Hali'imaile General Store

Had Christmas dinner and was totally let down. Been to the restaurant over 10 times Always having a 5 star experience. This year we didn’t have family in town so decided to go out for Christmas dinner. We arrived on time to a porch full of guests waiting to be seated. Waited 15 mins and then was taken to our table. No problem, it’s a busy night. 10 minutes later our server showed up, took our drink orders and explained the buffet. We were starving so we proceeded to the line. 1/2 of the food items were gone or well picked over. Prime rib was raw and fatty. I was really disappointed with almost every item on the buffet. Either cold or no flavor. Ended up not getting second round of food.
When I got the bill, it was $360 for 3 with a couple of drinks. Added a 20% tip because it was Christmas. $430 and I went home hungry. Maybe stick to what you do well. Not a buffet. I don’t like leaving negative reviews but the restaurant needs to know.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 4

We come back to Hali’imaile General Store because they have the best mixologist on Maui (in our opinion). Wendy has won cocktail contests (like Don the Beachcomber) and has been designing the cocktail menu for Hali’imaile for years. She uses fresh local ingredients, many of which she prepares herself, to craft the most delicious beverages…and she serves them with a smile and a friendly chat. Her concoctions really compliment the menu as well.

We like to catch lunch at the bar on weekdays. Today I had carrot-ginger-coconut soup and a sashimi napoleon. My husband had Chinese chicken salad. Dessert was the always scrumptious lilikoi-mango crème brûlée. Wendy’s Lemongrass Ginger Frost was the perfect drink, although I also had a taste of her seasonal Pumpkin Colada (because it is about to come off the menu in favor of another special seasonal cocktail). Wow it was good (and I’m not normally into pumpkin spice things! She just has a way about her.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food! This was our first time to this restaurant after vacationing in Maui 5 times. We cannot wait to come back and will be adding it to our regular rotation of restaurants, including Mama’s Fish House, Merriman’s, and Monkeypod Kitchen (Wailea). I got the black tiger shrimp pasta and it was fantastic! My partner got the ahi tuna bowl and he loved it. He said it was a “great Asian flavor profile that works well with tuna.” The cilantro and jalapeño margarita was out of this world. Also recommend the pork bao buns, including the slaw that comes with them. I could go on and on, but you must give it a try for yourself! Tip - check out the InKind app as you can receive a $25 discount on your first visit; you also receive cash back (I received 20%) for future use at any InKind restaurant.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Asian Bau Bow with Coleslaw

We went twice during our trip to Maui and it was even better than we expected based on all the suggestions of friends who had visited previously. It’s small, friendly, outstanding service, and the food is out of this world. I had the delicious farm salad and my son had the fish that was featured that evening. I don’t think his plate needed washing after he finished. We both had the chocolate dessert with vanilla ice cream. I’m still dreaming about it. I can’t say enough about how much we enjoyed both evenings there.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Fresh Catch

Always go here at least once and have the sashimi napoleon! Best ever!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sashimi Napoleon

Please do not go here without a reservation. Walk ins are terrible experience and front desk will not give you a proper estimate. We were asked to wait for 45 minutes but nobody called us or when we reached out to front desk, there was no response.

Holy cow! What a find!!! We were lucky to arrive and get in without a reservation. The hostess, cocktail waitress, waiter, server, and even the bus boy were friendly and courteous. The drinks and food were phenomenal! Definitely try the scallop-crab cakes and the banana cheese cake!!! Bathrooms were immaculate. The only not perfect part was that the venue is very noisy. Otherwise, five stars!!!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was deeply disappointed with our Christmas dinner buffet at Hali'imaile General Store in Makawao. At $85 per person, I expected a memorable meal, but instead, it was an overpriced letdown. The food was cold during our first visit to the buffet, so we gave it a second chance, hoping for improvement with a fresh, hot batch. Unfortunately, the only difference was the temperature—the food was still bland and unappealing.

The mac and cheese was completely flavorless, the prime rib was undercooked and paired with an oily au jus, and the yaki soba was dry. To make matters worse, the soda was flat. For such a steep price, I would have expected far better quality and attention to detail. This meal felt like highway robbery, and I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone based on this experience.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

First time to Hali'imaile everything was above and beyond our expectations!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Able to serve larger parties.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Bev's Famous Crab Pizza, Fish and Chips

Absolutely a wonderful dining experience. Service was outstanding. Loved the Paniolo ribs and don't miss the pineapple upside down cake.

Parking: Handicap accessible on the south side of the parking lot.

Wheelchair accessibility: South side of the parking lot.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Sashimi Napoleon, BBQ Ribs

Lovely place to enjoy a wonderful lunch after taking the Maui Gold Pineapple tour. Menu is creative and well balanced. Staff was attentive.

Wheelchair accessibility: Did not see access facilities, the store was accessible by steps. Check with staff on how to gain access.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi, Coconut Curry, Poke Bowl

We had such a delightful experience during our lunch stop on Maui! The breathtaking scenery in the Up country area truly captured our hearts. The food was wonderful, and the service was exceptional, making us feel so welcomed. We’re already looking forward to returning for another lovely lunch and visit. It was a highlight of our trip!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

All the food is amazing and super kind staff!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Another year, another review update as we've been in several more times.

BEVERAGE:
Maui Mule
Ever since a friend ordered this while we were on vacay in Kona, I've been a huge fan. The version here is the tastiest that I've had so far with perfectly ratioed ingredients that resulted in bold, sweet and savory flavors.

FOOD:
Caesar Salad
One of the island's best versions resides right here. At first I didn't know why I preferred some caesar salads over others, but now I do. Baby romaines. They just taste better overall, compared to their mature siblings that retain too much water. The dressing is creamy, tangy and fishy; everything that a caesar should be.

Seared Scallop Risotto
Eyes gleaming, a beautifully plated entree of scallops seared to perfection over a buttery mound of risotto was presented. Earthy beech mushrooms that resemble enokis along with crunchy corn kernels made this my new favorite dish at HGS. Highly recommended.

Bev's Famous Crab Pizza
One of my favorite apps. Still tasty with that topping, but the flatbread wasn't toasted enough in the middle, resulting in a chewy, almost raw-like texture.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich
This is a lunch menu item only. The delectable name of the dish is what sold me. While the sandwich was good, there was no wow-factor. No creaminess from the buttermilk batter but just the taste of plain fried chicken. I nixed the jalapeño slaw but kept the tasty aioli spread over the perfectly-grilled buns. Though not listed in the description, it did come with fries; thicker-cut shoestrings coated in that extra crispy batter.

French Onion Soup
This was a nightly special. The flavors were there, but there was too much toasted bread (three slices turned on their sides to fit into the cup) which absorbed a lot of liquid.

Crispy Roast Half Duck
The duck was moist with a nice sear to the skin, but I didn't care for the celery root purée that it sat on as it tasted like baby food. I would've opted for mashed potatoes but a newly added disclaimer to the menu states "For a great dining experience, Chef Bev Gannon & her crew ask for no menu substitutions." According to a reviewer from 7/14/19, they got charged the $8.00 split plate charge for doing so. What a shame. Anyway, back to the duck. I also could've done without the grand marnier orange sauce that pooled the purée as its citrus flavor was overpowering everything on the plate.

SERVICE:
Still consistently good and attentive.

TIP:
Avoid sitting at the tables at the rear of the restaurant under the low ceiling (used for large parties of 8+) as they're uncomfortably hot.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4