I had the fried Mahi Mahi. It was excellent! I got it to go. The restaurant is not fancy. You eat on dirty old picnic tables. Bring table toppers for the kids. The fried mahi mahi was great for my 2 yr old, we just picked the fried outer coating off and she ate the fish. She loved it.

My husband and I visited Maui for the first time about two years ago. My brother, a Maui resident recommended this little hole in the wall place called the Paia Fish Market. We didn't know what we were in for and our expectations were low once we got there. You wait in line, then order at the counter, get your number and then...we got the most delicious fish meal on Maui! I had the fish tacos and my husband had the Mahi Fish burger, cajun style. The portions were huge and the fish was amazingly fresh.

Well, we now live on Maui and this is still one of our favorite places to go on the island. We now have our ordering down: two Ono burgers cajun style, one small basket of fries (which is huge) one Hefewiesen and one Red Hook pale ale. Ladies and gentlemen my mouth is watering as I write this, this is the best lunch on the planet. The fish portions are enormous, they barely fit on the bun, the homemade coleslaw on top is infused with dill and perfect.

I have to tell you guys, Mahi Mahi is the tourists fish of choice but you are missing out if you skip the Ono (which is Hawaiian for delicious) it is firmer than Mahi and makes a much better fish burger. Give this place a try, the line moves very quickly, the staff keeps the place clean, and it is fun to meet new folks sitting at the picnic tables.

Aloha!

During a rainy afternoon, we stopped by the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center to escape the downpour. At the Gap, we talked with a sales associate who told us about some of the local restaurants. "Yeah," she informed us, "Mama’s Fish House is the most expensive restaurant around." But my husband and I like to search for the hole in the wall, local restaurant experience. "What about the Paia Fish Market?" I asked. "Oh, yeah," she remembered, "That’s a nice restaurant too."

On the return trip from Hana, we decided to try the Paia Fish Market. Our casual swimsuit attire presented the only problem and weren’t in the mood for a fancy restaurant. "Let’s just take a look and decide when we see it," we concluded.

As it turned out, the sales associate’s definition of "nice restaurant" and ours were a bit different. The Paia Fish Market is an unassuming counter service eatery that boasts benches and tables for their patrons. Serving delicious food was more of a concern than impressing the tourists, although there were many visitors in the place. If you are concerned with touching sticky tables and bussing after yourself, skip this place. But if you want terrific Mahi Mahi, you can’t pass this up.

My husband and I both ordered the grilled Mahi Mahi sandwich topped with the house cole slaw. Our orders were accompanied by the requisite skinny cut Cajun fries, which were sprinkled with Cajun seasonings. Simply seasoned, the fish was tender with a mild flavor, not at all overpowering. The substantial meal filled us to contentment. It was too bad that we never went back because the Paia Fish Market certainly merited a repeat visit.

Pricewise, here’s what we paid: Mahi Burger $8.00, Cajun fries $2.00.

As we devoured our dinner, we noticed a couple outside the window by our table. They seemed to be agonizing over whether or not they should step foot in the joint. We got their attention through the window screen and assured them that anything they ate would be memorable, in a good way. Convinced, they too dined there for dinner.

And that is how word-of-mouth can turn a hole-in-the-wall into a popular dining destination.

Down the road from The Paia Fish Market you'll find Mama's Fish House, one of the most overrated restaurants in Hawaii. The ambience is manufactured, although the oceans views are beautiful. With that said, you don't have to sit in a restaurant and pay $50 a head to get a great view and a good meal. The Paia Fish Market is a casual, fun, and definitely local environment that serves the best Ono burger in the world. Get one to-go, drive 3 miles down the road, sit on a park bench, and enjoy the best meal on Maui while smiling at the tourists pouring into Mama's.