Food Review: Te Au Moana Luau

Wailea Beach Resort by Marriott

Te Au Moana Luau at the Wailea Marriott is taking luau food to the next level!

Before going to this luau a few weeks back, I hadn’t been to a luau in years. From what I remember, luau food was nothing to write home about. It was more about the performances and overall experience. But oh, how that has changed. And the service has gotten better, too!

About the Marriott Wailea Luau Food

Instead of a buffet, this Wailea luau serves each course to the table, family-style. I suspect this is a pandemic-related change, but I think it’s more enjoyable this way. Now you don’t have to wait in line with 300 people to get your food.

However, tables seat eight and are mixed-reservation. So, unless you have eight in your group, you will share your table (and food) with people you may not know. This was not a problem for us because our table mates were incredible people, and we were friends by the end of the night.

Appetizers

After we got settled and grabbed drinks from the open bar (a Maui Mule for me, a Big Swell IPA for my husband, and a mai tai for our friend), appetizers started arriving. Cucumber namasu (which hails from Japan) and taro rolls with mango butter were served first. So ono!

More appetizers followed shortly. We were served a spread of salad, potato mac salad, pipikaula (cured beef), and ahi poke with taro chips. Everyone at the table agreed the poke was their favorite. I’m not super into raw fish, but I was obsessed with the potato mac salad.

Entrées

Next came the entrees: kalua pork with cabbage, kalbi short rib, herb-crusted mahi mahi, and huli huli chicken with pineapple relish. Wow, wow, wow. Everything was perfectly cooked. I couldn’t decide which dish was my favorite, but the chicken with pineapple relish was a standout. I even tried to get our server to share the recipe with me, but I guess I’ll just have to return to Te Au Moana to try that delicious relish again.

The entrees were also served with coconut glazed Molokai sweet potatoes, furikake rice, poi, and a veggie stir fry. We had a vegetarian in our group, and they were pleased with the veggie options – as was I! The Molokai sweet potatoes were to die for.

I’m not sure if you could get seconds, but it never came to that. Everyone at our table had their fill, and some food was still left over.

Table Service

One thing I really liked about having table service was that our server explained each dish in detail. Some people at our table weren’t as familiar with Hawaiian food, and our server could answer all their questions. Buffets are much less personalized – and much more chaotic.

Despite having a server, you couldn’t get drinks delivered to your table. You had to get up and walk to the bar. It wasn’t a big deal, but I found it interesting. Te Au Moana offers an open bar, so maybe this is their way of making sure people don’t drink more than they can handle!

Final Thoughts

Food and service aside, the show was fantastic, too. Great views, great storytelling, talented performers, and an awesome live band. I would definitely come back to the Te Au Moana Luau or recommend it to visiting friends or family.

Te Au Moana Luau
Wailea Beach Resort By Marriott
3700 Wailea Alanui Drive
Wailea, HI 96753

Thank you for reading this Wailea Marriott Luau Review. Check out our Maui Luau Reviews page for more reviews and Maui Luau information.