Mama's Fish House - Paia, Maui, HI

Mama's Fish House has the most Yelp reviews of any restaurant on Maui (5,404 as of this writing), but don't let that deter you. It's that way for reason; It's that good. Besides, this place predates Yelp. I know because when I went there for the first time, it was before I blogged, and I, too, predated Yelp.

I came back recently, and except for a few cosmetic upgrades, nothing much has changed at Mama's Fish House, including its popularity. So if you're planning a Maui trip, book it before you even secure your plane tickets. They're on Open Table, so it's easier now than before.

And when you get here, plan on spending at least $40 to $50 per person. Maui is still the most expensive island, and this is probably the most expensive restaurant on that island--so do the math.

But you do get what you pay for. The freshness and provenance of the fish comes with written proof: On the menu, most of the fish entrees has the name of the person who caught it, when, and on what vessel.

This would be for naught if the fish wasn't cooked with respect and an expert touch--and it is. The picture you see above is their signature dish: the crab-stuffed, lobster-topped, and macadamia-crusted fish of the day. It melted like pudding in my mouth and was exactly one the main reasons we spent gobs of money to fly here and stay on this, the most expensive of all the Hawaiian Islands.

Mama's Fish House
799 Poho Pl.
Paia, HI 96779
(808) 579-8488
https://www.mamasfishhouse.com/

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