Black Rock Pizza - Kihei - Deep Research Report

Overview

Black Rock Pizza - Kihei is a casual, sit-down-and-takeaway pizza place on South Kihei Road in Kīhei, Maui. The Google Places record identifies it as operational at 1770 S Kihei Rd #1, with pizza-focused service, delivery/takeaway support, and a strong review count, which makes it a real, established option rather than a fleeting pop-up. (blackrock.pizza)

For a traveler, it matters because this is not just generic pizza: the menu leans into Maui and Hawaii-flavored combinations, gluten-free options, and a broad enough lineup to work for mixed groups. The tradeoff is that it appears to be a comfort-food stop rather than a refined dining destination, so expectations should be set accordingly. (blackrock.pizza)

Cuisine & Specialties

Black Rock Pizza’s Kihei menu is centered on pizza, with both build-your-own options and a sizable house-specialty list. The style is playful and island-influenced rather than strictly traditional Italian, with local references and toppings such as kalua pork, pineapple, kiawe mango BBQ, and “loco moco” styling showing up across the menu. (blackrock.pizza)

Overall menu style: Pizza-first, with specialty pies, build-your-own options, and gluten-free crust available; the menu also suggests enough variety to cover meat-heavy, vegetarian, and some gluten-conscious diners. (blackrock.pizza)
Notable specialties: Maui Waui, Loco Moco, Local Boy, Hoi Boi, Da Greek, and Killa-Uea are among the more distinctive house pies listed on the Kihei menu. (blackrock.pizza)
Gluten-free usefulness: The restaurant explicitly offers gluten-free crust and multiple gluten-free-labeled specialty pies, which is a meaningful practical plus for travelers. The menu also notes that some sauces or substitutions still contain gluten, so it is not a blanket safe-allergies setup. (blackrock.pizza)
Price range: This is a mid-priced casual meal. Google Places lists it at price level 2, while the menu shows specialty pies commonly in the low-to-mid $30s, with standard pies and smaller items around the mid-teens to low $20s depending on size and crust choice. (blackrock.pizza)
What stands out: The menu is most interesting where it departs from basic red-sauce pizza and uses local ingredients or Hawaiian-style combinations. That makes it especially appealing to visitors looking for something more local-flavored than a chain pizza meal. (blackrock.pizza)

Notable Features & Ambiance

This looks like a relaxed neighborhood pizza stop rather than a destination restaurant. Public descriptions and traveler comments consistently frame it as casual, low-key, and good for an easy meal, with dine-in, pickup, and delivery all appearing to be part of the operation. (blackrock.pizza)

Service model and seating style: Dine-in, takeaway, and delivery are advertised. The overall presentation suggests a straightforward casual-service pizzeria rather than table-service fine dining. (blackrock.pizza)
Atmosphere and decor: The best available descriptions point to a laid-back, slightly irreverent neighborhood feel. I would treat that as a supported inference from the official/about-page tone plus traveler commentary, not as a fully verified design read. (blackrock.pizza)
Practical features: Hours on Google and the website suggest daily lunch-to-evening operation, and the menu indicates online ordering/pickup infrastructure. (blackrock.pizza)
Best fit: Easy dinner, casual family meal, pizza-with-drinks stop, or a low-stakes group order where everyone wants something familiar but not bland. (reddit.com)
Weaker fit: Travelers seeking a scenic, chef-driven, or highly polished dining experience may find it too straightforward; some reviewers also imply it is not cheap for pizza. (reddit.com)

History & Background

Meaningful origin-story detail is limited in the sources I found. The official site positions Black Rock Pizza as a multi-location Hawaii brand with locations in Kihei, Captain Cook, and Kona, and it presents the brand as locally rooted and community-oriented rather than as a generic national chain. One secondary source also says the Kihei restaurant opened in a spot previously occupied by Shaka Pizza, though that specific relocation/tenancy detail should be treated as a secondary claim rather than a fully confirmed historical fact. (blackrock.pizza)

Review Sentiment Snapshot

What People Love

Review chatter is consistently positive about the pizza itself, especially the crust texture, flavor combinations, and the fact that the menu offers more than a basic pepperoni-and-cheese lineup. Travelers also repeatedly describe it as a strong casual dinner choice in Kihei. (reddit.com)

Common Gripes

The main downside is price: several comments describe it as “not cheap” for pizza, even when they still liked the food. There are also a few mixed or negative opinions in Reddit threads, but they look isolated rather than pattern-level; I did not find a strong recurring complaint about service, cleanliness, or food quality across multiple sources. (reddit.com)

Practical Visitor Tips

Google Places shows daily hours of 11:00 AM–8:00 PM, and the official site also indicates the Kihei location is open with evening closing around 8 PM. (blackrock.pizza)
Expect a casual ordering experience rather than a formal reservation-based meal; the brand emphasizes pickup and online ordering. (blackrock.pizza)
If you want the most distinctive menu items, look at the house specialty pizzas rather than defaulting to a plain cheese or pepperoni order. (blackrock.pizza)
If gluten matters, the menu is helpful but not simple: gluten-free crust is available, but some sauces and substitutions still contain gluten, so ask carefully. (blackrock.pizza)
This is a good fit for a low-key dinner in Kihei or a family/group order, but probably less compelling if you want a splurge meal with a strong sense of place beyond the food itself. (reddit.com)

Verification Notes

Official name appears as Black Rock Pizza - Kihei in Google Places; the website also refers to the location as 1770 S. Kihei Rd and on some pages drops the “- Kihei” suffix. (blackrock.pizza)
Address is consistent across Google and the official site: 1770 S Kihei Rd #1, Kihei, HI 96753 on Google, and 1770 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753 on the official site. The suite number is shown by Google but not always by the website. (blackrock.pizza)
Phone number is consistent: (808) 793-0076. (blackrock.pizza)
Operational status is consistent across Google and the website: operational/open at the time of retrieval. (blackrock.pizza)

Sources

Google Places record for Black Rock Pizza - Kihei — https://maps.google.com/?cid=17801161942302170648 — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Best for baseline identity, operational status, rating, address, phone, hours, price level, and types.
Official site location finder — https://blackrock.pizza/ — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Best for confirming the Kihei location, the broader multi-location system, and open/close posture.
Official Kihei menu page — https://blackrock.pizza/menu/black-rock-pizza-maui-1770-s-kihei-rd — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Best for specialty pizzas, pricing, gluten-free options, and the island-flavored menu style.
Official about page — https://blackrock.pizza/about — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Best for brand tone, stated community orientation, and the multi-location Hawaii context. Some background claims here are brand-authored and should be treated as self-description.
I Go Maui Vacation Rentals feature on Black Rock Pizza — https://www.igomaui.com/black-rock-pizza — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Useful for traveler-facing atmosphere description; this is editorial secondary evidence, so I treated the vibe language as supportive rather than definitive.
Reddit thread: “Anyone got tips on Wood fired pizza in the Kihei area?” — https://www.reddit.com/r/MauiVisitors/comments/1kw6f4t/ — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Useful for repeated traveler praise, price remarks, and one note about BYOB at the time of comment; anecdotal but firsthand.
Reddit thread: “Best pizza in Kihei” — https://www.reddit.com/r/MauiVisitors/comments/1gtu9pg/ — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Useful for repeated positive sentiment about the food and variety; anecdotal traveler feedback.
Reddit thread: “What happened to the pizza truck in Kihei by the movie theater !?!” — https://www.reddit.com/r/maui/comments/1jsl317/ — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Useful for mixed sentiment and a negative outlier; I treated the criticism as isolated because it was not broadly repeated.
Reddit thread: “In Kihei, need dinner recommendation today” — https://www.reddit.com/r/MauiVisitors/comments/17mjtet/ — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Useful for “casual and relaxed” positioning and a corroborating mention of good food; anecdotal but relevant.
Reddit thread: “Local restaurant recommendations” — https://www.reddit.com/r/MauiVisitors/comments/1747t8m/ — retrieved 2026-03-31 — Useful for recurring traveler praise and a comment that the menu is worth exploring; anecdotal.