The 3 Best Plate Lunches Around the Maui Area

Plate lunches are a Maui staple, known for generous portions, bold local flavors and the blend of culinary traditions that shape Hawai‘i regional cooking. Many residents enjoy comparing their favorite spots for classics like shoyu chicken, kalua pork and garlic noodles, which makes this category a popular one in The Maui News’ Best of Maui readers’ choice contest. Locals weighed in on where they go when they want a satisfying, no-nonsense midday meal.

Vidad’s Local Kine Grindz serves island comfort food from a Kihei food-truck setting, offering plates that feature familiar Hawai‘i flavors. The menu includes mochiko chicken, adobo-style dishes and a short-rib garlic noodle that gets frequent praise from customers. Portions run large, and the service moves quickly, which makes it an easy stop for anyone craving a hearty lunch without a long wait.

Aloha Mixed Plate highlights the plantation-era roots of Hawai‘i’s mixed-plate tradition. The restaurant prepares shoyu chicken, teriyaki beef, fresh fish and other local standards, always served with the rice-and-mac-salad combination that defines the genre. Its open-air setting reinforces the casual, unfussy feel that has long made the plate lunch such a beloved part of island life.

Tin Roof reflects the culinary point of view of chef Sheldon Simeon and his partner Janice, who describe the spot as a next-generation mom-and-pop restaurant. The menu is built around what they call “honest, ono food,” shaped by contributions from Maui farmers, fishermen and food artisans. Visitors will find dishes influenced by the many cultures that inform Hawai‘i cooking, including native Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, Filipino and Portuguese traditions woven into everyday comfort plates.

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