Oao Sushi Go — Restaurant in Maui

During our blissful week in Maui, my wife and I embarked on a gastronomic journey, eager to experience the island's best sushi offerings. Our adventure culminated on our last evening at Oao Sushi in Wailea, a fortuitous twist of fate that transformed our sushi quest into an unforgettable experience.

Having no reservations, we found ourselves adrift in Wailea, with our preferred sushi haunts either fully booked or out of stock. As luck would have it, we stumbled upon Oao Sushi, a decision that would redefine our sushi standards. The ambiance of the restaurant was inviting, merging traditional elements with a modern flair, setting the stage for what was to become an exceptional dining experience.

The owner and sushi maestro, JR Oao, whose name fittingly resonates with 'wow', personally crafted our Chef's Choice Nigiri platters. Each piece was a masterpiece, particularly the Toro and Hamachi Belly Nigiri, which were, without exaggeration, the best we have ever savored. Their flavors were a harmonious blend of the ocean's bounty and the chef's artistry.

What truly set Oao Sushi apart was JR's personal touch. Seated at the bar, we had the privilege of hearing his inspiring journey – from his humble beginnings as a dishwasher in 2006 to realizing his dream of becoming a sushi chef and ultimately opening his own restaurant. His story of hard work and dedication added a unique and heartwarming dimension to our meal.

The crowning glory of the evening was the dessert, an ube treat from JR's mother's recipe. It was a delightful surprise that beautifully wrapped up our meal.

In a turn of events that we could only describe as serendipitous, what began as a desperate search for a sushi dinner ended in discovering a hidden gem. Oao Sushi didn’t just serve us a meal; it provided an experience that resonated with us on a personal level. It's a testament to how the finest experiences often come from the most unexpected places. Oao Sushi is now our go-to sushi destination in Maui, a place where culinary dreams are not just made but...

The sushi is good, shoutout to the chefs! The chefs were kind and helpful, but Keahi scammed me on my takeout order. When prompted for tip I said oh no, I’m going to tip in cash, and I gave him $10 cash, thinking I was tipping on a $77 tab, turns out he charged me 10% tip on my card when I said no, and ALSO took the cash from me. (I tipped on top of the tip he added to the prompter and didn’t see until I looked at my receipt later). Just is quite greedy, then he gave attitude when I came back because I was missing one of my sushi rolls that I had been charged for but did not receive. $17 in tips for what should’ve been a $60 order & attitude. Again thanks to the chefs for helping me and being kind, but didn’t appreciate Keahi not being upfront and charging me for a digital tip whilst taking my cash, that wasn’t worth that sort of service and for ONLY takeout!!!!! Just takeout!! Won’t be back for that reason and be warned, be careful with your money...

I wish that I had read the reviews on this place before we ordered. I was not pleased at all. We ordered the Loaded seafood roll, spicy tuna roll, and poke. The first thing I noticed was the rice used in all of their sushi and poke was not sushi rice. It was just regular white rice. The loaded roll was okay, but not for the price that was charged, considering there was no scallop on it. The poke bowl was not good at all. The fish did not look fresh, it looked brown and oxidized. It had an odd taste to it, and it was on top of white rice not sushi rice. We tried a few bites, and decided to just toss the rest instead of making a fuss. It costed quite a bit, so I was expecting it to be good. Maybe the restaurant would have been better? We were at the food truck. Just...