Balai Pata — Restaurant in Maui

Balai Pata presents itself as a Filipino-Spanish fusion restaurant, a concept that is reflected in its vibrant decor. The interior features bold red accents, a mural of a bull, and Filipino touches like a “walis tingting,” creating a unique, if slightly disjointed, ambiance.

The food presentation, however, raises concerns. Rice is served in small, shallow wooden plates with peeling varnish—an odd and possibly unsafe choice. It’s accompanied by Chinese soup spoons, which felt out of place, especially since the soup itself wasn’t served with them.

As for the food, the pinakbet was decent but lacked the punch of shrimp paste, though the pork was tender. The fish soup was fine overall, with a fresh fish head, but the eggplant was unpleasantly chewy. The real standout, as expected, was the crispy pata, which was cooked to perfection and rightly the star of the menu.

Regarding the name, the font design could use improvement. The “i” is easily mistaken for a decorative element, leading unfamiliar diners to misread the name as “Balapata.”

Overall, the food was good and stayed true to Filipino flavors, especially those from the northern regions. However, Filipino cuisine is already an eclectic fusion of Spanish and Chinese influences by nature. For a restaurant claiming to be a Filipino-Spanish fusion, it would have been exciting to see more distinctly Spanish dishes that aren’t traditionally associated with Filipino cuisine. While it offers a solid Filipino dining experience, it misses the mark in delivering the “fusion” aspect...

Avoid this place at all cost! Worst customer service we've experienced in Hawaii.. The waiting staff did not check in on us at all, and ended up omitting an item that we were waiting for over an hour. Even for the dishes that didn't get omitted, the waiting staff would serve a dish and then serve the dipping sauce/dressing 20 minutes later. Additionally, the waiting staff served the customers they seemed to know earlier than us even though they put in their orders much later than us. It even took them more than 15 minutes to bring our bill to us. The worst part was that the waiting staff didn't apologize for, or even acknowledge the omitted item (wasn't even removed from the bill) nor the poor service until we asked for an explanation on what was going on with the service today. I was surprised to find out that this level of service of provided by none other than the restaurant assistant manager. Unless there is a change in management, I would steer clear of this place unless you want to be neglected for the entirety of your meal and still have to...

Balai Pata is an absolute gem, and absolutely needed on North Shore / Central Maui in what's otherwise a restaurant abyss of tourist forward formulaic burgers & fish tacos.

Part of me wants to keep it a secret, but it deserves way more recognition than it has received. I'm honestly shocked it's not packed every single night.

Their innovative fusion menu is both playful and thoughtful, with fresh, farm-to-table dishes that change often enough to keep every visit exciting.

The staff are the sweetest aunties, making us feel like family and doting on our toddler every time we come. Our little one (and the rest of us!) can't get enough of their malunggay (moringa) handmade garlic noodles. No liquor license yet, so it's BYOB, which makes for an even more relaxed, homey vibe. Easily one of our favorite spots on the island - and I'm sure it will become one of your...