A`A Roots — Restaurant in Maui

"Big flavors" and "big portions" are not things that normally pop into my mind when I think of vegan and vegetarian options. This place proves that that can be the case, though. After stopping by here when we were on the island last year, my wife was dying for an excuse to come back. We loved it so much that we actually hit it twice this go-round.

We came in the first time for breakfast. We both opted for avocado toast. It was a good thing we both did, otherwise one of us would have had big time food envy. The ingredients themselves were all incredibly fresh. Each slice of toast featured a huge mound mound of mashed avocado with light lemon juice on top. The edible flowers made for a beautiful plating. I normally stay away from avocado toast simply because it's not enough food for me -- not the case here. I was more than full after leaving. I also opted for a juice -- it absolutely hit the spot as well.

This place was a perfect spot for lunch or breakfast and a great place to get a healthier-feeling meal on the island. We will definitely be back next time...

Summary: the ONLY 5 star vegan sit down food in Maui... and yes we tried them ALL.

Ambience: unfortunately due to COVID we had to sit outside so we did not factor this in.

Service: Amazeballs! The order taker server dude was so nice, walked us through the menu, SOLD us on items by explaining dishes rather than just BSing like so many other servers these days. He was passionate, kind, and quick!

Food: finally some FLAVOR in the Hawaiian islands. Three weeks here and we have only found a few restaurants that don't inundate you with sweet, creamy, mushy food. A'a however was bomb. From something as simple as grilled cheese and tomato soup to the burritos and avocado toast, it all was so tasty. Seriously, I know it may seem silly to be happy with a grilled cheese and tomato soup, but sometimes going back to basics is what you need!

Definitely will return if we are...

AA Roots definitely leans into health first. Their açaí bowls are 100% unsweetened—no added sugar, honey, or syrups. If you have not had unflavored açaí before, it can be surprisingly bland and a bit rough. I think it would help if the menu or staff gave a heads-up that these bowls are not sweetened, since many people expect a sweeter “treat” style açaí bowl.

The portion size was very generous, which I appreciated, but the fruit-to-açaí ratio felt off. Without more fruit to balance the base, it was hard to finish, and we only ate about half.

That said, the staff was excellent—the young woman who helped us was very kind and helpful. With clearer expectations, this would be a 5-star experience for people seeking a healthy, unsweetened snack rather than a...