Ulu Kitchen By Merriman - Lahaina Restaurant Image
#35 of 119 Restaurants in Lahaina American

Ulu Kitchen By Merriman

4.3(27 community reviews)
Moderate ($$)

About

Discover Ulu Kitchen By Merriman, offering the best Seafood experience in Lahaina / Ka'anapali. Enjoy Moderate ($$) meals, explore their menu, and read reviews from the community on TasteHi.

Coastal Flavors in the Heart of Lahaina

Stepping into Ulu Kitchen by Merriman, you are immediately met with the bright, breezy essence of West Maui. Chef Peter Merriman’s influence is unmistakable here, focusing on the farm-to-table philosophy that defines Hawaii Regional Cuisine. The space balances open-air comfort with a refined edge, making it an ideal spot for those looking to transition from a day at the beach to a thoughtful dinner.

Signature Staples and Island Ingredients

The menu acts as a love letter to local producers. You will find the signature Wok-Charred Ahi—a staple that showcases the freshness of the Pacific catch—alongside hand-tossed pizzas that offer a surprising contrast to the more traditional island fare. The kitchen excels at balancing bold, umami-rich flavors with the natural sweetness of locally sourced produce. Listen closely and you will hear the rhythmic clatter of the kitchen and the hum of conversation, creating an environment that feels alive and connected to the land.

A Local Perspective

While the food is consistently elevated, the energy is authentically relaxed. Be prepared for the lively acoustics during the dinner rush, as the dining room fills quickly with both visitors and island residents. Parking in this part of Lahaina can occasionally test your patience, so arriving a few minutes early is a smart strategy to ensure you don’t miss your reservation. Whether you are splitting a side of Maui onions or settling in for a full culinary exploration, Ulu Kitchen serves as a grounded representation of what modern dining in the islands should be: fresh, intentional, and entirely unpretentious.

Photos

Ulu Kitchen By Merriman - Lahaina Restaurant Image
Ulu Kitchen By Merriman - Lahaina Restaurant Image
Ulu Kitchen By Merriman - Lahaina Restaurant Image
Ulu Kitchen By Merriman - Lahaina Restaurant Image
Ulu Kitchen By Merriman - Lahaina Restaurant Image
Ulu Kitchen By Merriman - Lahaina Restaurant Image
Ulu Kitchen By Merriman - Lahaina Restaurant Image
Ulu Kitchen By Merriman - Lahaina Restaurant Image

Location

2365 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina, Hawaii, 96761-1900

Directions

Reviews

Showing 9 of 27 community reviews
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Paul MackleyGoogle Maps

Recently

Great service, entrees and more. Perfect setting for sunset. The focassia bread is a tasty starter. The Poke Bowl was perfect and the special was great. We loved it so much, we went back and tried the appetizers. They were great as well.

R

Rob HGoogle Maps

Recently

If you enjoy paying resort prices while birds stare at your food like they helped pay for it, Ulu Kitchen by Merriman might be your place. The best advice I can give is to go during happy hour. The food is good, but the regular menu prices are hard to justify. I ordered the surf and turf entrée for $80 and by the time our family of four finished dinner the bill was around $230. To make matters worse, we were charged for kids’ drink refills, which felt a little ridiculous considering the overall cost of the meal. The food itself was good. No complaints there. The ingredients were fresh and everything was prepared well. The problem is that the prices felt far beyond what the meal delivered. It was one of those experiences where every time the server walked over, I was worried another charge might appear. The restaurant offers outdoor seating, which sounds great in theory. In reality, we spent part of dinner keeping an eye on birds and bugs that seemed just as interested in our meal as we were. Service was fine and the setting on the Westin property is beautiful, but there is no getting around the fact that this place heavily leans into resort pricing. Overall, Ulu Kitchen serves good food in a beautiful location, but the tourist surcharge is alive and well here. Happy hour is the move. Otherwise, bring a healthy vacation budget and maybe a little extra for the birds. I would not return.

S

stephen davisGoogle Maps

Recently

Had an outstanding experience at ʻUlu Kitchen by Merriman starting my wife’s birthday celebration off with an amazing breakfast. The setting is absolutely beautiful! Located right on the water with a relaxed, upscale atmosphere that really captures the Maui vibe. We even got a little dolphin show right there not far off the beaches! The food was exceptionally fresh, locally sourced, and full of flavor. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and well executed. What truly stood out, though, was our server, Miguel. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely made us feel taken care of from start to finish. His recommendations were spot on, and he brought a great energy and vibe to the experience. Overall, an unforgettable meal and easily one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend.

L

Lisa KasdorfGoogle Maps

Recently

I highly recommend booking a reservation for breakfast at Ulu Kitchen if you are staying in the Kanapali area. It was so good the first time, that we went back a second time! The food was fresh and delicious. The service was excellent. The atmosphere is wonderful. Sipping fresh pineapple juice and enjoying a tasty breakfast dish with an outdoor ocean view is a fantastic way to start a vacation day! I highly recommend the avocado toast, eggs Benedict, flapjacks with hot rum sauce, and the smashed potatoes. The freshly squeezed fruit juices are a nice touch, but at $9.00, I didn’t splurge for a second glass, and I savoured every sip!

L

Linda SuskieGoogle Maps

Recently

One of the best breakfasts we've ever had anywhere. The smashed potatoes were a great alternative to home fries or hash browns. The whole wheat toast costs extra but is 100% worth it.

B

Brian LibbyGoogle Maps

Recently

We ate breakfast at Ulu Kitchen all six mornings of our stay since we had a resort credit. The location is unbeatable, right on the walking path next to the beach with great views. Overall, the service was good and the morning happy hour made the drinks very reasonably priced. The food quality varied slightly (between 3.5 and 4.5 stars). While 'The Cure' breakfast pho was usually awesome, one morning it arrived very salty and was missing the buttery mushrooms. Without the resort credit, the prices felt a bit high for what you get. One minor frustration: the room charge system failed several times, meaning we had to save our receipts and settle up at the front desk. I'm not sure which sides fault that was but despite the technical glitch, it’s a solid spot for a scenic breakfast.

J

Joe CGoogle Maps

Recently

We had high hopes for Ulu Kitchen but we’re left feeling it was just good, not outstanding. Started with pork pot stickers and shrimp which were very good. Ordered the strip steak, tender but extremely salty. Lobster ravioli was very tasty. For desserts we had the coconut creme brûlée, sugar top was burnt which kind of ruined it. We also had the ice cream sandwich, very good. Was surprised to hear they couldn’t make a Pina colada as the bar doesn’t have a blender, What, no blender for frozen tropical drinks in Hawaii?? One chair also had bird droppings on it, which we needed to wipe off, really, some attention to details please so your customers don’t have to clean droppings before they sit down. Good try by Ulu but doesn’t make the cut for what they try to be.

P

Paul BGoogle Maps

Recently

We were staying at the Weston and Monkeypod was closed for a Christmas party, so decided to try this place that it is also owned by Merriman. It wasn’t that busy, so we were seated right away. Burger was really good and the tuna fresh. They have the Monkeypod Mai Tai as well. Service was good, staff were friendly.

C

Connor VandagriffGoogle Maps

Recently

Absolutely incredible dining experience at Ulu Kitchen by Merriman. Our food came out fast, the flavors were outstanding, and you can really taste the difference with their locally sourced ingredients. For an amazing ocean view with outdoor seating and relaxing ambiance, the price felt very reasonable. We ordered the Lobster Ravioli with lemon brown butter, parsley marinated grape tomatoes from Laulea Farm, cornbread croutons and spinach. We also had the Macadamia Nut Fresh Fish featuring dayboat fish, organic macadamia nuts, local chili green beans, brown butter, lemon, celery caper relish and garlic scallion rice. Every bite was packed with flavor, beautifully balanced, and plated expertly. For dessert, we had the Coconut Creme Brulee which was amazing. The flavors were rich and creamy, the perfect finish to an already incredible meal. Bianca was our server and she made the experience even better. She was very accommodating, kind, and genuinely helpful. Everything we ordered was delicious and this was easily the best meal I have had during my stay on Maui. Highly recommend this spot to anyone visiting the island.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ulu Kitchen By Merriman

Common questions from diners about Ulu Kitchen By Merriman in Lahaina.

The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner service.

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