Monkeypod

Such a great dinner Steve was amazing. Mai Tai was amazing!! Gnocchi dish was awesome tastes so fresh. Pizzas were also great. Strawberry cream pie was also a perfect dessert.

If every restaurant at a resort charged resort prices but actually delivered on the experience, they would all be like Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman. From the moment we arrived, the service was fantastic. The staff were friendly, attentive, and seemed genuinely happy to be there, which made the whole experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. The atmosphere is one of the biggest strengths. It is lively without being chaotic, with a great Maui vibe that makes you want to slow down, order another drink, and stay awhile. Even during busy times, the wait was surprisingly short. The happy hour is where Monkeypod really shines. The pizzas are a great value and easily one of the best deals around. If you are looking to enjoy good food without feeling like your wallet just got hit by a tsunami, happy hour is the move. The drink menu is huge with plenty of options whether you are looking for a local beer, cocktail, or something tropical. There is enough variety that everyone in the group should find something they like. Overall, Monkeypod Kitchen gets the rare combination of great service, great atmosphere, good food, and reasonable happy hour pricing. In a part of Maui where it is easy to overpay for a mediocre meal, this is one place that actually lives up to the hype.

Mai Tai was delicious and fun, as was the Kalua Pork Pizza + Pineapple pizza! I’d personally pass on the Truffle Fries and Poke Tacos, they were fine but nothing to write home about. Happy hour is only for non-seafood… which was over 2/3 of the appetizers lol. Service was fantastic and it was much quieter (albeit still a little loud) than other restaurants nearby.

★★★★★ Really great lunch at Monkeypod in Lahaina. The food was excellent, the service was great, and the whole place just had a fun, easy Maui vibe. The cheeseburger was absolutely delicious, perfectly cooked, flavorful, and exactly what you want when you’re sitting down for a really satisfying lunch. And the mai tai? Honestly, probably the best mai tai in town and maybe the best anywhere. Just ridiculously good. Service was also excellent, friendly, attentive, and everything came out smoothly and quickly. If you’re in Lahaina and want a really good lunch with great drinks and great service, Monkeypod is an easy five stars.

Amazing food, but come prepared for the price tag! My husband and I had the macadamia crusted mahi-mahi ($54) — absolutely delicious. It’s the best on Maui! Instead of just a little of the macadamia crust, it is covered! Absolutely delicious! It comes with Asian-inspired bok choy and rice, and we added extra bok choy which was a great call. The food is worth it, but note that it’s pricier than many nearby spots where entrees run around $40. A few tips: they don’t take reservations (at least in the evening), so arrive early, add your name to the waitlist, and explore Whalers Village while you wait — they’ll text you when your table is ready. The restaurant is open-air but covered, lively and loud with great vibes, service was excellent, and they validate parking for 2 hours. Highly recommend!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Food was very tasty, but what made this a five star experience was the service. Our server was so welcoming, so attentive, and overall just made us feel great. My daughter had the Bulgoki pork tacos, and they were probably the best dish. I had the special tuna sandwich with gruyer cheese and french fries and her boyfriend had the fish sandwich. My tuna sandwich was perfectly done and was my second favorite. It came with the most delicious kimchi. We also had the virgin Mai Thai, which was beautiful and the banana cream pie, which was delicious. We just had a lot of fun at this restaurant with yummy food and wonderful service.

Honestly this was the best place we ate at during our week stay in Maui! We ate here 3 times! Everything we tried was great- but my favorite may be their pizzas- amazing dough & flavors are on point!! Can’t go wrong eating here, but downfall is they don’t take reservations before 8.30pm so there’s generally at least a 20min to get seated- but it was always worth it!

Had a great dinner at Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman in Maui. The wait was about an hour to get in, which wasn’t surprising given how busy they were, but it was absolutely worth it. Once we were seated, everything moved fast. Drinks and food came out quickly, and the service was genuinely great — attentive without being overbearing. I ordered the fresh mahi tacos, jalapeño mashed potatoes, and an Old Fashioned. The fish was super fresh and cooked perfectly…..flaky, flavorful, and not overdone at all. The jalapeño mashed potatoes had just the right kick without overpowering the dish. And the Old Fashioned was balanced and smooth, a little more citrus forward, a solid pour. Overall, really impressed. Great atmosphere, fresh food, and efficient service even with a full house. I’d definitely go back next time I’m on Maui.

It was busy but as a single I was able to get a bar spot immediately. Monkey pod total for one $129 -Mai tai 8/10 $20 (for the price I would have chosen a different drink) Banana cream pie 8/10 $15 -Lobster deviled eggs 5/10 $20 (Didn’t love these; the amount of lobster wasn’t enough to justify this price, and the filling was subpar) -Seafood chef special 10/10 $58 - this was the winner. Idk that it had a name other than it being the chefs special, but it was Mahi mahi with a lemon blanc creamy sauce, lobster bits (2oz maybe?) lobster mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Everything on this plate was phenomenal!) Banana creme pie 7/10 $15 - it was good, but sweeter would have been better.

You’re in Kaanapali, Maui… the atmosphere is an obvious 5 out of 5, come on. Top it off with a great restaurant with real good food and it’s a clear choice for you to come here. We stopped in for a quick bite before taking one of the standard tourist tours. I got the the Maui Cattle Company Cheese Burger with fries. It was really good, done just right too. It was definitely not some dried out bar burger. The fries were down well as well. My wife went straight for pie and booze. She got the orange creamsicle pie and a Mai Thai. The pie was great. Luckily she gave me a bite first because if she didn’t, she definitely would not have shared, and I would not be able to tell you how good it was. Stop in, get some pie, and enjoy the ocean view from the outdoor deck or seats nearby. You won’t be sorry.