Maui Thai Bistro
About
Spice and Tradition in South Maui
Walking into Maui Thai Bistro feels like stepping away from the sun-drenched beaches of South Maui and into a refined, aromatic space where the focus is strictly on the balance of Thai heat, sweetness, and acidity. Located right in the bustling commercial core of Kihei, this spot serves as a reliable anchor for locals craving a fix of authentic spice after a long afternoon near the Pacific.
What to Expect on Your Plate
Chef Pailin Chongchitnant’s influence is felt throughout the menu, which leans heavily into complex curries and house-made sauces. The standout is undoubtedly the Pad Thai, prepared with a proprietary tamarind glaze that avoids the cloying sweetness found in lesser versions. If you lean toward the bold, the drunken noodles arrive with a distinctive wok-charred aroma that sticks to your clothes in the best way possible. Expect generous portions of jumbo prawns and local vegetables that hold their crunch.
The Kihei Atmosphere
The dining room maintains a polished, modern aesthetic that manages to stay comfortable despite the heavy tourist traffic that flows through Kihei. You will hear the rhythmic clatter of woks from the open kitchen, adding a sense of theater to the meal. While the space is inviting, be prepared for the acoustic reality of the room—it can get quite energetic and loud during the evening rush. Parking in this specific plaza is notoriously competitive, so leave yourself a few extra minutes to navigate the lot. It is an ideal venue for a mid-week dinner with friends who appreciate a high standard of consistency and aren't afraid of a little extra chili oil on the table.
Amenities & Features
Location
2439 S Kihei Rd #103b, Kihei, Hawaii, 96753-7283
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Reviews
Showing 10 of 685 community reviewsAhmed AlrahbiGoogle Maps
Recently
One of the best Thai restaurants I’ve ever had..amazing service taste food and big portion ..
Linda SuskieGoogle Maps
Recently
Wonderful meal with great service! Good size portions. Note that rice is extra. We didn't want much so we shared a small bowl.
Sue MerrittGoogle Maps
Recently
Best Thai food not only on the island but probably all of the USA. Make sure you get the short rib as the protein. It’s tender and no fat on it. Love the Kalua pork spring rolls and the Mac nut Penang curry with short rib is totally the best
Rahul AnjamaniGoogle Maps
Recently
We went around 7:30 PM for dinner and we were able to get seats right away. Service was good and the waiter helped us to choose the dish to our liking. Yellow curry was on point. Tom Yum fried rice was good. Chicken Pop was nice as well. Definitely a good place to indulge in Thai food.
Beverly BeierleGoogle Maps
Recently
A month ago, we ordered food to go - just 4 different dishes and one appetizer - nothing complicated except no chicken on the Pad Thai. The server said it would only take 10 minutes. Soon, other patrons started coming in and received the full attention of the staff. They all (4 tables of new customers) received their drinks, food, and even additional food orders and drinks while we waited and waited. We were totally ignored in the waiting area even as I tried to get their attention. After 45 minutes, the server finally brought us our order. No apologies were given, no "thank you for patiently waiting", absolutely no indication that the staff forgot about us. When we got home, (we only live 3 minutes away) the pad Thai had chicken in it so my granddaughter could not eat it. Additionally, the orders were cold so I can only imagine how long it sat in the kitchen waiting for the servers to give it to us. This is not the first time it happened (getting the order wrong and being given cold food). I suppose the only solution is to be seated, order something to drink and once served, ask for to-go containers, but that just creates more work for the servers.
Kayla GGoogle Maps
Recently
The pad thai was tasty: but the pad see ew tasted terribly, and we ordered green curry with tofu — though, it arrived with chicken (which none of us eat). That’s a pretty large error and was very upsetting to have to throw it away. So, a disappointing dinner to close out the year.
M SamGoogle Maps
Recently
Wow what a wonderful restaurant and very tasteful food. The staff is truly down to earth, very knowledgeable and helpful to decide your dish if you are vegetarian like few of us. This is a genuine wonderful restaurant to visit if you are in town, don't miss it. We had a great experience, time and food. We took some pictures and videos which I have posted below 👇
Asuma TanakaGoogle Maps
Recently
We loved it so much that we went 3 times while we stayed in the area. No frills, just amazing foods. I will miss their food when I leave here.
Praveen ReddyGoogle Maps
Recently
Maui Thai Bistro is a decent spot for Thai food, but it didn’t stand out compared to other Thai restaurants I’ve been to. The flavors were good but pretty typical—nothing particularly unique or memorable. We went during rush hour, and the service was noticeably slow. It took a while to get our food, which was a bit frustrating. However, the staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was nice. Overall, it’s a solid choice if you’re craving Thai food in Maui, but don’t expect anything extraordinary.
Phil LiGoogle Maps
Recently
Came here for a late dinner and we were initially mixed with our experience but left satisfied. We were seated immediately and had an interesting server who took our orders for entrees and drinks. We ordered an entree and a cocktail but when the mains finally arrived, we noticed only the cocktail was served. We asked a younger wait staff about it and seconds later an older staff member came to clarify what happened and then minutes later our original server asked us what happened before finally saying someone must’ve forgotten and she knew because we’ve already finished our food it would be too late to make it which we appreciated instead of forcing a late entree at the end. She apologized and gave us a complimentary Thai milk tea and we respect that mistakes happened and they made an effort to make things better. The food was honestly just alright but they have an extensive menu that I would still be interested in trying the other food items.
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Common questions from diners about Maui Thai Bistro in Kihei.
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