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...

Such a cool establishment! The acai bowls and and avocado toast were great, and they always make their dishes look beautiful. (Very Instagram worthy, if that's what you're looking for!) The place itself is gorgeous and has a unique feel to it from having their produce readily displayed to their unique dishware and decor. Their staff is also very, very friendly. And to top it off it's vegan! That being said, it is a bit on the pricier side, but prices reflect what you get and I would recommend trying it out.

My only critique would be that the almond butter we had added to our order was thick and hard making it hard to enjoy with the other contents of the acai bowls itself - I think they were getting to the bottom of their container or something? It was an added...