3 Best Restaurants in North Shore, Maui

Few restaurants in Maui have the reputation of this North Shore eatery, tucked into a small cove just off tthe Road to Hana. You’ll pay for the quality of your meal, but it’s worth the splurge—the fish comes from as close as Maui’s shores to as far away as the deep waters of Antarctica, and the daily menu often tells the story of that catch. This is the place that you must make reservations far in advance (as far out as 12 months), as it's the bucket-list restaurant for most visitors; lunch reservations are a bit more attainable.

Set in an intimate location on the beach, Mama's has been the Maui destination for special occasions for almost four decades. A path of gecko-shape stones leads to an ever-changing fantasyland of Hawaiian kitsch, where savvy servers can explain the various fish types and preparations, and you'd be wise to heed their recommendation; the fish is so fresh that the daily menu lists who caught it that morning.

The seasonal, handcrafted plates and the chef's table concept at this intimate, 14-table restaurant have helped fine dining get a foothold in Paia. There are just two prix-fixe seatings a night, and dishes are always memorable thanks to the use of high-end ingredients like caviar, A5 Wagyu beef, and foie gras.