Tin Roof Maui — Restaurant in Maui

Deeply Offensive and Unacceptable Behavior – I Will Not Be Returning

I was genuinely looking forward to trying the garlic shrimp and poke bowls at this restaurant after reading some promising reviews online. Unfortunately, what should have been an enjoyable dinner turned into a deeply upsetting and offensive experience — made even worse by the fact that it occurred on Juneteenth, a day meant to honor Black freedom and resilience.

I visited on Thursday, June 19, 2025 (Juneteenth) around 7 PM. When I arrived, the place smelled amazing, and I heard the kitchen staff chatting while preparing food—which seemed normal at first. However, shortly after placing my order, I clearly overheard the kitchen staff using the N-word multiple times in casual conversation.

Disturbed and upset, I went to the front counter to express how inappropriate and offensive that language was. I was told it would be addressed. But only minutes later, I heard laughter from the kitchen followed by someone loudly mocking the situation, saying something along the lines of: “A customer got offended because we were being racist and said [N-word],” with more laughter from the staff.

This wasn’t just unprofessional—it was deeply disrespectful and tone-deaf, especially on a day that holds such importance to the Black community.

As the wife and mother of Black family members, I was and remain profoundly offended by what I witnessed.

I immediately requested a refund and asked to speak with the manager, who was likely part of the conversation. He offered no apology, no accountability, and no indication that he intended to address the behavior. Adding to my concern, a staff member bagging takeout orders remarked that this type of language and conduct happens “every day” and is never corrected.

The restaurant’s open layout makes it easy for customers to hear everything happening in the kitchen. If this is the culture among your team, then management either condones it—or is willfully ignorant.

After doing some research, I discovered the owner is a well-known celebrity chef. I find it hard to believe he would be okay with this type of behavior representing his name and brand.

This was my first and absolutely last time dining here. Racism and hate speech should have no place anywhere—especially not in a business that serves the public, and certainly not...

Yes, 2020 is the first time I got to try Tinroof. For the record, I did try to grab some grub a few years ago but the selection I wanted was sold out and I never went back.

ATMOSPHERE: They're taken over the former Koko Ichiban Ya spot in the Dairy Center (where Marco's and FedEx Kinko's is). The inside is tight with just a few stools for counter seating (pre-COVID).

MENU: Local plate lunch selections with a twist. Poultry, meats, seafood, noodles, desserts.

FOOD: Garlic Noodles - $13.00 (quart) Available in two sizes, I chose the larger size. The noodles were very al dente, a bit dry on the exterior and simply seasoned with garlic and green onions. The dish needs way more moisture, additional seasoning like shoyu, oyster sauce, or even a powdered dashi and definitely a protein like chicken, especially for the price. The benchmark garlic noodle dish lives on at the Shorebreak Grinds food truck.

Mochiko Chicken - $9.00 + $1.00 brown rice Here's where my statement of "Local plate lunch selections with a twist" comes in. Traditional mochiko chicken doesn't come drizzled with sauces as the flavor is usually found in the marinated chicken and its batter. Here, the chicken tasted like it wasn't marinated at all. Another blow came from the meat's dryness. The batter was on-point though - crispy and moist with a good sweet-savory flavor. I can't say for sure what was in the drizzle but it tasted like a creamy aioli which broke away from the norm and what my tastebuds were expecting from a good mochiko chicken. Another not-needed topping was arare and furikake. Overall not bad but the parched chicken killed this dish.

SERVICE: I phoned in at 7:45 pm and they still took my order (they close at 8pm). A friendly, professional gal took my order. My spouse picked up the food so I can't comment any further.

TIPS: They used to be a lunch-only place, closing around 2pm but now stay open till around 8pm. I'm guessing that decision was made to encourage local support due to the pandemic and lack of tourists who flock to this place.

I was impressed with their app when I used it years ago as it knew in real time which dishes were sold out and wouldn't allow me to order and waste my time.

OVERALL: Tourists via their social media platforms will keep...

Wow according to the reviews I really expected this to be amazing!!!... sadly, it wasn't. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich. It wasn't terrible honestly but it wasn't great either. Some of the skin was really gross and had to be spit out and torn off of the piece.

This is more of an instagram place than a place to eat. If you simply like taking and posting pictures of food then yes, come here. If you like to eat delicious food that gets you excited, I'd avoid this place.

The Mac salad was very bland, I took it home and doctored it up myself and it was fine but I couldn't eat anymore after the first bite, it just wasn't worth it at all.

The saimin "ramen" had a fish taste and I'm not sure what the noodles are but those were really odd tasting too. To be fair, I've never had saimin before so maybe it's supposed to taste like this? All I know, is that if I order a dish with pork, I absolutely do NOT expect it to taste like fish.

I don't see any reason to return at all sadly... the fried chicken at jais place at whalers village was actually incredible, if you're looking for fried chicken sandwich, Hawaiian style, go there instead.

I rated the atmosphere a one because there is none. You order and leave, there is nowhere to eat inside.

The service, well, how good could the "service" be if you're simply ordering at a window and being handed some food? The girl was pleasant indeed but nothing in the way of "service" was provided.

I'd dodge the hype here honestly, plenty of other places in Maui that use local produce, meat, ingredients etc made by people who are excited to have you experience...