The Best Chefs On Maui

Maui is a renowned foodie destination. From food trucks to five-star restaurants, eateries across the island boast innovative menus— highlighting Hawaii Regional Cuisine and Maui’s bounty of fresh offerings. Instead of another list identifying Maui’s best restaurants, let’s turn our focus to the men and women who take Maui’s food scene to the next level. Here are some of the best chefs on Maui, from Top Chef stars to born-and-raised hometown heroes.

Zach Sato

Born and raised on Maui, Chef Zach Sato has established himself as one of the island’s most skilled culinary innovators. His expertise shines with a masterful combination of traditional Hawaiian preparations witand refined steakhouse techniques at Havens Harborside. Sato’s deep connections with local fishermen and Upcountry farms inform his menu development, while his understanding of traditional preparations like inamona and chili pepper water keeps the food grounded in local culture. His approach transforms fresh-off-the-boat catches into sophisticated dishes. Read our Havens review.

Restaurants:

Havens Harborside Fish & Chophouse – 300 Ma’alaea Road, Wailuku. Daily, 11 am-9 pm. Elevated harbor-front dining featuring fresh local catches, prime cuts from a 1600-degree broiler, and traditional Hawaiian preparations in a refined setting with panoramic ocean views.

Havens Kahului – 591 Haleakala Highway, Kahului. Mon-Sat 10:30 am-8 pm, Sun 10:30 am-7 pm. Food truck location at Plate Lunch Market Place serving casual versions of Havens’ signature dishes, including their famous smash burgers and local-style plates.

Jeff Scheer

For many in the food and beverage industry, the pandemic brought countless livelihoods to a grinding halt. But it’s often said that when one door closes, another opens, and such is the case with 2015 Chef of the Year, Jeff Scheer. The Ohio native and Maui Culinary Academy graduate founded Maui Executive Catering— an acclaimed, high-end dining catering service— and worked in some of Maui’s most prestigious kitchens as executive chef, including the Mill House and Travaasa Hana (now Hana Maui Resort). When the pandemic hit, Jeff and his wife Kaili began making and selling pizzas from their outdoor wood-burning oven. Demand for their sourdough pizzas grew exponentially, and in the summer of 2021, the Scheers opened their first restaurant: Marlow.

Restaurants:

Marlow – 30 Kupaoa Street, Pukalani. Daily, 11 am-2 pm; 4:30 pm-9 pm.
Casual, chic eatery serving authentic Neapolitan pizzas, Italian bites, local beer, and wine.

Isaac Bancaco

Isaac Bancaco’s culinary career has led him to some of the finest kitchens in America, including Roy Yamaguchi’s Los Angeles restaurant. But the Maui-born chef’s roots are embedded in Hawaii. After working with Yamaguchi, Bancaco was inspired to return home and turn his focus to Hawaii regional cuisine. It was only natural: Bancaco grew up feasting on produce from his grandmother’s garden and fish he caught. Today, Bancaco is hell-bent on reversing Hawaii’s dependence on imported foods. During his time as executive chef at the Andaz, Bancaco’s menus featured 85% local cuisine— a feat few Hawaii resort chefs attempt. In his new role as executive chef at Pacificʻo in Lahaina, Chef Bancano introduced a new concept highlighting locally-sourced products and traditional island flavors.

Restaurants:

Pacificʻo on the Beach – 505 Front Street, Lahaina. Tues-Sat, 5 pm-9 pm.
Upscale beachfront eatery serving creative dishes with locally sourced seafood and produce.

Sheldon Simeon

Hilo-born chef Sheldon Simeon is a household name on Maui. His influence is ubiquitous on the Valley Isle: Simeon once oversaw culinary operations at Old Lahaina Luau, Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop. More recently, the Top-Chef star opened Tin Roof and Lineage (although he eventually stepped down from the Wailea restaurant) and took over Tiffany’s in Wailuku. In developing his menus, Simeon draws inspiration from his Filipino heritage and upbringing in Hawaii. The result: innovative modern cuisine with adherence to tradition.

Restaurants:

Tin Roof – 360 Papa Place, Kahului. Tues-Sat, 10 am-8 pm.
Counter service joint turning out heaping local favorites: chop steak, mochiko chicken, saimin, garlic noodles, and other Hawaiian-style comfort food.

Tiffany’s – 1424 Lower Main Street, Wailuku. Thurs-Mon, 4 pm-10 pm.
Divey local favorite with Asian-fusion, Filipino, and local fares. Sushi, cocktails, and bar seating are also on offer.

Taylor Ponte

Maui-born Taylor Ponte is one of the island’s brightest culinary luminaries. The Upcountry native graduated from UH Maui College’s Culinary Arts Program, where he shined as a student. Ponte then went on to cook under the tutelage of Johnathan Mizukami— another Maui-born chef— at one of Oahu’s top culinary venues, the Vintage Cave. But it wasn’t until Ponte was hired at the Mill House that his career took off. He worked his way up the ranks to executive chef, where he crafted a menu showcasing the bounty of Maui’s farmlands— featuring innovative dishes like taro risotto and pork musubis. Ponte’s elevated takes on local favorites earned him the Chef of the Year title at the 2020 and 2022 Aipono Awards. Although the Mill House changed ownership during the pandemic and Ponte no longer serves as executive chef, he now runs his own private chef service, bringing his inventive culinary expertise and knack for hospitality to kitchens across Maui.

Restaurants:

Kamado Maui – Private Chef Service kamadomaui.com
Private dinners, events, and pop-ups.

Alvin Savella

Known as the “Kitchen Assassin” to his 63,000 Instagram followers, Alvin Savella is the culinary powerhouse behind some of West Maui’s most popular restaurants: Down the Hatch, Mala Ocean Tavern, and most recently, Duckine! Born and raised in Lahaina, Savella took off after high school to pursue his epicurean dreams, earning a bachelor’s degree in culinary management from the Art Institute of California. Savella worked in high-profile kitchens on the mainland before returning to his West Maui roots. He further developed his dazzling plate ups and flavor-infused dishes while working as chef de cuisine at Pulehu at the Westin. He later accepted a chef de cuisine position at the Banyan Tree at the Ritz Carlton, where his creative plates helped secure his 2018 Chef of the Year title. Today, Savella is the Owner and Executive Chef of Duckine, Asian Kine Fusion—a duck-centric Chinese and local Hawaiian-style fusion restaurant located across the street from Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina. Beautiful cocktails, an outstanding menu, and a fantastic dining experience make Duckine a must-try!

Restaurants:

Duckine, Asian Kine Fusion – 1312 Front Street, Lahaina. Daily 11 am – 10 pm.
Asian-Hawaiian fusion restaurant offering a creative, duck-focused menu and hand-crafted cocktails. Lunch, dinner, happy hour.

Down the Hatch – 658 Front Street, Lahaina. Daily, 7:30 am-1 am.
Laid-back, open-air restaurant with brunch offerings, fresh seafood, cocktails, and a late-night scene.

Mala Ocean Tavern – 1307 Front Street, Lahaina. Daily, 9 am-10 pm. Open until midnight Thu-Sat.
Cozy eatery on the water with brunch, live music, and Pacific Rim and Mediterranean eats.

Beverly “Bev” Gannon

Bev Gannon is arguably Maui’s most successful female chef. The Le Cordon Bleu graduate moved to Maui in 1980. That same year, she and her husband started Celebrations Catering— now the longest-running catering company on the island. Celebrations Catering was just the beginning of Bev’s long and fruitful culinary legacy. Over the next three decades, Bev opened several distinguished Maui restaurants, was nominated for a James Beard award, served as Corporate Chef for Hawaiian Airlines, and received nearly a dozen ‘Best Chef’ accolades from The Maui News, Aipono Awards, and Hale Aina Awards. Bev is also recognized as one of the 12 Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement founders— and the menus at Gannons and Haliimaile General Store still reflect Bev’s passion for island-fresh ingredients today.

Restaurants:

Haliimaile General Store: 900 Haliimaile Road, Makawao. Tues-Sat, 11 am-2:30 pm, 5 pm – 8:30 pm.
Upscale restaurant acclaimed for its Hawaii Regional Cuisine, located in a historic building.

Gannon’s: 100 Wailea Golf Club Drive, Wailea. Tues-Sat, 12:30 pm-8 pm.
High-end eatery with sweeping views and an inventive, regionally inspired menu.

There are so many great chefs on Maui, and this list just scratches the surface. We know there are plenty of other well-established chefs and up-and-comers out there. Who is your favorite Maui chef? Tell us who we missed in the comments.