Paia Fish Market
This is a good place for a relatively quick fish burger. It doesn’t look like it’ll be quick when you see the line for the order counter or the packed communal tables, but somehow by the time you finish placing your order — or at least once your number is called and you get your food — seats will open up for you.
The menu is on the blackboard, and consists of seafood dishes and fish burgers, nearly magical for their sheer heft: it’s impossible to purchase a filet that fat for the same price at a grocery store. Ignore the other offerings; they’re mostly dismal.
You can get any fish you like for your burger, but we heartily recommend the opah, or the ono, which is a tender, white fish named for what it is — ono means “delicious.” Opakapaka, or pink snapper, is another top choice, when available. A piece of grilled fish — perfectly cooked — is placed on a bun with homemade slaw (good), shredded cheese (commercial), and a tomato slice. No matter how many times we have this burger, we enjoy it well enough to stop talking for a few minutes so we can concentrate. You can get a single portion of shoestring fries with your burger, but we order the larger basket to share. They’re nicely seasoned with spices and salt.
Address: 100 Hana Hwy., Paia, North Shore
Location: Corner of Baldwin and Hana Highway
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Hours: Daily 11am-9:30pm
Parking: Street
Phone: 808-579-8030
Website: www.paiafishmarket.com
November 18, 2010 @ 12:54 pm
We began and ended our amazing 2 weeks in Maui at Paia Fish Market. It was great, casual place to stop after a long flight from the mainland and before heading to our condo on the west side of Maui where restaurants would have been closed had we waited to eat later. The Ono burger and Ahi burger with fries and slaw were all great. The fish was a generous portion, fresh and nicely grilled and with a couple of beers we were very satisfied. We enjoyed it so much that we returned for more fish burgers with the works before our flight home!
August 18, 2009 @ 5:52 am
We enjoyed our meal at Paia Fish Market. The Mahi Mahi fish and chips were very moist and delicious and clearly the favorite at our table. The blackened Ono burger with wasabi was a unique taste that I would easily eat again. The sweet onion rings were exceptional if you like thick onion rings.
We arrived around 1:30, so the crowds were minimal and we enjoyed feeling the Maui breeze through the open windows as we sat with another family at their long picnic tables.
July 31, 2009 @ 2:47 pm
I stopped in for dinner last night; will never go back. The woman at the counter put me down for the chicken burger with fries I did order and an ono burger that I never ordered and then wasn’t too happy with me that she had to void the charge when I told her I hadn’t ordered the ono burger (not my fault she was hearing things.) They were out of the seafood chowder so I ordered calamari instead; came so overcooked all I could taste was a burnt flavor. They were good about fixing it and remade them. My son needed to use the restroom but was out of order and the staff made no attempt to direct us to a local one available. My visit just left a bad taste and makes me never want to return. No love for this restaurant from me.
July 28, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
Best Ono Burger on the Island bar none. Expect crowds out the door. Food is fresh, reasonably priced and absolutely worth the wait. Enjoy
July 13, 2009 @ 5:03 am
This is my favorite place for lunch!!! The value is exceptional and the Ahi, Opakapaka and Ono sandwiches are fantastic! I drive for miles (from Kihei) to eat lunch here. I personally like sitting at a picnic table with 6 strangers enjoying a good meal.