When asked for my list of must dos on Maui, I can provide you with an endless list of things to do, see, and places to eat. Maui is my favorite Hawaiian Island and easily the island I know best (I used to live there). But the list you really want is my “short” list. Not necessarily the list I throw out to every reader or traveler who asks for tips. This is my “if I only get one day on Maui, how would I spend it” list.

And at the top of that list has always been dinner at Mama’s Fish House. It’s easily the most recommendable special occasion restaurant on the island. Ask 100 people who’ve been to Maui where’s the one place you should go for dinner and 95 of them will say Mama’s. It’s not a “hidden gem” or an out of the way place that nobody knows about. But it’s the best.

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Is Mama’s Fish House Worth It? 

From time to time, in my private Facebook group, the question gets asked “if it’s worth it.” Is it really worth the hype? Everybody is telling me to go, but is it actually a tourist trap? Or is there somewhere else that’s better for the money?

The majority of people always assure the question asker that yes, it is indeed worth it. It was the highlight of their trip, etc. But to my surprise, there’s always a handful of responders who say “yeah it was really nice, but not worth the money.” Or “We didn’t get the hype at all.”

So I figured since it’s easily the most popular special occasion spot on Maui, and it generates so much debate, it deserves its own blog post.

The Lowdown on Mama’s Fish House

Mama’s Fish House is located on Maui’s north shore just past Paia so if you’re staying in the resort areas on Maui’s west or south sides, it’s going to be a bit of a drive.

Since it’s such a hot spot, you NEED a reservation. Prime dinner reservations book out almost six months in advance (they take reservations 18 months in advance) and lunch reservations are usually booked up about 3 months out. But good news- they have a waitlist and I’ve had pretty good success getting a reservation that way, especially for lunch. 

Traditionally I’ve always preferred a reservation time of about 30 minutes to an hour before sunset, but on my last visit I could only get a reservation for lunch (1ish) and honestly, I really liked that too. You cannot go wrong here. 

The restaurant has complimentary valet right out front which really sets the tone. You check in at the podium out front and then make your way down to the property. It’s right on the beach so you’ll get to witness those impressive north shore waves up close.

The setting is spectacular. The open air restaurant is beachfront so you’ll have views of swaying palm trees and vivid blue water. 

Request a table with a window view if you’re dining early, but after dark (which is as early as 5:30 or 6 sometimes during the year), it doesn’t really matter where you sit. Since the restaurant is located on the north shore, you’re not going to see the sunset and some people complain about that. “Why pay all that money when you don’t even get a sunset view.” Trust me, you won’t miss it at Mama’s. There’s plenty else to impress you.

The service is top notch. From the complimentary valet to the hostesses, bartenders, servers, and support staff…the Mama’s family knows that every person through the door is celebrating a special occasion and they make every visit feel like an event. 

And then there’s the food. A place like this could get away with a standard menu, but that’s not how they do it. Every time I go here I’m a little worried that it won’t be as good as I remember, but it never disappoints. 

One of my favorite parts is that the menu is printed fresh everyday so they can list not only which fish they’re using in each dish, but where on the island it was caught and the name of the fisherman. I’ve never seen anything like that anywhere else.

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My Usual Order

I must confess, I get the exact same thing EVERY time I’m at Mama’s. I mean, when I’m paying this much for a meal and I find something outstanding, I just don’t like to mix it up.

Mama’s has an impressive cocktail menu, but they also have a full bar (a good one too) so they can make you whatever you want. Our server had been a bartender here for a long time so we got a pretty extensive overview of their best offerings, but I always have a hard time passing up the guava fizz. 

They start everyone out with a little cup of bisque (the flavor varies by day) along with bread. 

The crispy shrimp wontons are by far my favorite appetizer. 

And then comes the main event. I always get Mama’s special, which is lobster and crab stuffed mac nut crusted mahi mahi (sometimes they change the fish but it’s always a mild, white fish). 

It’s always been PHENOMENAL, but this last time I noticed that they’ve started serving the sauce on the side so the fish stays nice and crispy the whole time and it took it to a whole other level. 

I’ll say something about the portion size here…these aren’t heaping portions of food like you’ll find at TGI Fridays, but it’s pretty hearty. This isn’t a place where you’re going to leave hungry. With a cocktail, the bisque, bread, an appetizer, entree, and dessert…it’s a lot. I always feel like one appetizer is plenty to split with 2-4 people and I’m still questioning whether or not I really need dessert. 

But you can’t skip dessert at a place like this! The Black Pearl is their specialty (chocolate mousse with a lilikoi center covered in chocolate ganache) and it’s very photo worthy, but I’ve always been partial to the coconut cake. 

What to wear to Mama’s Fish House?

So, how should you dress? Women always ask me this. Yes, it’s the fanciest/nicest place on Maui, but you don’t have to “dress up” if you don’t want to. They probably have a dress code that’s something like “resort casual” which means don’t come in your swim suit.

Basically, for me, shorts and a nice shirt (tee shirt or aloha shirt) is totally fine. For women, pretty much anything goes. I’ve worn a sundress, niceish shorts and a tee shirt, jeans, an aloha shirt, a skirt and top, etc. and always felt very comfortable. Some people will be dressed up –most people are celebrating a special occasion after all, but dressing more casual also doesn’t feel inappropriate. It’s Hawaii.

Mama’s is also surprisingly kid friendly. I’ve been with a child several times, and they’re always accommodating with the menu, even bringing out a little mocktail with the adult drinks. This last time I was at Mama’s there were several tables with small children and you could tell the server was taking cue from the parents about how to pace the meal. I bring this up not to try to convince you to bring your kids (because it’s expensive!), but to assure you that if you do, nobody will bat an eye (as long as they’re relatively well behaved). 

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So the big question…is it worth it?

First up, what kind of numbers are we talking about? The last time I ate here (May 2024) our bill for three people came out to $405 with tip. That included two cocktails, one glass of wine, one appetizer, three entrees, and one dessert. 

We didn’t skimp or splurge, we just all ordered exactly what we wanted (don’t forget that also includes bread service and an amuse bouche (bisque). 

**If you’re ordering 2-3 drinks per person, you’ll run up a tab here in a HURRY (but that’s the case pretty much anywhere on Maui nowadays). 

In the ten years or so that I’ve been going to Mama’s, their prices haven’t really increased all that much. They used to be “high” even compared to other nice places on Maui. But in the last few years (as I’m sure you’re aware) prices for everything are shooting up. I’ve been kind of surprised on my last few trips that other restaurants on Maui (high end but also just nice-ish) are now on par (or more) than Mama’s and honestly most of them don’t bring the kind of value that you’ll get here. 

So is it expensive? Absolutely. But it’s looking like a better and better value comparatively speaking. You could find yourself at a mediocre “nice” restaurant in one of the resort areas spending 80-90% of the price of a meal at Mama’s. 

Based on the above numbers I’ve mentioned (roughly $135/person for an average meal – not skimping/not splurging), that’s FAR LESS than a luau and I might argue a nicer experience ; ) 

Anyways…I never feel let down after a meal at Mama’s. Whenever I’m headed there, I’m always a little worried that maybe I’ve overhyped it in my mind and it won’t be as good as I remember. But it always is. Always. 

On this latest trip to Mama’s, after we had paid, my friend (who had never been before) said, “I didn’t expect the food to be this good.” I asked her if she’d read something that said it was overhyped and she said no, but when she got there and saw the setting and the inside of the restaurant she just figured the food wouldn’t be that good because it didn’t have to be.

And that’s what’s special about Mama’s. It hits the holy grail trifecta of restaurant goals –atmosphere, food, and service. They nail all three. I’ve been to many other fine dining spots in Hawaii that get two right, but 3/3 is tough.

The last thing I’ll address about value are a few comments I’ve seen about price comparisons. I’ve seen something along the lines of this from a few people: “Mama’s wasn’t bad but it’s too expensive. I can go down the street to a local place and get a heaping plate of food for $15. It’s a rip off.”

I don’t even know what to say to that. Yes, take out from a food truck is radically less expensive than a four course gourmet meal at an oceanfront special occasion restaurant. 

The biggest thing you have to understand is…you know how you value your money and are comfortable spending it. Some people just aren’t comfortable spending money on an expensive dinner no matter how good it is. It will never be “worth it” to them and that’s ok.

Not everyone enjoys the same things and if you’re the kind of person who just can’t stomach spending $$$ on dinner when there’s a good option for $, then by all means skip Mama’s and put that money towards something you will enjoy.

But if you’re looking for an out of this world special dining experience, you will not regret Mama’s Fish House. 

P.S. I travel to Hawaii multiple times a year, and let me tell you a secret…I do most of it for FREE using credit card points and miles. 

I have a somewhat intricate system that I’ve fine tuned over the years to maximize earning points and how I cash them in, but the short version is:

I use THIS Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card for free Marriott nights. The sign up bonus alone on this card will get you 3 (sometimes 5!) free nights at hotels in Hawaii like the Sheraton Maui, Royal Hawaiian (Oahu), Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, and the Waikoloa Beach Marriott (Kona). 

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The combo of these two cards will have you most of the way to a free trip to Hawaii right out of the gate. Again, you can sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless >> HERE and the Southwest Premier Rapid Rewards >> HERE
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