Mama's Fish House

Located just outside of little town of Paia on the North Shore of the island this Maui original has been serving up gourmet seafood delicacies for over 40 years. Mama's Fish House restaurant has a unique dcor that is as much a work of art as it is a Hawaiiana museum. Well known for gourmet quality fish preparations, desserts, and tropical cocktails, Mama's offers a special kind of atmosphere unlike any other restaurant on the islands.

At a Glance:
Cuisine: Gourmet fish and seafood
Prices: $$$$$
Daily Hours of operation: Open 7 days a week
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner: 4:15 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Kuau, Maui
Environment: Artistic Polynesian meets classic Hawaiian dcor, geared for fine dining but open-air environment with ocean breezes make this place disarmingly comfortable.
Awards: Recently voted #2 in the U.S. on "OpenTable Diner's Choice-Best Restaurants in America".
Reservations recommended (well in advance to request ocean front seating). There is a small seating area for "drop ins" if you want to stop in for a cocktail and menu you items in the back of the house.
 
Picturesquely perched on its' own a white sand beach and cove with the ocean breeze as the restaurants air conditioning, Mama's Fish House is legendary on Maui for top quality service, dining, and dcor. The stylized classic beach house turned 5-star restaurant was birthed out of the experiences of the Christenson family who sailed through out Polynesia through the late 1950's experiencing the spirit of the islands, and the various ways of making food and beverage combinations. Eventually settling in Maui in1963, they opened the fish house to the public in 1973.

Mama's has amazing fish preparations, specializing in flavor combinations of the pacific with cooked fish dishes such as macademia encrusted Mahimahi stuffed with lobster and crab, or Onaga steamed with Hana Ginger. They are big on their quality sourced local ingredients, and where their fisherman caught the fish. Its actually posted on the menu, which changes daily based on what's freshly available. Not all the fish dishes are cooked, for an out of this world taste sensation you can try the raw Papa's Three Fish Sashimi, or the Ono marinated in Tahitian lime and coconut milk, served in an actual coconut.

Other menu options for the non-fish oriented guest include, duck, lamb, wild boar, and prime beef. A gourmet salad and soups section of has the same highlight of local quality ingredients and proprietary flavorful blends that grace all areas of the menu. Though the portions will look small for some dishes, the combinations of flavors engage the palate so deeply that the resulting feeling of utter contentment will cushion the sticker price of your meal. Prices are fairly decent, however, considering the quality of service, atmosphere and meal preparations.

Big colorful cocktails, the kind with bamboo umbrellas hanging out the top, and infused with tropical flavors and themes are available from two service bars. If you would like to just stop in to sample the ambiance or the drinks, there is an intimate seating option for spontaneous drop-ins

Our staff recommendations:
For any occasion, or to mark the special ones, try the "Tahitian Black Pearl" dessert. It's a work of art, chocolate covered chocolate ice cream in the shape of a pearl sitting in an open pastry seashell surrounded by a lilikoi drizzle. You can never lose when it comes to entrees, and with the specials menu, it is an inspired work of art created with the chef's inspiration based on the fresh catch of the day.
Fresh poi comes complimentary with your meal if you order it. You have got to try the poi! It is best experience as a side with fish dishes.

Contacts:
Phone: (808) 579-8488 (between 8 am and 10 pm Hawaiian time)

Address:
799 Poho Place
Paia, Maui, Hawaii

*Find Mama's via the Hana Highway traveling east out of Paia, it is on a sharp curve that can be difficult to cross when the head on traffic is thick. A safer way to make the turn is to pass the restaurant a mile heading east and turn right onto the side road, turn around and cross the road safely heading back toward Mama's.

*parking is by valet at the end of the parking lot by the restaurant.