Hawaii is the place to go to escape it all — the unrelenting speed of everyday life, from the litany of laundry to the weekly “to and fro." 

But by far, one of the best parts of going on vacation is slowing down to experience a destination's local delicacies. And there's almost no better place to do so than Maui — the Valley Isle has many beloved restaurants and markets, some of them right on the beach.

Here are nine restaurants not to miss in this magical locale, from fine-dining establishments to casual-yet-gourmet snack stops.

1. Mama's Fish House in Paia

Founders Floyd and Doris Christenson spent years sailing and exploring the islands of the Pacific before they opened this North Shore restaurant in 1973. Today, it's considered one of the best fine-dining establishments in the country. 

The menu and decor pay homage to Polynesian culture and cuisine. And hence its name, seafood is the star of the show. Try a fish like opakapaka (Hawaiian pink snapper) or mahi mahi — the menu will tell you the name of the fisherman who caught it and from where on the island. 

For dessert, try the often-photographed Polynesian Black Pearl, composed of a lilikoi chocolate mousse “pearl" in a pastry “shell." And don't forget to leave time to stroll the palm-shaded paths between the restaurant and the sand. Note that reservations should be made in advance, as demand for a table here is high.

2. Star Noodle in Lahaina

For more than a decade, Star Noodle has served Asian-inspired dishes on Lahaina's Front Street. All noodles are made fresh daily at the restaurant, including ramen and udon, plus the noodles for saiman soup, a staple of contemporary Hawaiian cuisine.

Order a drink, too — sake, or an Asian pear cocktail, perhaps — so you can slurp soup and sip a libation from the ocean-view patio.

3. Tin Roof Maui in Kahului

Chef Sheldon Simeon was raised in Hilo, Hawaii and became known widely after being named “Fan Favorite" on season 10 of "Top Chef." Soon after, he opened Tin Roof, a laid-back, walk-in-only eatery in a busy commercial area in the north Maui town of Kahului. 

We highly suggest you make your own kau kau tin, which is white or brown rice or Simeon's famous garlic noodles topped with your choice of protein. The mochiko chicken is a favorite, bathed in a marinade of ginger sake shoyu, battered and twice fried. It's a teeny place, so you may wait for a seat or opt to eat in your car in the parking lot.

4. Kitoko Maui in Kihei

Japanese fusion is the theme at this newish food truck brought to you by Cole Hinueber, a former executive pastry chef at Spago Maui. Kitoko's menu includes foccacia sandwiches — consider the ahi Reuben — and bento boxes topped with swordfish or braised beef moco loco. 

Given Hinueber's pastry background, of course there are also sweets. Think: lilikoi brown butter almond financiers, banana bread and sorbets made with island produce. You'll find the truck in a parking lot dotted with multiple snack shacks. Eat here or walk a couple of blocks to the shoreline to enjoy your meal with your toes in the sand.

5. Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop in Olowalu

This casual, counter-service restaurant offers “glorified grandma comfort food." You'll find it on your drive from Lahaina to Kaanapali. There's a bevy of sandwiches on the menu, plus dishes like chicken pot pie and mac 'n cheese topped with parmesan panko crumbs. 

Of course, you cannot skip dessert — pie is in the name for a reason. Depending on the day, you'll find Olowalu lime pie, chocolate mac nut pie, banana cream pie and more.

6. Pukalani Superette in Makawoa

Pukalani Superette is self-described as “the easy-does-it place" — and isn't easy what we want in a vacation? The family-owned market has served Maui for more than 60 years. Don't let the simple exterior fool you; inside you'll find an abundance of choices.

Pick up ingredients to cook a meal in your in-suite kitchen or opt for grab-and-go options like spam musubi (another Hawaii must-have) or bento boxes with pork lau lau or fried mahi mahi.

7. Eskimo Candy Seafood Market & Café in Kihei

This fresh seafood purveyor arrived on Maui in the 1980s and has since grown into a café and marketplace. Amidst the cheeky nautical decor, you'll find some of the island's favorite easy eats.

Try a poke bowl — a quintessential Hawaiian dish — made with your choice of fresh fish, shoyu, wasabi and furikake over rice. There are also hot and fresh fish tacos, as well as fish and chips. 

If you'd rather play chef in your suite at the Maui Bay Villas, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club (just a six-minute drive away), peruse the market aisles for Maui-made sauces, marinated meats ready to cook and local produce galore.

8. Humuhumunukunukuapuaa in Wailea

This restaurant at the Grand Wailea Maui, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, is set in a sprawling thatched-roofed pavilion on an oceanfront lagoon.

Given that it's named after Hawaii's state fish, it's no surprise that the menu features plenty of selections from the sea, from diver scallops and ahi to crab and miso butterfish. 

Reservations are suggested for dinner — and barring a night of less-than-magical weather, your meal is likely to come with incredible sunset views.

9. Lineage in Wailea

In 2018, Chef Sheldon Simeon of Tin Roof opened the award-winning Lineage Maui. Though Simeon has since left, the restaurant continually garners great reviews from guests with its inspired dishes.

Local ingredients fuel the menu, including seasonal vegetables and pork from Maui's Lopes Farm. Try the crispy Kauai shrimp and scallop toast on milk bread and the Korean fried chicken — the order is half a bird. Pair it with the sake and whiskey-centric Auntie Kine Tings cocktail, and they'll deliver your drink in an adorable ceramic Lucky Cat mug.

Read "3-Day Getaway: Maui" for more aloha inspired Maui vacation ideas.