Mama's Fish House is as close to an institution as Maui dining gets. Open since 1973 in a thatched pavilion above a tiny beach just east of Pāʻia, it specialises in whatever fish the boats caught that morning — the menu names the fisherman and where they were caught. Ahi, opakapaka, mahi-mahi, and onaga prepared with Hawaiian, Pacific Rim, and classic French influences. Prices are high, the setting is lovely, and reservations are essential — expect to book a month or more ahead for dinner, less for lunch.
The mai tais and tropical cocktails are made to the same standard as the food. The lunch menu is somewhat cheaper than dinner and often available with slightly shorter notice.