Eating on a Budget in Maui

With every trip I’ve booked, the closer I am to embarking on my travels, the bigger my appetite grows. Food and travel are two perfectly intertwined interests combining some of humanity’s most beloved pastimes. Naturally, one will want to indulge in overpriced luxuries at an aesthetically pleasing cafe they’ve seen doused over Instagram. While there is a grand appeal to dining in this fashion, scavenging the internet for cheap eats can reveal some compatible choices that may be a better fit for your budget and introduce you to flavor-packed menu items. 

Planning for Hawaii prepped me for higher prices, but I quickly became the Sherlock Holmes of affordable restaurant hunters, devising a list of establishments that made eating on a budget in Maui a breeze. The following guide will equip you to eat at a more economically sound level without forfeiting quality.

How Much Should I Budget for Food in Maui?

If the title of this blog post appealed to you, the chances are that you don’t count yourself among the abundant when it comes to cash. You’re most likely an individual traveler, like me, who checks their bank balance more than the average individual yet hopes to treat themself from time to time. Or perhaps you’re a young couple or family heading to Hawaii for the first time, trying to avoid spending your children’s college savings on a single piña colada. Maui may have illustrious dining atmospheres with elevated price tags, but it also offers a surprising number of affordable eateries. 

To determine your budget, you’ll need to decide what eating category you typically fall into on vacation. For instance, I like to stick to the average amount of meals that I eat at home, that being a staple banana for breakfast, followed by lunch and dinner, with extra money allocated for dessert and drinks. My expert tip for eating on a budget in Maui is to buy spoil-free breakfast foods from the grocery store that can be kept in your hotel to feast on each morning. This will save you money in the long run while keeping you energized until lunch. Maui is also home to an abundance of ABC Stores, which just so happen to sell a great mixture of alcoholic beverages. Splurging on a fancy drink might be in the cards for you a night, but save money by making cocktails in your hotel room most other days.

On a typical day, I tried to budget about $30-$40 dollars for food for myself, occasionally giving myself exceptions if I decided to buy dessert or happy hour drinks. I found that eating on a budget in Maui is possible if you steer away from Michelin Star restaurants and towards the local digs, utilizing each happy hour deal to your benefit. While this is what I would recommend as a guideline for those adhering to their financial goals, I also need to come clean and say that my travel partners and I broke one of my travel rules by ordering from a chain restaurant not once but twice. As we returned to our hotel with a Pizza Hut box two nights in a row, I was simply happy to be fueling my body after a long day out, not to mention the amount of money it saved us. Although I might have broken my personal golden rule, it saved money to splurge on other delicacies and allowed me to stick to $30-$40 a day, a price range I would say is quite reasonable for each individual dining in Maui.

Where to Eat on a Budget in Maui

Lava Rock Bar and Grill

Lava Rock Bar and Grill is a casual restaurant serving Hawaiian, Southwestern, and Pacific Rim cuisine. With a happy hour calling out to passersby, the dining hotspot attracts a wide variety of individuals looking for an inexpensive outing. Given that it was our first official meal in Maui, we were dazzled by the discounted drinks and appetizers we were able to find. Those hoping to take advantage of the happy hour will have to plan on dining between 3 pm and 6 pm. Afterward, browse through Kihei Kalama Village to get up close and personal with tiki mugs, luau shirts, Polynesian-inspired keychains, and tropical jewelry.

Coconut Caboose

Coconut Caboose is a must-stop location boasting a coconut-centric menu of coconut shave ice, coconut gelato, and plain coconuts. I don’t think I’ve ever, or will ever, use the word “coconut” so much in a single sentence as was just displayed. Nevertheless, I was heavily inspired by this selection and decided to order a plain coconut, giving me a front-row seat to an employee seamlessly trimming a coconut for me. Once propping a straw inside, I was handed the coconut to guzzle down. I was surprised to find its water tasted somewhat similar to the flavor of a banana. A few Instagram stories and sips later, I handed the coconut back to the previous employee, who then sliced it open with a machete, carving out the fresh meat. To this day, I am grateful for this elevated tasting of my first in-the-flesh coconut. Visit their shop for this unique experience!

Stillwell’s Bakery and Cafe

Would you think it possible to grab brunch for less than $5 in Hawaii? With my bank statement as a witness, I’ve evidenced the achievability of such an objective. Home of the famous cream horn, Stillwell’s Bakery and Cafe offers a variety of low-priced breakfast pastries, egg sandwiches, and hotcakes for a convenient brunch, as well as a lunch menu for the late risers. We stopped in during our drive to Iao Valley State Park, each finding an indulgent sweet to start the day off on the right foot. If you find yourself on this side of the island, don’t miss out on this bakery’s goodies.

808 Deli

Whether inviting surfers returning from the shore or fueling travelers up after a morning of exploring, 808 Deli is a laidback take-out spot selling specialty sandwiches, gourmet hot dogs, and other distinctive menu items. Tempted by these unparalleled $8 hot dogs, I dragged my travel partners to this corner shop with me so I could have a taste of the Avocado Mango Salsa Dog. Starry-eyed and skipping to the pick-up counter, I opened my take-out box to reveal a delectable meal I couldn’t wait to dig into. After rounding up our finished orders, we traveled a few buildings down to our hotel, where we ate on our patio, enjoying the view of the ocean. While I usually embody the typical travel blogger in the form of picture taking when first seeing food, I was too excited to dig into this meal that I didn’t document it as I usually would. In place of my usual curated photos, enjoy this slightly disheveled photo of me, courtesy of my aunt Missy.

Aunt Sandy’s Famous Banana Bread

Shortly into your long journey on the Road to Hana, you’ll be directed to a food stand burrowed into a seaside cove, likely easily noticeable by a group of tourists lining up to relish this recipe passed on for decades by the owner herself, Aunt Sandy. Although the stand has since added a handful of food fare to its menu, it is mostly visited for its loaves of banana bread which then accompany tourists in their vehicles for the remainder of their journey to Hana, that is, if it isn’t devoured within ten minutes of being purchased. Share some slices with your traveling party, or munch on an entire loaf yourself. Either way, this is an inexpensive alternative to a mid-day snack and one of the few food stops on the Road to Hana. From my experience, it’s worth it to stock up on the goodies while you can, leaving some banana bread scraps for your long-winded journey back to your hotel.

Huli Huli Chicken

Later in your day trip to Hana, you’ll come across a cluster of restaurants in Hana town. However, journey a little further down the main road and hang a left at Haneoo Road, leading in the direction of Koki Beach. You’ll soon approach a tented pavilion selling the islands’ famous Huli Huli Chicken and other Hawaiian-style plates straight off the kiawe wood grill. It might not look like much at first, but the shack-looking eatery serves flavorful recipes that rival those found at Michelin-starred restaurants. Given the generous portion sizes, an order of the Huli Huli chicken can easily be shared by two individuals, again saving money and allowing you to eat on a budget in Maui. Upon receiving your order, you can migrate to any of the open seating to the right, where you’ll have a picturesque view of Alau Island awaiting you. As you peer out to this island, you’ll notice a few lonely palm trees on top of the rocky formation spearing out of the ocean. According to local stories, these palm trees were planted to commemorate a grieving father’s sons, whom he lost in World War II. Despite the palm trees’ sorrowful origins, they have stood the test of time, having honored these sons’ sacrifices for decades now. 

SURFCLUB Tacos

Doubling as a taco joint and a refreshing brunch spot, SURFCLUB Tacos is an open-concept eatery in Paia Town serving local eats and coffee to its dependable patrons. Entering the beachy pallet interior, I decided I couldn’t leave Hawaii without having ordered an açaí bowl, as breakfast was still being dished out until 11 am. Order one of these fruity filling bowls or indulge in a more savory menu item placed upon the reprint of an early-1900s issue of The Honolulu Tribune. Those visiting later in the day will be able to take advantage of the low-cost Mexican cuisine and curated tacos. This Paia Town staple is worth journeying back to if you previously sped past it on your way to Hana.

Down the Hatch

Down the Hatch is a casual food concession in the heart of the open-air Wharf Cinema Center off of Lahaina’s main shopping street. Line up by the food counter or adjacent bar area to order your share of discounted cocktails and appetizers during happy hour, from 2 pm to 5 pm. I had my fill of pleasure from a few strong margaritas and had to snag a photo of my dad’s Lava Flow served in a tiki glass. For my meal, I again took advantage of the happy hour deal. Are you sensing a theme here? Eating on a budget in Maui requires scouting the best happy hours and shying away from exorbitant meals.

My “mermaid tenders” came dressed with a “lava lava sauce “ and other tasty garnishings. Mostly recognized for its seafood talents, the eatery has an extensive menu that just might throw you for a loop when narrowing down your dinner selection. With it being featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and existing as one of the best Maui restaurants in Lahaina, Down the Hatch proved to be a worthwhile stop on our itinerary.

Breakwall Shave Ice Co.

As the sister shop to Down the Hatch, patrons who order from the seafood eatery will receive a discounted coupon to use at Breakwall Shave Ice Co., giving yet another reason for budgeted travelers to lose themselves to yet another famed Hawaiian favorite. Gratify both your taste buds and your alcohol frenzy by trying the shop’s world-famous adult shave ice. As I sauntered into the shop a few margaritas deep, my cheery disposition couldn’t help but order a piña colada flavored shave ice, as well as give in when the employee asked if I wanted to add an extra shot. Since we would be taking an hour-long bus ride back to our hotel, I figured there was no harm in treating myself on one of our last nights out. Having waited this long to try shaved ice, I instantly wished I had sampled it earlier on in our trip. However, Breakwall Shave Ice Co. hoisted my expectations for any and all shave ice in the future, and I may just have to travel back to this venue if I wish to have shave ice as appetizing as theirs was again.

Tante’s Island Cuisine

Alas, just as all trips come to an end, so must the foodie indulge in their last chosen restaurant during their travels. The location for our last meal was made easy by the fact that we had an adjoining restaurant to our hotel, Tante’s Island Cuisine. Usually not a breakfast goer, I treated myself to a Hawaiian-style omelet layered with bacon and pineapple, neighbored by toast and rice. It is hard to say whether this spot would have been included on our itinerary had we not booked the Maui Seaside Hotel, but I can affirm this should be added to your list of Maui restaurants to try, as its local ambiance and traditional recipes rival those found in the tourist hotspots. 

Maui may have a reputation for being overpriced, but there are ways around these steep rates, especially if you put some effort into finding happy hours, purchase alcohol from ABC Stores, or are able to get by on two lower-priced meals a day. I’ll leave you with this: Eating on a budget in Maui is an attainable goal, but don’t spread yourself too thin that you forget to indulge and enjoy yourself. 

Have you traveled to Maui, or are you perhaps a local? Share your favorite restaurants and hidden locations below! For more info on Maui, check out my detailed guide for first-time visitors!

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