Koho's Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Maui

I have come to Koho's more than any other restaurant on Maui. If you're looking for a den for foodies, upscale decor, and immaculate service, do NOT come here! However, if you want to be immersed in the local community, then this is a pretty good place to stop. By the way - I'm writing this review for the visitors, as very few locals are going to be stopping by here to read a review of Koho's.

First off - if there's a long wait, check the bar area to see if there are any open tables. You can seat yourself there, and getting seating there is often faster than waiting for a table. This is especially true if there is an event in town. (FYI - locals call the central Maui area "town.") Those events can be a range of things, including a show at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, the Maui Fair, a HS graduation, or a paddling event in the harbor. If Koho's is full with a long wait, it's almost guaranteed there's something going on. It might even be worth it to ask, as it might be a one-time event that could make your visit to Maui extra special.

The menu is pretty standard, with local favorites and standard items one might expect at a local diner. If you end up getting a salad, I suggest trying the guava dressing. It's one of the standouts on the menu that, although I'm pretty sure they don't make it themselves, I haven't seen it on any other local menus. I generally order the Koho plate, fish sandwich, chicken nachos, or saimin - not because any of them are uber special, but because I've been here almost once a week for over a decade, and I like the familiar.

If you're lucky, and things aren't too busy, you may want to strike up a conversation with the staff that come by the table. They can clue you in on popular sights on the island, events that are going on, and tips that you might not find in any travel guides. And if you're REALLY lucky, a neighboring table will overhear your conversation and chip in with their opinions as well. Of course, there's no guarantee that the staff will be chatty - it just depends on the luck of the draw, how busy things are that day, and what mood that particular person is in. :)

Pro tip: Thursdays are...

Everything perfect except for the manager way too long she been there no personality. never ever smiles stone face. and doesn’t know how to handle a situation in a restaurant. Instead she becomes defensive and rudely assume otherwise conversation. I lost my watch in the restaurant. my phone tracked the watch there. I went in to speak with the manager she said no one turned in anything. I asked her if she could ask her employees. She responded with rude attitude and say I not searching thier bags.I replied I didn’t say that you did. I suggested to ask. While I was at the bar area the customers whom I know one of them suggested sound off the watch. I didn’t want to just in case someone has the watch. Before I could finish my conversation the manager screams across the floor were not hiding anything. She jumped to assumption. I replied to her you need to be professional as a manager and calm down. I immediately left the restaurant and waited for security. after security arrived he didn’t have the proper form to make a report. I said forget it. We walked back into Kohos to get the manager name. As we walked back in the bar waitress was discussing my business about my watch to a guest. talking shit to the guest about me. Caught her red handed. she looked at me shock and stood there with her mouth wide open.She asked did you find the watch? I replied no!!! Id I need the manager name and business card. Manger came and said Nohealani is her name. I left...

This place has changed a lot, especially the food. Im.sorry, but I remember the food being really good. Simple foods thats why I don't know why it's so bad now. You can tell the quality of product and preparation has been lowered a lot. And the price got extremely higher. I would pay the price if the quality was there. I ordered the chicken wings, and they were so small with hardly any meat, plus the menu stated it came with celery and carrot sticks. No celery was on the plate. The sauce used to be close to the Buffalo sauce you usually get with hot wings. When I tasted it, I automatically knew it was Reds hot sauce you could buy at foodland (come on now?) I ordered a house salad and the wings, and i literally had three bits out of it cause it was so small. I also ordered fish and chips, but it was soggy and had no taste. I didn't order the nachos and sautéed mushroom that I usually do when I'm having drinks at their bar. I really hope those two dishes haven't changed. Probably the price did, but if the quality changes? I've been going there for years, and I'm very, very disappointed. I know you gotta charge more now a days but you should never jeopardize the quality of your food because you'll eventually lose your island customer. I used to recommend Koho's to everybody, but after this...