple.
Guri guri (originally called goodie goodie) is a cross between sherbet and ice cream, and truly is a unique find! The recipe for this one-of-a-kind frozen treat is known only by the Tasaka family themselves, so this is the only place in the world you can get a true guri guri.
They only serve two flavors here – pineapple and strawberry. I always get a mix of both! This is the perfect refreshing sweet treat to end a little takeout food tour, especially after the savories at Like Poke and Tin Roof.
Important: Bring cash! They do not accept credit cards here.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my takeout food tour of Central Maui! If you give it a shot, please do let me know in the comments below what your favorite spot was. Also, let me know if you ended up having to roll yourself home or back to your hotel after all the indulgence!
Happy Eating!
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