Sushi Paradise

If there isn’t room at Koiso and our sushi craving will not go away, we head to Sushi Paradise for fresh, no-frills sushi. The owner is as picky about his fish as Hiro-san is, and puts out a great plate.

This small, Spartan restaurant next to Long’s in Kihei is often a victim of its own popularity. It can’t accommodate crowds and the waitress/hostess will turn guests away when the seats are full. With several tables in addition to the sushi bar, the wait can get looooong because the owner is the only sushi chef, and, unless you’re sitting at the bar where the action is, the quiet room can be very … quiet. On the other hand, if a big group of fans comes in, it can get rowdy quickly.

Our advice: order edamame and sunomono (seafood salad with substantial slivers of seafood and sea vegetables) to snack on while you wait. When they do arrive, the sashimi platters and nigiri are more than capably prepared — generous slices of fresh fish often hang over the sides of the rice, completely obscuring their platform. While the prices are similar to other sushi places around Maui, we don’t get that same magic feeling we get from Hiro-san … but if it’s sushi you must have, this is a good option in South Maui.

Address: 1215 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, South Maui
Location: in the Long’s Shopping Center

Meals: Dinner
Hours: Tu-Su 6pm-10pm
Parking: Lot
Phone: 808-879-3751