The Essential Guide To Food Trucks Of South Maui
Some of Maui’s best ‘grinds’ (food) are offered up from Food Trucks. We’ve put together this ‘Essential Guide To Food Trucks Of South Maui‘ as a jumping off point for what’s sure to be an ever growing list of hidden gems that are sprouting up around South Maui (North Kihei to South Wailea) and Island wide.
There’s no arguing that Maui is one of Hawaii’s top gastronomic destinations with it’s fusion of Island-Asian style blended with traditional Polynesian and sprinkled with European influence. The top end restaurants though wonderful and decadent come with a hefty price tag. Maui’s local food trucks offer up amazing, mouth watering, local style dishes aimed at the average to budget traveler and local alike.
Get ready to thrill your taste buds with these local style grinds!
Kina’ole Grill
Let’s start with Kina’ole Grill Food Truck. Kina’ole Grill appeals right away with their beautiful turquoise truck painted with a lei-making beauty and an outrigger-canoeing guy. But though their truck is eye-catching, it’s what’s being served from the widow on the other side that has locals and tourists talking. Sample menu items range from fresh grilled Ahi to Chicken Katsu. The Crispy Calamari is a big hit with it’s Dynamite Sauce as is the Coconut Shrimp! How do Pulled Pork Sliders with delicious Guava BBQ Sauce sound?
Kina’ole Grill Food Truck can be found just across from Kamaole I beach (Bonus! It’s walking distance from our condo!) in South Kihei.
Link – https://www.facebook.com/KinaoleGrillFoodTruck/
Hours – 7 Days a Week 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Prices – $11-30
Address – Corner of S. Kihei Road and Alanui Kealili Dr, Kihei, HI 96753
Aloha Thai Fusion
Maybe you’ve had grilled Ahi and Mahi Mahi a few days in a row and are looking for something delish but just a little different. Then no problem because parked right next to Kina’ole is Aloha Thai Fusion Food Truck (and catering)!
Why not try some Hand Rolled Spring rolls all vegetarian with fresh herbs, or Maui’s voted Number One Pad Thai Chicken or Shrimp? Can’t go wrong with their Fresh Grilled Fish Tacos made with stone ground tortillas and pineapple coleslaw w/cilantro lime mango crème fraiche!
Link – http://www.alohathaifusion.com/
Hours – 7 Days a Week 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Prices – $8-25
Address – Corner of S. Kihei Road and Alanui Kealili Dr, Kihei, HI 96753 (Use map above)
Big Beach BBQ
Now Big Beach BBQ has a big local following as they’ve been serving up BBQ delights on island for some time now. They had a regular spot at the Maui Brewing Co but just announced their new location at the Kukui Mall. Their motto – “Pork & Pelagics is what we do.” – keeping it simple.
The meat is smoked in Kiawe and the fish is caught locally, offering you a genuine taste of the islands that’ll keep you coming back for more. Vacation over? No problem, they sell their BBQ Sauce and Hot Sauce so you can take some of the islands home with you.
Menu items range from Pulled Pork Tacos to a side of Mac Salad (it’s a ‘thing ‘ in Hawaii) to the Pine Dog (pineapple infused pork link).
They constantly move between their locations in Makena (Big Beach), and Kukui Mall. But, they don’t move at random, so if you’re ever curious about where they’ll be and when, just go to any of their social media pages or head over to their website to check out their schedule!
Link – https://www.instagram.com/bigbeachbbq or https://www.bigbeachbbq.com/
Hours – Wednesday 5pm – 10pm , Fri, Sat, Sun 11am – 5pm
Prices – $3-14
Address – Varies but their Kukui Mall location is; 1819 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753
Jawz Fish Tacos
If you’re headed out to Makena Beach (aka Big Beach) or any beach in that vicinity then no need to pack a lunch, just head over to Jawz Fish Tacos. It’s oh so much more than just fish tacos. For a food truck, they offer a nice variety on their menu. Everything from (of course) Fish Tacos to Shave Ice (again, in Hawaii it’s a ‘thing’). Maybe you forgot your water bottle and you’re mouth is full of salt water from body surfing at Big Beach, no problem – Jawz has you covered.
Link – https://www.yelp.com/biz/jawz-tacos-big-beach-makena
Hours – Monday – Saturday (Closed Sunday) 10:30am – 7:30pm
Prices – $4-12 BRING CASH, it’s a little isolated out at Makena.
Location – Makena Beach Parking lot #1
Horhito’s Mobile Taqueria
I’m sensing a theme here for South Maui Food Trucks – Tacos! Next up on our list is Horhito’s Mobile Taqueria.
Open daily from 10am-9pm, specializing in Mexican Cuisine, Horhitos was voted Maui’s Best Food Truck in MauiTimes Best of Maui Issue. The shrimp ($3) and fish (ono or mahi, $4) tacos come on flour tortillas with shredded lettuce, cheese, chipotle mayo and pico de gallo. The steak, al pastor and smoked roast pork tacos ($2) are served on corn tortillas and topped with onions and cilantro. The menu also includes breakfast burritos and wraps, Hawaiian plates, quesadilla, burritos and hot dogs.
Link – https://www.facebook.com/HorhitosMobileTaqueria/
Hours – 7 days a Week, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Prices – GREAT! $2-9
Address – 1941 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753
South Maui Fish Company
One of my all time favorites that I stumbled upon by chance when they were first starting out is South Maui Fish Company. Give their poke bowl a try, it’s amazing!
From their website; “At South Maui Fish Company we take great pride in offering you the freshest quality of fish. Daily catch coupled, with much of our menu being locally sourced produce and as many sustainable ingredients as possible. We want our customers to have a great meal while having the least amount of impact on our environment.”
Link – http://southmauifishco.com
Hours – Monday – Saturday 11:00a.m. – 8:30 p.m (Open until they sell out, which does happen)
Prices – $3-26
Address – 22 Alahele pl. Kihei, HI, 96753 (Behind the Union 76 station on S Kihei Rd)
Outrigger Pizza
A departure from the food trucks above is Outrigger Pizza. Offering up pizza delights such as White Cheddar Mushroom and Chicken Bacon Ranch! You’ll also find other amazing pizza flavors from this mobile eatery such as Pesto Pie and Spinach Delight. Maui’s first wood-fired pizza food truck, the chef/owner uses Kiawe wood in the over and hand makes each pie while you wait! Check them out at the Kukui Mall. Psst… Kiawe is a lesser known species of Mesquite.
Link – https://www.outriggerpizzas.com
Hours – Monday – Saturday 11-830pm
Prices – $8-15
Location – Kukui Mall 1819 S Kihei Rd, Kihei HI 96753 (see Big Beach BBQ above)
Kihei Station Food Trucks Court
Recently, a little-used parking area behind the mauka (mountain side) Azeka Shopping Center has been converted into a food court of food trucks. From their website “Kihei Station Food Truck / Trailer Pod is a culinary carnival with a rotating lineup of culinary curiosities that are sure to amaze, delight and astound.”
There are shade structures, games and plenty of trucks to choose from.
Here’s a list of some of the food trucks rotating in/out at Kihei Station with about 5 or 6 in residence at any given time.
Teddy’s Burgers – Authentic home-style burgers, thick shakes and all the traditional sides.
Just Put In – Serving up the French-Canadian delicacy known as Poutine (French Fries topped with cheese curds and brown sauce/gravy)
808 Street Grindz – Grilled cheese, Sliders, Tacos and sides
Bait & Hook – A Seafood Eatery – Poke, Chowder, Fish Tacos and more
Gyro – Greek Mediterranean Grille – Gyro, Salad, Falafel, Hummus
Da Nani Pirates – Tacos, Wraps, Salad, Sandwiches
Lahaina Hot Dog Co – All beef hot dogs, sausages & more
Old Lahaina Town Coffee – Coffee
Melemele Sweet Shop –
Off the Griddle – Waffles
Several more trucks are slated to be added in the near future. We’ll update this post as new trucks rotate in and out.
Hours – 11:30 – 8pm
Prices – Varies depending on vendor
Location – 1 Pi’ikea Avenue, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96761 (Behind Azeka Shopping Center)
Have a favorite food truck in South Kihei or on Maui, drop us a note below in the comments section, we’d love to hear from you!
Looking for more Maui vacation ideas? Lots of things to see and do,
come on over and visit our Local Maui Guide or Maui Events Calendar!