Mala Ocean Tavern

Mala Ocean Tavern was amazing! Great service, great view (with an ocean breeze and perfect at sunset), and amazing food! We ordered the ahi bruschetta, ube bread, seared scallops, and steak. All dishes were delicious. We especially liked the ube bread and the bruschetta. Mai tais were also delicious! Make a reservation!

We had another great experience at Mala Ocean Tavern. I ordered the fresh fish sandwich with blackened mahi mahi and it was outstanding…..super fresh, perfectly seasoned, and cooked just right. My wife had the eggs Benedict with sausage gravy and couldn’t stop talking about how good it was. We also took advantage of the $7 mimosas, I had the hibiscus one and it was refreshing and not overly sweet. Perfect brunch drink. Our server, China, was amazing. Attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. The food is always fresh here, the ocean view is incredible, and it’s always a stop we make anytime we visit Maui. We’ll definitely be back.

During our January trip to Maui, we dined at Mala Ocean Tavern. The food was fresh and delicious, and the service was exceptional. We enjoyed freshly baked ube bread, served warm and flavorful. The surf and turf flank steak and grilled octopus were cooked to perfection. The highlight was the whole fried snapper, which exceeded our expectations. We will definitely return whenever we're in Maui.

Fantastic restaurant right on the ocean and in the heart of the unfortunate fires (2.5 years ago). Just outside of the seating area you can count many sea turtles bobbing along the lava rock shore. No swimming\snorkeling here. Great food. Solid service. Great coffee. : ) Not many restaurants due to the wildfire so this does stand-out for many reasons. Had to wait 20-30 minutes. Well worth the visit.

The food here is truly special—easily some of the best I’ve ever had. The ube bread was amazing: served hot and fresh, soft, and paired perfectly with the salted butter and honey dip—a truly divine combination. Their green curry was fantastic, with tofu, vegetables, rice, and a topping of plantain chips that added a delightful crunch. And the crème brûlée? Absolutely out of this world. The creamy texture paired with the caramelized bites was heavenly, with each bite perfectly blending creaminess and caramel for an extra-special touch. The service was good, though the restaurant was hosting a New Year’s event and seemed a bit distracted toward the end. We had to ask for our check multiple times, which took longer than expected. I understand it was a busy day, but even on hectic days, maintaining attentive service is important. Overall, this is a super nice place with fantastic food and good service. My only wish is that they offered more vegetarian options.

Mala Ocean Tavern: Fresh Flavors & Friendly Service I’ve visited Mala Ocean Tavern twice—for lunch in August and again for Thanksgiving, both experiences were excellent. The staff is genuinely friendly and attentive, making you feel welcome without being intrusive. The food is outstanding. The **Pan Fried Mahi Mahi** is so good I’ve ordered it both times. Served with Yukon mash, mushrooms, green beans, and a black bean garlic ginger butter sauce, it perfectly showcases fresh, vibrant flavors without being overdone. The **poisson cru** is another must-try—a refreshing Polynesian-style dish that captures the essence of island dining. For Thanksgiving, we enjoyed the pumpkin mochi crunch dessert, which was a delicious creative twist on seasonal flavors. The atmosphere is relaxed yet polished—perfect for both casual lunches and special occasions. If you’re in Maui, Mala Ocean Tavern is a must-visit.​​​​​​​​​

After a long first full day in Maui we showed up without a reservation (they prefer reservations). We were a bit underdressed, but starving after hikes and long driving around the island. The hostess was so kind in checking for availability for us. We got very lucky and she kindly sat us after 5 minutes. Keep in mind it's January, a "slower" time for vacationing - so we’ve been told ( our first time here). Our waiter was Joe. He was amazing. He Checked in on us & Gave us food recommendations. All of the food and drinks were brought to us in a timely manner. Food was delicious & fresh. I got the Seared Ahi & my partner got the surf & turf (rare). Both came out perfectly. For desert, the bread pudding, absolutely amazing. Highly recommend this place for a romantic night out or for any occasion.

Stellar dining experience. Run, don’t walk, for the ahi bruschetta. Unparalleled and consistently high quality. Coconut shrimp was piping hot with great coconut flavor that let the fresh shrimp taste shine through. The hummus with crispy chickpeas was creamy and flavorful. The ahi bruschetta was so awesome, I’m planning to return and eat only that. Fish sandwich with mahi mahi was great - my only tiny complaint was that the fries could have been a little more crispy. And the greens salad with sautéed shrimp was excellent! Can’t wait to come back!