Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

With all the reviews we had high hopes for this place. But it’s like a Cheesecake Factory, so if your into that– location in strip mall, basic food, basic people– then you will like it. The server was great and everyone was very nice, the place was clean, but the food was just ultimately average.

I have high standards for this style of cuisine. With the bistro style environment and food I would expect seasoning to be better on the food. The ribeye was way too salty. The poke was good but the lime in the avocado was too strong. The ahi steak was great and huge piece of fish. The presentation from previous diners was nicer than what we had today. The Mai tai was great and strong. Piña colada was a risky buy (not being their specialty) and tasted dilluted on flavor but okay on booze. For $ 150 or so for 2 people and drinks I would expect better. Service was good and attentive. 4 stars for service 2 stars for food. 3 stars for drinks.
Dress a little nicer too. Even though it says casual attire we ended up right by the bathroom. We still tipped well it was just not the most welcoming atmosphere.

It was crazy busy so we grabbed two seats by the bar. They had amazing live Hawaiian music. The drinks were great the food was fantastic. I had fresh ahi tuna it was amazing. I would say it was the best food I had in Hawaii but all the food was amazing. It was definitely up there. Great spot!

We didn’t make reservations in advance of out trip to Maui and it was a lesson learned. This restaurant is in close proximity to major resorts in Waliea and seemingly, always busy. It’s for good reason.
The one afternoon we tried to go for lunch, they were closed to acknowledge their staff members. It’s pretty telling of an establishment when they are closed to honor their employees. The nights after, they were completely booked but I managed to score a reservation for our last night in Maui.
Service was impeccable. The margarita pizza was the best pizza we had on the trip. Thin and crusty, it tasted of freshly made dough and the right about of sauce and cheese. The sauce was a tad salty, just the way we like it.
I opted for the fish curry stew. It was huge in proportion. Not that I minded. Loaded with chunks of fish, peanuts, red onions and bean sprouts, it was a complex and satisfying curry. I just wish they had white rice instead of brown. There’s something about the chew of brown rice with curry that I cannot enjoy.
My husband choose the ahi tuna dish. Both of us were satisfied.
The banana cream pie was light and not too sweet. Perfect ending to a great dinner.
There was live music there and the guys that were performing were simply amazing. We were entertained. This is such a wonderfully thoughtful restaurant that churns out quality good but does it oh so well.

Best drinks, best bartender, and totally best fish and chips. Order one order and and add couple pieces of fish to spit. Drinks are great. You are not on beach but who gives a damn. Loved, loved, loved it. You should go. I will come here again and again. They are famous for drinks so plan on having a few. It is in a strip center. Don’t let that run you off. It is a great place to go. Aloha !

Extremely delicious in a trendy but relaxed atmosphere. The kale salad is to die for. The macadamias add such a satisfying crunch. That miso sesame dressing is so good. The pulled pork sandwich may have been the best I’ve ever had in my life. Just the right amount of smoky flavor and a tiny bit of heat. The macadamia nut fish was also good. Two guys providing really good entertainment for people inside without being too loud or intrusive.
Highest recommendation: Kale salad and pulled pork sandwich.

Brilliantly seasoned, beautifully presented, non pretentious, excellent cuisine with live music and a vibrant atmosphere make Monkey Pod a locals favorite and one of our top places to eat in Maui.
Apparently the number one Mai tai in Maui but the one at the four seasons was better to my liking.
Lots of gluten free options and most everything is farm to table fresh and local line caught. Highly recommend.

I’ve been here three times. Once just for happy hour. This place gets very busy and noisy. Plan on getting a reservation and requesting where you’d like to sit for that reservation because good seats are hard to come by. Depending on time outside seating can be very hot or windy.
Food has been very good every time. I’ve had the crusted mahi, ahi with wasabi potatoes, mushroom pizza. Smoothies. Pies. Skip the chicken wings. I came with a foodie and he really liked the cornbread and burgers.
If you are coming for pizza, hit the happy hour and save yourself 50%.

Seriously the best Mai Tai’s are served here! $ 13 each but they dont skimp on the good stuff. I am a light weight so 1 had be feeling pretty relaxed.
The chicken wings were alittle dry but family said they were well seasoned. $ 16.95 for 6 wings is pretty steep but its Maui so don’t be surprised. Fish is fresh but come to think of it, everywhere we ate had delicious fresh fish. Fish and Chips were battered nicely and fried to perfection. The fries arent that great though unfortunately. Thai green curry with fish and lobster was delicious. Make sure you save room for dessert, they make inhouse cream pies. We had the salted caramel with peanuts crème pie… tasted like a pie snickers. Out of this world!
Service was attentive. She was on top of everything and food came out perfectly timed. Dinner for 4 which included 3 mai tai’s, 1 appetizer, 4 entrees, 1 rootbeer, 2 desserts with 20% tip = $ 250.00

First night in and I stopped by for dinner. They were busy (with maybe a 45 min wait around 6ish) but I got lucky with a seat at the chefs table.
Had the pumpkin ravioli and kale salad. Both delish! The ravioli was more like a dumpling to me, but the flavors were amazing together. That and the kale salad were so fresh and light. The only thing I left on my plate was a little piece of kale that had fallen onto the table.

Monkeypod is a great place to enjoy a good crowd, lively music, good food and strong drinks. The band plays a variety of hits and the crowd here is great. The outdoor area is quieter if you enjoy a more peaceful setting. Overall, I’m pretty happy that we came here. The Mai Tai here is also very unique with their signature foam top and definitely worth a try.

I always sigh when someone says they want to eat here. I’ve been here twice, the second time due to a friend’s choice. Here’s my story.
ATMOSPHERE:
It feels like you’re in a professional surfers home due to the upscaleness. Surfboards drop from the unfinished ceiling near the huge bar. Wide-​open space with 2 bars, one of them overlooks the kitchen. Outdoor seating available with nice ocean views. Very, very touristy.
MENU:
Hawaiian & American fusion apps, salads, burgers, pizza, tacos, steak, noodles & desserts.
BEVERAGE:
Great White Beer — I love citrus beers. Nice alternative to Shock Top.
South Shore Sangria — Very tasty, but came in a small glass for $ 12. No buzz. :(
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner — Great tasting, nutty brew.
Hawaii Nui Kauai Golden Ale — This was good too. Must’ve been because I had two.
FOOD:
Crispy Rock Shrimp & Calamari — Lightly breaded shrimp, calamari & onion strips. Bleh, lose the pineapple please. The buttermilk dipping sauce was very good and a nice choice over traditional cocktail sauce.
Raw Bar Mixed Plate — 3 apps on 1 dish — ahi pokē, tako pokē and shrimp ceviche. The pokē plates were fresh & delish, the ceviche was alright.
Fish & Chips — Fish was on the dry side and it came with seasoned sweet potato fries, not my fave. They should offer a choice of regular fries.
Hamakua Wild Mushroom Pizza — This was very good. Got it minus the truffle oil (so not a fan.) Super tasty, thin crust. Good for two to share.
SERVICE:
Our waiter Tim was awesome & very knowledgable about the entire menu.
OVERALL:
The menu just doesn’t appeal to me, and there’s not a single pasta dish offered. Some foods are affordable while others are very pricey.

The bees ankles
Walking up the stairs to Monkeypod the first thing i noticed was the «waiting bay» feat seating, where you find usually 5 or more groups people waiting for there table to be ready.
Once inside the hawaiian beach shack styled restaurant with multiple surfboards on racking along the roof and vertical rope style balustrades you will definitely notice how loud it is, the music is a nice touch but it seems people try to over talk each other a lot but there having fun so it doesnt really bother me to much, they even sell Monkeypod merchandise.
It was a pretty casual dress code with the odd suit seen, a very relaxed dining experience.
I ordered Petes fish n chips (day caught Mahi Mahi) the fish was fresh and had good flavor and the fries were definitely hand made not frozen packet fries.
Our bill was $ 70 including
2 x Mahi Mahi
2 x Coke’s
18% gratuity
The service was above average to be completely honest, our waitress seemed to be dazed, maybe her mind was on something else but she was friendly and made regular check ups.
To be honest my mind isnt blown about this establishment, it was good but it wasnt the Monkeys eyebrows
Tip: make a booking

Came for dinner and had to wait about 45 minutes. Located in a shopping plaza so parking can be a little tough.
Ordered the fresh fish island sandwich and the bun and fish was well cooked with good flavors. Also tried the corn chowder which reminded me of curry because of the coconut milk used. The cornbread was grilled and absolutely delicious.
Attentive service. Great dinner spot!

We went twice, once the day we arrived (after our lost luggage incident) and once for Mother’s Day.
So close to *home* it is modern and has quite a bit of patio space.
On the evening we arrived we were so stressed after spending hours at the airport dealing with a lost bag. I made a Open table reservation, we were shown to the best table on the patio. We were thrilled. Front row sunset view!
Both service experiences were wonderful…
They carried yummy glass of Grunner Vetliner (my current love) and served a generous pour. Ahhh! i had it during both visits.
Food…
Visist one…
We shared a wonderful salad. wonderful greens, bacon, shaved parmesan.
We shared a Fish and Chips which surpassed any I have had previously. Light tempura batter, flaky perfect fish (you know you are on an island)…OMG!
We shared Fish Tacos too… great fish, not too much of anything, this was good.
Visit two…
This place was hoppin’ on Mother’s Day… but we were seated on the back patio with a view of sunset.
We stared with a split Cesar Salad… great lightly dress greens.
I had the Pumpkin Ravioli appetizer as my main… luscious! Buttery, good pumpkin flavor, melt-​in-​your-​mouth pasta. Perfection!
Hubby had a Fish Sandwich which he loved!
We both had a Tawny Port with dessert… with the Chocolate Cream Pie… perfect pairing (If I do say so) Pie was just as yummy as grandma’s!
We we very happy with this place, location, menu, and prices (relative to Maui) and would go back in a heartbeat!

Meh.
I really wanted to like this place but the bartenders attitude was such a turnoff.
Wife and I came here after checking into our hotel. We sat down at literally 9:25 pm and the bartender handed us regular menus. Little did we know, happy hour started 5 minutes later. Did the bartender tell us that? Nope.
You think the bartender would say something like «hey, HH starts in 5, why dont you hold off for a few».
So anyway, we order a beer, mai tai and some french fries. ALL OF WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOUNTED 2 MINUTES LATER.
the bartender overhears us complaining and says «ill start you on happy hour early». Great, thanks. Good way to earn a tip.
So roughly an hour passes and I get the bill. Low and behold, there was no early happy hour discount. I mention this to the bartender and he starts getting really angry, saying «I never said that, youre a liar» and so on. The couple sitting next to us say «yea, you did» and he starts yelling at them too.
What a jerk. Ruined the experience. The mai tai and beers were actually pretty good too.

I had the pleasure of dining at this fabulous place tonight. There was a wait, so my husband and I grabbed a seat at the bar. The bartender, Robbie, was great. He was super personable, attentive, and knowledgable about every menu item we inquired about, including an excellent description of the Chef’s Special.
This place was a breath of fresh air. Great ambience, fresh food, beautiful presentation, the works. The whole staff seemed friendly and helpful.
After much debate, due to the variety of enticing selections, I decided to go with the Chef’s special. All I can say is, what a perfectly prepared plate of food. The fish was texturally amazing, just perfect. The curry sauce was absolutely delicious. The house made pasta it was atop of was fab and I’m not generally a fan of pasta. I almost didn’t get the dish because it was on a bed of pasta… I’m so glad I took the risk. There were bits of lobster amongst, tender wilted spinach drizzled in their amazing creamy curry sauce. There were notes of lime and cilantro, which all worked so well together. It was a perfect dish.
My husband ordered the fresh fish tacos. The fish, again, was extraordinary fresh… Having been caught just this morning. Everything on his plate worked perfectly together, as well.
I would definitely recommend this place if you’re looking for a fresh and perfectly paired flavors in an upbeat, but chill environment.

Came for happy hour which is 3−530p and 9−11p. $ 9 cocktails, $ 3 off draft beer, and $ 10 pizzas. Be warned that the kitchen closes at 10pm and all you can order is pizza at this time — no apps, entrees or sides; JUST pizza.
We got a couple of fresh squeezed juices to start — pineapple and POG — $ 6 each. The glasses are pretty small, maybe 6 oz, but the juice was tasty and fresh.
We got the margarita and the spinach, feta, and fennel pizzas. The crust was delicious and thin. Not my favorite margarita, needed some salt which was ameliorated by sprinkling in some Parmesan. Overall, not a bad pizza though. I really liked the spinach, fennel and feta pizza. The feta was deliciously melty. Also come with a large lemon wedge to add some acid.
I washed it all down with a passion fruit sour ale. I found it to be light, fruity and refreshing. Definitely Not as sour as I’m used to in regards to sour beers though.
In sum, we plan to return to try some non pizza items before the week is over.

Monkeypod… What a delightful name for a restaurant! The minute my family and I landed in Maui, we instantly agreed on getting lunch and after seeing all the raving reviews here, we had to give Monkeypod a shot.
The restaurant looks out over a terrace and has a green colored theme that gives the place a clean, fresh look. Live music was played by talented guitarists/​singers and the waiters were all very welcoming.
Our server for the day was Jake and he was super friendly. He ensured we had the highest level of comfort and seemed to know a whole lot about the menu. It’s always a good sign when the employees are so invested in the food they serve.
Wanting to have lighter lunch, my family and I decided to order a bunch of appetizers to share. We chose the dim sum platter, truffle fries, raw bar mixed plate, and the saimin, a noodle dish with pork (to make it easier to share we asked for the broth to be put on the side in a separate bowl).
The presentation of each plate was carefully crafted to highlight the main ingredient. However, it was clear that the portion sizes weren’t very big. We definitely could have ordered two more plates.
Our favorites were the saimin noodles and the raw poke bar. The broth of the noodles had a deep earthy flavor that tasted as if it had been stewing for hours. The pork was melt-​in-​your-​mouth tender and the vegetables were fresh. As for the poke selection, the spicy ahi tuna wasn’t anything to boast about, but the sliced octopus and coconut sea bass were to die for. They had the most interesting flavor and was incredibly fresh.
While we enjoyed the charred skin of the truffle fries, we felt it was a tad bit overcooked, eliciting a tougher bite than preferred. The worst dish had to be the dim sum platter which was honestly just overly salty pot stickers. Totally misleading
Not too full yet, we took up Jake’s recommendation to order Monkeypod’s famous cream pies. My sister chose the banana flavor and we were all super impressed. The whip cream was made in-​house and it wasn’t too sweet, a mistake most places tend to make. The crust was flaky and buttery, and you could really taste real banana in the filling. That was definitely the highlight of the lunch.
While Monkeypod serves decent food, I can’t say it was anything that blew my mind. Some dishes had that oomph that made me gasp in awe while others fell flat. But Jake did such an amazing job of taking care of us, that I felt another star was necessary.
The final verdict? Awesome name, but the food isn’t as awesome as you would think.

One of the best places on the island! Hip environment, awesome staff, and great food… Could not get enough of the food. Especially the PIE! Sit on the wrap around patio if you can. It is gorgeous!
Fish and Chips — Panko style. YUM! Fresh fish!
Coconut Pie — SO SO GOOD. I should NOT have shared with my niece. LOL!

Durchschnittliches Essen zu überdurchschnittlichen Preisen bei relativ kleinen Portionen. Innen sehr laut, macht eine Unterhaltung schwierig. Schöné Terrasse mit zum Teil Meerblick. Trotz telefonischer Reservation 30 Minuten Wartezeit.

Das Essen und der Service war gut bis sehr gut. Preislich nicht ganz billig, sollte jeder für sich selbst entscheiden.
Abwechslungsreiche Speisekarte, sollte für jeden was dabei sein. Extra Plus ist die (wenn auch kleine) Terrasse … Mit dem richtigen Tisch kann man einen Blick auf das Meer erhaschen.