Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine presents the 2019 ‘Aipono Restaurant Award Winners
What’s in a name? In Hawaiian, ‘ai means “to eat,” and pono means “excellence.” Put them together, and you have an awards competition that honors the island’s best restaurants as voted by the readers of Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi. The ‘Aipono Gala raises funds for the University of Hawai‘i–Maui Campus Culinary Arts Program, and creates real-world mentoring for tomorrow’s chefs. The ‘Aipono Wine Dinner Series also benefits the program, while inviting you to explore a world of outstanding wines paired with special menus at ‘Aipono Award-winning restaurants.
SPECIAL AWARDS
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Japengo
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Kyle Kawakami – Maui Fresh Streatery
MAUI COUNTY FARM BUREAU’S FRIEND OF AGRICULTURE
Joey Macadangdang – Joey’s Kitchen
EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY
Fairmont Kea Lani
BEST OF CATEGORIES
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Gold Japengo
Silver Ka‘ana Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Lahaina Grill • Moku Roots • Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Gold Lineage
Silver Moku Roots
Honorable Mentions: Alchemy Maui Kombucha Bar & Café • Monkeypod Kitchen • Surfside Woodfire Pizza Kitchen
MOST “MAUI-EST”
Gold Mama’s Fish House
Silver Monkeypod Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Aloha Mixed Plate • Da Kitchen • Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
Gold Pita Paradise
Silver Pizza Paradiso Mediterranean Grill
Honorable Mentions: Café Des Amis • Habibi • Mala Ocean Tavern
BEST SERVICE
Gold Lahaina Grill
Silver Lineage
Honorable Mentions: Monkeypod Kitchen • Nick’s • Sea House Restaurant
BEST OCEANFRONT DINING
Gold Sea House Restaurant
Silver (tie) Mala Ocean Tavern • Mama’s Fish House
Honorable Mentions: Cheeseburger in Paradise • Japengo • Kimo’s
MOST ROMANTIC SETTING
Gold Merriman’s Kapalua
Silver Mama’s Fish House
Honorable Mentions: Japengo • The Mill House • The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
BEST LOCAL FLAVOR
Gold Aloha Mixed Plate
Silver Tin Roof Maui
Honorable Mentions: Down the Hatch • Lineage • Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST HEALTHY FARE
Gold Moku Roots
Silver Choice Health Bar
Honorable Mentions: A‘a Roots Maui • Farmacy Health Bar • Fork & Salad
BEST FARM-TO-TABLE CUISINE
Gold The Mill House
Silver Moku Roots
Honorable Mentions: Ka‘ana Kitchen • Lineage • Monkeypod Kitchen
MOST INNOVATIVE MENU
Gold Lineage
Silver Humuhumu
Honorable Mentions: Ka‘ana Kitchen • Mauka Makai • Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST BREAKFAST
Gold Kihei Caffé
Silver Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel
Honorable Mentions: Down the Hatch • Ka‘ana Kitchen • Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
Gold The Mill House
Silver Café O’Lei
Honorable Mentions: Leis Family Class Act • Monkeypod Kitchen • Star Noodle
BEST GRAB & GO
Gold Island Gourmet
Silver The Market Maui
Honorable Mentions: Honolua Store • Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop • Makana Market + Cafe
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Gold Monkeypod Kitchen
Silver Down the Hatch
Honorable Mentions: Grotto Bar • Pailolo Bar & Grill • Sea House Restaurant
BEST ASIAN CUISINE
Gold Star Noodle
Silver (tie) Japengo • Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Honorable Mentions: Miso Phat Sushi • Nuka • Morimoto
BEST SOUTHEAST ASIAN
Gold Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food
Silver Thai Chef Restaurant
Honorable Mentions: Maui Thai Bistro • Saigon Café • Thai Mee Up
BEST BURGER
Gold Cool Cat Café
Silver Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
Honorable Mentions: Dino’s Gourmet On-the-Go • Moku Roots • Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST HAWAI‘I REGIONAL CUISINE
Gold Mauka Makai
Silver (tie) Cane & Canoe • Kō Restaurant
Honorable Mentions: Ka‘ana Kitchen • Pacific’O
BEST PACIFIC RIM CUISINE
Gold Ka‘ana Kitchen
Silver Humuhumu
Honorable Mentions: Lineage • Roy’s • Spago Maui
BEST LŪ‘AU
Gold Old Lāhaina Lū‘au
Silver (tie) Drums of the Pacific • Feast at Lele
Honorable Mentions: Feast at Mōkapu, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort • The Grand Luau at Honua‘ula • Myths of Maui at Royal Lahaina Resort
BEST MEXICAN CUISINE
Gold Frida’s Mexican Beach House Restaurant
Silver Roasted Chiles
Honorable Mentions: Maui Tacos • Ono Tacos • Las Pinata’s
BEST ITALIAN
Gold Taverna
Silver Sale Pepe
Honorable Mentions: Casanova Italian Restaurant & Deli • Fabiani’s Bakery & Pizza • Matteo’s Osteria • Pūlehu, an Italian Grill
BEST PLATE LUNCH
Gold Da Kitchen
Silver Tin Roof Maui
Honorable Mentions: Aloha Mixed Plate • Auntie’s Kitchen • Honokowai Okazuya
BEST PIZZA
Gold Flatbread Company
Silver Prison Street Pizza
Honorable Mentions: Monkeypod Kitchen • Pizza Madness Maui
BEST NOODLES
Gold Star Noodle
Silver Thai Mee Up
Honorable Mentions: Mendo Maui • Thai Chef Restaurant • UMI maui
BEST FISH & SEAFOOD
Gold Mama’s Fish House
Silver Paia Fish Market Restaurant
Honorable Mentions: Down the Hatch • Humuhumu • Lahaina Grill
BEST STEAK
Gold Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Silver Duo
Honorable Mentions: Humuhumu • Monkeypod Kitchen • ROCKsalt
BEST SUSHI
Gold Japengo
Silver (tie) Miso Phat Sushi • Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Honorable Mentions: Morimoto • Nuka • UMI maui
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Gold Akamai Coffee Co.
Silver (tie) Honolulu Coffee Company • Maui Coffee Roasters
Honorable Mentions: Coffee Store, Napili • Mill House Roasting Co. • Sip Me
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Gold Maui Fresh Streatery
Silver Thai Mee Up
Honorable Mentions: Ono Tacos • Sea Salt • Sparky’s
BEST POKE RESTAURANT
Gold Auntie’s Kitchen
Silver Monkeypod Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Japengo • Star Noodle • ‘Ūmalu
BEST SHAVE ICE
Gold Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
Silver Breakwall Shave Ice Company
Honorable Mentions: Kō • Local Boys Shave Ice • Peace Love Shave Ice
BEST DESSERT
Gold Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop
Silver Mama’s Fish House
Honorable Mentions: Kō • Lahaina Grill • Mauka Makai
BEST BAR
Gold (tie) Monkeypod Kitchen • Down the Hatch
Silver Pailolo
Honorable Mentions: Lehua Lounge • Lineage • Taverna
BEST COCKTAILS
Gold (tie) Lineage • Taverna
Silver (tie) Inu Pool Bar at Westin Nanea • The Mill House
Honorable Mentions: Down the Hatch • Lahaina Grill • Lehua Lounge, Andaz
BEST LOBBY LOUNGE
Gold Botero Bar
Silver Lobby Lounge, Four Seasons Resort Maui
Honorable Mentions: Alaloa Lounge • Luana Lounge, Fairmont Kea
BEST WINE LIST
Gold Pūlehu, an Italian Grill
Silver Ka‘ana Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Lahaina Grill • The Mill House • Taverna
BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
Gold Down the Hatch
Silver Pint & Cork
Honorable Mentions: Monkeypod Kitchen • ‘Ūmalu • Zippy’s
BEST VIBE
Gold Monkeypod Kitchen
Silver Lineage
Honorable Mentions: Down the Hatch • Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop • Sea House Restaurant
BEST SPICY NIGHT OUT
Gold Lineage
Silver Thai Chef Restaurant
Honorable Mentions: Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food
BEST FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
Gold Merriman’s Kapalua
Silver (tie) The Mill House • Pacific’O
Honorable Mentions: Ka‘ana Kitchen • Kō • Monkeypod Kitchen
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