Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine presents the
2020 ‘Aipono Restaurant Award Winners
SPECIAL AWARDS
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Lahaina Grill
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Taylor Ponte – The Mill House (now closed)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Peter Merriman
MAUI COUNTY FARM BUREAU’S FRIEND OF AGRICULTURE
Chef Greg Gifford, Duke’s Beach House Maui
EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY
Kuʻia Estate Chocolate
MOST SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANT
Moku Roots
“BEST OF” CATEGORIES
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Gold Lahaina Grill
Silver TIE Kō and The Mill House (now closed)
Honorable Mentions: Fleetwoodʻs on Front St., Mamaʻs Fish House, Moku Roots, Japengo, Sea House Restaurant, Merriman’s Kapalua
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Gold Fond
Silver Tight Tacos
Honorable Mentions: Bap Paia, Vana, All Kaina Grindz, My Thai
MOST “MAUI-EST”
Gold Sea House Restaurant
Silver Joey’s Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Mama’s Fish House, Kō, Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST SERVICE
Gold Lahaina Grill
Silver Kaʻana Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Mama’s Fish House, Kō, Monkeypod Kitchen, Sea House Restaurant
BEST OCEANFRONT DINING
Gold Merriman’s Kapalua
Silver Sea House Restaurant
Honorable Mentions: Mama’s Fish House, Mala Ocean Tavern, Kimo’s Restaurant, Honu, Hula Grill
MOST ROMANTIC SETTING
Gold Mama’s Fish House
Silver The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
Honorable Mentions: Lahaina Grill, Fleetwoodʻs On Front St., Japengo, Merriman’s Kapalua
BEST CHEF’S TABLE
Gold The Mill House (now closed)
Silver TIE nyloS & Ka’ana Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Fond Maui, Lineage
BEST LOCAL FLAVOR
Gold Kō
Silver Da Kitchen (now closed)
Honorable Mentions: Monkeypod Kitchen, Lineage, Tin Roof Maui
BEST HEALTHY FARE
Gold Choice Health Bar
Silver Moku Roots
Honorable Mentions: Fork & Salad Maui, Down to Earth, Whole Foods Market, a‘a Roots Maui
MOST INNOVATIVE MENU
Gold Ka‘ana Kitchen
Silver Lineage
Honorable Mentions: Moku Roots, Star Noodle, Lineage, nyloS, Mauka Makai
BEST BREAKFAST
Gold The Gazebo
Silver Sea House Restaurant
Honorable Mentions: Kihei Caffé, Down the Hatch, Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop, Akamai Coffee, Sarento’s On the Beach, Pa’ia Bowls
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
Gold Monkeypod Kitchen
Silver The Mill House (now closed)
Honorable Mentions: Café O’Lei, Fleetwoodʻs On Front St., Seascape, Taverna, The Plantation House
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Gold Monkeypod Kitchen
Silver Down the Hatch
Honorable Mentions: Sea House Restaurant, Hula Grill, Three’s Bar & Grill, Pioneer Inn Grill & Bar
BEST ASIAN CUISINE
Gold Star Noodle
Silver Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Honorable Mentions: Miso Phat Sushi, Nuka, Japengo, Tanpopo Restaurant
BEST SOUTHEAST ASIAN
Gold TIE Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food & Thai Chef Restaurant
Silver A Saigon Café
Honorable Mentions: Lineage, Joey’s Kitchen, Thai Mee Up, Vidad’s
BEST BURGER
Gold Cool Cat Café
Silver TIE Teddy’s Bigger Burgers & Cheeseburger In Paradise
Honorable Mentions: Moku Roots, Taverna, Mala Ocean Tavern
BEST HAWAI‘I REGIONAL CUISINE
Gold Kō
Silver The Banyan Tree
Honorable Mentions: Mauka Makai, Hali‘imaile General Store, Merriman’s Kapalua, Lineage, Spago
BEST PACIFIC RIM CUISINE
Gold Japengo
Silver TIE Humuhumu & Roy’s
Honorable Mentions: Star Noodle, Mama’s Fish House, Lahaina Grill, Kō, Vana
BEST LŪ‘AU
Gold Old Lāhaina Lū‘au
Silver Drums of the Pacific
Honorable Mentions: Feast at Lele, Myths of Maui, ‘Aha’Aina Wailea, The Feast at Mokapu
BEST MEXICAN CUISINE
Gold Frida’s Beach House
Silver Amigo’s
Honorable Mentions: Maui Tacos, Roasted Chiles, Pinata’s, Acevedo’s Hawaicano
BEST ITALIAN
Gold Sale Pepe
Silver TIE Taverna and Matteo’s Osteria
Honorable Mentions: Bistro Casanova, Casanova Restaurant, Fabiani’s, Pulehu Grill & Bar, Ferraro’s Bar e Ristorante, Sarentoʻs on the Beach
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
Gold Pita Paradise
Silver Pizza Paradiso Mediterranean Grill
Honorable Mentions: Mala Ocean Tavern, Café Des Amis, Flatbread, Habibi on Maui
BEST PLATE LUNCH
Gold Aloha Mixed Plate (now closed)
Silver Da Kitchen (now closed)
Honorable Mentions: Tin Roof, Honokowai Okazuya, Maui Fresh Streatery, All Kaina Grindz, Nalu’s
BEST PIZZA
Gold Flatbread Company
Silver Prison Street Pizza
Honorable Mentions: Sale Pepe, Monkeypod Kitchen, Lahaina Pizza, Fabiani’s, Pizza Madness
BEST NOODLES
Gold Star Noodle
Silver Thai Mee Up
Honorable Mentions: Thai Chef, Sam Sato’s, Umi Maui, Nutchareeʻs Authentic Thai Food
BEST FISH & SEAFOOD
Gold Mama’s Fish House
Silver Honu Seafood & Pizza
Honorable Mentions: Japengo, Fleetwoodʻs On Front St., Mauka Makai, Kō, Sea House Restaurant, Pa’ia Fish Market Restaurant, Lahaina Fish Co.
BEST STEAK
Gold Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Silver Duo
Honorable Mentions: Lahaina Grill, Sonʻz Steakhouse, Merriman’s Kapalua, Fleetwoodʻs On Front St., Cane and Canoe
BEST SUSHI
Gold Miso Phat Sushi
Silver Japengo
Honorable Mentions: Nuka, Umi Maui, Morimoto Maui, Sushi Paradise, Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Gold Akamai Coffee Co.
Silver TIE Maui Coffee Roasters & The Coffee Store in Napili
Honorable Mentions: Honolulu Coffee, Mill House Roasting, Wailuku Coffee, Bad Ass Coffee, MauiGrown Coffee
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Gold Maui Fresh Streatery
Silver Thai Mee Up
Honorable Mentions: Ono Tacos, All Kaina Grindz, Keyakiya, Geste Shrimp
BEST POKE RESTAURANT
Gold Aloha Mixed Plate (now closed)
Silver Auntie’s Kitchen
Honorable Mentions: Eskimo Candy, Kō, Monkeypod, Japengo, Star Noodle
BEST SHAVE ICE
Gold Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
Silver Breakwall Shave Ice Company
Honorable Mentions: Local Boys Shave Ice, Gus’s, Kō, Down the Hatch, Peace Love Shave Ice
BEST DESSERT
Gold Mama’s Fish House
Silver Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
Honorable Mentions: Kimo’s, Lahaina Grill, Monkeypod Kitchen, Ka’ana Kitchen, The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
BEST BAR
Gold Down the Hatch
Silver Fleetwood’s on Front Street
Honorable Mentions: Umalu, Sea House Restaurant, Taverna
BEST HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS
Gold Monkeypod Kitchen
Silver TIE The Mill House (now closed) & Taverna
Honorable Mentions: Lineage Mala Ocean Tavern, Merriman’s Kapalua, Luana Lounge, Down the Hatch, Fleetwoodʻs On Front St., Lahaina Grill
BEST LOBBY LOUNGE
Gold Alaloa Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
Silver TIE Lobby Lounge at Four Seasons Maui & Botero at Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea
Honorable Mentions: Luana Lounge at Fairmont Kea Lani, Lehua Lounge at Andaz
BEST WINE LIST
Gold Lahaina Grill
Silver Fleetwoodʻs on Front St.
Honorable Mentions: Mala Ocean Tavern, Merriman’s Kapalua, Taverna, Sonʻz Steakhouse, Ka’ana Kitchen, Banyan Tree
BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
Gold Down the Hatch
Silver Pint & Cork
Honorable Mentions: Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar, Mala Ocean Tavern, Umalu
BEST FARM-TO-TABLE CUISINE
Gold The Mill House (now closed)
Silver Pacific’O
Honorable Mentions: Fork & Salad, Moku Roots, Banyan Tree, Merriman’s Kapalua, Ka’ana Kitchen
BEST GOURMET GRAB & GO
Gold TIE Tin Roof Maui & Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
Silver Island Gourmet Markets
Honorable Mentions: Whole Foods Market, Choice Health Bar, Honolua Store, Down to Earth
Past Winners: 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008
