Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Wailea, Maui

Outstanding experience from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, the service set the tone—we were told there would be about a 5-minute wait, but ended up being seated in closer to 2 minutes. When we asked to sit outside, the host stand was extremely accommodating, which we really appreciated. Our server, Nick, was exceptional. He was incredibly knowledgeable about both the food and drink menu and took the time to make thoughtful recommendations based on our personal preferences. Every drink suggestion was spot-on, and the food recommendations were equally impressive. He also made it very clear that if a drink wasn’t to our liking, he would happily replace it—an extra touch of consideration that stood out. We are still in shock about how balanced the drinks were without one ingredi

We had an amazing dinner at Monkeypod Kitchen and it truly exceeded our expectations. We started with their famous Mai Tais, and wow — easily some of the best we’ve ever had. Perfectly balanced, smooth, and dangerously good! For appetizers, we ordered the grilled shrimp, and they were absolutely delicious — fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. For the main course, we had the macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, and it was outstanding. The fish was perfectly cooked, tender, and flaky, with a beautifully crisp macadamia crust that added the perfect texture and flavor. Every bite was incredible. The food, drinks, and overall experience made it a memorable night. Highly recommend if you’re in Wailea!

Loved our meal here! There was a bit of a wait for our reservation but it went by quickly. The atmosphere is a bit loud and the lightening needs to change (it's overhead and makes you look awful). However our server was soo sweet and the food was outstanding. The special of monchong fish with cauliflower puree was amazing. The shrimp with cornbread also amazing, though portion size a bit small. The banana pie was way too sweet, I wish there was some chocolate or something to break through the sweetness, and the portion was a bit big for the two of us.

Everyone says, "Go to Monkeypod Kitchen," and that's some good advice. We enjoyed a lovely meal during our vacation on Maui. We didn't have a reservation and the wait wasn't too long. There is not much to do at this little shopping plaza, so planning ahead would be better! I had the noodle soup dish, it was excellent. Hearty, spicy, memorable. If this spot were local I would run over weekly for that dish alone. Energetic staff. Open kitchen, lots of energy. Excellent mocktails! I loved everything about Monkeypod.

The atmosphere is perfectly vibrant at this restaurant! We heard the Mai Tai was the best…I totally agree, but they had a special cocktail called the “Cold Fashioned” which is my new favorite cocktail. We had Macadamia Nut Encrusted Mahi Mahi and it was cooked perfectly and had a great flavor profile. The real WOW for us was the Lobster Deviled Eggs. Squeeze a little lime on them…trust me! We also tried, at the strong recommendation of another tourist we met, the Jalapeño Mashed Potatoes. They were good, different, which I appreciate, not spicy. So, I don’t know that the potatoes deserved as strong of a recommendation as we got, but they are worth a try! Anyway, we had good service, and food and drinks were served in a timely fashion. We would definitely recommend the restaurant, but be su