Mediterranean Grill - Deep Research Report

Overview

Mediterranean Grill is a casual Haʻikū food-truck-style restaurant on Maui’s North Shore that serves Mediterranean and Lebanese-leaning plates in a low-key outdoor setting. The Google Places record places it at 810 Haiku Rd #1, Haiku, with an operational status, 4.8 rating, and price level 1; that basic identity is consistent with multiple third-party references, although several sources still describe it as a food truck in the Haiku Market / Haiku Cannery area rather than a conventional storefront. (roostcafeandbistro.com)

For travelers, the appeal is straightforward: this is a value-minded lunch or early-dinner stop that is known for generous portions, fast casual ordering, and strong vegetarian options alongside the expected gyro and shawarma plates. The experience sounds more like a reliable local favorite than a destination restaurant built around atmosphere or view. (roostcafeandbistro.com)

Cuisine & Specialties

The food lane is Mediterranean, but the reporting is more specific than that: gyros, shawarma, falafel, kabobs, hummus, baba ganoush, dolmas, Greek salad, and dessert items like baklava and rice pudding show up repeatedly across sources. Several writeups describe the flavors as Lebanese- or Greek-leaning, with made-to-order plates built around rice, salad, pita, and sauces such as tzatziki, tahini, garlic sauce, and house hot sauce. (blog.emauirealestate.com)

Overall menu style: compact fast-casual Mediterranean / Lebanese grill menu with sandwiches, platters, salads, and sides; easy to order, not sprawling. (maui.hawaii.edu)
Notable specialties: gyro platter, chicken shawarma platter, falafel, lamb or beef kefta / kabob options, Greek salad, hummus, baba ganoush, dolmas, baklava, and rice pudding. (blog.emauirealestate.com)
What seems especially well-liked: the falafel, sauces, and generous portion size are singled out repeatedly; the gyro and shawarma plates are the main anchors. (roostcafeandbistro.com)
Price expectations: budget to low-mid for Maui; Google lists price level 1, and traveler sources frame it as a place where a full meal is comparatively affordable. Some listed individual plates on Tripadvisor are around the high teens to low 20s, but the overall value perception is strong. (tripadvisor.com)
Dietary usefulness / limits: strong for vegetarians and likely useful for mixed groups because falafel, salad, hummus, and several meat-free sides are part of the core offering. It is not a place with broad evidence of specialized allergy programming or a large gluten-free claim set. (blog.emauirealestate.com)

Notable Features & Ambiance

The setting is informal and outdoors: sources describe a food-truck operation with tables in a small courtyard or parking-lot area, sometimes with umbrellas, potted plants, and string lights. The practical feel is “grab a good meal and sit outside,” not a polished dining room. (maui.hawaii.edu)

Service model and seating: counter/window ordering with takeout, dine-in, and delivery listed in third-party listings; outdoor tables are the main seating format. (roostcafeandbistro.com)
Atmosphere and decor: casual, colorful, and local-feeling; one source notes a pleasant outdoor area with lights, umbrellas, and plants, while another describes a relaxed courtyard setup. (maui.hawaii.edu)
Practical features: parking is noted in Tripadvisor; wheelchair accessibility is also mentioned there. The location is in Haʻikū near Haiku Market / Haiku Cannery references, which is useful for finding it. (tripadvisor.com)
Best fit: lunch, an easy dinner, a casual stop while driving Maui’s North Shore, or a takeout meal that still feels substantial. (blog.emauirealestate.com)
Weaker fit: travelers wanting a polished sit-down restaurant, a scenic dinner room, or a broad cocktail/wine program. The evidence points to food quality and value rather than ambiance as the main draw. (maui.hawaii.edu)

History & Background

There is some useful background, but not a full formal history. A 2016 University of Hawaiʻi student publication says the business was owned by brothers Salam and Sam, with Salam described as deeply experienced in the restaurant industry. That same piece says the truck had recently been voted No. 1 out of 83 Maui food trucks at the time, which helps explain its local reputation. (maui.hawaii.edu)

Later coverage still treats it as a long-running local favorite in Haʻikū, and one 2024 piece notes it had re-opened after a closure period, suggesting continuity but also a business that may have had operational interruptions. That is a meaningful signal for travelers because it means older location descriptions may not be perfectly stable over time. (roostcafeandbistro.com)

Review Sentiment Snapshot

What People Love

Recurring praise centers on freshness, portion size, flavor, and value. Review snippets and traveler writeups repeatedly highlight the falafel, shawarma, gyro plates, hummus, and sauces, with a common theme that the food feels generous and satisfying for the price. Friendly service also comes up often in the available evidence. (roostcafeandbistro.com)

Common Gripes

There are not many strong, recurring complaints in the sources reviewed. The most practical downside is that this is an outdoor food-truck setup, so comfort depends on weather and seating availability, and it may not suit someone seeking a refined sit-down meal. Some older sources also mention closure/reopening history, which suggests the operation has not always been perfectly stable. (roostcafeandbistro.com)

Practical Visitor Tips

Google Places currently shows Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00 AM–7:00 PM, with Monday and Tuesday closed; another recent listing shows a similar pattern but with hours to 8:00 PM, so the exact closing time may drift. (tripadvisor.com)
For a smooth visit, call ahead if you are on a schedule; one local writeup specifically recommends phoning in orders for pickup. (blog.emauirealestate.com)
This is best treated as a casual, likely walk-in friendly stop rather than a reservation restaurant. (roostcafeandbistro.com)
If you want the full experience, look for the platter format: meat or falafel over saffron rice or salad with hummus, pita, and sauce. That seems to be the most consistently praised order style. (blog.emauirealestate.com)
Outdoor seating is part of the appeal, but it also means weather matters in Haʻikū; umbrellas were specifically mentioned in older coverage. (maui.hawaii.edu)
If you are vegetarian, this is a stronger-than-average stop for the area because falafel, hummus, salad, and several meat-free sides are part of the core menu. (blog.emauirealestate.com)

Verification Notes

Official baseline identity from Google Places: Mediterranean Grill, 810 Haiku Rd #1, Haiku, HI 96708, (808) 868-3518, website http://hawaiimediterraneangrill.com/. (tripadvisor.com)
Operational status appears current in Google Places as OPERATIONAL. (tripadvisor.com)
Minor drift: some third-party sources still describe the place as a food truck at Haiku Market / Haiku Cannery, while the Google record uses the suite-style address. That looks like a location-format mismatch rather than a different business, but it is worth preserving as a caveat. (maui.hawaii.edu)
No major verification issues found beyond the address-format / food-truck-description drift. (roostcafeandbistro.com)

Sources

Google Places record for Mediterranean Grill — https://maps.google.com/?cid=14971034333381161261 — Retrieved 2026-03-31 — Baseline identity anchor for name, address, phone, website, rating, price level, and hours.
Roost Cafe & Bistro listing for Mediterranean Grill Menu – Haiku, HI — https://www.roostcafeandbistro.com/mediterranean-grill-96708/ — Retrieved 2026-03-31 — Useful for third-party hours, review excerpts, and confirmation of the Haʻikū address/phone.
The Maui Blog: “Eat Like a Local at Mediterranean Grill Food Truck in Haiku” — https://blog.emauirealestate.com/2024/09/eat-like-a-local-at-mediterranean-grill-food-truck-in-haiku/ — Retrieved 2026-03-31 — Best source for specific dishes, sauces, dessert mentions, outdoor setup, and practical ordering tips.
University of Hawaiʻi Ho‘oulu: “A Taste of the Mediterranean” — https://maui.hawaii.edu/hooulu/2016/05/14/a-taste-of-the-mediterranean/ — Retrieved 2026-03-31 — Most useful for ownership/background, outdoor setting, early menu structure, and historical reputation context.
Maui Time: “Mediterranean Grill Food Truck Haiku Maui serves Lebanese style food” — https://mauitime.com/food-drink/maui-restaurants/mediterranean-grill-food-truck-haiku-maui-serves-lebanese-style-food/ — Retrieved 2026-03-31 — Helpful for sides, dessert, outdoor courtyard details, and the recommendation to watch for handwritten specials.
Maui Nui First business listing — https://www.mauinuifirst.com/business/mediterranean-grill — Retrieved 2026-03-31 — Secondary confirmation of the Haiku Marketplace food-truck framing and vegan-friendly menu notes.
Tripadvisor listing for Mediterranean Grill, Haiku — https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60629-d8360972-Reviews-Mediterranean_Grill-Haiku_Maui_Hawaii.html — Retrieved 2026-03-31 — Useful for consolidated traveler-facing menu items, amenity mentions, and current third-party hours pattern.