Merriman's Kapalua Menu Prices 2026: Full Dinner Menu & Signature Dishes

Merriman's Kapalua is one of Maui's most celebrated fine-dining destinations, founded by Chef Peter Merriman — a pioneer of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement. The restaurant is famous for sourcing at least 90% of its ingredients from local Hawaiian farms and fishermen, including produce from Upcountry Maui, day-boat caught seafood, and livestock from Maui ranches. The signature dish is the Wok-Charred 'Ahi ($59), a preparation that has appeared on the menu since the restaurant opened. The ocean-view setting at Kapalua Resort — on a lanai overlooking the Pacific — adds to its reputation as a special-occasion destination.

Merriman's Kapalua is a fine-dining restaurant with entrée prices ranging from $42 to $95. Appetizers run $18–$37, raw bar items $27–$39, sides $14–$20, and desserts $14–$19. Specialty cocktails run $20–$24; wine by the glass starts at $19. A typical two-person dinner with cocktails, starters, entrees, and dessert generally comes to $250–$400 before tip. The Live Lobster with Mushroom Risotto is the most expensive item on the menu at $95. For a lighter and more affordable option, The Point casual oceanfront bar serves food from 3:00 PM — happy hour (3:00–5:00 PM) offers cocktails from $14 and small plates starting at $8.

The Wok-Charred 'Ahi ($59) is Merriman's most iconic dish — it is listed as "Merriman's Original" on the menu and has been a fixture since the restaurant's early years. The preparation is deceptively simple: line-caught Hawaiian yellowfin tuna ('ahi) is flash-seared at very high heat in a wok, leaving the interior rare and the exterior lightly charred, then served with won bok (Napa cabbage) slaw, scallion rice, pickled ginger, and wasabi-soy sauce. It showcases the quality of Hawaii's local 'ahi and requires no elaboration. The dish is available in both the main dining room and on The Point outdoor casual menu.

Reservations are strongly recommended for the main dining room, which opens nightly at 4:00 PM. Merriman's Kapalua regularly earns a spot on OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants list (including 2025) and tables fill quickly, especially during peak Maui travel seasons (December–April and summer). Reserve in advance through the official Merriman's Hawaii website or OpenTable. The Point, the casual oceanfront bar, operates daily from 3:00 PM on a walk-in basis (weather permitting) and is a good option if you didn't book in advance. Happy hour runs 3:00–5:00 PM at The Point and 4:00–5:00 PM at the main bar.

Merriman's Kapalua is located at One Bay Club Place, Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761 — inside Kapalua Resort on Maui's northwest coast. The restaurant sits on a lanai overlooking Kapalua Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The phone number is (808) 669-6400. Merriman's also operates three other Hawaii locations: Waimea on the Big Island (the original location, 65-1227 Opelo Rd), Poipu on Kauai (2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St, Koloa), and Honolulu on O'ahu (1108 Auahi St).

As a farm-to-table restaurant emphasizing local produce, Merriman's Kapalua has solid vegetarian offerings. The dedicated vegetarian entree is the Honokohau Taro Falafel ($42) — made with taro from Honokohau Farm, cilantro creme fraiche, roasted chickpeas, and tomato-cucumber relish. Vegetarian starters include the Smoked Taro Hummus ($19) and the Hirabara Farms Beet Salad ($24). Vegetarian sides include Garlic Whipped Potatoes ($14) and Mushroom Risotto ($20). Vegan-friendly items include the Chili-Garlic Broccoli ($14), Spicy Green Beans ($14), Coconut-Lime Sorbet ($16), several zero-proof cocktails, and the Keiki Fresh Island Fruit ($10). Guests with dietary needs should inform their server — the kitchen accommodates modifications where possible given its farm-fresh sourcing.

Merriman's Kapalua has earned consistent recognition across the industry. Current awards include OpenTable Top 100 Restaurants (2025), Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and OpenTable Top 100 Romantic Restaurants (2026). Chef Peter Merriman himself is recognized as a founding father of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement — a culinary philosophy he has championed since the late 1980s that prioritizes locally grown and sustainably caught Hawaiian ingredients. The Kapalua location is part of a four-restaurant group that also includes a location on the Big Island (the original), Kauai, and O'ahu.

The Point is Merriman's Kapalua's casual oceanfront bar and light-fare venue, open daily from 3:00 PM onward (weather permitting). It offers a relaxed alternative to the main dining room — same stunning Pacific Ocean views, same kitchen standards, but a shorter menu of lighter dishes. Happy hour runs 3:00–5:00 PM at The Point, with Merriman's Mai Tai and No Ka 'Oi cocktails at $14 (versus $20-21 regular price), and small plates at reduced prices — truffle fries $8 (vs. $14), taro hummus $10 (vs. $19), kalua pork quesadilla $15 (vs. $24), chilled shrimp $17 (vs. $27). No reservations needed for The Point.

Chef Peter Merriman is widely credited as one of the founding fathers of Hawaii Regional Cuisine — a culinary movement he helped launch in 1991 alongside eleven other Hawaii chefs. The movement established the principle of sourcing ingredients locally from Hawaiian farms and fishermen rather than importing mainland products. Merriman opened his first restaurant in Waimea on the Big Island in 1988, building direct relationships with upcountry farmers and day-boat fishermen that continue today. His Kapalua restaurant sources at least 90% of its menu from local Hawaiian producers. Beyond the cooking, Merriman is known as a champion of sustainable fishing practices and small-farm agriculture across the Hawaiian islands. The original Wok-Charred 'Ahi is considered his most enduring signature dish.