You’ve got the lanai, the sunset, the warm air, the people you love, and a fridge full of groceries no one really wants to cook.
That’s where Chef Matt Yakabouski comes in.
Instead of driving to dinner, waiting for a table, or figuring out who’s cleaning the kitchen after dessert, you can bring the restaurant experience right into your Maui vacation rental. Chef Matt cooks private meals across Maui, including Wailea, Kīhei, Ka’anapali, Kapalua, Pāʻia, Upcountry, and Hāna.
Create A True Private Dining Experience With Chef Matt Yakabouski
Meet Chef Matt
Chef Matt Yakabouski brings serious Maui restaurant experience to the table.
Before building his private chef business, he worked as Sous Chef at Mama’s Fish House, one of Maui’s most famous restaurants. Today, he offers private in-home dining, event catering, and cooking classes for guests staying in vacation rentals, villas, condos, and private homes.
He’s spent more than 25 years living on Maui and has more than 35 years of culinary experience. He’s also an avid fisherman, which is exactly the kind of detail you want to hear when someone’s cooking your fresh island seafood dinner.
This isn’t a catered tray dropped at the door.
It’s a private chef experience built around your group, your kitchen, your schedule, and the kind of night you actually came to Maui to enjoy.
How It Works
Before your dinner, Chef Matt works with you on the menu. Your group can talk through favorite foods, dietary needs, allergies, service style, and the general feel of the evening.
Then, once you’re on Maui, you get to go enjoy your vacation.
Chef Matt and his team can handle:
- Menu planning
- Ingredient sourcing
- On-site cooking
- Plated or family-style service
- Full kitchen cleanup
That last part matters.
After dinner, you’re not standing at the sink in vacation clothes scrubbing pans. You’re back on the lanai, pouring another glass of wine, talking story, or listening to the waves outside your rental.
What’s On The Menu?
Chef Matt’s menus lean into fresh Maui ingredients, local seafood, island flavors, and dishes that feel special without feeling stiff.
Sample menu items include poke lettuce cups, ahi nigiri bites, grilled tequila lime Kauai prawns, kalua pork sliders, macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, Maui onion potato chip crusted opakapaka, seared big eye tuna, rack of lamb, filet mignon with Hamakua mushrooms, lilikoi cheesecake, tiramisu, and champagne lilikoi sabayon.
In other words, your dinner can go a lot of directions.
Seafood night? Easy.
Steak dinner? Absolutely.
Sushi platter before sunset? Yes, please.
A fresh Maui farm salad, local fish, and dessert with lilikoi? That sounds like a vacation memory in the making.
Where To Stay For A Private Chef Dinner
A private chef dinner works best when your vacation rental gives you space to settle in. A full kitchen, roomy dining area, and a lanai are all big wins.
Aliʻi Resorts has several South Maui properties that pair beautifully with this kind of dinner.
Mana Kai Maui Resort
Mana Kai Maui Resort sits along Keawakapu Beach, with oceanfront condos, Pacific views, a heated pool, BBQ areas, and one of South Maui’s best beach settings.
This is the kind of place where you can swim in the afternoon, rinse off, and enjoy dinner without ever leaving the property.
Kihei Surfside
Kihei Surfside is an oceanfront South Kīhei property near Keawakapu Beach, with one and two bedroom condos, ocean views, a heated pool, BBQ areas, and a wide lawn made for sunset watching.
For a smaller group or a couples’ dinner, it’s a lovely fit. You already have the view. Let Chef Matt bring the meal.
Wailea Ekahi Village
Wailea Ekahi Village offers one and two bedroom vacation rentals surrounded by tropical landscaping and ocean views. The property has a quiet, relaxed feel, with low-rise buildings spread across a large Wailea setting.
It’s a strong choice if you want space, privacy, and a softer pace after a busy beach day.
Wailea Ekolu Village
Wailea Ekolu Village sits above Wailea on the Wailea Blue Golf Course, with ocean views, open grounds, pools, BBQ areas, and easy access to The Shops at Wailea and nearby beaches.
This one works well for guests who like the idea of a dinner with wide views and a little extra quiet above the resort bustle.
Hoʻolei, Makena Surf, and Polo Beach Club
For larger groups or special occasions, Aliʻi Resorts also lists properties in Wailea and Makena such as Hoʻolei, Makena Surf, and Polo Beach Club.
These are the kinds of stays where a private chef dinner can turn one night of the trip into the night everyone keeps talking about.
Think milestone birthdays, anniversaries, wedding week dinners, family reunions, or one beautiful meal before everyone flies home.
Great For Groups With Different Diets
One of the best reasons to hire a private chef is simple, everyone at the table gets considered.
If your group includes a vegetarian, someone gluten-free, a dairy-free guest, a keto eater, a picky kid, and one person who wants fresh fish every night, a restaurant reservation can get tricky fast.
Chef Matt’s menus can be customized for:
- Vegetarian and vegan diets
- Gluten-free meals
- Dairy-free meals
- Keto or paleo preferences
- Food allergies and sensitivities
That makes a private dinner especially helpful for families, multi-generational trips, wedding groups, and anyone who wants the night to feel easy instead of complicated.
More Than Dinner, Cooking Classes Too
Chef Matt also offers private Maui cooking classes in your vacation rental. These are hands-on and built around your group’s skill level, tastes, and interests.
You can learn to work with fresh fish, sushi, poke, local vegetables, or plated dinner techniques, then sit down and enjoy what you’ve made together.
It’s a great fit for:
- Couples who want a fun date night
- Families with older kids or teens
- Food lovers
- Small groups
- Guests who want something more personal than another restaurant reservation
Plan Ahead
Private chef dates can fill quickly, especially during holidays, wedding season, and peak travel periods. Booking 2 to 4 weeks in advance is a good idea when possible, and earlier is even better for larger groups or special dates.
If you’re booking your Maui stay through Aliʻi Resorts, ask about adding a private chef dinner to your trip plans.
You handle the sunset. Chef Matt can handle dinner.
