4. Restaurants

Cafe Mambo

30 Baldwin Ave, Paia, HI, 96779
  • (808) 579-8021
  • Store is closed

Cafe Mambo Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Paia for healthy meals suggestion.

Paia Fish Market ( 100 Baldwin Ave,Ste A )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Caroline R.

    What!? Duck fajitas!? They were sooo good. Duck was tender and slightly sweet maybe caramelized - not sure but it was delish. Service was top notch.

    (5)

  • Maggie P.

    I enjoy the atmosphere in this place. The servers are nice and the decor is very colorful and cheerful. They offer a large selection of items so it is easy to accommodate everybody's food preferences. I had a steak fajitas a few times. Each time it was good, but the quality of steak was not consistent. Sometimes the steak was very tender and flavorful and other times I could barely chew it. I also had their lamb dish and it was really good. Their coffee was not good at all.

    (4)

  • Jamie R.

    A second trip to Maui, and a second trip to Cafe Mambo. Wonderful food, friendly staff with some incredible people watching. We returned for the kalua pork nachos and happy hour drinks after a long day see the sites. The nachos we delicious, and I can't wait to return home to try my hand at making a version for myself. The vibe here is perfect... attentive, but laid back.

    (5)

  • Amit C.

    Great food. Good drinks. A good vege burger. Reasonable portions. Great music & ambience. A wee bit pricey but it's Hawaii so I guess that's normal. I'd definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Dominic G.

    The margaritas were delicious, the server Zack was very friendly and obviously needs a big raise! He was able to allure us from going to Milagros and made sure he delivered with great service and food! Thanks Zack!

    (5)

  • Jane B.

    Cafe Mambo is a great place to stop in Paia, if you are looking for a quick and casual meal. They offer a nice variety of menu options and bring your food to you within 10-15 minutes of ordering. I stopped at Cafe Mambo with a group of seven people after we did the bike ride down Mount Haleakala. Our favorite lunch dishes were the "Aloha Burger" with pineapple, and the burger topped with a frittata. Everybody liked their food, but nobody was especially impressed.

    (3)

  • Nory B.

    Food was good, but not awesome--my fish sandwich was nothing special. The service was really slow(maybe because it was 8:30pm when we came in and they were ready to go home?), but friendly. But there were SO many bugs flying around, all over the table, on us, and then the food--ugh. Not sure why there were so many here but not in any of the other places nearby. Probably won't go again.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth B.

    Rocked our world - duck fajita and Ahi tuna melt were so delicious! All the staff were super friendly too!

    (5)

  • Dan M.

    Looked like a great place to stop before heading to the airport. I noticed the specialty duck burger on Yelp and thought this place must really know how to make a good regular burger, wrong.. it tasted more like a fast food frozen patty. Service was so so and burgers are below average, same goes for the side of fries and salad as well. There is simply no love in this food compared to the other lunch/dinner places on Maui so keep looking.

    (1)

  • Lori L.

    We were lured into having Lunch at Cafe Mambo, an open air, casual restaurant in Pa'ia by a posted menu that said "duck fajitas". Sadly, duck fajitas are not served at lunch, so we had the Crispy Duck Salad and the Ahi Sandwich with Fries instead. The Crispy Duck Salad was pretty good. The duck is well seasoned, pre-cooked, shredded, and reheated on a flat-top till it develops a crispy crust. The salad greens got wilted from the heat of the duck, but the fresh salsa, full of red onion and fruit, saved the "salad" part of the dish. The salsa has a nice bite and sweetness that balances the fatty, richness of the duck and pulled everything together. I would skip the Ahi Sandwich (or modify it), the focaccia, cubes of ahi, lettuce and tomato were fine, the problem was the chipotle sauce. For me, the sauce was out of place and the sandwich would have been better without it. If you do check out Cafe Mambo, most of the other tables order burgers. They have some interesting add-ins to their burgers, as well as other sandwiches and salads.

    (2)

  • Matt C.

    Probably one of the better restaurants in Paia! Incredible food, Great service and reasonable prices! Try the duck!!! #AMAZING

    (5)

  • Carl B.

    Cute little cafe in Paia off the Main Street. Decided to come in as other places were busy and his place was in a lull. Two magic words...Kailua pork. Oh my goodness. The best ever. They take the pork and cook it on the flattop to get it crusty. They they serve it with a vinegar based BBQ sauce. Get extra sauce, dip the pork in it, then be prepared for heaven. You can thank me later. Plus they have a great selection,of beer. Had a double IPA from Maui brewing company that was excellent. Wife got the tofu which was crusted with sesame seeds on a fresh salad. She loved it and described the tofu as the perfect combination of crust and moist tofu. Next time through here I will be getting the Kailua pork again and maybe I'll try the crispy duck too. So many choices......to be continued.

    (5)

  • Danielle H.

    This restaurant is listed on Yelp as "American (traditional)", but I think it leans more towards Spanish/Mediterranean fusion. We live close by and always loyally stick to our two favorite Paia restaurants but decided to step "outside of the box" and try Cafe Mambo. For some reason, strolling by, the menu hadn't appealed to us before, but we went for breakfast today and were semi-nicely surprised. The menu for breakfast can appear limited, but if you can find "something" that interests you, you'll be pleasantly surprised. My husband is more of a meat guy, so he ordered their chorizo with bean, rice, and cheese burrito, (it had a name... I can't remember). I, more a veggie lover, ordered the veggie quesadilla. My husbands was exceptional, (I've never had a chorizo anything that I've LOVED and I LOVED this). Mine was so greasy that I couldn't even eat it as a finger food. The bottom was SOAKED in grease. The flavor was good, but too much cheese and oil made this dish a mess. I always want to eat my quesadillas with my hands, but this was just too soggy. We live here, so we don't expect service to be fast, (and it wasn't), but it was friendly, and that works for us. I contemplated 3 stars, but that wonderful burrito, (that I would have never have had the courage to order), blew my mind. The presentation of the dishes bumped it up too.

    (4)

  • Betty N.

    **DUCK FAJITAS DUCK FAJITAS DUCK FAJITAS DUCK FAJITAS** Did I mention their DUCK FAJITAS??!! Cute beachy cafe on Baldwin with bright colors and modern decor. Staff was friendly and if you want fast service, you should go to the counter and order. ORDERED: *DUCK FAJITAS for 2 ($31.95) - Most creative and best thing that ever happened to fajitas. The black beans, the guac, cheese, etc. were fantastic complements with the crispy moist duck meat wrapped inside a warm tortilla. *MAUI SMOOTHIE ($4.75) - Strawberry and Pineapple flavors. Too sugary sweet for me. I would skip this next time and order beer instead. Fajitas, smoothies, and tax was $50. Not cheap, but then again, it's Maui. HIGHLY RECOMMEND the duck fajitas.

    (4)

  • Steve K.

    Great place for cold beer and a casual meal. Have been twice and the staff is very attentive and accommodating. Some good healthy options for food. No issue recommending Cafe Mambo for a fun place to go for a quick, healthy bite.

    (3)

  • Monika C.

    Stopped here for lunch while shopping in Paia. Loved that they had so many vegetarian options! Great place for a casual lunch or coffee break.

    (4)

  • Christian M.

    Great burger stop in laid-back Paia. We went here on the recommendation of the Billy's from Maui Easy Riders (see my review of their services). AMBIENCE: 4 stars. Just up from the main street, brightly painted interior with local art on the walls. Comfortable and fun vibe. SERVICE: 4 stars. Server was prompt and attentive, and she had a big table to deal with in addition to us. FOOD: 4 stars. Maui beef burger with pineapple was great--cooked as ordered and delicious. Fries were OK--I am something of a fry afficiando, so I expect more! ALCOHOL: 3 stars. Several beers available, I had a Mai Tai, which was fine but not exciting. FAMILY FRIENDLY: 4 stars. Easy for kids to get in and hang out. OVERALL: 4 stars. Would definitely stop in again!

    (4)

  • Mark F.

    I am only giving a review for the ambiance and the coffee, although a review of the menu revealed some great food with a lot of organic content. The coffee we got here is BY FAR the best coffee a coffee-snob Sydney-sider has been able to find in Maui. Illy is not my favourite brand but it was prepared well and compared to Kona is magic.

    (5)

  • Jenny M.

    A-MAZ-ING!!!! I went twice while on holiday in Maui. Best burgers I have ever tasted, we had the pulled pork and crispy duck. Wow! If you are in Maui, u have to go!!

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    Good burgers and salads, and really relaxed island vibe. Servers were great. Its a typical Maui restaurant- lots of fresh options, and good people watching.

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    Went for breakfast. Super bummed. Nothing on the menu is remotely interesting, distinct, or Hawaiiany. Go here if you want bland generic breakfast foods (eggs, pancakes, toast), enjoy being underwhelmed, and wish you weren't in Hawaii.

    (1)

  • Thomas P.

    If your in Maui, and your looking for something excellent, check out Cafe Mambo. One of theirs specialties is duck. They way they season, cook, and glaze the duck makes their dishes amazing. They offer a duck burger as well as a duck fajita. Both dishes are amazing. Not only are the main dishes great, but the sides are cooked perfect as well. I'm not sure what they put in their fries, but their crispy and match the duck burger perfectly. If your looking for something on the healthier side, get a salad instead of fried. Their greens are local and fresh and comes with a home made house dressing. Very good. As for service, most excellent. I'm currently working on Maui for about a month and I came here Monday through Friday, five days, they know my name here. Everyone that works here is professional and very nice. If you come here, check out Jessica. She's the best! Very cool chic!

    (5)

  • Betsy R.

    Lots of vegetarian choices, generous portions, and very good prices (for Maui). I had the veggie fajita plate - served with Home-made Salsa, Guacamole, Sour Cream, Feta, Jalapenos, Black Beans, Salad and Flour Tortillas. There was so much food and it was all very tasty. My husband had the Kalua Pork sandwich. He wasn't impressed with it though. They put mayo on the bun which he didn't feel paired well with the pork. This place is casual which was what we wanted but LOUD! We parked across the street in a lot and had to pay but we are used to that living in LA. The neighborhood is cute but seems like there were a lot of "punks" hanging around across the street. Overall, a good choice if you are in this area.

    (3)

  • Gupta J.

    Tasteless, boring and overpriced food. Waste of money.

    (2)

  • Joseph S.

    This place was good. I got one of their burritos for breakfast and was full for hours. I could hardly even finish it. And they basically let me create my own. A little pricey, but I enjoyed the breakfast, that's for sure.

    (4)

  • Tracy D.

    .

    (5)

  • Rhonda S.

    Service has ups and downs. Food is good. However I went in the other day to order an iced coffee and it wAs one on the worst stomach trenching drink I have ever had Don't serve drinks that give people a stomachache and taste terrible guys

    (3)

  • Virgil H.

    We stopped here for a late breakfast on our way to the volcano. Was not busy when we arrived but it was around ten. Place was clean, love the open air windows and casual atmosphere. Waitress was helpful and friendly, if I have any complaints she never returned to check on coffee refills and I consume copious amounts of caffeine. I ordered the Surfing Bull Ciabatta. It was great, good size, great bacon. Wife ordered then omelette with spinach and mushrooms. She liked it, the potatoes were good, not like they were dumped from a bag. Would definitely go again. Would like to do lunch or dinner here

    (4)

  • Amanda C.

    I continue to dream every night about the Crispy Duck Fajitas! The Duck was so amazing that my kids spent the rest of our vacation trying to find a meal that was better but nothing else came close. I just wish I hadn't wasted my first dinner here on a burger!

    (5)

  • Joanna F.

    I had heard good things from a local about Cafe Mambo so we gave it a shot for lunch one day. We were not disappointed. I got a tuna burger which was shockingly good. My husband also loved his burger. Service was awesome and it was fairly priced. I wasn't expecting the food to be as good as it was, but I'm so glad we came in.

    (4)

  • E D.

    Get the crispy duck fajitas. Just get them. Crispy, not fatty at all, with sautéed onions beneath. Don't hesitate to add the jalapeño peppers to your fajita. They are not that spicy and help balance the sugar in the duck marinade. Teenage Daughter said her burger was "fine". Fries were "fine", too. One funny thing is that the duck fajitas for two is actually 5 cents more than getting two separate orders. We pointed this out to the waiter as a laff and he deducted 5 cents from our bill as a laff. Place is casual. Service was unhurried, efficient and friendly.

    (4)

  • Jeanne F.

    We were heading to Paia Fish Market for lunch. It was packed so we went back to Cafe Mambo which we had walked passed. What a find, there were 8 of us and we all ordered something different. Everything was delicious and the service was friendly and efficient. We will definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Ellie C.

    What a chill little hippy spot! Got a chance to eat here a couple times and was really impressed with the menu. The duck fajitas are a must try.. Melt in your mouth deliciousness. Loved the big open windows and friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Christine B.

    Stopped in for lunch & to write some postcards. Staff was happy to let us sit and write as we ate (and for a good 15-20 minutes after). They started serving Life Foods veggie burgers - great addition for vegans/vegetarians/veg appreciators. I got mine with grilled pineapple and all the fixins. Fresh fries, awesome casual ambiance. Definitely worth coming in!

    (4)

  • John R.

    Nice place in the wonderful little town of Paia. I had the Huevos Rancheros for lunch and found them satisfying but I wished they would ask about how you want the eggs as I would have preferred mine a lot less runny than they were.

    (3)

  • Gautam G.

    Very good veggie quesadilla. Good coffee. They served a hearty bread with eggs, liked it. The pancake was off a too hot girdle though.

    (4)

  • Nathalie-claire L.

    Stopped in for a drink and ended up staying for lunch and several drinks! The lamb couscous was delicious as was the vegetable stew. The cherry on the icing was Tonya our barmaid. She was so pleasant and chatty that we would go back again just to enjoy her company.

    (5)

  • Shane L.

    This place is great. The fresh fish sandwich is amazing. Good coffee, friendly and clean. Lots more I'd like to try. Have to come back to Hawaii to go here again. ;)

    (5)

  • Nikki M.

    Local beers?-check! Duck Fajitas?-check! Paella?-check! Oh heck yes! We loved this super casual eatery after completing a busy day after the road to Hana. The duck fajitas were probably one of my favorite foods on maui! If I had known they did a box lunch for the road to Hana drive I totally woulda taken them up on it. Come to Paia, enjoy this sleepy town and shop at all the cute boutiques and then dine at Cafe Mambo. You won't be sorry!

    (4)

  • Eliza G.

    I've been living on Maui for eight years and this is absolutely my go-to favorite restaurant. The prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is charming, and the service is great. They use locally grown and produced ingredients, such as Kula grown greens and also Maui Cattle Company grass-fed beef. My favorite light meal is the island fish salad and my favorite larger meal is the duck fajitas. The happy hour specials are pretty fun, too! Update: I have been back twice in the last two years, and though the menu remains the same, somehow it just doesn't have the same "pop" as it used to. Other friends agree... I am not sure why! In any case, still a great place to go.

    (4)

  • Charlie C.

    Definitely a great find on Maui. Extremely pleasant staff, excellent atmosphere, and delicious food. Great for families and kids.

    (5)

  • Lokkland M.

    veryniceburgers.tumblr.c… Burger Name and Description: "Crispy Duck Burger" ... Ingredients: crispy duck, grilled onion, cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce, salsa, mayo Table Additions: none Served with: Green Salad Price: $10.95 Score: 7 out of 10 Comments: This was a GF order... And what a quandary! This one should have arguably gotten a higher score... The duck by itself certainly deserved it, twas farkin lush. But in the burger with all the other stuff it just felt wrong. It felt like I was eating really good leftover chinese takeaway in a bun with salad. If this was "Very Nice Leftover Chinese Sandwiches" it probably would be a 10, but alas...

    (3)

  • Deserie D.

    Ok I'm not sure what happened to Mambo but its lost its mojo since they've opened. I'm still a huge devotee of their duck fajitas but wtf did they break all their dishes so now they're gonna serve their food on plastic shit. I'm its not cheap so don't serve the food on cheap shit. It totally brings down the quality & feel. I wish I took a picture of the hamburger my friend got, it looked boring & ridiculous. A plain dry burger on a white oversized white plate, no garnish nothing. When the waiter served it....awkward!! This place is supposed to be a European Spanish Style restaurant. Tapas served on cute little plates with originality, flair and pure deliciousness. Also they used to have gorgeous artwork on the walls now it weird ugly mis-match hodge podge??? Really?? Down another notch! Okay the most horrific part of all. I used to make special trips in to get the infamous Illy Coffee then suddenly it tasted nasty. Of course I was thinking it was a fluke so I kept going in and getting another but oh no, it's official.....even the Illy Coffee is terrible. Ugh!!

    (2)

  • Kimmy T.

    Crispy duck burger was amazing!! No words to describe it's yummyness. I was on a quest to try this burger since the other reviewers spoke so highly of it but when we got to Cafe Mambo it was still breakfast time but the really cool and friendly waiter said that they could do a special request for me. I'm so glad I had a chance to try it because it was good, although greasy but it's duck and duck is fatty, so that's what you expect. My husband ordered the steak and eggs and he said it was good and cooked perfectly to his liking. The portion did look a little small to me but he said it was perfect. My duck burger was huge and I could only finish half of it. I'm sad that I can only get this burger in Maui. So far away from home for me. A hui hou!! Only downsides: Parking was a little bit hard. The restaurant has opened windows and doors, so there were some flies bugging us. Hippy sitting next to us had B.O.

    (5)

  • AsianRunningDiva S.

    Great open air restaurant (big windows that they leave open) with local artists photos lining the walls. We had the local food: Maui Cattle Co burger and Tofu burger...all Maui made! YUM! Their Mahi Mahi is from Thailand, so that's a little disappointing...maybe they should consider local fish??? But the burger was well cooked med/med-rare, just like I like it! comes with FF or salad or half and half of each. Also serve Illy coffee drinks and has a happy hour from 3-6p every day ($3 beers--local Maui Brew beer and $4 cocktails). We sat along the window, breezy!! Felt like I was eating outside! Parking is street or a public parking spot at the start of town! :)

    (4)

  • David L.

    Went for breakfast and just ok. Could have a bigger menu, portions were also small-ish. Food was good, but nothing too special.

    (3)

  • Cristina F.

    Stopped off here on our way to Hana. Figured it would be worth the shot. The service was great, we had an extremely friendly waitress who made sure our drinks were topped off every so often. The environment was low key, when was great. The food was ok, I had their traditional burger and well to say I was blown away would be a lie. Granted it was better than a fast food burger but not great. I would not come back here, as I'm sure there are other places in Paia that serve better food.

    (2)

  • Melissa W.

    Just the ticket for a relaxing meal on the way back from upcountry. Laid back yet attentive, did not feel rushed after a long day. Thanks Mambo. Oh the food? Three words - Crispy Duck Fajitas. If a menu says duck, I say yes - and this was a great change up from standard fajitas. Yum! Checked out what other folks were having and saw delicious dishes everywhere. Very reasonably priced menu. Will definitely return on our next trip.

    (3)

  • Jeremy L.

    Great food. Unique menu that in a sense offers you stuff you may never try elsewhere. Their Duck offerings are great, and so are their entrees. The desserts are okay, but I might save on that, they're kind of basic. The only complaints I had involve being REALLY HOT. I was sweating like crazy there. They don't have air conditioning and they didn't put ice in my water. The food makes up for it and I hear sitting by the windows is helpful to the heat problem...

    (4)

  • Enid H.

    Was so happy I stopped at this place during my first day on the island...everyone was super friendly, service was great, and my order of the fish salad was delish!! Wish I could have stopped back in again during my trip...there was so many delicious items on the menu!

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    Quaint little joint. Had the Mango cheeseburger. It was a typical burger with a twist. Meat was really tender.

    (3)

  • Priscilla S.

    Only wish I'd known about it sooner, rather than on last day. Would definitely go back. Ordered the huevos rancheros and chorizo burrito and went halfsies. Oh yum!! I left full and satisfied and still over indulged with a sesame seed cream cheese toasted bagel and munched away while browsing stores. Friendly staff and good ambiance. I really enjoyed myself.

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    We stopped here on the way back to the airport . We had a fantastic lunch. I had the catch of the day sandwich and my gf had the chicken salad. Best lunch we had all week. The place is small and crowded but that is what makes is so special. The waitress were flying trying to keep up with everyone and they did fantastic. It was fun to watch them make drinks. I would highly recommend this place if you are looking for good food and friendly people.

    (4)

  • Karen C.

    Was looking for place to get breakfast in Paia and decided to try out cafe mambo. I got the cinnamon raisin French toast and it was pretty good, not too sweet just a little pricey for 2 slices of French toast, I think $8.50? But wouldn't mind trying their other stuff on the menu. Everything else seemed reasonably priced. Next time I'm on that side of the island!

    (4)

  • Angela C.

    Kalua pork: too sweet for me. Duck dishes; good in general, recommend coconut porter- dark beer.

    (4)

  • Jen B.

    I love their pulled pork nachos. Great quick service, fun atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Sally L.

    Maui Brewing on tap like most places around which gets the job done in a nice environment. Made the mistake of ordering a Mai Tai here which was gross. I think they top it with cheap sparkling wine. I would come back to try food, but steer clear of their mixed drinks.

    (3)

  • Shannon P.

    Had breakfast here on our first day in Maui. Great ambiance, delicious breakfast and friendly staff. A fantastic welcome to Paia. Looking forward to exploring more of this charming town.

    (4)

  • Bambi M.

    Arrived at cafe shortly after thier 12pm breakfast cut off ... And they STILL served us ... Score! Huevos Rancheros were awesome,service was friendly ( a little slow), and the cafe was quaint.

    (4)

  • Tom M.

    Had an excellent meal with good service- there were five of us - the bill came to $94.00 and we left a $20 tip. Fine - except when I looked at the bill later there had been a $14 gratuity added, part of the $94. I felt a little hosed, and stupid.

    (3)

  • Lisa M.

    Best Happy Hour around!! Love the seafood platter and great salads . Great prices for a Maui restaurant and friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Rachael T.

    The best burgers are at Fresh Market Bistro, Makawao. They serve the original Maui Potato Chips (albeit menial portion) along side, which draw at my nostalgic heartstrings. Recently had a duck burger at Mambo... to sweet and saucy for my taste... and I am still disturbed by inability to put a proper slice of tomato and onion on a sandwich.

    (2)

  • Lisa M.

    Stumbled across this place on our return from the volcano. Service was exemplary--owner (?) was very nice as well as the servers. Great smoothies. And they offer Illy, my fav. Don't forget to try the Moroccan stew w couscous. Fun place, nice vibe.

    (5)

  • Elle G.

    One of my favorite places to eat on the island. The food is good, the menu is diverse, portions are good, the price is good, and the service is friendly. I've eaten here many times and been satisfied every single time. They even have the occasional movie night and despite the bit of chaos, the service is still excellent and a good time is had by all. Love it! Keep up the good work guys!

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    The mango lemonade is a great way to kick off your meal. The crispy duck sandwich was good, but I liked the garlic shrimp with rice more. Big flavor and delicious food. Just go for it. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Lucas L.

    Breakfast burritos to die for. I hardly come across any breakfast burritos that can compete with New Mexican food, but this place has a mean one. Black beans, rice, portuguese sausage and egg hit the mother effin spot. Service is fast and friendly. The two people working the counter got us in and out within 5 minutes because we were late to a wedding rehearsal.

    (4)

  • Leslie D.

    Duck fajitas, amazing. Great value too. Laid back atmosphere adds to the dining experience. Staff was pleasant and checked on us to make sure we were doing OK. Get there during happy hour, draft beer is a deal! We left full and satisfied.

    (5)

  • Tanya F.

    Very tasty! My husband had the duck fajita which was fantastic. The duck was spicy and flavorful. I had the pork plate which was really good but I found it to be a touch too sweet.

    (4)

  • Darin B.

    I love Cafe Mambo. Most of the time I order the Mahi Mahi burger with fries. It is cooked to perfection, and tastes great. The fries are excellent as well. This is one of the few restaurants on the island where the whole family can find something they want to eat. They have a wonderful casual atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, and on some Thursday nights they have cinema night with the movies starting at 9pm with wine, beer, coffee drinks and desserts being offered. Suggestion: Bring back the cheese fondue already. I miss it. We all loved it.

    (5)

  • Tamsen G.

    Stopped here on my way from Lahaina to head up to the giant bamboo forests and waterfalls. Good breakfast, very cool and laidback vibe. Staff was awesome. There was a guy playing guitar and singing on the sidewalk, and all the windows were open so it drifted in beautifully on a lazy morning. It was an awesome pre-hike experience. Will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Edgar H.

    My family and I stopped in before our trek to Hana, and the breakfast platters were all great. Does not matter what you ordered, they have it covered! Service was very attentive fast, no issues. A must for anyone before the trek.

    (4)

  • Rachel V.

    Amazing spot-- can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Definitely the best burgers on the island. And make sure you get Megan as a waitress-- she makes you feel welcome, she's on top of things, has some great menu recommendations, and she has a great sense of humor! Bon appetit!

    (5)

  • Roxanne B.

    This place has really gone up in price and downhill on quality since the last time I was here. burger was just ok. crispy duck burger was better. $13-$15 for a burger is just too much.

    (3)

  • Karen B.

    Based on other reviews, we must of hit it on a bad night. My boyfriend said his bacon cheeseburger was one of the worst burgers he had ever had. I got the duck fajitas and they were pretty tasteless. The lemonade tasted like crystal light but worse and my boyfriend's diet soda was almost undrinkable. The tabe next to us ordered the bread pudding with caramel sauce-it took a long time for it to arrive and it was covered in chocolate sauce. They had to ask for the caramel and by the time it arrived, there were 2 bites left. Themost disappointing meal we have had on Maui.

    (1)

  • John S.

    This is a great little hippie cafe with great looking hippie gals serving up food. Break out the tIe dye shirts and hemp sandals for an expresso and pesto salad. Later, a little Paella and beer for movie night can get you into the bohemian mood.

    (4)

  • Humphrey J.

    We got picnic lunches here for our drive to Hana. They were good, it would have been nice to have fresh cookies for what we paid, not a bag of Amos small choc chip cookies. But whatever, I would go here again

    (4)

  • Mari S.

    My favorite lunch spot in Paia! Service is friendly and quick. Very attentive. The BEST falafel I have ever had and I am from New York where next to pizza, falafel is a way of life. Great burgers and salads too! Highly recommend !!

    (5)

  • A. S.

    We couldn't stop eating here while visiting!!!

    (5)

  • Shalin P.

    This is the heart of Paia, right around the corner from Paia Fish Market. They offer cooler lunches for the Road to Hana (you can rent the cooler and Hana CD for free with deposit). We had our lunch at the picnic area in Wainapanapa State Park. For a set fee, you get a sandwich, chips, drink, and cookie. I had a chicken curry salad sandwich while my wife had the avocado one- both were great. There isn't really much to eat on the Road to Hana, so getting a cooler lunch is key.

    (4)

  • C F.

    Five stars for being just right. Fun, loud, spirited place with great staff and excellent happy hour. By no means upscale or cutting edge, just good drinks and eats. I enjoyed a coupla Maui brewing co. IPAs and wifey had a mango margarita. We shared an order of sweet potato fries. The wait staff were tag-teaming, so we got the benefit of two waiters. Excellent idea!

    (5)

  • Mae F.

    We went for pupus and drinks with friends the food and drinks were great and well priced! Will go back for more

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Cafe Mambo, like virtually all places in Paia, should start out with four stars as maximum. Nothing in Paia is worth five stars, kids: Paia is an overpriced berg catering to wannabe granola munchers. It is like a cross between Melrose and Berkeley with a Hawaiian twist and the same pricing structure. Now that I have set the ground work, let me turn to Cafe Mambo. The CC and I settled in and were originally served by Medina, who seemed nice. She took our orders - an ahi burger and a crispy duck burger, with Maui IPA and a margarita - and then turned us over to (cue ominous music) Erin. If we did not get Erin for a server, the place would have gotten four stars. The ahi was good but the crispy duck was out of sight. If you are a duck fan, this is a great place to eat. However, I have never been a fan of smug, curt servers and Erin was, well, a smug, curt server. Maybe it was an off-day, but I am not interested in someone's off-day when I am paying them to provide me with good service. I could hazard a guess why she was such a pain in the keister, but why bother?

    (3)

  • Amy W.

    Really loved this place. Very nice staff. Relaxed atmosphere. Great cocktails (we were regulars for Happy Hour!). Really nice food too. Had breakfast one day, breakfast bagel and burrito. Both were really tasty. Also had the kalua pork fajitas for dinner one evening and they were awesome.

    (4)

  • Robert K.

    Trendy cafe in Paia Town. Service is very good and the food is very good as well. The Burgers are very good and duck fajitas are outstanding. The assorted seafood platter appetizer is great as well as the chicken fajita and fish tacos. The prices are reasonable.great for lunch or a casual dinner.

    (4)

  • lynne M.

    Fun friendly laid back spot with a tasty breakfast menu.

    (4)

  • Kenny L.

    The menu looked fantastic; I probably would have been happy with any item on the menu. I wound up picking the kalua pig with couscous substituted for rice. Flavors were excellent. Service was good but not exceptional. Compared to other places in the Kahului vicinity that I have been to for lunch, this definitely has much smaller portions (maybe realistic would be a better word... places like Da Kitchen had insanely large portions). If you are looking for food by the pound, this is not your choice. If you are looking for good flavor and a well thought out menu, this is a great choice.

    (4)

  • Denny M.

    Fajitas are ok.

    (3)

  • Tiffany K.

    Been here three times. Last time I was here, it was for the DUCK BURGER. Strange as it may sound to some, it is OMG delicious. Love it love it. Also came here for the happy hour. I loved the brews. Firstly, they are from the Maui Brewing Company. Highly recommend the Bikini Blonde lager and the Big Swell IPA. The latter has this delicious passionfruit after taste. Or maybe it was the lager? In any case, they were very distinctive, full of unique flavors and HALF OFF. The only one that is not is the coconut porter. It is $6 a pint. After having two pints and realizing that I might have to drive, I didn't get the porter. Darn! Will have to fly back for that one. Anywho, the decor is "relaxed Barcelona" complete with mosaic-y tables and Miro-esque paintings. I don't think the artist has ever sold one. They had the same paintings up the last time I was here a year and a half ago! The kids menu is orright too. We usually get the terriyaki tofu with black beans and rice. A nice change from the chicken nuggets and fries...

    (5)

  • Dave S.

    My go to eating spot in Paia, Maui. Awesome fresh, local, organic foods. Doesn't matter if you go for b-fast, lunch, happy hour or dinner, the service will be fast, friendly and accurate and the food will be outstanding. Killer burger made with Maui beef, awesome smoothies, amazing duck quesadillas...it just goes on and on. Oh, and great beer and wine. If there were a Cafe Mambo in my neighborhood at home, I'd have my own table.

    (5)

  • Craig L.

    Wow, the reviews seem to be all over the place. I went there for a casual dinner after work at 5:30. Except for the traffic as you enter Paiea, it was a pleasant experience. I got there just before the Happy Hour cutoff at 6:00 so go a beer on tap and ordered the steak fajitas. I had heard from a friend that they were good so figured I'd try them out. They came out in about 8 minutes, medium-sized cubes of sizzling goodness. They were cooked perfectly, medium with just a hint of pink. They were well seasoned, juicy and tender. The tortillas were Mission, or similar to what you buy in the store - about what I expected. They were warm and good. The fajitas also come with a fixin's plate that includes guacamole, salsa, sour cream, sliced pickled jalapenos and two small sides of black beans and a salad. The black beans were somewhat disappointing but the rest of the meal was excellent. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy and fun artwork adorned the walls throughout, something interesting to look at between bites. The service was very good, attentive but not pushy, and I was nothing but happy faces all around. I will go back there again.

    (4)

  • Matthew B.

    Great lunch place -- loved my kalua pork sandwich. Single men will also probably appreciate the attractive waitstaff, but being married, I took no notice. At all. While I didn't have the coconut porter here, I did have it at its source (Maui Brewing Co.) and it is outstanding.

    (4)

  • Sue D.

    Love the focus on fresh, organic and locally sourced product paired with innovative preparations. Crispy duck burger was delicious along with a cold Bikini Blond, my honey loved his pulled pork burger too! Colorful furnishings with local art available to purchase and a super cool staff. My favorite meal on Maui by a longshot.

    (5)

  • Matthew J.

    Great food, cold brew and great service!

    (4)

  • Lucky M.

    In short, service was good food was bad. The mango lemonade was good, but let's get to the food. The Kahlua pork tasted like jerky and it was seasoned like it was teriyaki. The sign on the door stated the were runner up for best burger in Maui, if they came in second I wouldn't dare touch was first. I tried the organic beef burger -the burger tasted like it had been grilled and recooked in the microwave, dry and tasteless. The fries were ok but they're fries! The salad was of the bagged sort with a strange tasting and thick dressing. Couldnt figure out exactly what is was. I would not come back here, and if they're building a second location in the hamptons they shouldn't represent Maui so poorly.

    (2)

  • A G.

    Got a burger here while on vacation in Maui before my drive to Hana. It was tasty and made well. The ambiance was super laid back. The weekly movie night seems like fun.

    (3)

  • James N.

    I've been in Maui 24 hours but I'll be here for three weeks and this is where my money is going! Split the Seafood Sampler (mussels, squid and shrimps broiled in buttery, goodness), devoured the Soy, Honey, Orange Chicken Fajitas (which came with guacamole, sour cream, something red and awesome, black beans, peppers, feta and foliage) and drained it all with a delicious mango lemonade. Don't get me wrong: I'll be trying more food on the island, but I do a bit of traveling and I have NEVER been this impressed on the first date. it doesn't hurt that the wait staff is quick, friendly and seem genuinely amiable. CAFE MAMBO, I LOVE YOU. PS: The labels "vegetarian" and "traditional" don't really work since half the menu was meat and I really didn't see anything traditional on the menu... Whatever. Go there. Now.

    (5)

  • Abby F.

    Wow! When a 10 year old says, "How did this place get best lunch?", that is pretty sad. Do not bring your kids here. They do not accommodate families. The servers are not polite and no managers are on duty. I have never gone to a restaurant that the servers treat customers with such disrespect.

    (1)

  • Lunk L.

    We went twice in our ten day stay on the island. The food is good, the staff are nice and friendly and the ambiance is fun and relaxed, just what Hawaii is about.

    (4)

  • Caroline M.

    The crispy duck burger was soooooo good! Sweet and crispy. Skip the mayo - who needs it? I didn't try it, but my husband says his kahlua pork was "excellent". Fries and salad were standard. Mango lemonade was really good. Atmosphere was very nice. Good service.

    (5)

  • Ibrahim A.

    Love their Burger and beer special. $9.95 in the afternoon (3-6PM I believe). Surprisingly, the beef fajitas and veggie fajitas were disappointing. The chicken and fish ones are much better. The owner is charming and the staff is laid back and accommodating.

    (3)

  • Niki H.

    My husband and I went here for breakfast....was good. came back after a long day at the beach and driving around the island and decided to eat here for dinner since it was next to our hotel... Absolutely amazing, get the burger hands down!

    (5)

  • Olen R.

    I stopped in for Happy Hour because they have a sign out front that says ALL BEERS & COCKTAILS $3. I looked at the menu on the wall and saw that they have a Coconut Porter on draft, which I ordered. It was really good and worth every penny of the $6, because when we got the bill the waitress said she was sorry but that specific beer was exempt from Happy Hour pricing?! But the only place that had the fine print was on the printed menu which we didn't look at because we hadn't planned to order any food. I didn't bother explaining to our waitress that ALL BEERS $3 might not be the best to sign put out front if they aren't all really $3. SOME BEERS $3, perfectly fine. MOST BEERS $3, even better. The Pina Colada for $3 was pretty good, and a bargain. P.S. I think the Cadillac Margarita is also exempt from the Happy Hour.

    (3)

  • Gee P.

    YOU MUST TRY the Kalua Pork Burger!!!!!! Absolutely to die for! I ate it so fast, by the time I realized I had forgotten to take a picture there was only a sliver of a bun left. Also, try the ahi sandwich. My son at the WHOLE thing, and he's only 4!

    (5)

  • Zakk D.

    One of 3 locations on the island that has Coconut Stout beer on draught by Maui Brewing Co. I didn't eat here, but man did I drink here. Happy hour is 1/2 off all drinks (excepts the Coconut Porter, damnit) and the chill vibe here is nice. I was in the corner on the benches with the comfy pillows tossed about. Really cute looking place that's really nice to drink. The food looked good, staff humored my drunkenness. It's all good.

    (5)

  • Erin H.

    I had a delicious and unique Kalua Pork Salad there. Mmmmmmm!

    (5)

  • Jihad S.

    Great sandwiches, for both breakfast and lunch. My partner and I really enjoyed my Hawaiian burger and her breakfast sand which. Great tasting food, made fresh, using local and organic ingredients. The staff is fun and friendly as well. Found that they make lunches for the road to Hana, will remember to pick one up next time I am there.

    (4)

  • Purvi R.

    1.5 doors over from Cafe Des Amis is Cafe Mambo. We stopped in here for a coffee in the morning, then came back later just so we could try the Coconut Porter. It was great! A very filling beer for sure, but unique at the same time - worth the stop. Along with the porter, we had some hummus and pita - it was okay - the pita was nummy, the hummus was fine - they put turmeric in it so it kind of mulled the flavor a bit, made it bland almost. It needed a kick and/or some more lemon. A couple of other great reasons to make this a stop in Pai'a - 1. they have a CD for the road to Hana that you can check out with a $20 deposit. The CD was helpful. 2. 3p-6p they have happy hour - 1/2 off all beers (except coconut porter, boo) and $10 beer & burger (incl tofu burger!) 3. fun, artsy, new-age hippie vibe. 4. inexpensive, even with the full priced beers!

    (4)

  • Nora S.

    We stopped here after checking out the Pai'a Fish Company, which was way too crowded. Now, I'm almost glad that I didn't get to try the other place. The food here was excellent! Unique, flavorful, and good service too. Coconut porter was very good too, although I only had a sip of that. Nice. Wonderful place to eat and not too pricey for the delicious food. We tried the tofu fajitas, duck burger, Kailua pork burger and kailua fajitas. All were great.

    (5)

  • C B.

    The food and the staff are both quite great, the drinks were nice and the happy hour was a great deal. This is probably the best place the area to end the day.

    (4)

  • Jake S.

    I have to say this place was kind of off. Customer service was there, but I got a little paranoid when the chef was just eyeing me down for no reason. Ordered some sort of veggie burger from there and it was good. The drinks are cold. Just felt a little uneasy when I was stared down by the chef. I kind of avoid this place now because of ONE person making my experience weird.

    (2)

  • Matt H.

    We first stopped for a picnic lunch to take with us on the road to Hana. They lend out coolers, but we chose to pass on that. We each had a sandwich made on a large soft roll, mine with ham and cheese and hers veggie. Chips and a cookie came with it. Good hearty food eaten later at a roadside rest overlooking the ocean with a local nearby selling hand-made necklaces and stuff. We returned for lunch two days later on our way back from Hana. I had chicken fajitas. Lots of spicy chicken in a bed of sauteed onion served with plentiful tortillas and a lazy susan type tray with salad, guacamole, sliced cucumber, salsa and other stuff. Flavorful black beans. Price was OK for Maui.

    (4)

  • Jennifer F.

    We visited Cafe Mambo on 5/10 and were so glad we did. Cafe Mambo has a laid back, artsy vibe with local painter's works on the walls (and also for sale). The servers were attentive but didn't hover. I had the veggie fajitas with nori & sesame seed crusted tofu. The guacamole and toppings were tasty; the feta cheese offering was different, I ate that separately. Tortillas tasted homemade or at least a good store bought brand. Everything was great, we left full and satisfied.

    (4)

  • W. Andrew L.

    Great food. We had an array of offerings including chicken, beef, shrimp, duck, and ahi; everything was exceptionally well prepared.

    (5)

  • Jorgen M.

    Right in the heart of Paia - this place serves up a crazy delicious Duck Fajita, if you love duck you will love this entree. We also had the Mai Mai Fajita and that was good as well, though not as yummy as the duck. Service was good.

    (4)

  • Rebecca Z.

    My husband and I ate here twice on our honeymoon after it was recommended by a local resident. The duck burger is DELICIOUS and so is everything else that we tried. The portions are big and the staff is friendly!

    (5)

  • Julia C.

    Great local cafe using fresh local ingredients. I had the Ahi Tuna sandwich with a salad and it was delicious. The salad had a mango vinaigrette and was very refreshing from the usual vinaigrettes. To drink I had the Passion fruit Iced Tea, which was sweet, but not southern sweet tea sweet. It was refreshing and tasted great. My husband had the beef and cheese, and the coconut porter. We learned the beef was from a local cattle farm & The porter was also a local Hawaiian made beer. We loved the vibe, the local food options, and overall it was a great lunch.

    (5)

  • Nick Y.

    Doing the tourist thing on the crowded streets of Pa'ia, my girlfriend and I wandered past this inviting little cafe. It was late in the afternoon, and most of the other places were either packed or closed. Since Cafe Mambo was both empty and open, we decided to head back for a quick bite. We were informed of their happy hour drink specials, but since they were out of the first three things we tried to order, it was "just water, thanks." They were also out of the falafel plate my girlfriend had been craving the whole lap around town. It was a bit irritating finding out the 86 list item by item, but the roulette wheel finally settled on the Hummus and Pita, and a Crispy Duck Burger. The Hummus, probably from a generous amount of turmeric, was a very bright yellow. The flavor of coriander was also very prominent, but neither spice was overpowering. It was nicely seasoned, creamy, and very delicious with the warm, soft pita. (Thankfully, too, because this was a very late lunch, and my girl's a little mean when she's hungry) The Crispy Duck Burger, which was really more of a sandwich on a bun, was MEAN, mean. Being my first, it will be my basis of comparison for all future duck burger/sandwiches, and it set the standard pretty high. I don't recall any crispiness, but the slightly sweet sauce complimented the moist, shredded duck very well. Also, the simple garnish of lettuce, tomato, and onion didn't overpower the ducky goodness. Thankfully, we didn't let our initial irritation get the best of us. The food at Cafe Mambo was way better than the sulking "waaah-mburger" we would have swallowed had we walked out after strike three.

    (4)

  • R G.

    Went here for lunch with my wife and daughter. Had a nice local vibe to it, which is a nice break from all the tourist restaurants. Food was great, service was good, atmosphere was casual, I highly recommend it. I had the best pork sandwich I've ever had (the kalua pork burger), seriously good stuff. My wife had the mahi mahi sandwich which was really good as well. My daughters burger off the kids menu had to be a 1/2 pounder, which was honestly a little strange. She ate about a quarter of it and will probably have the rest for lunch the next two or three days. Overall great spot for lunch.

    (4)

  • Francisco C.

    Friendly and layed back and reasonably priced. Great burgers and cheap drinks, I would hit this place up if you are in the area.

    (4)

  • Dana T.

    We had a great meal here. Very casual, laid back, but friendly and efficient service. We started with some fries to share and they were as good as expected and a nice big serving for the 4 of us to share. The fajitas were ample and the salads sufficient.

    (4)

  • Jasmine S.

    We were visiting Paia on vacation and went to cafe Mambo for our first dinner. The duck burger and margaritas were remarkable! Additionally our server, Mai, and the bartender Zack were so incredibly welcoming that we eagerly retuned the next day for happy hour. Thanks Cafe Mambo!

    (5)

  • Sean H.

    We stopped here on a whim when visiting Paia. The staff was super friendly and the food was great. A wonderful place to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy all the character of Paia.

    (5)

  • Surranna V.

    I am a fan. They are consistently good, today is the first time I had a meal here that I gave to my dog. I had the breakfast quesadilla and it had so much cheese that I couldn't eat it with out gagging. Other than today I have loved every meal I have eaten here. The kalua pork is so well done, nice and crispy, the duck, the falafel, really, all of it is good. They have a good happy hour if you want to put back some local beers and a burger. The large open windows give it an awesome open air feel. Cafe Mambo is one of the most trusted meals in Maui by the locals.

    (4)

  • Cj G.

    Looks like a cool place and the food looks good but we were pretty disappointed when we ordered a couple croissants to go on the way to twin falls and had to wait over 20 minutes to get them. They weren't fresh baked but were toasted. The owner seems to really care about the food and customers but he needs to get the employees to pay a little better attention to service.

    (2)

  • Freddie N.

    Went here for lunch before starting road to hana trip and my wife had curry chicken sandwich and she got sick with diarrhea issues and thus had to turn around 20 minutes into trip. Would give it zero stars if Yelp would let me

    (1)

  • Michael K.

    The eclectic menu combines Spanish, North African, and Mexican cuisines. I've been to Maui many times, and this used to be one of my favorite restaurants. The problem is, I've experienced better...here. In past years, everything was good, from the fresh banana bread at breakfast, to the fantastic crispy duck fajitas and spinach-nut falafel for lunch, and hearty Moroccan tangines for dinner. They also had the cutest waitresses in Pa'ia. Regrettably, on my last visit, things had changed. The cuties had moved on. They had no banana bread for breakfast, and the "fruit salad" was disgraceful--a little ramekin of slimy, day-old watermelon, a couple of chunks of tasteless cantelope, and a few shreds of woody, dry pineapple. Pretty shameful for Maui where tropical fruits including ripe mangoes, papayas, and bananas are so plentiful that they grow wild and litter the ground, and the sweet, juicy pineapples are the best in the world. The crispy kalua duck is still unique and worth coming here for, but they really need to get their act together again.

    (2)

  • Jaime K.

    Stopped here before the treacherous Road to Hana during a rainstorm...the menu was decent and they already had Hawaiian Xmas music playing....We sat right on the day-window that had the shutters open, so it was the best seat in the house. Ordered up the Breakfast Burrito with a side of potatoes...nothing outstanding about the food, but it was a quaint environment with friendly service. Highly recommended if you are in the area!

    (3)

  • sarah s.

    so yummy! Love our lunch here, super casual fun service and the burger was awesome. :) my bf loved his pork sandwich and I am so glad we stumbled upon this place. we'll be back!

    (4)

  • DC H.

    Heard about the great happy hour they have so decided to give this place another chance. Sure enough the servers we had this time were Awesome!!! They were very friendly and interactive. The happy hour burger and salad were pretty good too. Had beer to compliment the meal and all that for just $10! :) One thing I realized from the 2 experiences we've had here is that all servers are different, sometimes you get the good ones, other times you don't. It's just a matter of making the best out of your experience. Live and learn!

    (4)

  • Leila B.

    Awesome burgers! We were starving and one of the boutique owners recommended Cafe Mambo so we walked over, checked out the menu and were sold. The service was friendly and fast, with the waitress cutting us in on happy hour even though we arrived with only 10 minutes to spare. The burgers were exactly what we wanted: fresh, juicy and big without being intimidating. The drinks, fries and chicken salad were all perfect accompaniments to our meal and we left feeling happy and satisfied! Definitely visit Cafe Mambo next time you're in Paia!

    (5)

  • Seamus M.

    Friday night busy. Nice but slow service. Had the burger before and it's good but 2 of us had ahi burger and 1 (me) was ill (spare you the details) for 4 days. I ordered it seared. The other ordered well done and has been sick but not as bad. Fajitas were okay and veggie meal acceptable. No satisfaction from restaurant to refund meal. So much for customer retention and service.

    (1)

  • Galen O.

    Like many we stopped here for breakfast before we headed out on the Hana Road drive. While the food and coffee here wasn't anything remarkable, it wasn't bad. And lets face it its hard to distinguish yourself as a restaurant with breakfast. What is nice about this place is the vibe. It's very casual and the service was pleasant. We got the feeling that it would be a great place to hang out in the eves. Not sure if this is considered a 'locals' place to hang, but while we were there there were a lot of tourists looking at their blue books, just like us :) I'd go back.

    (4)

  • Mike V.

    totally forgot to mention the midweek movie night. if you are in town with friends, it's a great place to meet a few more.

    (5)

  • Kevin R.

    It was at Cafe Mambo that I first discovered Maui Brewing Co. Coconut Porter, now my favorite beer. Mambo serves up some killer Kaluha Duck. Lovely place on a lovely street with a lovely vibe.

    (4)

  • Matt L.

    We got a Hana Highway lunch box/picnic/sandwich setup here. For $16, we got two sandwiches, two cans of soda, two bags of chips, and two bags of some corporate cookie. For a $35 deposit, we also got a cooler and a CD to play on the Road to Hana. I guess that's the reason I liked this place - the fact they lend out stuff when you buy lunch. Anyway, limited sandwich selection. When I heard they did box lunches for the road, I had hoped something eclectic would be on there: maybe some kind of tasty fajita wrap or something non-boring. They did not follow through on that - their picnic menu is limited. They do cult classic movies on Thursday nights - it sounded like it would be fun if I lived around there.

    (3)

  • Ben T.

    Everything is made in-house. Food served with flair. Surprisingly large and well executed menu.

    (4)

  • Roberto H.

    Great little place with friendly service. Local beers on and off tap, and good food selections from organic beef burgers to vegetarian items. Looks like many others love this place as well. Paia was a great discovery for me and my travel companions. Can't wait to visit again!

    (3)

  • Jonathan S.

    Crispy glazed duck burger. good theory, mediocre execution. I thought it would be crispy because of the duck skin, but there was no duck skin (maybe my expectation of crispy duck skin is because I am Chinese and I love love love peking duck sandwiches.) Instead, I think the pieces of duck were shredded and probably pan fried in a lot of oil to create that crisp. Some pieces of duck ended up becoming very hard. The duck meat was then soaked in some terriyaki tasting sauce, which made the bottom half of my burger bun sticky and soggy... Nevertheless, portions were huge, and the fries were delicious as well. I did not try the other entrees, but they looked tasty and the people in my group seemed to enjoy their dishes! (was more like a 3.5)

    (4)

  • Mr M.

    Nice, quirky spot.

    (4)

  • Vivek K.

    Great place for veggie food!!

    (4)

  • Takyon G.

    Ambience - Good. Has a European look. Service - Good. Recommended dish - Falafel and Hummus. Their smoothies are also good. Presentation - Good

    (4)

  • Karen B.

    The food here is terrific. We had the mushroom and spinach fajitas and the 7 Vegetable Stew. The service was great and the food options are good for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Another time we went for breakfast and had the pancakes. Again, really good.

    (5)

  • Lola S.

    Excellent!!!! And a great vibe that matches the town.

    (5)

  • Bryan B.

    Nice little place in Paia that shows indie/cult classic movies on Saturday nights. We had fish fajitas for two that were excellent. My most favorite maui onions were nicely sauteed and sizzling, just waiting to be shoved between the tortilla and fish. Will have to return to check out the rest of the menu and a movie.

    (4)

  • jay m.

    best happy hour and their fajitas are killer. service is good--most of the servers are really cool and on it....plus, my girlfriend likes the guys that work in the front. maui cattle burgers are pretty good too. only two complaints: some of the menu changes are no good-- like no more pita and hummus?!? damn. and finally,i know it's paia and all, but i swear my slippers stick to that floor every time i've ever been in. btw...having maui brewing company on draft is always awesome-especially now with rotating seasonal brews.

    (4)

  • K B.

    I spent the first decade of my life growing up in this quirky, bohemian North Shore town. So, I look forward to coming "home" and spending time here in Paia. One of my best friends' office is actually located right in the heart of town, so it's so convenient to be able to walk to places like Mambo to catch-up and visit over lunch. We recently dined at Mambo and it was an interesting meal. It's always pretty busy here, so we were pleased to find a small empty table right away. The menu offered what sounded like really intriguing and eclectic dishes from various parts of the world - a bit like Paia! Wouldn't you say? Which is a good thing. My friend ordered a burger, which she described as okay. It wasn't bad, it was your basic burger. For some reason, whenever I'm in Paia I either want seafood or vegetarian - go figure! So, I chose a sauteed shrimp entree which came with a side of salad and brown rice. My lunch was a nicely sized portion, ample for lunch. Visually, it was rather blah as the shrimp lacked any sort of sear and were actually a bit rubbery and gave the appearance of having been boiled in the sauce. Not a super big deal as it tasted fine, though it lacked depth and needed some acid to balance out the lipids in which it was cooked. The accompanying salad was a similar story, as it was pretty uninspiring. I did appreciate the tasty dressing on it, though. My brown rice tasted "off" as I couldn't figure out of it was old and stale or overly old and stale and on its way to going bad. It was mushy and dry, yet left a distinctly slimy feel on my tongue. I just pushed it aside and didn't eat it. They were busy and we did not see our waitress, so I didn't push the issue. Regarding our waitress, I will agree with a few of the other reviewers regarding the demeanor of the staff. She was pleasant and friendly, but didn't spend much time at all with us. We did notice the staff spending a good bit of time visiting with one another over at the counter and kitchen pass. Not a big deal since this is a really casual place in a VERY laid back town, but there were a lot of tables that needed to be cleared and given how close the tables are in this place, it wasn't very appetizing to sit next to dirty tables and plates with uneaten food on them. Eventually, a solo diner came and sat at the dirty table next to us to wait for someone to help her. Once that happened, our waitress returned to clear the table and assist her. We were tempted to try one of the yummy looking smoothies as an after lunch treat, but the server recommended the coconut creme brulee. Which sounded divine. My friend and I opted to share the dessert. When it arrived it did not resemble creme brulee. It's signature burnt sugar hard top was absent with barely a trace of brown goodness. Upon digging in, we noticed it was runny and clunky with an unappealing consistency. So we stopped eating. When the server brought our check, she inquired about why we really didn't eat it. In a very kind and respectful way, we described and showed her exactly what I just shared above and she commented that it was NOT usually like that. Upon bringing our card and receipt back to the table, she politely explained that she had removed the dessert from our tab because she and the chef inspected the dessert (as well as the others from the batch) and discovered it had been overcooked and did not set properly. We appreciated her honesty and feedback. All things considered, we enjoyed the convenience of being able to walk to Mambo and the service, while not excellent, was redeeming and since every other restaurant in Paia is noticeably pricey, you get a decent value here. Are there areas to improve? Absolutely. Would I return? Sure. it's funky, laid back, and honest. And I can appreciate that.

    (2)

  • Northofthirty D.

    A surprisingly charming little place in Paia. My only disappointment was that I wanted the ahi burger, but they were out of ahi (which begged the question - how could they be out of ahi? Isn't ahi plentiful in Hawaii??!?) My second choice was the chicken sandwich. The chicken breast was marinated in soy and some other tasty things, I'm sure. The meat was pretty juicy and the sandwich was tasty overall. I'd come here again. Hopefully they'll have ahi next time.

    (4)

  • MaryFran L.

    We arrived thirsty. I had a mango lemonade which went down quite easily. My husband ordered a local brew which he thoroughly enjoyed. We both liked sitting and watching the parade of people walk by as we sipped our drinks. We didn't have any food, but what we saw looked good - the restaurant has a Spanish theme so there is a good selection of tapas. This place also seems to be a favorite of locals, which seemed to come and go while we were there. If you are in the area, they have movies on Thursday nights. Every month seems to have a theme.

    (4)

  • Erica I.

    great start to our first morning in paia! we had an omelet and a breakfast burrito and both were delicious. the ingredients were high quality and the chorizo in particular, as part of my omelet, was memorable. the service was friendly and fast and the ambiance was breezy, laid-back, and welcoming. would definitely return!

    (4)

  • Bill S.

    I was there on 3/10/11 and the service was warm & friendly and the cinnamon raisin French toast was outstanding! Great laid back atmosphere. Definitely will stop by on my next visit to Maui!

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    The duck burgers are awesome and I highly recommend them. My wife ordered the duck fajitas. The sides for the duck fajitas are mediocre at best stick with the burger. This place is reasonably priced and great (take away the fajita sides). Stick with the salads and burgers. This place was recommended to us by a local and we will go back nest time we are in Maui.

    (4)

  • Catrina G.

    Great breakfast at reasonable prices!

    (5)

  • Jenilynne L.

    Been here for lunch and dinner and loved, loved the food. Service was great! Came in one day for lunch and waitress accidentally charged me twice but because the food & service was great I didn't mind at all especially since they were very accommodating in crediting me for the accidental overcharge at my next dining experience with them. Must try is their Tapas Seafood Platter (to die for!) and their nachos and fajitas with duck.

    (5)

  • Beverly M.

    Yummiest Pina Colada that I've ever had. It was creamy and smooth. The box lunches for the road to Hana were very good and a reasonable price. With a fully refundable deposit they provide a nice soft side cooler for your lunches and drinks and a CD for the Road to Hana. Unfortunately the CD wouldn't play in our rental car but we had a great day anyway. Stopped for a drink when we returned the cooler & CD.

    (4)

  • David R.

    My wife and I went here for lunch and liked it so much that we went back for happy hour the next day! For lunch, I had the crispy duck burger with fries, and my wife had the ahi burger with a salad. Both were delicious! When we went back for happy hour, we split the nachos with kahlua pork (REALLY tasty pork, generous portions of guacamole, salsa, sour cream, etc.). We each ordered a house margarita ($3.50), and they totally did the trick! We ordered a coconut porter on tap (not part of happy hour but we were curious), and it was also yummy. The waiter told us they were one of the only places on the island who offer it on tap. I don't know if that's actually true! All in all, a great combination of value and flavor. I hope we can go back again before leaving the island!

    (4)

  • Julia L.

    We didn't have any food aside from french fries here, but this place has an amazing Happy Hour. They have the fantastic beers from Maui Brewing Company for cheap, and the ambiance is totally relaxed (though it can get painfully hot, some fans please?). We came back twice in less than a week. Next time we're in Maui we'll be here a lot more often.

    (4)

  • Brennan W.

    Great little laid back cafe with very friendly staff. Located on one of the main streets running through the small town of Pia. The crispy kalua duck fajita was fantastic! Enjoy it with a cold Bikini Blonde Lager.

    (5)

  • Esther C.

    After a long day of driving the Road to Hana, we randomly stopped at this place on the way back to Kihei. Let me just say that our food was awesome! :) Not only did they have pretty good selection, the food was fresh and healthy. They did have vegetarian options (tofu fajitas, 7 veggie stew, etc) along with some other stuff. My husband and I decided to go for the burgers since we hadn't eaten anything filling the whole day. I had the Mahi Sandwich with a side salad. The Mahi in the sandwich was nice and moist, not overly flavorful compared to some other places I've tried. My husband tried the Kalua duck burger which was also great! Not too salty like the typical kalua flavored meats and it had a hint of teriyaki sauce in it. His dish also came with a side of fries which were nearly identical (but not as salty) to Mc D's fries which is our favorite type of fries! Delish! I would give it 5 stars but I had to minus a star because we also ordered the "Maui" smoothie that wasn't too great. Honestly, we could of made a better one with our magic bullet at home.

    (4)

  • Conor D.

    I'm a fan because they have meat free options. The ambiance is pure, worldly, hip, & easy. The service is hit or miss. Sometimes good sometimes poor. The vegan food is limited but what they have works - tofu burger and tofu fajitas. The burger is typical and delicious while the fajitas have a bit more pizazz. It comes with a bunch of toppings and is quite filling. For the NorthSorth vegan, you could do worse. They got Maui Brew on tap and a few options of mediocre margaritas. Good vibes, it's Paia, so relax and enjoy what you got.

    (4)

  • Tracy M.

    Pardner and myself ambled over to see what they had and were intrigued by a "TAPAS" menu. It wasn't yet 4pm, when the Tapas and Dinner menu were deployed, so it was suggested by our very nice attendant that we begin our visit with Happy Hour. Happy Hour was great! I began with the Crispy Duck Burger and Pardner had a "Burger & a Beer" Happy Hour special. NICE! Crispy duck was great and we'll be back as often as we can rationalize dinner out, as we're supposed to be eating at our ohana and saving millions of dollars. I'd rather eat out, really. No. Really.

    (4)

  • Ruth B.

    Lunch was outstanding. The Maui steak and blue cheese salad with guacamole was melt in you mouth tender. My companion had the mahi mahi fish sandwich and raved about how good it was. The service was adequate. Would definitely return on next trip to Maui.

    (5)

  • erin m.

    My husband and I went here on our honeymoon when we were doing some shopping in the town of Paia, Hi, which is an adorable little surfer town in Maui, we had lunch and cocktails. The food was amazing! I had the island fish sandwich and my husband had the fish and chips and I have to say it was the best fish sandwich I ever had!!! And his fish and chips were so moist and flavorful, just melts in your mouth! Not to mention the great atmosphere and good service....the drinks were good too, try the Maui sunrise....I would definitely recommend stopping by this place if you hit Maui!

    (5)

  • Richard R.

    I have eaten here four times in the last four months. The fajitas are always excellent. Have tried the pork, the duck, the fish, and the vegetarian, and all were great. Prices, for Maui, are moderate, the value is definitely there. Comfortable place to sit, excellent service, and a good wine selection.

    (5)

  • John G.

    Well, they changed names, but I still call it Picnics. Stop here for a great box lunch of American and Hawaiian food fare. Don't forget the Maui chips and the guava drink! Take you last rest break here, because it will be a long time before you see a suitable place if you are heading to Hana.

    (3)

  • Jun B.

    Happy hour daily from 4 to 6PM. Great spot to enjoy a cocktail or a beer and people watch. Very friendly staff.

    (4)

  • Jasmine M.

    Stopped in for a quick adult libation and wasn't disappointed. We caught them at the tail-end of "happy hour" and it was the lowest bill we'd get the entire trip. Regardless, we didn't eat (starving ourselves for Mama's) but the humus looked homemade and creamy yummy good, with generous amounts of pita wedges. The place was clean and the ladies working there were friendly.

    (4)

  • helena c.

    what can I say? great seats leaning out into the street, amazing coffee, ULTRA friendly and accomodating staff and the best or local fare.. ie Mahi and Ahi burgers, salads etc... this is the only alternative to Fish Market fish... or when I'm not getting "to go" from across their street. It's got a menu with something for everybody, the owner and staff are incredibly hospitable .. and everything is tasty!!

    (5)

  • Kathy M.

    Really enjoyed finding this place for lunch ~ then a few days later came back for dinner because we knew it wouldn't disappoint. That Oahu smoothie was possibly the best smoothie I've ever had, and next time I'm trying the Hawai'i for sure! Would highly recommend!

    (5)

  • s c.

    Great duck burger, but not so good with any of the other food items.

    (3)

  • Alissa F.

    We were thrilled to discover free-range burgers at the Cafe Mambo. For us, this was reason enough to have lunch there. We both ordered cheeseburgers medium rare, mine with grilled mushrooms and onions and my wife's with just the grilled onions. On the plus side, the burgers were large and yummy. On the negative side, they forgot my wife's grilled onions, the burgers were overcooked a little (medium), and the fries were perfunctory (thin, dry). The mango lemonade was yummy - I tried my wife's and decided to order some for myself.

    (3)

  • Christina W.

    Whenever I'm on Maui this is my "go to" place! Love, love, love the Crispy Duck Salad...

    (4)

  • april s.

    I'm a fan-BUT we went there for dinner on 8.17.11 and our service was not great! there were five adults and one three yr old in our party so when our server came to the table we ordered drinks and a ham and cheese for the three yr old. the sandwich came quickly with our drinks, we then ordered dinner-i ordered the paella- the menu told me it would take thirty minutes and i was fine with that since we were ordering an appetizer as well. the rest of the party ordered their entrees and one smoothie. well, after 20 minutes the server came back to check on us and we had to remind her about the smoothie which she promtly went back to make. when she brought the smoothie she told us all our food would be out shortly. so then about ten minutes later all of our food was on our table-the appetizer and the entrees together ???!!! why weren't we given the appetizer earlier??? the food was all delicious but come on 30 minutes for an app? and then because we were a party of 5 or more an 18% gratuity was automatically added to our bill, which i thought was lame since our service wasn't stellar. this was my second time at cafe mambo, and i'll be back again when i'm in the area but will specify i want my appetizer before my entree.

    (4)

  • Lily C.

    frequented this place often. mostly got the burgers. always got the margaritas. the drinks were strong, well-mixed and tasty. the burgers were decent -- sometimes a little overcooked. ingredients were quality and there was a lot of selection on the menu. not the best restaurant on the island, but a good lunch/dinner spot in paia. default place for drinks and burgers in town. service was good. staff attentive. oh! as an afterthought, the duck burger was awesome -- different and delicious!

    (4)

  • V M.

    Had the tortilla and the fish fajita and salad-none were very good

    (2)

  • Matt P.

    best of Paia town. love the movies on thursdays. crispy duck sandwich and big swell IPA can't be beat.

    (5)

  • Emily A.

    The worst restaurant we tried on Maui. We were pleased to see they had a lot of nearly-vegan items on the menu (just had to order without cheese, for example). My husband got the tofu burger and I got fajitas with spinach and mushrooms. We apparently arrived at the tail end of what they were calling "surfer happy hour" and most of the tables were filled with people enjoying appetizers and drinks. Maybe that's what we should have done, because it seems like they weren't ready to properly focus on preparing dinner. My husband's burger was okay though it was pretty much just a slab of lightly seasoned tofu on a bun. The main component for my fajitas, the spinach and onions, came out in a cast iron dish and the bottom half of it was heavily burned, practically charcoal! The beans also tasted a bit burned. That, coupled with music so loud we couldn't carry on a conversation and slow service, led to a pretty disappointing experience.

    (2)

  • Jason B.

    The atmosphere was cheerful and the service was friendly but the food was just so-so. We split a large appetizer platter which had its high points (grilled chicken, mustard sauce) and low points (the beef did not taste good).

    (2)

  • Rick V.

    I went here when they first opened in '89, good to see they're still around.

    (4)

  • Karen L.

    Both of us ordered the duck burger so I can't vouch for anything else food-wise, but based on that, the coconut porter, the laid back vibe, friendly service, and breezy ambience this place definitely gets 5 stars from me! This was our last meal on Maui and one of the best. The duck (as others have raved) is unbelievably juicy and flavorful, with a hint of sweetness -- mouth watering. They also had other yummy, healthy looking choices like hummus and a variety of salads (including duck :), as well as tagines. Perfect ending to our trip. Highly recommend for a tasty, casual lunch!!

    (5)

  • Arwen O.

    Probably the best place we ate in Paia (aside from the sushi at Jacques). The duck and pork fajitas were amazing, the mezze plate was fantastic (unbelievable hummus and delicious falafel), and the staff was friendly (despite the fact that six of us showed up five minutes before closing). I would definitely go here again (and did:-)

    (4)

  • N N.

    Absolutely delicious! The decoration is so cute and the service was just right. Food is AMAZING!

    (5)

  • Tom H.

    Very nice and relaxing spot for dinner. Not too expensive, food is good quality, but not quite gourmet. Still casual. Service was quick and pleasant. I had the duck burger, which was very good. My mother had a chicken dish that was spiced moroccan-like, with couscous, generously portioned. Dad had a mahi burger, which he said he was embarrased to admit was good, despite it having cheese on it. Compaired to Moana cafe up the street, this place shines. I guess not all resturants in Paia are lazy!

    (4)

  • Wen L.

    We stopped by this restaurant after the Road to Hana. The Crispy Duck Burger was pretty tasty and had good flavor. It was crispy and sweet with their homemade honey glaze. The fries were just ordinary though. The fish salad I ordered was very underwhelming. I could have fallen asleep eating it if it weren't for the open-window restaurant atomosphere. Definitely not the cherry on top after driving the road to hana. But I do have to say, the staff was very kind and professional!

    (3)

  • Vikéndios N.

    We ended up here because the restaurant we wanted to eat at was closed for the day due to a water main break. Luckily we were there for happy hour (3p-6p) which brought the drink prices down 50%. ATMOSPHERE: It's a nonchalant open air older restaurant. The only view is of Baldwin Avenue and people walking by. MENU: Salads, burgers, American entrees, and fajitas. BEVERAGE: Strawberry daiquiri - Very refreshing, nice thickness and not overly sweet. FOOD: Nachos - We added kalua pork to the mix. The chips were mainstream but good, and came topped with black beans, jalapeños, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese. The kalua pork had a BBQ flavor and was too sweet, which is a total turn off to me. The black beans could've been eliminated as they had a weird, ocean/salty taste that reminded me of opihi lol. Pass on this. SERVICE: Our female server was very friendly and professional. OVERALL: Good prices. Some of the other dishes on the menu sound tasty, but I won't be back to try them as nothing really stands out.

    (2)

  • Melissa V.

    I love this place! My ohana has been coming here for years & not once have we been disappointed in anything. They always have friendly, prompt service for lunch & dinner ( never been yet for breakfast ). Some of the things I've tried & absolutely loved are the mango chicken salad, crispy duck burger, fish fajitas, Tia Concha chicken, vegetarian tapas platter & the pinchos platter. All of these are fabulous depending on what you're in the mood for. Desserts are killer too... Coconut Creme brûlée, warm fudge brownie w/vanilla bean ice cream, Lilikoi cheesecake yum! I always love the relaxing open air atmosphere along with great people watching in the awesome town of Paia. Try it! You may make it a new fav on Maui.

    (5)

  • Assface J.

    OK we were tired, stressed out, and sexually confused. All we wanted was two lemonades. They have it listed on the menu as a separate item for $2.75. We just assumed that it at that price it would be something decent. Our testicles and ovaries hit the floor when she whipped out the soda gun and filled our cups. It was either Minute Maid or Country Time. It might as well have been cat urine. I can't believe that we paid $6.15 for them. What a waste of money.

    (1)

  • Muhammad A.

    Great food. Nachos is must. The fish cooked very well. I love the environment. Nice music Food came on time, great staff and the place is clean Parking is a little far from the restaurant about 3 min walk. They take credit cards but not Amex

    (5)

  • Amy A.

    Breakfast menu was just ok. Wasn't blown away. Cute little atmosphere and we enjoyed looking at all the whale art on the walls. Ordered the Huevos Rancheros. Overkill on the "spicy chipotle tomato sauce" as it was covering the whole thing and was strange and tangy. :/ Service definitely lacking personality and smiles.

    (3)

  • Chris L.

    A friend and I stopped in here for a quick lunch while exploring Paia for the first time. Man, did we make a good pick! The service was friendly and quick, the food was fantastic and fresh, and the people watching was awesome. I got the lunch special, the Ahi Tuna Melt, and was not disappointed. The serving size was huge, and the bread was awesome. Better yet, everything was reasonably priced. I would come back and recommend this cafe to anyone visiting Paia.

    (5)

  • Natalie F.

    Our first stop on Maui was to Cafe Mambo and we were not disappointed. Loved the vibe of the cafe and all the art on the walls. We had a lilikoi margarita, Maui Blonde beer, crispy duck burger and the pinchos platter. Absolutely delicious! The crispy duck is awesome. The platter was awesome and came with Maui steak that was perfectly cooked, tasty shrimp, tender chicken, bleu cheese, curry dip, chipotle sauce, greens and tortilla chips. It was all very good. The curry dip tasted wonderful on everything! The staff was friendly and service was great. Would definitely return.

    (5)

  • Diana h.

    Who puts watermelon in a fruit bowl? Their $8 fruit bowl was about the quality of a del monte fruit cup you get in the school cafeteria. Plus their smoothies are from concentrate. This is the definition of a tourist trap. So many other places to eat. Don't go here.

    (1)

  • Brandon L.

    Cafe Mambo is a great place to have breakfast. Right when you enter the restaurant you get this feeling of relaxation. This place is laid back and very chill. I ordered the Surfer's Breakfast Roll and it was great. It's practically a breakfast sandwich that has eggs, ham, turkey, tomatoes, and cheese on a soft bagel sized roll. The breakfast sandwich wasn't heavy at all but just the right amount of food. The service was excellent. The server helped us with the menu explaining what was good, got us refills on our drinks, and made sure we were doing ok. They open up the windows (more like shutters) so the sun can come in and make the place shine. Excellent stop in Paia.

    (4)

  • Tracie D.

    Stopped for a bite on our way back from road to Hana. Very nice menu with quality ingredients and beautiful presentation. The margarita (passion fruit) was a bit of a disappointment but we have high margarita standards! The staff was amazing and on top of it from beginning to end. Steak fajitas and Ahi melt were wins, give this place a try!!

    (4)

  • Lesia N.

    I had no expectations for this place as we just wandered in after deciding the fish market was a bit too hectic for us and we wanted a chill sit down lunch. We got cocktails (they were very good) and fish burgers. The service was very chill and seamless, everything came out quickly and everything was delicious. You can get a salad instead of fries at no extra charge. Literally no complaints. They let us sit pick our own seat and sit by the windows at a big table even though we were only two (it was lunch and not as busy). Their happy hour is probably fantastic. Definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Liz S.

    Didn't even get to try their food due to their service. Helped seat customers that walked in after and made us wait till another customer was done eating so they could seat me and my family on his table. Cafe Mambo, what is the difference between seating 3 or 4? Anyway, I discovered another restaurant down the way.

    (1)

  • Cassidy G.

    The atmosphere of this cafe is great, it's very open and artsy. All the art on the walls was great to look at and it added to the ambience. My family and I shared several tapas, one with hummus and the other with chicken and steak. The food was flavorful and very filling but it could have been better.

    (3)

  • Katherine V.

    Terrible- fish is frozen (on maui?!), "local" burger was like a frozen McDonald's burger as hard as a hockey puck, onion rings were frozen- not maui onions. (I know this because I asked about all these things.) and the mai tai wasn't even garnished with a pineapple - it was a maraschino cherry & a dried out lime.

    (1)

  • Sue Y.

    Thank you yelp! On our way to Hana, and stopped at the town of Paia for some grub before we continued on our way. Did a quick search for restaurants nearby and Cafe Mambo showed up first. Immediately scanned the highlights and saw "Crispy Duck Burger" and was immediately sold! We are eating here. We ordered: - 1 crispy duck burger with salad - 1 special shrimp plate with rice and salad - 1 passionfruit margarita - 1 house margarita The duck burger was sooo delicious! Don't be deceived as on the menu they listed it as a patty, but it was made up of shredded duck meat that was seared to give it a little char then sandwiched between a hamburger bun, mayo, onion and lettuce. It was well seasoned, moist and so juicy that each bite we took, the duck jus was dripping out. The shrimp was good but didn't quite stack up to par with the explosive flavor and freshness of the shrimp we had at Geste Shrimp Truck. Margaritas were strong and not too sweet. Just the way I like it. :)

    (4)

  • Alakake K.

    Cafe Mambo We were a party of four that went to Cafe Mambo a few days ago. It was around 10:30 AM, July 16,2015. A food server saw us as we were standing by the entrance but ignored us. Not a hello or even a smile. just ignored us. The sign by the entrance said "Seat Yourself", there were 2 tables that if placed together it would have accommodated the four of us. The table weren't cleaned yet from the previous occupants. We wanted to make sure that the tables were available, so one of us was walking towards the tables while the rest stayed by the entrance. The food server asked us if she could help us. Dumb question....we told her we were looking for a table, (obviously). She just told us that the tables were still occupied, even though there were nobody seated there. She said there were other tables available but we had to be separated by parties of two. WHAT??? Oh , maybe it's the way her and her kin folk go out to eat, they sit at different tables away from each other. Needless to say we went down the road to another place where the service was mo' beta. I'm going to tell my frenz and famz to avoid Mambo Cafe like the plague. This place deserves a zero star but dis guy is generous and give 1.....hui!

    (1)

  • Julie W.

    Went here twice to eat and both times it took from 45 minutes to 1 hour to get our food. I had their jumbo shrimp plate which had several shrimp, rice, and a small salad. I didn't care for the salad too much because of the type of greens. The shrimp were good, but the rice was clumpy. A friend had the Kalua Pork plate and that was delicious. It's a great place to meet friends for drinks, but I think that's about it.

    (3)

  • Charles W.

    Several years ago this place was pretty good. In fact, the paella was real tasty, as were the other tapas. Tonight was disappointing. Contrary to other reviews, the duck burger was weak, just flavorless. Nice bun though. French fries were meh. My wife had to send her burger back and it still came out cooked incorrectly. She's not picky and rarely sends things back, if ever. Servers were nice. Kitchen was incompetent. Dined in Paia many times. I know the bar isn't set that high. This doesn't pass muster.

    (2)

  • Saminda W.

    We stopped here after hiking at Haleakala in the afternoon and had quite the appetite. After browsing the offerings on Baldwin (interesting name for a main street in a Hawaiian town by the way), we settled on Cafe Mambo. I ordered the kalua pork fajitas, they came out pretty quickly and the serving plates pretty much covered the entire table. I made quick work of them, adding a perfect blend of feta cheese, sour cream, guacamole, jalapeños, and a splash of Chalula hot sauce to top them off. My wife had the vegetarian stew with couscous and it was solid as well. Service was friendly and attentive. Only drawback was the lack of air conditioning but we were fine in the shade. Definitely worth checking out if you're in Paia.

    (4)

  • Mae B.

    Tried their mango lemonade, which tasted like instant lemonade with a little crushed mango in the bottom of the glass. Food was overpriced, servers were unfriendly and disorganized

    (2)

  • Pam H.

    Great drinks at happy hour!! Food looked and smelled great, but did not try.

    (4)

  • Ryan F.

    We loved this little cafe. We had some time to kill before our flight so we checked out the town of Paia, just east of the airport. I ordered the all natural cheeseburger and it was fantastic. My significant other had the fish? or salad? I don't know but that was excellent too! I would not hesitate to come back here. The seating was nice inside, liked the art on the walls.. The service staff was polite and friendly, and I thought the prices were fair.

    (5)

  • Danielle M.

    Delicious! The nori tofu tacos where the perfect meal after a long flight. Passion fruit margaritas hit the spot. Love the local artist art on the wall. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Chris G.

    I will admit the service was horrible. Our waitress checked her phone more than 4 times before we were served. It took her three attempts to bus another table, and forgot to wipe it down, so the next group of people had to ask for it to be done. She finally remembered our silverware after serving half of our food. She dropped trash on the floor, picked it up and didn't wash her hands. How does such service deserve 4 stars? This was the best cost to food ratio we've had yet. My husband had the duck burger and I had the fajitas. Portions were generous, and delicious! I mean, I now want to start making my own duck because that was so good I have to have it again. Plus, our meal was $45 with tip! I didn't manage to finish my dinner, but luckily my husband finishes everything. Despite the service, I would go here again!

    (4)

  • Ronda W.

    Yummy Happy Hour Mango Margarita! Would love to come back for lunch. The menu looks wonderful!

    (4)

  • Marlene G.

    Duck burger is amaz-ing! Simple as that! Staff is friendly. Will definitely come back here when I come back to Maui.

    (5)

  • frank s.

    The food is fine, if you don't mind waiting. When you have to wait 35 minutes for food, please at least come by and offer an apology or at least a quick explanation. Two other tables arrived after we did, got their food, and left before we got to eat. The restaurant wasn't even that busy. Maybe they could have considered refilling our water at least once. To top off our experience, not all of us got the right food. I got served the wrong burrito and my mom's food had ham mysteriously added. The people that work there are friendly enough, but that only goes so far when everything else is not good. We overheard them asking other tables how everything is, but not for us. Probably because they knew everything was pretty sucky.

    (2)

  • Day B.

    Surprisingly - a Really good breakfast option! For anything else, stick to their special duck fajitas or duck burger. They also make some great kalua pork options. Probably the most comfortable location in town.

    (4)

  • Peter P.

    Get the duck burger.. Wow. Amazing. Fries were also pretty good. I inhaled the burger in about a minute..

    (5)

  • Jack L.

    Great place to eat! Tasty burgers and fries served with a smile and a great attitude. Very much representative of Pa'ia, this gem of a city in North Maui. If there was any room for improvement it would have to start with a better bun! The burger is delicious and fresh organic meat, with good fries and condiments. To be truthful I really dig the woman behind the register too ;) She's either the manager or the owner but she's definitely a hottie :o

    (4)

  • Helen L.

    The service was friendly and the good was good. I had sides of tofu, tomatoes, and fruit salad. There was not a plate for me because I don't eat eggs or pancakes. The tofu was very good and fresh fruit. My kids really enjoyed their pancakes and plantation plate. They said they like the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Brianna S.

    This place is confusing on a lot of different levels. First, why is this categorized as a vegetarian spot, when they only have a couple vegetarian items on their menu. So misleading... Not to mention, I thought it was supposed to be Spanish, but there was Mexican influenced items on their menu. Not at all what I thought it would be when I finally decided to give her a go. Now that we have that out of the way, the fajitas were pretty tasty. I got the tofu nori, and it was a pretty nice sized portion to boot. The downer came when my bf ordered the medium rare ahi sandwich, and they did not inform him until they brought his plate that they were out of ahi, and they switched it with mahi mahi. He was not amused.

    (3)

  • T R.

    We had a late lunch at 3pm. The double IPA was distinctive in flavor yet not overly hoppie. The lunch was just 'food' and not flavorful nor distinctive. I had shrimp that was on the menu as jumbo shrimp but were small to large and had a been grilled with an oily, light red sauce without any seasonings. The same red sauce was used to 'season' a mound of white rice. When i requested shoyu as a seasoning for the rice, it was not served at this restaurant! In Hawaii!? What's up with that?

    (3)

  • Tiffany W.

    The food was delicious! I loved sitting by the open windows with the warm breeze enjoying lunch.

    (5)

  • Judith K.

    The huevos rancheros are excellent served with black beans! Also tried the cafe mocha coffee. Cute restaurant excellent staff, love paia. I will go back again.

    (4)

  • Maddy T.

    Post bike ride breakfast. Great coffee and awesome breakfast potatoes! Ordered the Huevos Rancheros with chorizo and ate every bite. Delicious! Plus the handled our ravenous group of nine easily. :-)

    (4)

  • Rob C.

    The atmosphere, sitting next to the open windows with the cool breeze coming through, Awwww. Breakfast was delicious, we recommend the Veggie quesadilla and the Mambo Breakfast Special. Don't forget the Mimosas : )

    (5)

  • Susie C.

    We originally wanted to Mom's fish market or something like that for brunch but they werent open yet so we stumbled upon Cafe Mambo. We wanted a full breakfast before we make the road to Hana. It is a cute diner with no a/c. I custom ordered my omelette which was very filling and delicious. My husband ordered some meal, but he enjoyed it too. Lots of food. Good food! It looks like it can be a coffee house at night. Very cute place. I would come back when I'm in town!

    (4)

  • Mogley A.

    Came here and had the fish of the day sandwhich and the fish was mahi mahi.. Really really good with fries and i got it to go so took about 10 minutes to get and that wait was fine because it has to be cooked perfect and it was delicious!!! Everything on the menu looked good!!

    (5)

  • Traci H.

    A great find in a pretty cool part of Paia (e.g., it's not right on trafficky Hana Hwy). Just based on one visit, I'd say I'll probably be back..casual, local joint (although I see they have a location in NY?!), with a artsy feel and local staff who love what they do and where they live. I think they try to do some local foods but I don't really know. When I can try more I think I might be able to give them 5 stars, I hope! To be honest, the real reason we tried this is that our awesome bartender Rachel at Ko (at the Fairmont Kea Lani) told us that she loves the kahlua pork at this place. So why not listen to the local girl and try it out. We were not disappointed. KAHLUA PORK FAJITAS: first comes the fixin's--guac, salsa, sour cream, jalapenos, mexican cheese, lettuce/onions?, black beans. Then comes the tortillas (I think there were 4, but I think if we needed, they would have given us more). Then came the sizzling plate of kahlua pork on top of a bed of onions. What is great about it is how they cook it--to almost a crisp! It's not just your normal dry, shredded kahlua pork, but it's almost pressed and crisped. It has a slight sweetness to it, so if you don't like that, this might not be for you. But for me, I quite enjoyed it and I don't think I've had my kahlua pork crispy like this before. Definitely something to copy... VEGETARIAN STEW WITH COUSCOUS: it was ok. the couscous has raisins. That would have been a minus 1 but really only because I hate raisins. But it was easy enough to pick it out. The stew was pretty good and full of veggies--zucc, red peppers, garbanzo beans and all sorts else. Seemed like a tomato base. Good but I don't think i'd order it again. COFFEE: it's Illy so it's pretty good. Nothing overly special, but it's good and it's fairly cheap I think it's less than $2 for a small. I'm not sure if it's refillable but they asked if I wanted more. I don't know if that was a "hey do you want more for free" or "hey do you want more for another $2" Their menu has lots of drinks too but since it was 1pm we didn't partake in anything much stronger than coffee and espresso. But the table next to us ordered all sorts of top shelf margaritas with mango, passion fruit and I don't know what else! Open from I think 8am to 9pm but the hours for meals are BREAKFAST 8am - 11am; LUNCH 11am to 3pm and DINNER 3pm to 9pm. I think those are the hours or it's close to that BATHROOM: there is only bathroom for men/women. No key needed, it's just in the back and there is a sign that points to it. Lots of tables for 2 and only a few for large parties. So come early or see if you can squeeze together a few tables to make it for your party. It's sort of open air, so if you like to be all boxed up then this isn't for you. No outdoor seating, but they open up the front windows so it's a casual atmosphere. PARKING: there is street parking and also the Paia lot on Hana Hwy and I think two public lots right on Baldwin as you drive away from Hana Hwy. One that is across the street from Mambo and i think the second one is by the post office. Can get crowded so just be patient. Pretty good value for the $, considering it's tourist town (and most people in there look like tourists). I think the fajitas were like $16. So not cheap, but compared to $40 resort food, it's a steal. VISA/MC or CASH.

    (4)

  • Mercedes B.

    Terrible fish and chips. Tasted like Costco boxed fish heated in a microwave. We set for over 30minutes (not an exaggeration) waiting for our food, in a scarcely populated restaurant. We also ordered two kid's burgers- both were huge (also- looked like pre made Costco burgers) without any sauce or condiments... Neither kid ate more than two bites before declaring it off limits- very dry with cold, thick breaded Costco buns. I don't mean to be rude- hopefully this will help the restaurant change and be better. I looked around and the table next to us was also having a poor experience. He told us he ordered something entirely different than what was delivered and when he tried to tell the server she argued with him. So, he paid for it without eating a bite and left... I felt so bad for him. He polite and kind and respectful. He told us he was here to relax and didn't want to be mean or be treated mean by the server again so he wouldn't argue and instead would just pay and never return.

    (1)

  • Jan-Marc E.

    Good place, nice atmosphere, interesting colors inside, really something special, and the food was good. I liked the style of the waitraisses, cause they were all easygoing. And I really liked the organic food way when it is done like this!

    (4)

  • Beth B.

    Cute little place. Had a friendly server who we told we wanted something to split since we had reservations for dinner. We just needed something to nibble on..she suggested the Kailua pork fajitas! I'm still craving them!!

    (4)

  • Jarrod A.

    Veggie burrito with tofu. Muy buen. Oahu Shake was so dang good! The wife keeps raving about her spinach omelet. We are stuffed!

    (5)

  • Ginny N.

    First meal (lunch) in Maui and such a disappointment. Went on the advice of a friend. 1. Iced tea...instant, weak, plastic tumbler. $2.75. A beer would have been the smarter choice. 2. Veggie burger...flavorless, heavy on the mayo. Some onions, pickles and mustard would have been welcomed if offered. 3. Green salad...a few pieces of onion on bagged micro greens that were so very tired I could not bear to disturb them. 4. My husband described the sauce on his special chicken burrito as "canned tomato soupish." 5. Ambiance...flies, flies and very loud music. We pushed away our half-eaten (no questions asked by our indifferent server) plates (no thanks on the "tea" refills) and beat a hasty retreat. Fortunately several other good meals in Maui's beautiful upcountry are causing the memory of this to fade.

    (1)

  • Benjamin T.

    best breakfast I've found on Maui so far

    (5)

  • Christine V.

    We came in for breakfast around 10am on a weekday, and were told to sit wherever we wanted. Three parties came in after us, and while we decided what we wanted fairly quickly, our waitress made us wait --told us she would be right back to take our order -- then proceeded to take orders from the other three parties that came in after us. We had our menus closed, we were obviously ready. Extremely hungry and frustrated that we were clearly being ignored, we walked out. I guess you have to be caucasian to get served here? No Aloha to be found at Cafe Mambo. Sad.

    (1)

  • Edward C.

    1st time in. Open air restaurant, comfortable seats, small bar. Pinchos sampler for $17 was a great pick, local steak, chicken and shrimp w/ bleu cheese, home made organic salsa, curry mayo and kula greens! Excellent!!! Finished w/ Maui and a Molokai smoothy, best smoothies on Maui!!

    (5)

  • Marc P.

    We stopped here for lunch one day. I had the Sesame & Nori Tofu Fajita platter. The serving size was quite large, and there were plenty of toppings to choose from. Some were quite flavorful, and others were nothing to write home about. The tortillas could definitely use improvement (they reminded me of the soft tortillas I would get in my high school cafeteria.....and that is not a good thing). Service was good and the atmosphere was casual but welcoming.

    (3)

  • David C.

    Great drinks, amazing food - average service.

    (4)

  • AE R.

    I had breakfast and dinner while on vacation there on Maui. I would suggest you give it a try. If you are still on East Standard time or Pacific Standard time...ie in a hurry, don't go. You are on vacation....CHILL OUT and relax. The breakfast and dinner menus have ample choices and the serving sizes are more than enough. My food arrived hot and was tasty. I enjoyed a mango tea with my breakfast and a passion fruit margarita with my dinner...both were tasty! Oddly enough, I had the same waitress on different days and she was pleasant and made sure my dining experience was a good one! :)

    (4)

  • Sean M.

    Good coffee, great smoothies, prompt service. I stopped in for some coffee, and my brother got a smoothie. We didn't order any food.

    (5)

  • Sandra M.

    The main reason why I put 2 stars and not more is because this restaurant uses hydrogenated corn oil to cook their fries and probably other things like their onion rings. Hydrogenated oil is terrible for anyone's health and I think that any responsible owner should know and do better than use that, even if it means loosing some profit ! It's 2014, there is plenty of information around about the subject, there is no excuse to use such ingredient. Else than that, they have great veggie burgers, which is nice. And pineapple in a burger is an awesome substitute for ketchup (mostly if the ketchup is made with high fructose corn syrup) !

    (2)

  • Elyse S.

    Super cute cafe! We were down here on vacation, you know, doing the road to Hana thing and stopped here first for some grub. The girls there were super nice and really accommodating with our food allergies! ( me - gluten, dairy.. him - eggs, dairy) We are such a hassle, but still managed to get a delicious breakfast and great coffee! The cafe has some pretty cool art on the walls. I'd bet it changes regularly. I highly recommend this stop on your adventures!

    (4)

  • Chris G.

    Great lunch time spot with a variety of foods on the menu all of which sound great. The duck fajitas and duck burger were great.

    (5)

  • Andres G.

    Word to your mother. Happy hour is strong with cheap draaaanks Don't miss this spot if you are hungry/thirsty, great waitstaff, great prices, but most importantly, the food is great.

    (5)

  • James T.

    Food = 4 Price = 3 (too expensive) Experience = 3 (no Amex... really) It gets a overall 4 for being in Paia.

    (4)

  • Karinn E.

    We found this place on yelp, and overall were happy with the visit Pros Very friendly and helpful waitstaff . Great menu with a wide range of choices Beautiful art on the walls ( all for sale) Great prices and a ton of food! Food was tasty and came our quickly. Cons Very hot, it's an open air eatery. All of our drinks were warm. Very little to no ice at all.. Which is a total bummer because we were hot and thirsty .

    (3)

  • Elizabeth S.

    Duck burger was fantastic. Side salad etc... All great. Everybody cleaned their plates. Love the open windows, nice breeze, chill ambience. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Isaiah L.

    Walked inside to get coffee, when suddenly the staff became alarmed because there was a 4 in centipede crawling behind counter. A very unsanitary place, I am thoroughly disgusted.

    (1)

  • Sarah R.

    Super cute place & the service was good. We walked in here for a late breakfast on one of our last days on Maui. We sat at this large-ish table by one of the front windows. The coffee was delicious and the breakfast burrito I had was pretty good as well. I just wish I had known it would be filled with white rice. I would have asked for it without. But besides the rice, it was good and came with a yummy little side of sauce. My step dad had the home fries and I was practically drooling over how good they looked. I'd probably get something with those if I ever found myself here again.

    (4)

  • G B.

    Great food! Phenomenal service. Came here 3 times before writing this review. Best Kalua pork on the island. Fish dishes are Great. Best ever (not on the lunch menu but you can order them at lunch if you want) is crispy duck fajitas, all the fixings include feta cheese and unique tasty salsa. Plenty of food for 2 people and only $20 (we didn't get the two person size, that must be huge) i'm in heaven.

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    Very yummy! I had the Mambo burrito and my friend had the Mambo quesadilla. Delicious! Even the hot chocolate was amazing. Good service.

    (4)

  • Jerry M.

    Excellent food. Loved the fish and chips as well as their special for the day...ahi tuna melt. Service was great. Very casual environment. Limited seating.

    (5)

  • M K.

    AVOID - Here's why: Okay, guys, seriously, wtf? A big group of us just got back from Hana and we see this place hopping. So, we thought it must be good. Ha, ha and ha. The pulled pork nachos were so dry, with overly scorched cheese, pulled pork that tasted like it was microwaved for an hour and Guacamole from a can. But, this wasn't even the worst dish. OMG, AVOID THE HAMBURGERS. How do you screw up a freakin' hamburger?? Go here and find out. Mmm, rubber patty and tasteless cheese. My brother in law was so upset, he told our fat waitress and she shrugged like "heard that a million times before, you're in Maui bi***, pay up and shut up." 3 stars for cool atmosphere, negative ten stars for crap food. EAT SOMEWHERE ELSE, sherioushly.

    (1)

  • April C.

    Love the environment, great espresso & food, got the fish salad, amazing super fresh crisp leaves, my waitress Autumn was awesome! I highly recommend this place

    (5)

  • Lizzy W.

    Cafe mambo is amazing! Their food is so great and the servers are nice as well. I would definitely recommend cafe mambo!

    (5)

  • Jenneath C.

    I wasn't to into this place. But yet it would fit someone that is all able healthy eating. I came to Maui to eat hearty and local taste. Service was ok. The city of paia reminds me of Santa Cruz for those from California.

    (2)

  • Nick L.

    I want to eat here more. I was wondering around checking menu's and a nice couple and their child were sitting near the window and noticed me checking the menu and talking to my wife about it and they stopped me and said, "eat here, we do all the time and it's fantastic!" I replied, "that's a pretty strong endorsement, alright." Great choice! I got the duck fajitas and they were insane, so good I almost lost my mind. TONS of food for one person and the flavor was bazonkers!!! (I just made up this word, none of the words I know could capture how I felt about this fantastic dish!) We also got the onion rings with curry dipping sauce and they were fantastic. Perfect fry and the sauce had a nice touch of curry without being overwhelming and the sweetness of the Maui Onions was perfect. My wife had the mahi salad and the fish had such a perfect light golden brown touch and was cooked to perfection. The salad dressing was a perfect compliment to the greens. The drinks were delicious and all in all the prices were VERY VERY reasonable, especially for the quality of food you receive. My only disappointment was that I couldn't order more, I just couldn't fit anything else into my body! Man, I'm salivating just typing this.... If you're reading this, GO HERE, EAT!! Drink!

    (5)

  • Megan M.

    Best beer selection on the island! Great place to come have a drink and listen to some classic rock! We were bar hopping or we would have tried the food, the table next to us ordered some and it smelled and looked yummy.

    (4)

  • Bob M.

    Like so many other places we have visited in Maui, Cafe Mambo has great promise (and reviews) yet fails in execution. On our recent visit at the tail end of the lunch rush, we had awful service, fairly decent food that was cold upon serving after a 45' minute wait. With a captive audience of tourists day-tripping in Paia, Cafe Mambo talks the talk but in our case failed to walk the walk. The menu is creative and the food was above average in taste but why do we have to put up with cramped seating, a single restroom with no hand towels and servers who may or may not check their tables at these prices? If you get there early and have better luck then we, enjoy it. Otherwise, I suggest packing a nice box lunch and eating at one of the nearby beach parks while enjoying the weather.

    (3)

  • Brian S.

    Happy Hour Burger and Beer for a $11 spot cant be beat that on Maui. The fries looked really good but like the other reviewed notes they cooked in the evil oil that bad for your heart which have almost totally given up eating. Have the salad instead. I did enjoy the whipped cream bread pudding no tans-fat there I hope. The Servers were very nice, and dining area has nice relaxed vibe will go back.

    (4)

  • Kristen Martha B.

    We had been here in past years and really enjoyed it, even visited a few times during our trip. I had especially loved the umami packed mushroom fajitas. This time we came once and probably won't go back. The mushrooms were greasy, everything else lukewarm & bland, the margarita not well made. Typical mediocre Maui experience.

    (2)

  • Lola S.

    Excellent!!!! And a great vibe that matches the town.

    (5)

  • A. S.

    We couldn't stop eating here while visiting!!!

    (5)

  • Rick V.

    I went here when they first opened in '89, good to see they're still around.

    (4)

  • Sally L.

    Maui Brewing on tap like most places around which gets the job done in a nice environment. Made the mistake of ordering a Mai Tai here which was gross. I think they top it with cheap sparkling wine. I would come back to try food, but steer clear of their mixed drinks.

    (3)

  • Shannon P.

    Had breakfast here on our first day in Maui. Great ambiance, delicious breakfast and friendly staff. A fantastic welcome to Paia. Looking forward to exploring more of this charming town.

    (4)

  • Bambi M.

    Arrived at cafe shortly after thier 12pm breakfast cut off ... And they STILL served us ... Score! Huevos Rancheros were awesome,service was friendly ( a little slow), and the cafe was quaint.

    (4)

  • Tom M.

    Had an excellent meal with good service- there were five of us - the bill came to $94.00 and we left a $20 tip. Fine - except when I looked at the bill later there had been a $14 gratuity added, part of the $94. I felt a little hosed, and stupid.

    (3)

  • Lisa M.

    Best Happy Hour around!! Love the seafood platter and great salads . Great prices for a Maui restaurant and friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Rachael T.

    The best burgers are at Fresh Market Bistro, Makawao. They serve the original Maui Potato Chips (albeit menial portion) along side, which draw at my nostalgic heartstrings. Recently had a duck burger at Mambo... to sweet and saucy for my taste... and I am still disturbed by inability to put a proper slice of tomato and onion on a sandwich.

    (2)

  • Lisa M.

    Stumbled across this place on our return from the volcano. Service was exemplary--owner (?) was very nice as well as the servers. Great smoothies. And they offer Illy, my fav. Don't forget to try the Moroccan stew w couscous. Fun place, nice vibe.

    (5)

  • Elle G.

    One of my favorite places to eat on the island. The food is good, the menu is diverse, portions are good, the price is good, and the service is friendly. I've eaten here many times and been satisfied every single time. They even have the occasional movie night and despite the bit of chaos, the service is still excellent and a good time is had by all. Love it! Keep up the good work guys!

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    The mango lemonade is a great way to kick off your meal. The crispy duck sandwich was good, but I liked the garlic shrimp with rice more. Big flavor and delicious food. Just go for it. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Lucas L.

    Breakfast burritos to die for. I hardly come across any breakfast burritos that can compete with New Mexican food, but this place has a mean one. Black beans, rice, portuguese sausage and egg hit the mother effin spot. Service is fast and friendly. The two people working the counter got us in and out within 5 minutes because we were late to a wedding rehearsal.

    (4)

  • Leslie D.

    Duck fajitas, amazing. Great value too. Laid back atmosphere adds to the dining experience. Staff was pleasant and checked on us to make sure we were doing OK. Get there during happy hour, draft beer is a deal! We left full and satisfied.

    (5)

  • Tanya F.

    Very tasty! My husband had the duck fajita which was fantastic. The duck was spicy and flavorful. I had the pork plate which was really good but I found it to be a touch too sweet.

    (4)

  • Darin B.

    I love Cafe Mambo. Most of the time I order the Mahi Mahi burger with fries. It is cooked to perfection, and tastes great. The fries are excellent as well. This is one of the few restaurants on the island where the whole family can find something they want to eat. They have a wonderful casual atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, and on some Thursday nights they have cinema night with the movies starting at 9pm with wine, beer, coffee drinks and desserts being offered. Suggestion: Bring back the cheese fondue already. I miss it. We all loved it.

    (5)

  • Tamsen G.

    Stopped here on my way from Lahaina to head up to the giant bamboo forests and waterfalls. Good breakfast, very cool and laidback vibe. Staff was awesome. There was a guy playing guitar and singing on the sidewalk, and all the windows were open so it drifted in beautifully on a lazy morning. It was an awesome pre-hike experience. Will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Edgar H.

    My family and I stopped in before our trek to Hana, and the breakfast platters were all great. Does not matter what you ordered, they have it covered! Service was very attentive fast, no issues. A must for anyone before the trek.

    (4)

  • Rachel V.

    Amazing spot-- can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Definitely the best burgers on the island. And make sure you get Megan as a waitress-- she makes you feel welcome, she's on top of things, has some great menu recommendations, and she has a great sense of humor! Bon appetit!

    (5)

  • Jaime K.

    Stopped here before the treacherous Road to Hana during a rainstorm...the menu was decent and they already had Hawaiian Xmas music playing....We sat right on the day-window that had the shutters open, so it was the best seat in the house. Ordered up the Breakfast Burrito with a side of potatoes...nothing outstanding about the food, but it was a quaint environment with friendly service. Highly recommended if you are in the area!

    (3)

  • sarah s.

    so yummy! Love our lunch here, super casual fun service and the burger was awesome. :) my bf loved his pork sandwich and I am so glad we stumbled upon this place. we'll be back!

    (4)

  • DC H.

    Heard about the great happy hour they have so decided to give this place another chance. Sure enough the servers we had this time were Awesome!!! They were very friendly and interactive. The happy hour burger and salad were pretty good too. Had beer to compliment the meal and all that for just $10! :) One thing I realized from the 2 experiences we've had here is that all servers are different, sometimes you get the good ones, other times you don't. It's just a matter of making the best out of your experience. Live and learn!

    (4)

  • Leila B.

    Awesome burgers! We were starving and one of the boutique owners recommended Cafe Mambo so we walked over, checked out the menu and were sold. The service was friendly and fast, with the waitress cutting us in on happy hour even though we arrived with only 10 minutes to spare. The burgers were exactly what we wanted: fresh, juicy and big without being intimidating. The drinks, fries and chicken salad were all perfect accompaniments to our meal and we left feeling happy and satisfied! Definitely visit Cafe Mambo next time you're in Paia!

    (5)

  • Seamus M.

    Friday night busy. Nice but slow service. Had the burger before and it's good but 2 of us had ahi burger and 1 (me) was ill (spare you the details) for 4 days. I ordered it seared. The other ordered well done and has been sick but not as bad. Fajitas were okay and veggie meal acceptable. No satisfaction from restaurant to refund meal. So much for customer retention and service.

    (1)

  • Galen O.

    Like many we stopped here for breakfast before we headed out on the Hana Road drive. While the food and coffee here wasn't anything remarkable, it wasn't bad. And lets face it its hard to distinguish yourself as a restaurant with breakfast. What is nice about this place is the vibe. It's very casual and the service was pleasant. We got the feeling that it would be a great place to hang out in the eves. Not sure if this is considered a 'locals' place to hang, but while we were there there were a lot of tourists looking at their blue books, just like us :) I'd go back.

    (4)

  • Mike V.

    totally forgot to mention the midweek movie night. if you are in town with friends, it's a great place to meet a few more.

    (5)

  • Kevin R.

    It was at Cafe Mambo that I first discovered Maui Brewing Co. Coconut Porter, now my favorite beer. Mambo serves up some killer Kaluha Duck. Lovely place on a lovely street with a lovely vibe.

    (4)

  • Matt L.

    We got a Hana Highway lunch box/picnic/sandwich setup here. For $16, we got two sandwiches, two cans of soda, two bags of chips, and two bags of some corporate cookie. For a $35 deposit, we also got a cooler and a CD to play on the Road to Hana. I guess that's the reason I liked this place - the fact they lend out stuff when you buy lunch. Anyway, limited sandwich selection. When I heard they did box lunches for the road, I had hoped something eclectic would be on there: maybe some kind of tasty fajita wrap or something non-boring. They did not follow through on that - their picnic menu is limited. They do cult classic movies on Thursday nights - it sounded like it would be fun if I lived around there.

    (3)

  • Ben T.

    Everything is made in-house. Food served with flair. Surprisingly large and well executed menu.

    (4)

  • Roberto H.

    Great little place with friendly service. Local beers on and off tap, and good food selections from organic beef burgers to vegetarian items. Looks like many others love this place as well. Paia was a great discovery for me and my travel companions. Can't wait to visit again!

    (3)

  • Jonathan S.

    Crispy glazed duck burger. good theory, mediocre execution. I thought it would be crispy because of the duck skin, but there was no duck skin (maybe my expectation of crispy duck skin is because I am Chinese and I love love love peking duck sandwiches.) Instead, I think the pieces of duck were shredded and probably pan fried in a lot of oil to create that crisp. Some pieces of duck ended up becoming very hard. The duck meat was then soaked in some terriyaki tasting sauce, which made the bottom half of my burger bun sticky and soggy... Nevertheless, portions were huge, and the fries were delicious as well. I did not try the other entrees, but they looked tasty and the people in my group seemed to enjoy their dishes! (was more like a 3.5)

    (4)

  • Mr M.

    Nice, quirky spot.

    (4)

  • Vivek K.

    Great place for veggie food!!

    (4)

  • Takyon G.

    Ambience - Good. Has a European look. Service - Good. Recommended dish - Falafel and Hummus. Their smoothies are also good. Presentation - Good

    (4)

  • Karen B.

    The food here is terrific. We had the mushroom and spinach fajitas and the 7 Vegetable Stew. The service was great and the food options are good for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Another time we went for breakfast and had the pancakes. Again, really good.

    (5)

  • Bryan B.

    Nice little place in Paia that shows indie/cult classic movies on Saturday nights. We had fish fajitas for two that were excellent. My most favorite maui onions were nicely sauteed and sizzling, just waiting to be shoved between the tortilla and fish. Will have to return to check out the rest of the menu and a movie.

    (4)

  • jay m.

    best happy hour and their fajitas are killer. service is good--most of the servers are really cool and on it....plus, my girlfriend likes the guys that work in the front. maui cattle burgers are pretty good too. only two complaints: some of the menu changes are no good-- like no more pita and hummus?!? damn. and finally,i know it's paia and all, but i swear my slippers stick to that floor every time i've ever been in. btw...having maui brewing company on draft is always awesome-especially now with rotating seasonal brews.

    (4)

  • erin m.

    My husband and I went here on our honeymoon when we were doing some shopping in the town of Paia, Hi, which is an adorable little surfer town in Maui, we had lunch and cocktails. The food was amazing! I had the island fish sandwich and my husband had the fish and chips and I have to say it was the best fish sandwich I ever had!!! And his fish and chips were so moist and flavorful, just melts in your mouth! Not to mention the great atmosphere and good service....the drinks were good too, try the Maui sunrise....I would definitely recommend stopping by this place if you hit Maui!

    (5)

  • Richard R.

    I have eaten here four times in the last four months. The fajitas are always excellent. Have tried the pork, the duck, the fish, and the vegetarian, and all were great. Prices, for Maui, are moderate, the value is definitely there. Comfortable place to sit, excellent service, and a good wine selection.

    (5)

  • John G.

    Well, they changed names, but I still call it Picnics. Stop here for a great box lunch of American and Hawaiian food fare. Don't forget the Maui chips and the guava drink! Take you last rest break here, because it will be a long time before you see a suitable place if you are heading to Hana.

    (3)

  • Jun B.

    Happy hour daily from 4 to 6PM. Great spot to enjoy a cocktail or a beer and people watch. Very friendly staff.

    (4)

  • Jasmine M.

    Stopped in for a quick adult libation and wasn't disappointed. We caught them at the tail-end of "happy hour" and it was the lowest bill we'd get the entire trip. Regardless, we didn't eat (starving ourselves for Mama's) but the humus looked homemade and creamy yummy good, with generous amounts of pita wedges. The place was clean and the ladies working there were friendly.

    (4)

  • helena c.

    what can I say? great seats leaning out into the street, amazing coffee, ULTRA friendly and accomodating staff and the best or local fare.. ie Mahi and Ahi burgers, salads etc... this is the only alternative to Fish Market fish... or when I'm not getting "to go" from across their street. It's got a menu with something for everybody, the owner and staff are incredibly hospitable .. and everything is tasty!!

    (5)

  • Kathy M.

    Really enjoyed finding this place for lunch ~ then a few days later came back for dinner because we knew it wouldn't disappoint. That Oahu smoothie was possibly the best smoothie I've ever had, and next time I'm trying the Hawai'i for sure! Would highly recommend!

    (5)

  • s c.

    Great duck burger, but not so good with any of the other food items.

    (3)

  • Alissa F.

    We were thrilled to discover free-range burgers at the Cafe Mambo. For us, this was reason enough to have lunch there. We both ordered cheeseburgers medium rare, mine with grilled mushrooms and onions and my wife's with just the grilled onions. On the plus side, the burgers were large and yummy. On the negative side, they forgot my wife's grilled onions, the burgers were overcooked a little (medium), and the fries were perfunctory (thin, dry). The mango lemonade was yummy - I tried my wife's and decided to order some for myself.

    (3)

  • Christina W.

    Whenever I'm on Maui this is my "go to" place! Love, love, love the Crispy Duck Salad...

    (4)

  • april s.

    I'm a fan-BUT we went there for dinner on 8.17.11 and our service was not great! there were five adults and one three yr old in our party so when our server came to the table we ordered drinks and a ham and cheese for the three yr old. the sandwich came quickly with our drinks, we then ordered dinner-i ordered the paella- the menu told me it would take thirty minutes and i was fine with that since we were ordering an appetizer as well. the rest of the party ordered their entrees and one smoothie. well, after 20 minutes the server came back to check on us and we had to remind her about the smoothie which she promtly went back to make. when she brought the smoothie she told us all our food would be out shortly. so then about ten minutes later all of our food was on our table-the appetizer and the entrees together ???!!! why weren't we given the appetizer earlier??? the food was all delicious but come on 30 minutes for an app? and then because we were a party of 5 or more an 18% gratuity was automatically added to our bill, which i thought was lame since our service wasn't stellar. this was my second time at cafe mambo, and i'll be back again when i'm in the area but will specify i want my appetizer before my entree.

    (4)

  • Lily C.

    frequented this place often. mostly got the burgers. always got the margaritas. the drinks were strong, well-mixed and tasty. the burgers were decent -- sometimes a little overcooked. ingredients were quality and there was a lot of selection on the menu. not the best restaurant on the island, but a good lunch/dinner spot in paia. default place for drinks and burgers in town. service was good. staff attentive. oh! as an afterthought, the duck burger was awesome -- different and delicious!

    (4)

  • V M.

    Had the tortilla and the fish fajita and salad-none were very good

    (2)

  • Matt P.

    best of Paia town. love the movies on thursdays. crispy duck sandwich and big swell IPA can't be beat.

    (5)

  • Emily A.

    The worst restaurant we tried on Maui. We were pleased to see they had a lot of nearly-vegan items on the menu (just had to order without cheese, for example). My husband got the tofu burger and I got fajitas with spinach and mushrooms. We apparently arrived at the tail end of what they were calling "surfer happy hour" and most of the tables were filled with people enjoying appetizers and drinks. Maybe that's what we should have done, because it seems like they weren't ready to properly focus on preparing dinner. My husband's burger was okay though it was pretty much just a slab of lightly seasoned tofu on a bun. The main component for my fajitas, the spinach and onions, came out in a cast iron dish and the bottom half of it was heavily burned, practically charcoal! The beans also tasted a bit burned. That, coupled with music so loud we couldn't carry on a conversation and slow service, led to a pretty disappointing experience.

    (2)

  • Jason B.

    The atmosphere was cheerful and the service was friendly but the food was just so-so. We split a large appetizer platter which had its high points (grilled chicken, mustard sauce) and low points (the beef did not taste good).

    (2)

  • Karen L.

    Both of us ordered the duck burger so I can't vouch for anything else food-wise, but based on that, the coconut porter, the laid back vibe, friendly service, and breezy ambience this place definitely gets 5 stars from me! This was our last meal on Maui and one of the best. The duck (as others have raved) is unbelievably juicy and flavorful, with a hint of sweetness -- mouth watering. They also had other yummy, healthy looking choices like hummus and a variety of salads (including duck :), as well as tagines. Perfect ending to our trip. Highly recommend for a tasty, casual lunch!!

    (5)

  • Arwen O.

    Probably the best place we ate in Paia (aside from the sushi at Jacques). The duck and pork fajitas were amazing, the mezze plate was fantastic (unbelievable hummus and delicious falafel), and the staff was friendly (despite the fact that six of us showed up five minutes before closing). I would definitely go here again (and did:-)

    (4)

  • N N.

    Absolutely delicious! The decoration is so cute and the service was just right. Food is AMAZING!

    (5)

  • Tom H.

    Very nice and relaxing spot for dinner. Not too expensive, food is good quality, but not quite gourmet. Still casual. Service was quick and pleasant. I had the duck burger, which was very good. My mother had a chicken dish that was spiced moroccan-like, with couscous, generously portioned. Dad had a mahi burger, which he said he was embarrased to admit was good, despite it having cheese on it. Compaired to Moana cafe up the street, this place shines. I guess not all resturants in Paia are lazy!

    (4)

  • Roxanne B.

    This place has really gone up in price and downhill on quality since the last time I was here. burger was just ok. crispy duck burger was better. $13-$15 for a burger is just too much.

    (3)

  • Karen B.

    Based on other reviews, we must of hit it on a bad night. My boyfriend said his bacon cheeseburger was one of the worst burgers he had ever had. I got the duck fajitas and they were pretty tasteless. The lemonade tasted like crystal light but worse and my boyfriend's diet soda was almost undrinkable. The tabe next to us ordered the bread pudding with caramel sauce-it took a long time for it to arrive and it was covered in chocolate sauce. They had to ask for the caramel and by the time it arrived, there were 2 bites left. Themost disappointing meal we have had on Maui.

    (1)

  • John S.

    This is a great little hippie cafe with great looking hippie gals serving up food. Break out the tIe dye shirts and hemp sandals for an expresso and pesto salad. Later, a little Paella and beer for movie night can get you into the bohemian mood.

    (4)

  • Humphrey J.

    We got picnic lunches here for our drive to Hana. They were good, it would have been nice to have fresh cookies for what we paid, not a bag of Amos small choc chip cookies. But whatever, I would go here again

    (4)

  • Mari S.

    My favorite lunch spot in Paia! Service is friendly and quick. Very attentive. The BEST falafel I have ever had and I am from New York where next to pizza, falafel is a way of life. Great burgers and salads too! Highly recommend !!

    (5)

  • Shalin P.

    This is the heart of Paia, right around the corner from Paia Fish Market. They offer cooler lunches for the Road to Hana (you can rent the cooler and Hana CD for free with deposit). We had our lunch at the picnic area in Wainapanapa State Park. For a set fee, you get a sandwich, chips, drink, and cookie. I had a chicken curry salad sandwich while my wife had the avocado one- both were great. There isn't really much to eat on the Road to Hana, so getting a cooler lunch is key.

    (4)

  • C F.

    Five stars for being just right. Fun, loud, spirited place with great staff and excellent happy hour. By no means upscale or cutting edge, just good drinks and eats. I enjoyed a coupla Maui brewing co. IPAs and wifey had a mango margarita. We shared an order of sweet potato fries. The wait staff were tag-teaming, so we got the benefit of two waiters. Excellent idea!

    (5)

  • Mae F.

    We went for pupus and drinks with friends the food and drinks were great and well priced! Will go back for more

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Cafe Mambo, like virtually all places in Paia, should start out with four stars as maximum. Nothing in Paia is worth five stars, kids: Paia is an overpriced berg catering to wannabe granola munchers. It is like a cross between Melrose and Berkeley with a Hawaiian twist and the same pricing structure. Now that I have set the ground work, let me turn to Cafe Mambo. The CC and I settled in and were originally served by Medina, who seemed nice. She took our orders - an ahi burger and a crispy duck burger, with Maui IPA and a margarita - and then turned us over to (cue ominous music) Erin. If we did not get Erin for a server, the place would have gotten four stars. The ahi was good but the crispy duck was out of sight. If you are a duck fan, this is a great place to eat. However, I have never been a fan of smug, curt servers and Erin was, well, a smug, curt server. Maybe it was an off-day, but I am not interested in someone's off-day when I am paying them to provide me with good service. I could hazard a guess why she was such a pain in the keister, but why bother?

    (3)

  • Amy W.

    Really loved this place. Very nice staff. Relaxed atmosphere. Great cocktails (we were regulars for Happy Hour!). Really nice food too. Had breakfast one day, breakfast bagel and burrito. Both were really tasty. Also had the kalua pork fajitas for dinner one evening and they were awesome.

    (4)

  • Robert K.

    Trendy cafe in Paia Town. Service is very good and the food is very good as well. The Burgers are very good and duck fajitas are outstanding. The assorted seafood platter appetizer is great as well as the chicken fajita and fish tacos. The prices are reasonable.great for lunch or a casual dinner.

    (4)

  • lynne M.

    Fun friendly laid back spot with a tasty breakfast menu.

    (4)

  • Kenny L.

    The menu looked fantastic; I probably would have been happy with any item on the menu. I wound up picking the kalua pig with couscous substituted for rice. Flavors were excellent. Service was good but not exceptional. Compared to other places in the Kahului vicinity that I have been to for lunch, this definitely has much smaller portions (maybe realistic would be a better word... places like Da Kitchen had insanely large portions). If you are looking for food by the pound, this is not your choice. If you are looking for good flavor and a well thought out menu, this is a great choice.

    (4)

  • Denny M.

    Fajitas are ok.

    (3)

  • Tiffany K.

    Been here three times. Last time I was here, it was for the DUCK BURGER. Strange as it may sound to some, it is OMG delicious. Love it love it. Also came here for the happy hour. I loved the brews. Firstly, they are from the Maui Brewing Company. Highly recommend the Bikini Blonde lager and the Big Swell IPA. The latter has this delicious passionfruit after taste. Or maybe it was the lager? In any case, they were very distinctive, full of unique flavors and HALF OFF. The only one that is not is the coconut porter. It is $6 a pint. After having two pints and realizing that I might have to drive, I didn't get the porter. Darn! Will have to fly back for that one. Anywho, the decor is "relaxed Barcelona" complete with mosaic-y tables and Miro-esque paintings. I don't think the artist has ever sold one. They had the same paintings up the last time I was here a year and a half ago! The kids menu is orright too. We usually get the terriyaki tofu with black beans and rice. A nice change from the chicken nuggets and fries...

    (5)

  • Dave S.

    My go to eating spot in Paia, Maui. Awesome fresh, local, organic foods. Doesn't matter if you go for b-fast, lunch, happy hour or dinner, the service will be fast, friendly and accurate and the food will be outstanding. Killer burger made with Maui beef, awesome smoothies, amazing duck quesadillas...it just goes on and on. Oh, and great beer and wine. If there were a Cafe Mambo in my neighborhood at home, I'd have my own table.

    (5)

  • Craig L.

    Wow, the reviews seem to be all over the place. I went there for a casual dinner after work at 5:30. Except for the traffic as you enter Paiea, it was a pleasant experience. I got there just before the Happy Hour cutoff at 6:00 so go a beer on tap and ordered the steak fajitas. I had heard from a friend that they were good so figured I'd try them out. They came out in about 8 minutes, medium-sized cubes of sizzling goodness. They were cooked perfectly, medium with just a hint of pink. They were well seasoned, juicy and tender. The tortillas were Mission, or similar to what you buy in the store - about what I expected. They were warm and good. The fajitas also come with a fixin's plate that includes guacamole, salsa, sour cream, sliced pickled jalapenos and two small sides of black beans and a salad. The black beans were somewhat disappointing but the rest of the meal was excellent. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy and fun artwork adorned the walls throughout, something interesting to look at between bites. The service was very good, attentive but not pushy, and I was nothing but happy faces all around. I will go back there again.

    (4)

  • Matthew B.

    Great lunch place -- loved my kalua pork sandwich. Single men will also probably appreciate the attractive waitstaff, but being married, I took no notice. At all. While I didn't have the coconut porter here, I did have it at its source (Maui Brewing Co.) and it is outstanding.

    (4)

  • Sue D.

    Love the focus on fresh, organic and locally sourced product paired with innovative preparations. Crispy duck burger was delicious along with a cold Bikini Blond, my honey loved his pulled pork burger too! Colorful furnishings with local art available to purchase and a super cool staff. My favorite meal on Maui by a longshot.

    (5)

  • Matthew J.

    Great food, cold brew and great service!

    (4)

  • Lucky M.

    In short, service was good food was bad. The mango lemonade was good, but let's get to the food. The Kahlua pork tasted like jerky and it was seasoned like it was teriyaki. The sign on the door stated the were runner up for best burger in Maui, if they came in second I wouldn't dare touch was first. I tried the organic beef burger -the burger tasted like it had been grilled and recooked in the microwave, dry and tasteless. The fries were ok but they're fries! The salad was of the bagged sort with a strange tasting and thick dressing. Couldnt figure out exactly what is was. I would not come back here, and if they're building a second location in the hamptons they shouldn't represent Maui so poorly.

    (2)

  • A G.

    Got a burger here while on vacation in Maui before my drive to Hana. It was tasty and made well. The ambiance was super laid back. The weekly movie night seems like fun.

    (3)

  • James N.

    I've been in Maui 24 hours but I'll be here for three weeks and this is where my money is going! Split the Seafood Sampler (mussels, squid and shrimps broiled in buttery, goodness), devoured the Soy, Honey, Orange Chicken Fajitas (which came with guacamole, sour cream, something red and awesome, black beans, peppers, feta and foliage) and drained it all with a delicious mango lemonade. Don't get me wrong: I'll be trying more food on the island, but I do a bit of traveling and I have NEVER been this impressed on the first date. it doesn't hurt that the wait staff is quick, friendly and seem genuinely amiable. CAFE MAMBO, I LOVE YOU. PS: The labels "vegetarian" and "traditional" don't really work since half the menu was meat and I really didn't see anything traditional on the menu... Whatever. Go there. Now.

    (5)

  • Abby F.

    Wow! When a 10 year old says, "How did this place get best lunch?", that is pretty sad. Do not bring your kids here. They do not accommodate families. The servers are not polite and no managers are on duty. I have never gone to a restaurant that the servers treat customers with such disrespect.

    (1)

  • Lunk L.

    We went twice in our ten day stay on the island. The food is good, the staff are nice and friendly and the ambiance is fun and relaxed, just what Hawaii is about.

    (4)

  • Caroline M.

    The crispy duck burger was soooooo good! Sweet and crispy. Skip the mayo - who needs it? I didn't try it, but my husband says his kahlua pork was "excellent". Fries and salad were standard. Mango lemonade was really good. Atmosphere was very nice. Good service.

    (5)

  • Ibrahim A.

    Love their Burger and beer special. $9.95 in the afternoon (3-6PM I believe). Surprisingly, the beef fajitas and veggie fajitas were disappointing. The chicken and fish ones are much better. The owner is charming and the staff is laid back and accommodating.

    (3)

  • Niki H.

    My husband and I went here for breakfast....was good. came back after a long day at the beach and driving around the island and decided to eat here for dinner since it was next to our hotel... Absolutely amazing, get the burger hands down!

    (5)

  • Olen R.

    I stopped in for Happy Hour because they have a sign out front that says ALL BEERS & COCKTAILS $3. I looked at the menu on the wall and saw that they have a Coconut Porter on draft, which I ordered. It was really good and worth every penny of the $6, because when we got the bill the waitress said she was sorry but that specific beer was exempt from Happy Hour pricing?! But the only place that had the fine print was on the printed menu which we didn't look at because we hadn't planned to order any food. I didn't bother explaining to our waitress that ALL BEERS $3 might not be the best to sign put out front if they aren't all really $3. SOME BEERS $3, perfectly fine. MOST BEERS $3, even better. The Pina Colada for $3 was pretty good, and a bargain. P.S. I think the Cadillac Margarita is also exempt from the Happy Hour.

    (3)

  • Gee P.

    YOU MUST TRY the Kalua Pork Burger!!!!!! Absolutely to die for! I ate it so fast, by the time I realized I had forgotten to take a picture there was only a sliver of a bun left. Also, try the ahi sandwich. My son at the WHOLE thing, and he's only 4!

    (5)

  • Zakk D.

    One of 3 locations on the island that has Coconut Stout beer on draught by Maui Brewing Co. I didn't eat here, but man did I drink here. Happy hour is 1/2 off all drinks (excepts the Coconut Porter, damnit) and the chill vibe here is nice. I was in the corner on the benches with the comfy pillows tossed about. Really cute looking place that's really nice to drink. The food looked good, staff humored my drunkenness. It's all good.

    (5)

  • Erin H.

    I had a delicious and unique Kalua Pork Salad there. Mmmmmmm!

    (5)

  • Jihad S.

    Great sandwiches, for both breakfast and lunch. My partner and I really enjoyed my Hawaiian burger and her breakfast sand which. Great tasting food, made fresh, using local and organic ingredients. The staff is fun and friendly as well. Found that they make lunches for the road to Hana, will remember to pick one up next time I am there.

    (4)

  • Purvi R.

    1.5 doors over from Cafe Des Amis is Cafe Mambo. We stopped in here for a coffee in the morning, then came back later just so we could try the Coconut Porter. It was great! A very filling beer for sure, but unique at the same time - worth the stop. Along with the porter, we had some hummus and pita - it was okay - the pita was nummy, the hummus was fine - they put turmeric in it so it kind of mulled the flavor a bit, made it bland almost. It needed a kick and/or some more lemon. A couple of other great reasons to make this a stop in Pai'a - 1. they have a CD for the road to Hana that you can check out with a $20 deposit. The CD was helpful. 2. 3p-6p they have happy hour - 1/2 off all beers (except coconut porter, boo) and $10 beer & burger (incl tofu burger!) 3. fun, artsy, new-age hippie vibe. 4. inexpensive, even with the full priced beers!

    (4)

  • Nora S.

    We stopped here after checking out the Pai'a Fish Company, which was way too crowded. Now, I'm almost glad that I didn't get to try the other place. The food here was excellent! Unique, flavorful, and good service too. Coconut porter was very good too, although I only had a sip of that. Nice. Wonderful place to eat and not too pricey for the delicious food. We tried the tofu fajitas, duck burger, Kailua pork burger and kailua fajitas. All were great.

    (5)

  • C B.

    The food and the staff are both quite great, the drinks were nice and the happy hour was a great deal. This is probably the best place the area to end the day.

    (4)

  • Jake S.

    I have to say this place was kind of off. Customer service was there, but I got a little paranoid when the chef was just eyeing me down for no reason. Ordered some sort of veggie burger from there and it was good. The drinks are cold. Just felt a little uneasy when I was stared down by the chef. I kind of avoid this place now because of ONE person making my experience weird.

    (2)

  • Matt H.

    We first stopped for a picnic lunch to take with us on the road to Hana. They lend out coolers, but we chose to pass on that. We each had a sandwich made on a large soft roll, mine with ham and cheese and hers veggie. Chips and a cookie came with it. Good hearty food eaten later at a roadside rest overlooking the ocean with a local nearby selling hand-made necklaces and stuff. We returned for lunch two days later on our way back from Hana. I had chicken fajitas. Lots of spicy chicken in a bed of sauteed onion served with plentiful tortillas and a lazy susan type tray with salad, guacamole, sliced cucumber, salsa and other stuff. Flavorful black beans. Price was OK for Maui.

    (4)

  • Jennifer F.

    We visited Cafe Mambo on 5/10 and were so glad we did. Cafe Mambo has a laid back, artsy vibe with local painter's works on the walls (and also for sale). The servers were attentive but didn't hover. I had the veggie fajitas with nori & sesame seed crusted tofu. The guacamole and toppings were tasty; the feta cheese offering was different, I ate that separately. Tortillas tasted homemade or at least a good store bought brand. Everything was great, we left full and satisfied.

    (4)

  • W. Andrew L.

    Great food. We had an array of offerings including chicken, beef, shrimp, duck, and ahi; everything was exceptionally well prepared.

    (5)

  • Nick Y.

    Doing the tourist thing on the crowded streets of Pa'ia, my girlfriend and I wandered past this inviting little cafe. It was late in the afternoon, and most of the other places were either packed or closed. Since Cafe Mambo was both empty and open, we decided to head back for a quick bite. We were informed of their happy hour drink specials, but since they were out of the first three things we tried to order, it was "just water, thanks." They were also out of the falafel plate my girlfriend had been craving the whole lap around town. It was a bit irritating finding out the 86 list item by item, but the roulette wheel finally settled on the Hummus and Pita, and a Crispy Duck Burger. The Hummus, probably from a generous amount of turmeric, was a very bright yellow. The flavor of coriander was also very prominent, but neither spice was overpowering. It was nicely seasoned, creamy, and very delicious with the warm, soft pita. (Thankfully, too, because this was a very late lunch, and my girl's a little mean when she's hungry) The Crispy Duck Burger, which was really more of a sandwich on a bun, was MEAN, mean. Being my first, it will be my basis of comparison for all future duck burger/sandwiches, and it set the standard pretty high. I don't recall any crispiness, but the slightly sweet sauce complimented the moist, shredded duck very well. Also, the simple garnish of lettuce, tomato, and onion didn't overpower the ducky goodness. Thankfully, we didn't let our initial irritation get the best of us. The food at Cafe Mambo was way better than the sulking "waaah-mburger" we would have swallowed had we walked out after strike three.

    (4)

  • R G.

    Went here for lunch with my wife and daughter. Had a nice local vibe to it, which is a nice break from all the tourist restaurants. Food was great, service was good, atmosphere was casual, I highly recommend it. I had the best pork sandwich I've ever had (the kalua pork burger), seriously good stuff. My wife had the mahi mahi sandwich which was really good as well. My daughters burger off the kids menu had to be a 1/2 pounder, which was honestly a little strange. She ate about a quarter of it and will probably have the rest for lunch the next two or three days. Overall great spot for lunch.

    (4)

  • Francisco C.

    Friendly and layed back and reasonably priced. Great burgers and cheap drinks, I would hit this place up if you are in the area.

    (4)

  • Dana T.

    We had a great meal here. Very casual, laid back, but friendly and efficient service. We started with some fries to share and they were as good as expected and a nice big serving for the 4 of us to share. The fajitas were ample and the salads sufficient.

    (4)

  • Jasmine S.

    We were visiting Paia on vacation and went to cafe Mambo for our first dinner. The duck burger and margaritas were remarkable! Additionally our server, Mai, and the bartender Zack were so incredibly welcoming that we eagerly retuned the next day for happy hour. Thanks Cafe Mambo!

    (5)

  • Sean H.

    We stopped here on a whim when visiting Paia. The staff was super friendly and the food was great. A wonderful place to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy all the character of Paia.

    (5)

  • Jorgen M.

    Right in the heart of Paia - this place serves up a crazy delicious Duck Fajita, if you love duck you will love this entree. We also had the Mai Mai Fajita and that was good as well, though not as yummy as the duck. Service was good.

    (4)

  • Rebecca Z.

    My husband and I ate here twice on our honeymoon after it was recommended by a local resident. The duck burger is DELICIOUS and so is everything else that we tried. The portions are big and the staff is friendly!

    (5)

  • Julia C.

    Great local cafe using fresh local ingredients. I had the Ahi Tuna sandwich with a salad and it was delicious. The salad had a mango vinaigrette and was very refreshing from the usual vinaigrettes. To drink I had the Passion fruit Iced Tea, which was sweet, but not southern sweet tea sweet. It was refreshing and tasted great. My husband had the beef and cheese, and the coconut porter. We learned the beef was from a local cattle farm & The porter was also a local Hawaiian made beer. We loved the vibe, the local food options, and overall it was a great lunch.

    (5)

  • Surranna V.

    I am a fan. They are consistently good, today is the first time I had a meal here that I gave to my dog. I had the breakfast quesadilla and it had so much cheese that I couldn't eat it with out gagging. Other than today I have loved every meal I have eaten here. The kalua pork is so well done, nice and crispy, the duck, the falafel, really, all of it is good. They have a good happy hour if you want to put back some local beers and a burger. The large open windows give it an awesome open air feel. Cafe Mambo is one of the most trusted meals in Maui by the locals.

    (4)

  • Cj G.

    Looks like a cool place and the food looks good but we were pretty disappointed when we ordered a couple croissants to go on the way to twin falls and had to wait over 20 minutes to get them. They weren't fresh baked but were toasted. The owner seems to really care about the food and customers but he needs to get the employees to pay a little better attention to service.

    (2)

  • Freddie N.

    Went here for lunch before starting road to hana trip and my wife had curry chicken sandwich and she got sick with diarrhea issues and thus had to turn around 20 minutes into trip. Would give it zero stars if Yelp would let me

    (1)

  • Michael K.

    The eclectic menu combines Spanish, North African, and Mexican cuisines. I've been to Maui many times, and this used to be one of my favorite restaurants. The problem is, I've experienced better...here. In past years, everything was good, from the fresh banana bread at breakfast, to the fantastic crispy duck fajitas and spinach-nut falafel for lunch, and hearty Moroccan tangines for dinner. They also had the cutest waitresses in Pa'ia. Regrettably, on my last visit, things had changed. The cuties had moved on. They had no banana bread for breakfast, and the "fruit salad" was disgraceful--a little ramekin of slimy, day-old watermelon, a couple of chunks of tasteless cantelope, and a few shreds of woody, dry pineapple. Pretty shameful for Maui where tropical fruits including ripe mangoes, papayas, and bananas are so plentiful that they grow wild and litter the ground, and the sweet, juicy pineapples are the best in the world. The crispy kalua duck is still unique and worth coming here for, but they really need to get their act together again.

    (2)

  • Vikéndios N.

    We ended up here because the restaurant we wanted to eat at was closed for the day due to a water main break. Luckily we were there for happy hour (3p-6p) which brought the drink prices down 50%. ATMOSPHERE: It's a nonchalant open air older restaurant. The only view is of Baldwin Avenue and people walking by. MENU: Salads, burgers, American entrees, and fajitas. BEVERAGE: Strawberry daiquiri - Very refreshing, nice thickness and not overly sweet. FOOD: Nachos - We added kalua pork to the mix. The chips were mainstream but good, and came topped with black beans, jalapeños, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese. The kalua pork had a BBQ flavor and was too sweet, which is a total turn off to me. The black beans could've been eliminated as they had a weird, ocean/salty taste that reminded me of opihi lol. Pass on this. SERVICE: Our female server was very friendly and professional. OVERALL: Good prices. Some of the other dishes on the menu sound tasty, but I won't be back to try them as nothing really stands out.

    (2)

  • Melissa V.

    I love this place! My ohana has been coming here for years & not once have we been disappointed in anything. They always have friendly, prompt service for lunch & dinner ( never been yet for breakfast ). Some of the things I've tried & absolutely loved are the mango chicken salad, crispy duck burger, fish fajitas, Tia Concha chicken, vegetarian tapas platter & the pinchos platter. All of these are fabulous depending on what you're in the mood for. Desserts are killer too... Coconut Creme brûlée, warm fudge brownie w/vanilla bean ice cream, Lilikoi cheesecake yum! I always love the relaxing open air atmosphere along with great people watching in the awesome town of Paia. Try it! You may make it a new fav on Maui.

    (5)

  • Assface J.

    OK we were tired, stressed out, and sexually confused. All we wanted was two lemonades. They have it listed on the menu as a separate item for $2.75. We just assumed that it at that price it would be something decent. Our testicles and ovaries hit the floor when she whipped out the soda gun and filled our cups. It was either Minute Maid or Country Time. It might as well have been cat urine. I can't believe that we paid $6.15 for them. What a waste of money.

    (1)

  • Muhammad A.

    Great food. Nachos is must. The fish cooked very well. I love the environment. Nice music Food came on time, great staff and the place is clean Parking is a little far from the restaurant about 3 min walk. They take credit cards but not Amex

    (5)

  • Amy A.

    Breakfast menu was just ok. Wasn't blown away. Cute little atmosphere and we enjoyed looking at all the whale art on the walls. Ordered the Huevos Rancheros. Overkill on the "spicy chipotle tomato sauce" as it was covering the whole thing and was strange and tangy. :/ Service definitely lacking personality and smiles.

    (3)

  • Chris L.

    A friend and I stopped in here for a quick lunch while exploring Paia for the first time. Man, did we make a good pick! The service was friendly and quick, the food was fantastic and fresh, and the people watching was awesome. I got the lunch special, the Ahi Tuna Melt, and was not disappointed. The serving size was huge, and the bread was awesome. Better yet, everything was reasonably priced. I would come back and recommend this cafe to anyone visiting Paia.

    (5)

  • Lesia N.

    I had no expectations for this place as we just wandered in after deciding the fish market was a bit too hectic for us and we wanted a chill sit down lunch. We got cocktails (they were very good) and fish burgers. The service was very chill and seamless, everything came out quickly and everything was delicious. You can get a salad instead of fries at no extra charge. Literally no complaints. They let us sit pick our own seat and sit by the windows at a big table even though we were only two (it was lunch and not as busy). Their happy hour is probably fantastic. Definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Liz S.

    Didn't even get to try their food due to their service. Helped seat customers that walked in after and made us wait till another customer was done eating so they could seat me and my family on his table. Cafe Mambo, what is the difference between seating 3 or 4? Anyway, I discovered another restaurant down the way.

    (1)

  • Jenneath C.

    I wasn't to into this place. But yet it would fit someone that is all able healthy eating. I came to Maui to eat hearty and local taste. Service was ok. The city of paia reminds me of Santa Cruz for those from California.

    (2)

  • Nick L.

    I want to eat here more. I was wondering around checking menu's and a nice couple and their child were sitting near the window and noticed me checking the menu and talking to my wife about it and they stopped me and said, "eat here, we do all the time and it's fantastic!" I replied, "that's a pretty strong endorsement, alright." Great choice! I got the duck fajitas and they were insane, so good I almost lost my mind. TONS of food for one person and the flavor was bazonkers!!! (I just made up this word, none of the words I know could capture how I felt about this fantastic dish!) We also got the onion rings with curry dipping sauce and they were fantastic. Perfect fry and the sauce had a nice touch of curry without being overwhelming and the sweetness of the Maui Onions was perfect. My wife had the mahi salad and the fish had such a perfect light golden brown touch and was cooked to perfection. The salad dressing was a perfect compliment to the greens. The drinks were delicious and all in all the prices were VERY VERY reasonable, especially for the quality of food you receive. My only disappointment was that I couldn't order more, I just couldn't fit anything else into my body! Man, I'm salivating just typing this.... If you're reading this, GO HERE, EAT!! Drink!

    (5)

  • Megan M.

    Best beer selection on the island! Great place to come have a drink and listen to some classic rock! We were bar hopping or we would have tried the food, the table next to us ordered some and it smelled and looked yummy.

    (4)

  • Ryan F.

    We loved this little cafe. We had some time to kill before our flight so we checked out the town of Paia, just east of the airport. I ordered the all natural cheeseburger and it was fantastic. My significant other had the fish? or salad? I don't know but that was excellent too! I would not hesitate to come back here. The seating was nice inside, liked the art on the walls.. The service staff was polite and friendly, and I thought the prices were fair.

    (5)

  • Bob M.

    Like so many other places we have visited in Maui, Cafe Mambo has great promise (and reviews) yet fails in execution. On our recent visit at the tail end of the lunch rush, we had awful service, fairly decent food that was cold upon serving after a 45' minute wait. With a captive audience of tourists day-tripping in Paia, Cafe Mambo talks the talk but in our case failed to walk the walk. The menu is creative and the food was above average in taste but why do we have to put up with cramped seating, a single restroom with no hand towels and servers who may or may not check their tables at these prices? If you get there early and have better luck then we, enjoy it. Otherwise, I suggest packing a nice box lunch and eating at one of the nearby beach parks while enjoying the weather.

    (3)

  • Brian S.

    Happy Hour Burger and Beer for a $11 spot cant be beat that on Maui. The fries looked really good but like the other reviewed notes they cooked in the evil oil that bad for your heart which have almost totally given up eating. Have the salad instead. I did enjoy the whipped cream bread pudding no tans-fat there I hope. The Servers were very nice, and dining area has nice relaxed vibe will go back.

    (4)

  • Kristen Martha B.

    We had been here in past years and really enjoyed it, even visited a few times during our trip. I had especially loved the umami packed mushroom fajitas. This time we came once and probably won't go back. The mushrooms were greasy, everything else lukewarm & bland, the margarita not well made. Typical mediocre Maui experience.

    (2)

  • Cassidy G.

    The atmosphere of this cafe is great, it's very open and artsy. All the art on the walls was great to look at and it added to the ambience. My family and I shared several tapas, one with hummus and the other with chicken and steak. The food was flavorful and very filling but it could have been better.

    (3)

  • Katherine V.

    Terrible- fish is frozen (on maui?!), "local" burger was like a frozen McDonald's burger as hard as a hockey puck, onion rings were frozen- not maui onions. (I know this because I asked about all these things.) and the mai tai wasn't even garnished with a pineapple - it was a maraschino cherry & a dried out lime.

    (1)

  • Sue Y.

    Thank you yelp! On our way to Hana, and stopped at the town of Paia for some grub before we continued on our way. Did a quick search for restaurants nearby and Cafe Mambo showed up first. Immediately scanned the highlights and saw "Crispy Duck Burger" and was immediately sold! We are eating here. We ordered: - 1 crispy duck burger with salad - 1 special shrimp plate with rice and salad - 1 passionfruit margarita - 1 house margarita The duck burger was sooo delicious! Don't be deceived as on the menu they listed it as a patty, but it was made up of shredded duck meat that was seared to give it a little char then sandwiched between a hamburger bun, mayo, onion and lettuce. It was well seasoned, moist and so juicy that each bite we took, the duck jus was dripping out. The shrimp was good but didn't quite stack up to par with the explosive flavor and freshness of the shrimp we had at Geste Shrimp Truck. Margaritas were strong and not too sweet. Just the way I like it. :)

    (4)

  • Alakake K.

    Cafe Mambo We were a party of four that went to Cafe Mambo a few days ago. It was around 10:30 AM, July 16,2015. A food server saw us as we were standing by the entrance but ignored us. Not a hello or even a smile. just ignored us. The sign by the entrance said "Seat Yourself", there were 2 tables that if placed together it would have accommodated the four of us. The table weren't cleaned yet from the previous occupants. We wanted to make sure that the tables were available, so one of us was walking towards the tables while the rest stayed by the entrance. The food server asked us if she could help us. Dumb question....we told her we were looking for a table, (obviously). She just told us that the tables were still occupied, even though there were nobody seated there. She said there were other tables available but we had to be separated by parties of two. WHAT??? Oh , maybe it's the way her and her kin folk go out to eat, they sit at different tables away from each other. Needless to say we went down the road to another place where the service was mo' beta. I'm going to tell my frenz and famz to avoid Mambo Cafe like the plague. This place deserves a zero star but dis guy is generous and give 1.....hui!

    (1)

  • Julie W.

    Went here twice to eat and both times it took from 45 minutes to 1 hour to get our food. I had their jumbo shrimp plate which had several shrimp, rice, and a small salad. I didn't care for the salad too much because of the type of greens. The shrimp were good, but the rice was clumpy. A friend had the Kalua Pork plate and that was delicious. It's a great place to meet friends for drinks, but I think that's about it.

    (3)

  • Charles W.

    Several years ago this place was pretty good. In fact, the paella was real tasty, as were the other tapas. Tonight was disappointing. Contrary to other reviews, the duck burger was weak, just flavorless. Nice bun though. French fries were meh. My wife had to send her burger back and it still came out cooked incorrectly. She's not picky and rarely sends things back, if ever. Servers were nice. Kitchen was incompetent. Dined in Paia many times. I know the bar isn't set that high. This doesn't pass muster.

    (2)

  • Saminda W.

    We stopped here after hiking at Haleakala in the afternoon and had quite the appetite. After browsing the offerings on Baldwin (interesting name for a main street in a Hawaiian town by the way), we settled on Cafe Mambo. I ordered the kalua pork fajitas, they came out pretty quickly and the serving plates pretty much covered the entire table. I made quick work of them, adding a perfect blend of feta cheese, sour cream, guacamole, jalapeños, and a splash of Chalula hot sauce to top them off. My wife had the vegetarian stew with couscous and it was solid as well. Service was friendly and attentive. Only drawback was the lack of air conditioning but we were fine in the shade. Definitely worth checking out if you're in Paia.

    (4)

  • Mae B.

    Tried their mango lemonade, which tasted like instant lemonade with a little crushed mango in the bottom of the glass. Food was overpriced, servers were unfriendly and disorganized

    (2)

  • Pam H.

    Great drinks at happy hour!! Food looked and smelled great, but did not try.

    (4)

  • Danielle M.

    Delicious! The nori tofu tacos where the perfect meal after a long flight. Passion fruit margaritas hit the spot. Love the local artist art on the wall. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Chris G.

    I will admit the service was horrible. Our waitress checked her phone more than 4 times before we were served. It took her three attempts to bus another table, and forgot to wipe it down, so the next group of people had to ask for it to be done. She finally remembered our silverware after serving half of our food. She dropped trash on the floor, picked it up and didn't wash her hands. How does such service deserve 4 stars? This was the best cost to food ratio we've had yet. My husband had the duck burger and I had the fajitas. Portions were generous, and delicious! I mean, I now want to start making my own duck because that was so good I have to have it again. Plus, our meal was $45 with tip! I didn't manage to finish my dinner, but luckily my husband finishes everything. Despite the service, I would go here again!

    (4)

  • Ronda W.

    Yummy Happy Hour Mango Margarita! Would love to come back for lunch. The menu looks wonderful!

    (4)

  • Marlene G.

    Duck burger is amaz-ing! Simple as that! Staff is friendly. Will definitely come back here when I come back to Maui.

    (5)

  • frank s.

    The food is fine, if you don't mind waiting. When you have to wait 35 minutes for food, please at least come by and offer an apology or at least a quick explanation. Two other tables arrived after we did, got their food, and left before we got to eat. The restaurant wasn't even that busy. Maybe they could have considered refilling our water at least once. To top off our experience, not all of us got the right food. I got served the wrong burrito and my mom's food had ham mysteriously added. The people that work there are friendly enough, but that only goes so far when everything else is not good. We overheard them asking other tables how everything is, but not for us. Probably because they knew everything was pretty sucky.

    (2)

  • Day B.

    Surprisingly - a Really good breakfast option! For anything else, stick to their special duck fajitas or duck burger. They also make some great kalua pork options. Probably the most comfortable location in town.

    (4)

  • Peter P.

    Get the duck burger.. Wow. Amazing. Fries were also pretty good. I inhaled the burger in about a minute..

    (5)

  • Jack L.

    Great place to eat! Tasty burgers and fries served with a smile and a great attitude. Very much representative of Pa'ia, this gem of a city in North Maui. If there was any room for improvement it would have to start with a better bun! The burger is delicious and fresh organic meat, with good fries and condiments. To be truthful I really dig the woman behind the register too ;) She's either the manager or the owner but she's definitely a hottie :o

    (4)

  • Helen L.

    The service was friendly and the good was good. I had sides of tofu, tomatoes, and fruit salad. There was not a plate for me because I don't eat eggs or pancakes. The tofu was very good and fresh fruit. My kids really enjoyed their pancakes and plantation plate. They said they like the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Brianna S.

    This place is confusing on a lot of different levels. First, why is this categorized as a vegetarian spot, when they only have a couple vegetarian items on their menu. So misleading... Not to mention, I thought it was supposed to be Spanish, but there was Mexican influenced items on their menu. Not at all what I thought it would be when I finally decided to give her a go. Now that we have that out of the way, the fajitas were pretty tasty. I got the tofu nori, and it was a pretty nice sized portion to boot. The downer came when my bf ordered the medium rare ahi sandwich, and they did not inform him until they brought his plate that they were out of ahi, and they switched it with mahi mahi. He was not amused.

    (3)

  • T R.

    We had a late lunch at 3pm. The double IPA was distinctive in flavor yet not overly hoppie. The lunch was just 'food' and not flavorful nor distinctive. I had shrimp that was on the menu as jumbo shrimp but were small to large and had a been grilled with an oily, light red sauce without any seasonings. The same red sauce was used to 'season' a mound of white rice. When i requested shoyu as a seasoning for the rice, it was not served at this restaurant! In Hawaii!? What's up with that?

    (3)

  • Tiffany W.

    The food was delicious! I loved sitting by the open windows with the warm breeze enjoying lunch.

    (5)

  • Judith K.

    The huevos rancheros are excellent served with black beans! Also tried the cafe mocha coffee. Cute restaurant excellent staff, love paia. I will go back again.

    (4)

  • Maddy T.

    Post bike ride breakfast. Great coffee and awesome breakfast potatoes! Ordered the Huevos Rancheros with chorizo and ate every bite. Delicious! Plus the handled our ravenous group of nine easily. :-)

    (4)

  • Rob C.

    The atmosphere, sitting next to the open windows with the cool breeze coming through, Awwww. Breakfast was delicious, we recommend the Veggie quesadilla and the Mambo Breakfast Special. Don't forget the Mimosas : )

    (5)

  • Susie C.

    We originally wanted to Mom's fish market or something like that for brunch but they werent open yet so we stumbled upon Cafe Mambo. We wanted a full breakfast before we make the road to Hana. It is a cute diner with no a/c. I custom ordered my omelette which was very filling and delicious. My husband ordered some meal, but he enjoyed it too. Lots of food. Good food! It looks like it can be a coffee house at night. Very cute place. I would come back when I'm in town!

    (4)

  • Mogley A.

    Came here and had the fish of the day sandwhich and the fish was mahi mahi.. Really really good with fries and i got it to go so took about 10 minutes to get and that wait was fine because it has to be cooked perfect and it was delicious!!! Everything on the menu looked good!!

    (5)

  • Traci H.

    A great find in a pretty cool part of Paia (e.g., it's not right on trafficky Hana Hwy). Just based on one visit, I'd say I'll probably be back..casual, local joint (although I see they have a location in NY?!), with a artsy feel and local staff who love what they do and where they live. I think they try to do some local foods but I don't really know. When I can try more I think I might be able to give them 5 stars, I hope! To be honest, the real reason we tried this is that our awesome bartender Rachel at Ko (at the Fairmont Kea Lani) told us that she loves the kahlua pork at this place. So why not listen to the local girl and try it out. We were not disappointed. KAHLUA PORK FAJITAS: first comes the fixin's--guac, salsa, sour cream, jalapenos, mexican cheese, lettuce/onions?, black beans. Then comes the tortillas (I think there were 4, but I think if we needed, they would have given us more). Then came the sizzling plate of kahlua pork on top of a bed of onions. What is great about it is how they cook it--to almost a crisp! It's not just your normal dry, shredded kahlua pork, but it's almost pressed and crisped. It has a slight sweetness to it, so if you don't like that, this might not be for you. But for me, I quite enjoyed it and I don't think I've had my kahlua pork crispy like this before. Definitely something to copy... VEGETARIAN STEW WITH COUSCOUS: it was ok. the couscous has raisins. That would have been a minus 1 but really only because I hate raisins. But it was easy enough to pick it out. The stew was pretty good and full of veggies--zucc, red peppers, garbanzo beans and all sorts else. Seemed like a tomato base. Good but I don't think i'd order it again. COFFEE: it's Illy so it's pretty good. Nothing overly special, but it's good and it's fairly cheap I think it's less than $2 for a small. I'm not sure if it's refillable but they asked if I wanted more. I don't know if that was a "hey do you want more for free" or "hey do you want more for another $2" Their menu has lots of drinks too but since it was 1pm we didn't partake in anything much stronger than coffee and espresso. But the table next to us ordered all sorts of top shelf margaritas with mango, passion fruit and I don't know what else! Open from I think 8am to 9pm but the hours for meals are BREAKFAST 8am - 11am; LUNCH 11am to 3pm and DINNER 3pm to 9pm. I think those are the hours or it's close to that BATHROOM: there is only bathroom for men/women. No key needed, it's just in the back and there is a sign that points to it. Lots of tables for 2 and only a few for large parties. So come early or see if you can squeeze together a few tables to make it for your party. It's sort of open air, so if you like to be all boxed up then this isn't for you. No outdoor seating, but they open up the front windows so it's a casual atmosphere. PARKING: there is street parking and also the Paia lot on Hana Hwy and I think two public lots right on Baldwin as you drive away from Hana Hwy. One that is across the street from Mambo and i think the second one is by the post office. Can get crowded so just be patient. Pretty good value for the $, considering it's tourist town (and most people in there look like tourists). I think the fajitas were like $16. So not cheap, but compared to $40 resort food, it's a steal. VISA/MC or CASH.

    (4)

  • Brandon L.

    Cafe Mambo is a great place to have breakfast. Right when you enter the restaurant you get this feeling of relaxation. This place is laid back and very chill. I ordered the Surfer's Breakfast Roll and it was great. It's practically a breakfast sandwich that has eggs, ham, turkey, tomatoes, and cheese on a soft bagel sized roll. The breakfast sandwich wasn't heavy at all but just the right amount of food. The service was excellent. The server helped us with the menu explaining what was good, got us refills on our drinks, and made sure we were doing ok. They open up the windows (more like shutters) so the sun can come in and make the place shine. Excellent stop in Paia.

    (4)

  • Mercedes B.

    Terrible fish and chips. Tasted like Costco boxed fish heated in a microwave. We set for over 30minutes (not an exaggeration) waiting for our food, in a scarcely populated restaurant. We also ordered two kid's burgers- both were huge (also- looked like pre made Costco burgers) without any sauce or condiments... Neither kid ate more than two bites before declaring it off limits- very dry with cold, thick breaded Costco buns. I don't mean to be rude- hopefully this will help the restaurant change and be better. I looked around and the table next to us was also having a poor experience. He told us he ordered something entirely different than what was delivered and when he tried to tell the server she argued with him. So, he paid for it without eating a bite and left... I felt so bad for him. He polite and kind and respectful. He told us he was here to relax and didn't want to be mean or be treated mean by the server again so he wouldn't argue and instead would just pay and never return.

    (1)

  • Jan-Marc E.

    Good place, nice atmosphere, interesting colors inside, really something special, and the food was good. I liked the style of the waitraisses, cause they were all easygoing. And I really liked the organic food way when it is done like this!

    (4)

  • Beth B.

    Cute little place. Had a friendly server who we told we wanted something to split since we had reservations for dinner. We just needed something to nibble on..she suggested the Kailua pork fajitas! I'm still craving them!!

    (4)

  • Jarrod A.

    Veggie burrito with tofu. Muy buen. Oahu Shake was so dang good! The wife keeps raving about her spinach omelet. We are stuffed!

    (5)

  • Ginny N.

    First meal (lunch) in Maui and such a disappointment. Went on the advice of a friend. 1. Iced tea...instant, weak, plastic tumbler. $2.75. A beer would have been the smarter choice. 2. Veggie burger...flavorless, heavy on the mayo. Some onions, pickles and mustard would have been welcomed if offered. 3. Green salad...a few pieces of onion on bagged micro greens that were so very tired I could not bear to disturb them. 4. My husband described the sauce on his special chicken burrito as "canned tomato soupish." 5. Ambiance...flies, flies and very loud music. We pushed away our half-eaten (no questions asked by our indifferent server) plates (no thanks on the "tea" refills) and beat a hasty retreat. Fortunately several other good meals in Maui's beautiful upcountry are causing the memory of this to fade.

    (1)

  • Benjamin T.

    best breakfast I've found on Maui so far

    (5)

  • Dominic G.

    The margaritas were delicious, the server Zack was very friendly and obviously needs a big raise! He was able to allure us from going to Milagros and made sure he delivered with great service and food! Thanks Zack!

    (5)

  • Jane B.

    Cafe Mambo is a great place to stop in Paia, if you are looking for a quick and casual meal. They offer a nice variety of menu options and bring your food to you within 10-15 minutes of ordering. I stopped at Cafe Mambo with a group of seven people after we did the bike ride down Mount Haleakala. Our favorite lunch dishes were the "Aloha Burger" with pineapple, and the burger topped with a frittata. Everybody liked their food, but nobody was especially impressed.

    (3)

  • Christine V.

    We came in for breakfast around 10am on a weekday, and were told to sit wherever we wanted. Three parties came in after us, and while we decided what we wanted fairly quickly, our waitress made us wait --told us she would be right back to take our order -- then proceeded to take orders from the other three parties that came in after us. We had our menus closed, we were obviously ready. Extremely hungry and frustrated that we were clearly being ignored, we walked out. I guess you have to be caucasian to get served here? No Aloha to be found at Cafe Mambo. Sad.

    (1)

  • Nory B.

    Food was good, but not awesome--my fish sandwich was nothing special. The service was really slow(maybe because it was 8:30pm when we came in and they were ready to go home?), but friendly. But there were SO many bugs flying around, all over the table, on us, and then the food--ugh. Not sure why there were so many here but not in any of the other places nearby. Probably won't go again.

    (3)

  • Tracie D.

    Stopped for a bite on our way back from road to Hana. Very nice menu with quality ingredients and beautiful presentation. The margarita (passion fruit) was a bit of a disappointment but we have high margarita standards! The staff was amazing and on top of it from beginning to end. Steak fajitas and Ahi melt were wins, give this place a try!!

    (4)

  • Edward C.

    1st time in. Open air restaurant, comfortable seats, small bar. Pinchos sampler for $17 was a great pick, local steak, chicken and shrimp w/ bleu cheese, home made organic salsa, curry mayo and kula greens! Excellent!!! Finished w/ Maui and a Molokai smoothy, best smoothies on Maui!!

    (5)

  • Lori L.

    We were lured into having Lunch at Cafe Mambo, an open air, casual restaurant in Pa'ia by a posted menu that said "duck fajitas". Sadly, duck fajitas are not served at lunch, so we had the Crispy Duck Salad and the Ahi Sandwich with Fries instead. The Crispy Duck Salad was pretty good. The duck is well seasoned, pre-cooked, shredded, and reheated on a flat-top till it develops a crispy crust. The salad greens got wilted from the heat of the duck, but the fresh salsa, full of red onion and fruit, saved the "salad" part of the dish. The salsa has a nice bite and sweetness that balances the fatty, richness of the duck and pulled everything together. I would skip the Ahi Sandwich (or modify it), the focaccia, cubes of ahi, lettuce and tomato were fine, the problem was the chipotle sauce. For me, the sauce was out of place and the sandwich would have been better without it. If you do check out Cafe Mambo, most of the other tables order burgers. They have some interesting add-ins to their burgers, as well as other sandwiches and salads.

    (2)

  • Matt C.

    Probably one of the better restaurants in Paia! Incredible food, Great service and reasonable prices! Try the duck!!! #AMAZING

    (5)

  • Marc P.

    We stopped here for lunch one day. I had the Sesame & Nori Tofu Fajita platter. The serving size was quite large, and there were plenty of toppings to choose from. Some were quite flavorful, and others were nothing to write home about. The tortillas could definitely use improvement (they reminded me of the soft tortillas I would get in my high school cafeteria.....and that is not a good thing). Service was good and the atmosphere was casual but welcoming.

    (3)

  • Carl B.

    Cute little cafe in Paia off the Main Street. Decided to come in as other places were busy and his place was in a lull. Two magic words...Kailua pork. Oh my goodness. The best ever. They take the pork and cook it on the flattop to get it crusty. They they serve it with a vinegar based BBQ sauce. Get extra sauce, dip the pork in it, then be prepared for heaven. You can thank me later. Plus they have a great selection,of beer. Had a double IPA from Maui brewing company that was excellent. Wife got the tofu which was crusted with sesame seeds on a fresh salad. She loved it and described the tofu as the perfect combination of crust and moist tofu. Next time through here I will be getting the Kailua pork again and maybe I'll try the crispy duck too. So many choices......to be continued.

    (5)

  • Wen L.

    We stopped by this restaurant after the Road to Hana. The Crispy Duck Burger was pretty tasty and had good flavor. It was crispy and sweet with their homemade honey glaze. The fries were just ordinary though. The fish salad I ordered was very underwhelming. I could have fallen asleep eating it if it weren't for the open-window restaurant atomosphere. Definitely not the cherry on top after driving the road to hana. But I do have to say, the staff was very kind and professional!

    (3)

  • David C.

    Great drinks, amazing food - average service.

    (4)

  • Natalie F.

    Our first stop on Maui was to Cafe Mambo and we were not disappointed. Loved the vibe of the cafe and all the art on the walls. We had a lilikoi margarita, Maui Blonde beer, crispy duck burger and the pinchos platter. Absolutely delicious! The crispy duck is awesome. The platter was awesome and came with Maui steak that was perfectly cooked, tasty shrimp, tender chicken, bleu cheese, curry dip, chipotle sauce, greens and tortilla chips. It was all very good. The curry dip tasted wonderful on everything! The staff was friendly and service was great. Would definitely return.

    (5)

  • Diana h.

    Who puts watermelon in a fruit bowl? Their $8 fruit bowl was about the quality of a del monte fruit cup you get in the school cafeteria. Plus their smoothies are from concentrate. This is the definition of a tourist trap. So many other places to eat. Don't go here.

    (1)

  • AE R.

    I had breakfast and dinner while on vacation there on Maui. I would suggest you give it a try. If you are still on East Standard time or Pacific Standard time...ie in a hurry, don't go. You are on vacation....CHILL OUT and relax. The breakfast and dinner menus have ample choices and the serving sizes are more than enough. My food arrived hot and was tasty. I enjoyed a mango tea with my breakfast and a passion fruit margarita with my dinner...both were tasty! Oddly enough, I had the same waitress on different days and she was pleasant and made sure my dining experience was a good one! :)

    (4)

  • Sean M.

    Good coffee, great smoothies, prompt service. I stopped in for some coffee, and my brother got a smoothie. We didn't order any food.

    (5)

  • Sandra M.

    The main reason why I put 2 stars and not more is because this restaurant uses hydrogenated corn oil to cook their fries and probably other things like their onion rings. Hydrogenated oil is terrible for anyone's health and I think that any responsible owner should know and do better than use that, even if it means loosing some profit ! It's 2014, there is plenty of information around about the subject, there is no excuse to use such ingredient. Else than that, they have great veggie burgers, which is nice. And pineapple in a burger is an awesome substitute for ketchup (mostly if the ketchup is made with high fructose corn syrup) !

    (2)

  • Elyse S.

    Super cute cafe! We were down here on vacation, you know, doing the road to Hana thing and stopped here first for some grub. The girls there were super nice and really accommodating with our food allergies! ( me - gluten, dairy.. him - eggs, dairy) We are such a hassle, but still managed to get a delicious breakfast and great coffee! The cafe has some pretty cool art on the walls. I'd bet it changes regularly. I highly recommend this stop on your adventures!

    (4)

  • Chris G.

    Great lunch time spot with a variety of foods on the menu all of which sound great. The duck fajitas and duck burger were great.

    (5)

  • Andres G.

    Word to your mother. Happy hour is strong with cheap draaaanks Don't miss this spot if you are hungry/thirsty, great waitstaff, great prices, but most importantly, the food is great.

    (5)

  • James T.

    Food = 4 Price = 3 (too expensive) Experience = 3 (no Amex... really) It gets a overall 4 for being in Paia.

    (4)

  • Karinn E.

    We found this place on yelp, and overall were happy with the visit Pros Very friendly and helpful waitstaff . Great menu with a wide range of choices Beautiful art on the walls ( all for sale) Great prices and a ton of food! Food was tasty and came our quickly. Cons Very hot, it's an open air eatery. All of our drinks were warm. Very little to no ice at all.. Which is a total bummer because we were hot and thirsty .

    (3)

  • Elizabeth S.

    Duck burger was fantastic. Side salad etc... All great. Everybody cleaned their plates. Love the open windows, nice breeze, chill ambience. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Isaiah L.

    Walked inside to get coffee, when suddenly the staff became alarmed because there was a 4 in centipede crawling behind counter. A very unsanitary place, I am thoroughly disgusted.

    (1)

  • Sarah R.

    Super cute place & the service was good. We walked in here for a late breakfast on one of our last days on Maui. We sat at this large-ish table by one of the front windows. The coffee was delicious and the breakfast burrito I had was pretty good as well. I just wish I had known it would be filled with white rice. I would have asked for it without. But besides the rice, it was good and came with a yummy little side of sauce. My step dad had the home fries and I was practically drooling over how good they looked. I'd probably get something with those if I ever found myself here again.

    (4)

  • G B.

    Great food! Phenomenal service. Came here 3 times before writing this review. Best Kalua pork on the island. Fish dishes are Great. Best ever (not on the lunch menu but you can order them at lunch if you want) is crispy duck fajitas, all the fixings include feta cheese and unique tasty salsa. Plenty of food for 2 people and only $20 (we didn't get the two person size, that must be huge) i'm in heaven.

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    Very yummy! I had the Mambo burrito and my friend had the Mambo quesadilla. Delicious! Even the hot chocolate was amazing. Good service.

    (4)

  • Jerry M.

    Excellent food. Loved the fish and chips as well as their special for the day...ahi tuna melt. Service was great. Very casual environment. Limited seating.

    (5)

  • M K.

    AVOID - Here's why: Okay, guys, seriously, wtf? A big group of us just got back from Hana and we see this place hopping. So, we thought it must be good. Ha, ha and ha. The pulled pork nachos were so dry, with overly scorched cheese, pulled pork that tasted like it was microwaved for an hour and Guacamole from a can. But, this wasn't even the worst dish. OMG, AVOID THE HAMBURGERS. How do you screw up a freakin' hamburger?? Go here and find out. Mmm, rubber patty and tasteless cheese. My brother in law was so upset, he told our fat waitress and she shrugged like "heard that a million times before, you're in Maui bi***, pay up and shut up." 3 stars for cool atmosphere, negative ten stars for crap food. EAT SOMEWHERE ELSE, sherioushly.

    (1)

  • April C.

    Love the environment, great espresso & food, got the fish salad, amazing super fresh crisp leaves, my waitress Autumn was awesome! I highly recommend this place

    (5)

  • Lizzy W.

    Cafe mambo is amazing! Their food is so great and the servers are nice as well. I would definitely recommend cafe mambo!

    (5)

  • Danielle H.

    This restaurant is listed on Yelp as "American (traditional)", but I think it leans more towards Spanish/Mediterranean fusion. We live close by and always loyally stick to our two favorite Paia restaurants but decided to step "outside of the box" and try Cafe Mambo. For some reason, strolling by, the menu hadn't appealed to us before, but we went for breakfast today and were semi-nicely surprised. The menu for breakfast can appear limited, but if you can find "something" that interests you, you'll be pleasantly surprised. My husband is more of a meat guy, so he ordered their chorizo with bean, rice, and cheese burrito, (it had a name... I can't remember). I, more a veggie lover, ordered the veggie quesadilla. My husbands was exceptional, (I've never had a chorizo anything that I've LOVED and I LOVED this). Mine was so greasy that I couldn't even eat it as a finger food. The bottom was SOAKED in grease. The flavor was good, but too much cheese and oil made this dish a mess. I always want to eat my quesadillas with my hands, but this was just too soggy. We live here, so we don't expect service to be fast, (and it wasn't), but it was friendly, and that works for us. I contemplated 3 stars, but that wonderful burrito, (that I would have never have had the courage to order), blew my mind. The presentation of the dishes bumped it up too.

    (4)

  • Caroline R.

    What!? Duck fajitas!? They were sooo good. Duck was tender and slightly sweet maybe caramelized - not sure but it was delish. Service was top notch.

    (5)

  • Maggie P.

    I enjoy the atmosphere in this place. The servers are nice and the decor is very colorful and cheerful. They offer a large selection of items so it is easy to accommodate everybody's food preferences. I had a steak fajitas a few times. Each time it was good, but the quality of steak was not consistent. Sometimes the steak was very tender and flavorful and other times I could barely chew it. I also had their lamb dish and it was really good. Their coffee was not good at all.

    (4)

  • Betty N.

    **DUCK FAJITAS DUCK FAJITAS DUCK FAJITAS DUCK FAJITAS** Did I mention their DUCK FAJITAS??!! Cute beachy cafe on Baldwin with bright colors and modern decor. Staff was friendly and if you want fast service, you should go to the counter and order. ORDERED: *DUCK FAJITAS for 2 ($31.95) - Most creative and best thing that ever happened to fajitas. The black beans, the guac, cheese, etc. were fantastic complements with the crispy moist duck meat wrapped inside a warm tortilla. *MAUI SMOOTHIE ($4.75) - Strawberry and Pineapple flavors. Too sugary sweet for me. I would skip this next time and order beer instead. Fajitas, smoothies, and tax was $50. Not cheap, but then again, it's Maui. HIGHLY RECOMMEND the duck fajitas.

    (4)

  • Steve K.

    Great place for cold beer and a casual meal. Have been twice and the staff is very attentive and accommodating. Some good healthy options for food. No issue recommending Cafe Mambo for a fun place to go for a quick, healthy bite.

    (3)

  • Monika C.

    Stopped here for lunch while shopping in Paia. Loved that they had so many vegetarian options! Great place for a casual lunch or coffee break.

    (4)

  • Christian M.

    Great burger stop in laid-back Paia. We went here on the recommendation of the Billy's from Maui Easy Riders (see my review of their services). AMBIENCE: 4 stars. Just up from the main street, brightly painted interior with local art on the walls. Comfortable and fun vibe. SERVICE: 4 stars. Server was prompt and attentive, and she had a big table to deal with in addition to us. FOOD: 4 stars. Maui beef burger with pineapple was great--cooked as ordered and delicious. Fries were OK--I am something of a fry afficiando, so I expect more! ALCOHOL: 3 stars. Several beers available, I had a Mai Tai, which was fine but not exciting. FAMILY FRIENDLY: 4 stars. Easy for kids to get in and hang out. OVERALL: 4 stars. Would definitely stop in again!

    (4)

  • Mark F.

    I am only giving a review for the ambiance and the coffee, although a review of the menu revealed some great food with a lot of organic content. The coffee we got here is BY FAR the best coffee a coffee-snob Sydney-sider has been able to find in Maui. Illy is not my favourite brand but it was prepared well and compared to Kona is magic.

    (5)

  • Jenny M.

    A-MAZ-ING!!!! I went twice while on holiday in Maui. Best burgers I have ever tasted, we had the pulled pork and crispy duck. Wow! If you are in Maui, u have to go!!

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    Good burgers and salads, and really relaxed island vibe. Servers were great. Its a typical Maui restaurant- lots of fresh options, and good people watching.

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    Went for breakfast. Super bummed. Nothing on the menu is remotely interesting, distinct, or Hawaiiany. Go here if you want bland generic breakfast foods (eggs, pancakes, toast), enjoy being underwhelmed, and wish you weren't in Hawaii.

    (1)

  • Jamie R.

    A second trip to Maui, and a second trip to Cafe Mambo. Wonderful food, friendly staff with some incredible people watching. We returned for the kalua pork nachos and happy hour drinks after a long day see the sites. The nachos we delicious, and I can't wait to return home to try my hand at making a version for myself. The vibe here is perfect... attentive, but laid back.

    (5)

  • Amit C.

    Great food. Good drinks. A good vege burger. Reasonable portions. Great music & ambience. A wee bit pricey but it's Hawaii so I guess that's normal. I'd definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth B.

    Rocked our world - duck fajita and Ahi tuna melt were so delicious! All the staff were super friendly too!

    (5)

  • Dan M.

    Looked like a great place to stop before heading to the airport. I noticed the specialty duck burger on Yelp and thought this place must really know how to make a good regular burger, wrong.. it tasted more like a fast food frozen patty. Service was so so and burgers are below average, same goes for the side of fries and salad as well. There is simply no love in this food compared to the other lunch/dinner places on Maui so keep looking.

    (1)

  • Thomas P.

    If your in Maui, and your looking for something excellent, check out Cafe Mambo. One of theirs specialties is duck. They way they season, cook, and glaze the duck makes their dishes amazing. They offer a duck burger as well as a duck fajita. Both dishes are amazing. Not only are the main dishes great, but the sides are cooked perfect as well. I'm not sure what they put in their fries, but their crispy and match the duck burger perfectly. If your looking for something on the healthier side, get a salad instead of fried. Their greens are local and fresh and comes with a home made house dressing. Very good. As for service, most excellent. I'm currently working on Maui for about a month and I came here Monday through Friday, five days, they know my name here. Everyone that works here is professional and very nice. If you come here, check out Jessica. She's the best! Very cool chic!

    (5)

  • Betsy R.

    Lots of vegetarian choices, generous portions, and very good prices (for Maui). I had the veggie fajita plate - served with Home-made Salsa, Guacamole, Sour Cream, Feta, Jalapenos, Black Beans, Salad and Flour Tortillas. There was so much food and it was all very tasty. My husband had the Kalua Pork sandwich. He wasn't impressed with it though. They put mayo on the bun which he didn't feel paired well with the pork. This place is casual which was what we wanted but LOUD! We parked across the street in a lot and had to pay but we are used to that living in LA. The neighborhood is cute but seems like there were a lot of "punks" hanging around across the street. Overall, a good choice if you are in this area.

    (3)

  • Gupta J.

    Tasteless, boring and overpriced food. Waste of money.

    (2)

  • Joseph S.

    This place was good. I got one of their burritos for breakfast and was full for hours. I could hardly even finish it. And they basically let me create my own. A little pricey, but I enjoyed the breakfast, that's for sure.

    (4)

  • Tracy D.

    .

    (5)

  • Rhonda S.

    Service has ups and downs. Food is good. However I went in the other day to order an iced coffee and it wAs one on the worst stomach trenching drink I have ever had Don't serve drinks that give people a stomachache and taste terrible guys

    (3)

  • Virgil H.

    We stopped here for a late breakfast on our way to the volcano. Was not busy when we arrived but it was around ten. Place was clean, love the open air windows and casual atmosphere. Waitress was helpful and friendly, if I have any complaints she never returned to check on coffee refills and I consume copious amounts of caffeine. I ordered the Surfing Bull Ciabatta. It was great, good size, great bacon. Wife ordered then omelette with spinach and mushrooms. She liked it, the potatoes were good, not like they were dumped from a bag. Would definitely go again. Would like to do lunch or dinner here

    (4)

  • Amanda C.

    I continue to dream every night about the Crispy Duck Fajitas! The Duck was so amazing that my kids spent the rest of our vacation trying to find a meal that was better but nothing else came close. I just wish I hadn't wasted my first dinner here on a burger!

    (5)

  • Joanna F.

    I had heard good things from a local about Cafe Mambo so we gave it a shot for lunch one day. We were not disappointed. I got a tuna burger which was shockingly good. My husband also loved his burger. Service was awesome and it was fairly priced. I wasn't expecting the food to be as good as it was, but I'm so glad we came in.

    (4)

  • E D.

    Get the crispy duck fajitas. Just get them. Crispy, not fatty at all, with sautéed onions beneath. Don't hesitate to add the jalapeño peppers to your fajita. They are not that spicy and help balance the sugar in the duck marinade. Teenage Daughter said her burger was "fine". Fries were "fine", too. One funny thing is that the duck fajitas for two is actually 5 cents more than getting two separate orders. We pointed this out to the waiter as a laff and he deducted 5 cents from our bill as a laff. Place is casual. Service was unhurried, efficient and friendly.

    (4)

  • Jeanne F.

    We were heading to Paia Fish Market for lunch. It was packed so we went back to Cafe Mambo which we had walked passed. What a find, there were 8 of us and we all ordered something different. Everything was delicious and the service was friendly and efficient. We will definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Ellie C.

    What a chill little hippy spot! Got a chance to eat here a couple times and was really impressed with the menu. The duck fajitas are a must try.. Melt in your mouth deliciousness. Loved the big open windows and friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Christine B.

    Stopped in for lunch & to write some postcards. Staff was happy to let us sit and write as we ate (and for a good 15-20 minutes after). They started serving Life Foods veggie burgers - great addition for vegans/vegetarians/veg appreciators. I got mine with grilled pineapple and all the fixins. Fresh fries, awesome casual ambiance. Definitely worth coming in!

    (4)

  • John R.

    Nice place in the wonderful little town of Paia. I had the Huevos Rancheros for lunch and found them satisfying but I wished they would ask about how you want the eggs as I would have preferred mine a lot less runny than they were.

    (3)

  • Gautam G.

    Very good veggie quesadilla. Good coffee. They served a hearty bread with eggs, liked it. The pancake was off a too hot girdle though.

    (4)

  • Nathalie-claire L.

    Stopped in for a drink and ended up staying for lunch and several drinks! The lamb couscous was delicious as was the vegetable stew. The cherry on the icing was Tonya our barmaid. She was so pleasant and chatty that we would go back again just to enjoy her company.

    (5)

  • Shane L.

    This place is great. The fresh fish sandwich is amazing. Good coffee, friendly and clean. Lots more I'd like to try. Have to come back to Hawaii to go here again. ;)

    (5)

  • Nikki M.

    Local beers?-check! Duck Fajitas?-check! Paella?-check! Oh heck yes! We loved this super casual eatery after completing a busy day after the road to Hana. The duck fajitas were probably one of my favorite foods on maui! If I had known they did a box lunch for the road to Hana drive I totally woulda taken them up on it. Come to Paia, enjoy this sleepy town and shop at all the cute boutiques and then dine at Cafe Mambo. You won't be sorry!

    (4)

  • Eliza G.

    I've been living on Maui for eight years and this is absolutely my go-to favorite restaurant. The prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is charming, and the service is great. They use locally grown and produced ingredients, such as Kula grown greens and also Maui Cattle Company grass-fed beef. My favorite light meal is the island fish salad and my favorite larger meal is the duck fajitas. The happy hour specials are pretty fun, too! Update: I have been back twice in the last two years, and though the menu remains the same, somehow it just doesn't have the same "pop" as it used to. Other friends agree... I am not sure why! In any case, still a great place to go.

    (4)

  • Charlie C.

    Definitely a great find on Maui. Extremely pleasant staff, excellent atmosphere, and delicious food. Great for families and kids.

    (5)

  • Lokkland M.

    veryniceburgers.tumblr.c… Burger Name and Description: "Crispy Duck Burger" ... Ingredients: crispy duck, grilled onion, cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce, salsa, mayo Table Additions: none Served with: Green Salad Price: $10.95 Score: 7 out of 10 Comments: This was a GF order... And what a quandary! This one should have arguably gotten a higher score... The duck by itself certainly deserved it, twas farkin lush. But in the burger with all the other stuff it just felt wrong. It felt like I was eating really good leftover chinese takeaway in a bun with salad. If this was "Very Nice Leftover Chinese Sandwiches" it probably would be a 10, but alas...

    (3)

  • Deserie D.

    Ok I'm not sure what happened to Mambo but its lost its mojo since they've opened. I'm still a huge devotee of their duck fajitas but wtf did they break all their dishes so now they're gonna serve their food on plastic shit. I'm its not cheap so don't serve the food on cheap shit. It totally brings down the quality & feel. I wish I took a picture of the hamburger my friend got, it looked boring & ridiculous. A plain dry burger on a white oversized white plate, no garnish nothing. When the waiter served it....awkward!! This place is supposed to be a European Spanish Style restaurant. Tapas served on cute little plates with originality, flair and pure deliciousness. Also they used to have gorgeous artwork on the walls now it weird ugly mis-match hodge podge??? Really?? Down another notch! Okay the most horrific part of all. I used to make special trips in to get the infamous Illy Coffee then suddenly it tasted nasty. Of course I was thinking it was a fluke so I kept going in and getting another but oh no, it's official.....even the Illy Coffee is terrible. Ugh!!

    (2)

  • Kimmy T.

    Crispy duck burger was amazing!! No words to describe it's yummyness. I was on a quest to try this burger since the other reviewers spoke so highly of it but when we got to Cafe Mambo it was still breakfast time but the really cool and friendly waiter said that they could do a special request for me. I'm so glad I had a chance to try it because it was good, although greasy but it's duck and duck is fatty, so that's what you expect. My husband ordered the steak and eggs and he said it was good and cooked perfectly to his liking. The portion did look a little small to me but he said it was perfect. My duck burger was huge and I could only finish half of it. I'm sad that I can only get this burger in Maui. So far away from home for me. A hui hou!! Only downsides: Parking was a little bit hard. The restaurant has opened windows and doors, so there were some flies bugging us. Hippy sitting next to us had B.O.

    (5)

  • AsianRunningDiva S.

    Great open air restaurant (big windows that they leave open) with local artists photos lining the walls. We had the local food: Maui Cattle Co burger and Tofu burger...all Maui made! YUM! Their Mahi Mahi is from Thailand, so that's a little disappointing...maybe they should consider local fish??? But the burger was well cooked med/med-rare, just like I like it! comes with FF or salad or half and half of each. Also serve Illy coffee drinks and has a happy hour from 3-6p every day ($3 beers--local Maui Brew beer and $4 cocktails). We sat along the window, breezy!! Felt like I was eating outside! Parking is street or a public parking spot at the start of town! :)

    (4)

  • David L.

    Went for breakfast and just ok. Could have a bigger menu, portions were also small-ish. Food was good, but nothing too special.

    (3)

  • Cristina F.

    Stopped off here on our way to Hana. Figured it would be worth the shot. The service was great, we had an extremely friendly waitress who made sure our drinks were topped off every so often. The environment was low key, when was great. The food was ok, I had their traditional burger and well to say I was blown away would be a lie. Granted it was better than a fast food burger but not great. I would not come back here, as I'm sure there are other places in Paia that serve better food.

    (2)

  • Melissa W.

    Just the ticket for a relaxing meal on the way back from upcountry. Laid back yet attentive, did not feel rushed after a long day. Thanks Mambo. Oh the food? Three words - Crispy Duck Fajitas. If a menu says duck, I say yes - and this was a great change up from standard fajitas. Yum! Checked out what other folks were having and saw delicious dishes everywhere. Very reasonably priced menu. Will definitely return on our next trip.

    (3)

  • Jeremy L.

    Great food. Unique menu that in a sense offers you stuff you may never try elsewhere. Their Duck offerings are great, and so are their entrees. The desserts are okay, but I might save on that, they're kind of basic. The only complaints I had involve being REALLY HOT. I was sweating like crazy there. They don't have air conditioning and they didn't put ice in my water. The food makes up for it and I hear sitting by the windows is helpful to the heat problem...

    (4)

  • Enid H.

    Was so happy I stopped at this place during my first day on the island...everyone was super friendly, service was great, and my order of the fish salad was delish!! Wish I could have stopped back in again during my trip...there was so many delicious items on the menu!

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    Quaint little joint. Had the Mango cheeseburger. It was a typical burger with a twist. Meat was really tender.

    (3)

  • Priscilla S.

    Only wish I'd known about it sooner, rather than on last day. Would definitely go back. Ordered the huevos rancheros and chorizo burrito and went halfsies. Oh yum!! I left full and satisfied and still over indulged with a sesame seed cream cheese toasted bagel and munched away while browsing stores. Friendly staff and good ambiance. I really enjoyed myself.

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    We stopped here on the way back to the airport . We had a fantastic lunch. I had the catch of the day sandwich and my gf had the chicken salad. Best lunch we had all week. The place is small and crowded but that is what makes is so special. The waitress were flying trying to keep up with everyone and they did fantastic. It was fun to watch them make drinks. I would highly recommend this place if you are looking for good food and friendly people.

    (4)

  • Karen C.

    Was looking for place to get breakfast in Paia and decided to try out cafe mambo. I got the cinnamon raisin French toast and it was pretty good, not too sweet just a little pricey for 2 slices of French toast, I think $8.50? But wouldn't mind trying their other stuff on the menu. Everything else seemed reasonably priced. Next time I'm on that side of the island!

    (4)

  • Angela C.

    Kalua pork: too sweet for me. Duck dishes; good in general, recommend coconut porter- dark beer.

    (4)

  • Jen B.

    I love their pulled pork nachos. Great quick service, fun atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Northofthirty D.

    A surprisingly charming little place in Paia. My only disappointment was that I wanted the ahi burger, but they were out of ahi (which begged the question - how could they be out of ahi? Isn't ahi plentiful in Hawaii??!?) My second choice was the chicken sandwich. The chicken breast was marinated in soy and some other tasty things, I'm sure. The meat was pretty juicy and the sandwich was tasty overall. I'd come here again. Hopefully they'll have ahi next time.

    (4)

  • K B.

    I spent the first decade of my life growing up in this quirky, bohemian North Shore town. So, I look forward to coming "home" and spending time here in Paia. One of my best friends' office is actually located right in the heart of town, so it's so convenient to be able to walk to places like Mambo to catch-up and visit over lunch. We recently dined at Mambo and it was an interesting meal. It's always pretty busy here, so we were pleased to find a small empty table right away. The menu offered what sounded like really intriguing and eclectic dishes from various parts of the world - a bit like Paia! Wouldn't you say? Which is a good thing. My friend ordered a burger, which she described as okay. It wasn't bad, it was your basic burger. For some reason, whenever I'm in Paia I either want seafood or vegetarian - go figure! So, I chose a sauteed shrimp entree which came with a side of salad and brown rice. My lunch was a nicely sized portion, ample for lunch. Visually, it was rather blah as the shrimp lacked any sort of sear and were actually a bit rubbery and gave the appearance of having been boiled in the sauce. Not a super big deal as it tasted fine, though it lacked depth and needed some acid to balance out the lipids in which it was cooked. The accompanying salad was a similar story, as it was pretty uninspiring. I did appreciate the tasty dressing on it, though. My brown rice tasted "off" as I couldn't figure out of it was old and stale or overly old and stale and on its way to going bad. It was mushy and dry, yet left a distinctly slimy feel on my tongue. I just pushed it aside and didn't eat it. They were busy and we did not see our waitress, so I didn't push the issue. Regarding our waitress, I will agree with a few of the other reviewers regarding the demeanor of the staff. She was pleasant and friendly, but didn't spend much time at all with us. We did notice the staff spending a good bit of time visiting with one another over at the counter and kitchen pass. Not a big deal since this is a really casual place in a VERY laid back town, but there were a lot of tables that needed to be cleared and given how close the tables are in this place, it wasn't very appetizing to sit next to dirty tables and plates with uneaten food on them. Eventually, a solo diner came and sat at the dirty table next to us to wait for someone to help her. Once that happened, our waitress returned to clear the table and assist her. We were tempted to try one of the yummy looking smoothies as an after lunch treat, but the server recommended the coconut creme brulee. Which sounded divine. My friend and I opted to share the dessert. When it arrived it did not resemble creme brulee. It's signature burnt sugar hard top was absent with barely a trace of brown goodness. Upon digging in, we noticed it was runny and clunky with an unappealing consistency. So we stopped eating. When the server brought our check, she inquired about why we really didn't eat it. In a very kind and respectful way, we described and showed her exactly what I just shared above and she commented that it was NOT usually like that. Upon bringing our card and receipt back to the table, she politely explained that she had removed the dessert from our tab because she and the chef inspected the dessert (as well as the others from the batch) and discovered it had been overcooked and did not set properly. We appreciated her honesty and feedback. All things considered, we enjoyed the convenience of being able to walk to Mambo and the service, while not excellent, was redeeming and since every other restaurant in Paia is noticeably pricey, you get a decent value here. Are there areas to improve? Absolutely. Would I return? Sure. it's funky, laid back, and honest. And I can appreciate that.

    (2)

  • MaryFran L.

    We arrived thirsty. I had a mango lemonade which went down quite easily. My husband ordered a local brew which he thoroughly enjoyed. We both liked sitting and watching the parade of people walk by as we sipped our drinks. We didn't have any food, but what we saw looked good - the restaurant has a Spanish theme so there is a good selection of tapas. This place also seems to be a favorite of locals, which seemed to come and go while we were there. If you are in the area, they have movies on Thursday nights. Every month seems to have a theme.

    (4)

  • Erica I.

    great start to our first morning in paia! we had an omelet and a breakfast burrito and both were delicious. the ingredients were high quality and the chorizo in particular, as part of my omelet, was memorable. the service was friendly and fast and the ambiance was breezy, laid-back, and welcoming. would definitely return!

    (4)

  • Bill S.

    I was there on 3/10/11 and the service was warm & friendly and the cinnamon raisin French toast was outstanding! Great laid back atmosphere. Definitely will stop by on my next visit to Maui!

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    The duck burgers are awesome and I highly recommend them. My wife ordered the duck fajitas. The sides for the duck fajitas are mediocre at best stick with the burger. This place is reasonably priced and great (take away the fajita sides). Stick with the salads and burgers. This place was recommended to us by a local and we will go back nest time we are in Maui.

    (4)

  • Catrina G.

    Great breakfast at reasonable prices!

    (5)

  • Jenilynne L.

    Been here for lunch and dinner and loved, loved the food. Service was great! Came in one day for lunch and waitress accidentally charged me twice but because the food & service was great I didn't mind at all especially since they were very accommodating in crediting me for the accidental overcharge at my next dining experience with them. Must try is their Tapas Seafood Platter (to die for!) and their nachos and fajitas with duck.

    (5)

  • David R.

    My wife and I went here for lunch and liked it so much that we went back for happy hour the next day! For lunch, I had the crispy duck burger with fries, and my wife had the ahi burger with a salad. Both were delicious! When we went back for happy hour, we split the nachos with kahlua pork (REALLY tasty pork, generous portions of guacamole, salsa, sour cream, etc.). We each ordered a house margarita ($3.50), and they totally did the trick! We ordered a coconut porter on tap (not part of happy hour but we were curious), and it was also yummy. The waiter told us they were one of the only places on the island who offer it on tap. I don't know if that's actually true! All in all, a great combination of value and flavor. I hope we can go back again before leaving the island!

    (4)

  • Julia L.

    We didn't have any food aside from french fries here, but this place has an amazing Happy Hour. They have the fantastic beers from Maui Brewing Company for cheap, and the ambiance is totally relaxed (though it can get painfully hot, some fans please?). We came back twice in less than a week. Next time we're in Maui we'll be here a lot more often.

    (4)

  • Brennan W.

    Great little laid back cafe with very friendly staff. Located on one of the main streets running through the small town of Pia. The crispy kalua duck fajita was fantastic! Enjoy it with a cold Bikini Blonde Lager.

    (5)

  • Esther C.

    After a long day of driving the Road to Hana, we randomly stopped at this place on the way back to Kihei. Let me just say that our food was awesome! :) Not only did they have pretty good selection, the food was fresh and healthy. They did have vegetarian options (tofu fajitas, 7 veggie stew, etc) along with some other stuff. My husband and I decided to go for the burgers since we hadn't eaten anything filling the whole day. I had the Mahi Sandwich with a side salad. The Mahi in the sandwich was nice and moist, not overly flavorful compared to some other places I've tried. My husband tried the Kalua duck burger which was also great! Not too salty like the typical kalua flavored meats and it had a hint of teriyaki sauce in it. His dish also came with a side of fries which were nearly identical (but not as salty) to Mc D's fries which is our favorite type of fries! Delish! I would give it 5 stars but I had to minus a star because we also ordered the "Maui" smoothie that wasn't too great. Honestly, we could of made a better one with our magic bullet at home.

    (4)

  • Conor D.

    I'm a fan because they have meat free options. The ambiance is pure, worldly, hip, & easy. The service is hit or miss. Sometimes good sometimes poor. The vegan food is limited but what they have works - tofu burger and tofu fajitas. The burger is typical and delicious while the fajitas have a bit more pizazz. It comes with a bunch of toppings and is quite filling. For the NorthSorth vegan, you could do worse. They got Maui Brew on tap and a few options of mediocre margaritas. Good vibes, it's Paia, so relax and enjoy what you got.

    (4)

  • Beverly M.

    Yummiest Pina Colada that I've ever had. It was creamy and smooth. The box lunches for the road to Hana were very good and a reasonable price. With a fully refundable deposit they provide a nice soft side cooler for your lunches and drinks and a CD for the Road to Hana. Unfortunately the CD wouldn't play in our rental car but we had a great day anyway. Stopped for a drink when we returned the cooler & CD.

    (4)

  • Tracy M.

    Pardner and myself ambled over to see what they had and were intrigued by a "TAPAS" menu. It wasn't yet 4pm, when the Tapas and Dinner menu were deployed, so it was suggested by our very nice attendant that we begin our visit with Happy Hour. Happy Hour was great! I began with the Crispy Duck Burger and Pardner had a "Burger & a Beer" Happy Hour special. NICE! Crispy duck was great and we'll be back as often as we can rationalize dinner out, as we're supposed to be eating at our ohana and saving millions of dollars. I'd rather eat out, really. No. Really.

    (4)

  • Ruth B.

    Lunch was outstanding. The Maui steak and blue cheese salad with guacamole was melt in you mouth tender. My companion had the mahi mahi fish sandwich and raved about how good it was. The service was adequate. Would definitely return on next trip to Maui.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :8:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Cafe Mambo

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