Kitoko Maui

We had the Lobster and Grilled octopus( can’t remember the name ) it was amazing. It would melt in your mouth. The live jazz music is an added bonus. Great staff, very friendly and welcoming. Loved this place! 10/10

Food: I was so disappointed about the flavors in my dish. I don’t think they went well together or tasted good. The veggies were on the harder side although their fish was tender and their crispy rice had a good crunch. Their presentation was beautiful though! Service: Friendly staff although they take a while to get your order out. Atmosphere: Place is in a food truck location so there’s plenty of outdoor seating. However, we had to move multiple times because there were so many flies and ants at our tables. Great for large parties and kid-friendly.

Went here because of the stellar reviews and it does not disappoint. Friendly people who cook up the dishes right in front of you, plenty of beautiful outdoor seating, and incredible food!!! Got the pork belly with ube gnocchi and sides of pickled red onion and pineapple slaw.

Lovely place such a special location and super delicious and high quality food and desserts! The owner even came to talk to us super friendly and asked how did we like the food. We will come back for sure! A little pricey but the food was amazing, tasty and so worth it! We ordered the curry chicken and the meat plate and pizza Marguerite for our toddler and we ate it all! Super delicious sourdough pizza!! Then ordered chocolate mousse and lilikoi tarte and yummmmmm! The green lush atmosphere and all decoration was so beautiful too! And live music!!! We will repeat for sure!!!

It’s wonderful place for whole family. Tables in the shadows of palms, Buddhas everywhere, the sounds of nature and amazing cuisine. There were flies and small ants around the table we were sitting, it’s the only thing that annoyed us a bit.

If you get the chance, eat here. Kitoko served the best food we had on our entire trip to Maui, and we ate at most of the famous and upscale restaurants. The venison was off the hook incredible. I could eat it every day and die a very happy man. The shrimp dish came with amazing crispy garlic that the only negative was that we didn't get more. The crispy pirk belly was cooked perfectly, and the accompanying purple potato gnocchi were so soft they practically melted in your mouth. The jicama carrot and radish slaw had a very delicious unique flavor, not quite pickled. Everything was cooked on multiple grills in their open-air kitchen right in front of you. They have tables set up in beautiful outdoor surroundings. Seriously, this place is amazing. Eat here first, thank me later.

Wanted to love it after reading about it I was so stoked to try it but the mahi was fishy, the bao were stodgy and underdone, the shrimp were slimy and the ube gnocchi made the dish sweet. You can even see in picture the bao are not light and fluffy like they should be. Nothing tasted fresh but beautiful presentation.

This is by far the best dining experience you can have on Maui. This place deserves a Michelin star for its food and service and attention to detail. We came here multiple times during our stay on Maui and everything was exceptional. Dishes are creative, presentation is amazing and the taste is unbelievable. Chef and his staff are super friendly and caring. They are happy to answer questions or help you chose a dish. We’ve tried Kauai Shrimp, Crispy pork belly, Ono Poke and Lobster. Also there Lilikoi Pie is perfect. I hope they get the recognition they deserve for their hard work and creativity. Thank You!

Pretty & delicious pastries!!! So aesthetic, unique, and tasty. We loved the matcha strawberry merengue and the banana bread chocolate pastry. We grabbed some after getting food nearby. Accepts card.

The owner was super attentive to his customers. We were there at about 4 oclock (we came from CA and we didn't adapt to the Hawaiian time, which is 3 hours later than Pacific time). I saw somewhere that this restaurant has crispy pork belly but I didn't see on the menu, so I asked the cashier. The owner heard me asking and removed the sign that was covering the crispy pork belly sign. Turns out the crispy pork belly is a special item for dinner. He let us order since we asked. Not gonna lie, it did not disappoint!!! Especially the sweet potato gnocchi - I am very impressed! However, the bao is not as impressive as expected. But if anyone saw this review, highly recommend the crispy pork belly, but not so much on the shrimp bao... Just a heads up yall, there are A LOT OF flies in the area!!!! Thank goodness the owner gave us the flies repellent(??) fan - it helped our eating experience slightly better.... The owner also told me about his little brother's restaurant in the Marina area in SF, which is called "Roaming Goat". If you're from the bay area, just a little shout out to his little brother's restaurant :)

Food: I was so disappointed about the flavors in my dish. I don't think they went well together or tasted good. The veggies were on the harder side although their fish was tender and their crispy rice had a good crunch. Their presentation was beautiful though! Service: Friendly staff although they take a while to get your order out. Atmosphere: Place is in a food truck location so there's plenty of outdoor seating. However, we had to move multiple times because there were so many flies and ants at our tables. Great for large parties and kid-friendly.

WOW! What a wonderful way to spend our last few days in Maui. Out of all the places we have gone to, this place had the BEST loco moco and pastries. If you are visiting Maui, this is a must go to place. Food and service are excellent. You must try the pastries. This place is located in a very cute plaza with esthetic outdoor seating.

Did I just get an amazing half of lobster from a food truck?! YEP!! I didn't even need butter!! Service was fast friendly and the wait was short and beyond worth it. The gardens are beautiful and peaceful as well.

On my recent trip to Maui, Kitoko Maui was a recommended spot. A fantastic place nestled in an outdoor food truck hangout. This mini food hub has a laid-back, welcoming vibe where you can grab delicious food, explore different vendors, and even treat yourself to dessert--all while soaking in the natural surroundings. I didn't really know what to order, but the chef was really nice and recommended some dishes and you can really tell that he is passionate about food. I ordered three dishes: the Braised Beef Loco Moco, Lobster with Bao, and Fried Rice. The loco moco was good, tender braised beef with a rich, savory gravy, crispy rice, and a perfectly runny egg. The fried rice was flavorful, but had a tad sourness to it (it had a zesty dressing to it). But the real star of the meal was the Lobster with Bao--garlicky, buttery, perfectly cooked meat with a charcoal essence to it and bursting with flavor. It reminding me of Chinese stir fry lobster but more garlicky and buttery. The lobster paired beautifully with the soft bao and fresh salad, creating the perfect bite. It was so good that I had to come back a second time just to enjoy it again! With its incredible food, relaxed atmosphere, and beautiful natural setting, Kitoko Maui is a must-visit. Whether you're looking for a satisfying meal or just want to stroll around and enjoy the food truck scene, this spot is a true hidden gem. I can't wait to go back!

I love that they have a separate vegan menu. I don't know if they had a dedicated area for preparing the vegan items, but I did confirm that the plant-based menu was also vegan (everyone on this island really loves their honey, so you gotta ask everywhere). The person I ordered from was very nice and yelled out my name loudly when my order was ready so I could hear him all the way over at the coffee shop where I was sitting. Lovely spot to relax with a friend or alone with a good book. There's lots of shade, a koi pond, and dogs (and water for your dog if you bring them). They have wifi too, so you can scroll through social media or bring your laptop and catch up on emails. If you're with a group, I did see some bigger tables that could fit up to 8 people. My only qualm if I had to find something to complain about is that the bathrooms are not gender neutral, and there are flies flying around in the restrooms.

Wow! Probably one of my favorite food trucks! Kitoko is located in South Maui Gardens - a mini food truck paradise. Options for everyone, and it's BYOB! While there are many other options our fav food came from Kitoko. We liked it so much we came back twice! We ordered the lobster bento and the crispy pork with ube gnocchi. Extremely delicious! We also got their lilikoi meringue tart, a great sweet but not too sweet way to end the meal!

Amazing! I got the chicken curry with veggies and hubby got the lobster dish. It was all so delicious and plated beautifully too. One of the best meals we've had on the island so far. The chef/owner was so friendly and helpful, it's clear he takes pride in the food he makes and serves. The whole gardens area is beautiful and provides a nice atmosphere to enjoy while eating your food.

My friend and I came to south Maui garden after a long morning at the beach and landed on Kitoko as most other places were closed. I'm so happy we came! She ended up ordering the braised beef loco moco which came with a side of papaya salad and crispy beef and I ordered the Kauai shrimp bao buns. The loco moco was delicious but made with beef chunks instead of the standard hamburger meat. It was an interesting take on a hearty dish. The Kauai shrimp bao buns were a stand out for me. The dish came with 4 buns and 6 shrimp, which were grilled and had a sweet and tangy glaze spread on top. It came with all the toppings you'd want ( cucumbers, cilantro, tangy green sauce, pickled onions, radish, and carrots.) the service was quick and efficient, with our food coming out in around 15 min. The presentation is beautiful and really highlighted the attention to detail, even though this place is a food truck. There is ample seating around, with most of it shaded by the trees and plants around. I've added this place to my must visit list for the next time I'm in Maui!

We tried their tiramisu, which had a unique twist with banana bread, local coffee, and amazing chocolate mousse. I'm not sure if it was exactly like traditional tiramisu, but I really liked it! All the desserts looked so tempting. The spot is located in a food truck park, which is quite spacious, and they offer tons of options. They also have a luau on specific days--definitely worth checking out!

Had dinner here during our visit in Maui. My wife and I ordered the seafood platter. You can see the chef preparing your food. The food was delicious and the seafood platter was worth the $125 price. The lobster tasted delicious. Come check out this place.

I didn't realize Kitoko was on the other side of the crowded food truck area in Kihei (South Maui Gardens), you just have to walk south into the zen garden. Hubby & I came and tried their Braised Loco Moco and were both very impressed! Something different from the normal loco moco, and we both really enjoyed it. The papaya salad was light and refreshing, the braised beef wasn't overly flavorful, more of a natural flavor of the beef and it was served with a crispy rice cube and fried egg. Hubby also got a Kombucha to drink, that was good and refreshing as well. Service was fairly quick & this side of the South Maui Gardens was quiet when we went. They have a bakery and pizza shop right next to the food truck and ample seating available & restrooms right by it. We parked right in front of the entrance, though it might fill up during meal-time rushes, then you might have to drive around.

This is a review for the dessert only. Had the likikoi meringue pie which was so delicious. The crust had a nice sandy texture and the lilikoi curd was perfectly tart and sweet. The light Swiss meringue that surrounded the edge of the pie was the perfect touch...ordered this from the display case in front of blue door bakery--just wish there were names and descriptions by each dessert type. May have to go back and try the other sweets too!

Speedy food truck with great desserts! They unfortunately didn't have the specials, but we got the mahi mahi bento and the papaya salad. Both were excellent! Also tried a few pastries - the shop next to the truck also sells their pastries, and has a wider selection!

This is one of two higher end restaurants in the area where food trucks gather. It was an extremely well done fusion of Hawaii, Japan, and Okinawa. The chips come with the poke. The grilled sushi rice was interesting in the Mahi mahi bento. And, they have Maui made kombucha for drinks with tropical flavors like hibiscus. I got two entrees and one kombucha and shared everything with three adults. It came out to something like, $68. Needless to say it is not cheap but the culinary adventure was well worth the price.

Wow! Amazing experience here. Their food quality, presentation, and flavors are top notch. Saw the owner working hard, clearly everything was well thought out and it shows. Only regret was this was our meal on our last evening in Maui and we could not come back for a second meal! Only managed to snag a picture of the desserts which we took back to our place to enjoy.

Great food truck Got the braised beef loco moco bento. 5 stars. Huge pile of tender meat. Loved the crispy rice party and side papaya salad (not too sweet or sour). The egg was the cherry on top - super yellow runny yolk and crispy edges Will definitely be back

This place was awesome! Located in South Maui Garden an awesome little oasis of food trucks tucked away in a garden. It's BYOB. We had an amazing tomahawk steak cooked to perfection. Better than any steakhouse! The sides were delicious as well. We also tried the bao buns that were outstanding. After a week in Maui, this was definitely our best meal on the island!

We had the braised beef hot buns and grilled kauia shrimp with the lilikoi meringue pie. Everything was so delicious, the shrimp with the vegetables complimented each other so well the veggies gave the shrimp a fresh element. The braised beef was so tender and flavorful. And the pie... not only was it aesthetically pleasing, but it tasted even better than it looked!

If I could give this place 10 stars I would. Still trying to grasp how what was served to me came from a food truck. Full of flavor, beautiful presentation, and evidently made with love and precision. Just fantastic through and through

I only visit once a year when I'm on island and I'm happy to say this spot is still delicious and i still absolutely love eating in the gardens.

This is a gem in Maui. Gormet food in a really cool outdoor setting. Listed as a food truck, don't let that deter you. The food is amazing.

A unique spot in the South Maui Gardens, definitely a hidden gem Food was very fresh, healthy and flavorful. We ordered the mahi mahi and loco moco. Loaded with lots of veggies, which I feel is rare to find! Dessert tasted so amazing Order and pay up front and sit in the garden Street parking Lots of other food options nearby. If you walk further into the gardens, it leads you to an area of several food trucks.

Ordered the Grilled Kauai Shrimp plate which came with 5 shrimp on a bed of papaya salad. For the price of about $25, I expected much more in terms of execution. Shrimp had a good garlic flavor, but a few of them were slightly mushy in texture. The papaya salad was...not good. Zero flavor. Would have been nice if there was a little bit of rice that came with the plate too. Service was prompt.

Beautiful Kauai prawns unfortunately killed again a second time on the fire... terribly overcooked. Mango gazpacho tasted cloyingly sweet and was covered with a layer of chili oil to hide the sweetness. Restaurant prices with food truck charms of having to bus your own plate and wipe down bird poop from the table in the garden. When we asked for a to go box, the sever had to be interrupted from flirting and couldn't be bothered to actually listen to what containers we needed. 1/4 roasted chicken with curried vegetables was the only saving grace.

I've dined at Kitoko Maui a few times before and it's always been incredible--but this last visit was next level. We ordered the grilled 4lb whole snapper, and it was absolute perfection. Tender, smoky, and packed with flavor, served with roasted local veggies, crispy rice cakes, and finished with a pour-over curry sauce that brought the whole dish together in the most balanced, flavorful way. Every bite was thoughtful and beautifully executed. And I can't say enough about the staff--warm, welcoming, and truly passionate about what they're serving. They made the entire experience feel personal and full of aloha. Kitoko Maui is more than a food truck--it's a culinary experience. A must-visit if you're on island.

Tucked within the South Maui Gardens is Kitoko which is like fine dining meets food truck in a beautiful outdoor setting. The different seating areas under the trees amidst the greenery rivals most Bay Area outdoor dining options that are often parklets. The mahi mahi bento and the short rib special came with flavorful sides like the Okinawan sweet potato with a miso sauce that was just as good as the protein. The desserts that can be ordered right at the truck or next door was just okay so in my opinion, the food is where it's at.

Such a gem of a food truck. The food and ambience here is what you describe as when fine dining meets food truck vibes. The atmosphere is amazing with lots of seating under the tree's so it's shaded during the day and has live music on some days in the evening. The service is also super quick. I had heard great things about it from so many blogs and it lived up to my expectations. I had the Kauai Shrimp and loved it. It came with a salad which was refreshing on the palette with produce so fresh I would be happy to even order the salad by itself. I wish I had the appetite to try more dishes but I would certainly recommend it to my friends and family. It's also a great date night spot.

Holy mother of all meals. The papaya salad is so fresh and flavorful, the meats are rich and tender. And the buns! Omg. We had to come back here a second time.

Calling all Foodies.....you MUST give Kitoko Maui a try. You won't be disappointed. It is a food truck nestled into the incredible ambiance of South Maui Gardens. The chef knows food and how to take it all up a few notches. Not only is the food delicious everything is a work of art. I had a bento box with steamed mahi-mahi, crispy rice cake, and veggies that were not like any I've ever had, with a touch of ogo seaweed - ALL DELICIOUS! If you have a thing against food trucks, then think of this as a little small restaurant, putting out outrageous food, with tables under a canopy of trees with twinkling lights.... And you can BYOB.

This is a food truck nestled in South Maui Gardens (which is beautiful and has an amazing selection of food trucks). We were so excited to try Kitoko and left mostly disappointed. We had this bookmarked because we wanted the seafood platter and $100 later we left it full and mostly uneaten. It was the most underwhelming dish we had our entire trip. The seafood was overcooked and just didn't taste very good. The pork belly special, on the other hand, was out of this world. I am so happy they had it on the menu I wish we would have just ordered two of those. We would absolutely return for the pork belly, but we vowed to skip the seafood platter forever. Dining outside in the nursery was very peaceful and the service was friendly. It took pretty long for the food, but we sort of expected that from here because of the platter. I wish we would have tried some of the desserts because they looked really good!

I was at the gardens drinking coffee and listening to live music when I saw a beautiful plate of shrimp at a table. I was gawking so much the singer had to sing to me, 'that's my lunch!' I think he was afraid I'd snatch it. So I went to kitoko and ordered the shrimp plate and my god it was one of the best things I've ever eaten. The shrimp was succulent and the salad was crunchy, fresh and bursting with spices. Wow I would not miss this place! Best food Ive had in Maui.

I was pretty excited to get some fresh poke here but unfortunately they ran out by the time I got there. I ended up getting a marlin bento instead and was not disappointed! It came in a cute tin and presented beautifully. The marlin was sweet and tender and just melted as I ate. I also loved the veggies that came with it - the purple potato, some pickled veggies and some different type of what I think are seaweeds. This is great if you're not that hungry and want a light meal. Kitoko Maui is a food cart that shares a seating area with other food carts. it's decorated really nice with string lights and also have the addition of live music. Overall a great, chill vibe, especially when you're on vacation or looking for a relaxing night out!

I've written before... And Kitoko has not lost a step. Actually they stepped it up. And by stepped it up I mean some serious genius here. You know the scene in Ratatouille where they have the flavor explosion... the movie doesn't come close. And now there's a bakery next door - Blue Door. And now they are at the South Maui Gardens which is much nicer than the previous food truck court. And finally they are so so nice. And take such pride in the food. Go go go as soon as you arrive in Kihei.

One of the spots I tell people they have to eat at when visiting Maui! A must. Truly amazing food created by the Chef here. Definitely a must while on Maui!!

I came in at 6 pm on a Friday. There was a music performance going on in the garden. I ordered the mahi mahi tao buns, which was the special for the day. They had a list of proteins to choose from for the tao buns. The wait was kind of long, but it was probably because they had a lot of orders and a small kitchen. I enjoyed my meal, but it left me wanting to order more food. The amount of mahi mahi they give is maybe 3 oz. It tasted like it was cooked over wood, which gave it a different taste than what I've had elsewhere. I ordered mine to go, but they also offer proper dinnerware.

Well this was the best dining experience we have had so far on Maui. In fact, stop wasting time, put your phone down, jump in the car now and get over here. Now that you have arrived... Firstly, the food is outstanding. Super fresh, fully delicious, and beautifully presented. Their shrimp was was perfectly prepared too. The mahi-mahi was fantastic far and away the best prepared mahi i have ever had. We got three different bentos. Two came on a bed of tasty papaya salad. They also have a yummy selection of deserts to choose from. Try the lilikoi tart! Secondly, you will be dining al fresco in a lovely garden setting. There was live music too. Park in the lot for free. Double highly recommended, don't miss out. Stop reading already and start eating.

Wow, what a high-end food truck in the South Maui Gardens! It looked so fancy and classy that it seemed more like a fine dining restaurant than a food truck. There was a water dispenser, sauces, and wrapped utensils by the truck, and our cook brought out and bussed our dishes. All the food looked beautiful and tasted just as good. The braised beef loco moco was amazing, and the ono poke was an entire platter of fish; it was all immaculately plated. Most of our dinner could've been easily $5 each more expensive if it were served at a sit-down restaurant. Everything seemed fresh and locally sourced. I'd highly recommend this place. It's so professional, and as much as I love Geste and Giovanni's, this one was even better, albeit less renowned.

This food truck adjacent eatery prepared creative and exquisitely fresh seafood. I ordered the grilled shrimp and spouse had the mahi mahi bento. Both were Devine. The surrounding gardens with tables and chairs made for a delightful late lunch.

Kitoko Maui finds a perfect balance in dishes both full in savory taste while also being aesthetically pleasing - when I went to stop by with friends, we were very pleased with how everything turned out and hope to visit again in the future - Miguel Morales Photography

Aaron is the pastry chef here and he's classically trained but with a long history foundation in the culinary arts. I saw a few people come before closing to purchase fresh baguette! When I arrived for lunch I could see Aaron toiling away in the kitchen until his coworkers pushed him out for a photo when I asked ...who's the baker! ? Nice team uplifting there. Nice! Giving credit where credit is due is not always easy ... but here they practice this. So nice to see. It's a great team here as is quite obvious. It's also obvious the team works early dawn when the sun rises and then again sometime at noon in the bakery kitchen because in Hawaii humidity you probably have to bake twice just to get truly fresh baked goods! Seems to me bakers in Hawaii might need to get paid overtime due to humid conditions . I wonder how they keep the bread fresh otherwise ? Now I know why the dough here is successful. !!! Wonder why the pizza dough and pastries are amazing ? It's Aaron !!! ( and the owner whose name I cannot remember) I rushed Aaron for a photo and snapped a quick pic!!! Sorry to the boss! Initially I wanted to try a slice of pizza but they don't sell pizza by the slice !! I was with a party of five and everyone wanted separate food trucks to purchase from. We enjoyed a cinnamon roll, a banana bread with gold sugar coated nuts sprinkled atop and something called the chocolate bar which was really a banana bread bar coated in chocolate and nuts and a tart fruit preserve on top... We will be back someday to try the pizza and maybe more pastries and bakery goods. This establishment is rock n rolling the dough ! Love!!! Try this place. Also to note : one end of the plant garden nursery where George the tortoise lives is where you can find a coffee house and pizza and pastries. In the center of the property is a tropical garden nursery with benches, south eastern sculpture, tables with shade to sit at and enjoy your food or coffee and tea. At the other far end you will find about ten more food trucks on the other end of the tropical garden nursery. I loved it all

This food truck style eatery is located in a somewhat hidden stretch of gardens in the Kihei region. Lots of food trucks with good variety food and beautiful garden ambience with plenty of eating. We tried this place for a little snack as we just had lunch and were on our way back for dinner soon. Had the grilled beef loco moco. Small portions and interesting take on loco moco with the riced served as sort of a fried rice cake style. Price a little high for the portion size but not bad considering everything in Maui is expensive nowadays. We didn't have room to try the delicious looking desserts though. Take note- we are at the tables right across from the truck and there were a lot of flies and bugs.

High end food at a food cart? Say what!? Kitoko was popping up on blogs I was following for restaurants to try in Kihei and I am so glad we stopped by. It's in a cute garden area just across from the other food cart pod so you can get free parking and as you walk up to the cart it smells amazing. I will say it's on the higher end of the food cart price scale so entrees will run you closer to $20+ but it's due to the quality ingredients and how they put the whole dish together. We just ended up trying one entree as we were heading somewhere afterwards and the grilled shrimp was enticing. The chef greeted us and even told us their special of the day so be sure to ask before you decide! As for the shrimp it was SO GOOD. Wonderful mix of flavors with the grilled shrimp and salad. I loved the crunch with the nuts and it was just a delicious meal. I only wish they served more shrimp since it came with three to an order for the price. I would definitely come back again but I might opt to try other places if I'm super hungry since you will likely need two entrees here to get full - but that's just me.

Love this place! The food is great! The food truck offers a Tomahawk steak that will blow you away!! The owner works diligently to ensure all customers are happy. Plus the seating has a tropical atmosphere! A must do!!

Food: - high end food truck - loco moco: 7.5/10, presentation is nice, meat was super tender/easy to chew, side "salad" tasted a lot like the pickles in banh mi, and rice was fried Service: - good service, friendly staff - if you go past 4 pm this section of restaurants is not connected to the other food truck area Ambiance: - plenty of parking space - lots of seating around - fairy lights and plants galore - pretty hidden so quiet meals

Absolutely amazing food experience! Ambiance in the gardens was great. Highly recommend for any locals or travelers. Best meal of the vacation and great service too

Wow, this place is amazing. I've been twice this week and contemplating a third visit before returning to California. Very healthy and tasty. Really enjoyed the Okinawa sweet potatoes and especially the tofu bento box.

This was the best Loco Moco I have ever had. I don't know what they did to the crispy rice but I loved it! loved the texture, the interesting flavor, and it was just so good. Braised beef was juicy, tender and gravy was not too salty or thick. papaya salad was okay and enjoyed the fresh micro greens... but really just the rice alone made the dish for me. I usually leave rice for last because I consider it more just filler or something to help cut down the richness of the main ingredient, but in this case it was a star on its own. So glad I stopped by in and looking forward to coming again.