Hula's Island Grill

Tasty drinks and appetizers at great happy hour prices! The wings were some of the best we have ever had and are one of the happy hour options. I went in planning to only have one drink but ended up with a second one after my first one was so delicious. Really nice friendly employees. Positive vibes. We look forward to our next visit.

The tables were somewhat crowded, being too close to each other. However, the decor was charming. I ordered the Hawaiian soup with fish, shrimp, and coconut milk with lemongrass. I felt that the soup had an Asian twist to it. 😋 The soup was very delicious!! Everything was hot and fresh. My dad is disabled, and I felt that they could better accommodate disabled

We love the happy hour appetizers and drinks. Although the abalone style calamari was not part of the happy hour, we ordered it too and we were not disappointed. It was very tender and the dip was very good. We also had the Hawaiian ceviche that was refreshing and the fall off the bone kona chicken wings. My husband was happy with the double order of his cocktail and so was I with my zombie.

Absolutely amazing! Loved the vibe and decor throughout but our server, Kelly, was terrific. She was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and funny. We went a Saturday to celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday. We went early because we’d been driving around all day doing stuff and I was surprised how full it was there at 4pm! (But that’s a good sign!) Kelly was attentive and the food came out pretty quick. She told us about the specials so we got to try Godzilla Tots and ordered the Alaskan salmon special for one of our entrees. Perfect place for a family outing, group of friends, and even a delicious but casual dinner date! We had to take our pie to go and wait a few hours to try it since the portion sizes were so generous (and we all tried each others) so no picture of that, but we did find a license plate with our mom’s name on it!

Interesting spot, really chill vibes and they have both an indoor and outdoor (backyard) seating. Feels like a hip bar that’s family friendly :) Food was really good, I liked that they had a separate plant based menu with tons of options, wide selection of drinks and great dessert. We had their tacos and the lemongrass encrusted and the Ohana for dessert although I’d recommend the passion fruit pie if you’re not a chocolate lover.

This place was delicious, had great service, and an immaculate atmosphere inside! We stopped by for dinner after the aquarium and so glad we did. We ordered the Duke's Luau Pork Plate and the Luau Pork Sandwich. I really liked the pork plate and thought the pork was tendy, juicy, and flavorful! It had a nice glaze and some pieces of pork had a tasty crust and mmm nice hints of pineapple. We also got a side of plantains. Our server was also very attentive and friendly. The interior design is awesome! It's such a cozy, retro vibe.

Forever one of my favorite restaurants in Monterey for the last 13 years. I have celebrated a many birthdays here, and it’s my go to for friends visiting from out of town. Everything is superb. I highly recommend the ceviche, calamari, any of their sandwiches, or coconut curries. Don’t skip the Ohana pie, a decadent dessert!

Great place. Good food. Reasonable prices. Good happy hour specials. It’s small so gets packed and is very loud/lively. Would definitely come back

I can't believe I haven't reviewed Hulas yet. Our go to place for Happy Hour with great snacks and stiff drinks. $8 lilikoi margaritas and spicy Edamame is the best happy hour combo in town. We try spicy Edamame everywhere we go and you can't beat Hula's way of doing it. Little bit of char and sliced serrano peppers. So good! For food the burgers are really good. The arugula salad makes me really have to think about fries or salad as my side for the Cajun burger. The drinks are your standard tiki drinks with a couple of standouts. The previously mentioned margarita or the blood orange martinis are definitely worth a try. Or get some friends and enjoy the punch bowls. They also have some almost non alcoholic drinks that are really tasty. If there's a wait try Next Door, their waiting room speakeasy. Just look for the sign. They'll call the bar when your table is ready.

The drinks and desserts are on point! Drinks, which you can order as a single or double, are strong (even as a single!) and tasty. Wish we had a chance to check out their speakeasy next door. I got the coconut crab curry, which was spicy but actually didn't have much flavor. There were a few big chunks of crab in there. A hearty dish and a generous portion size. My coworker was debating between the blackened wasabi ahi vs macadamia crusted ahi. Our server advised him to go with the blackened wasabi, as the mac crust didn't go as well with the ahi. He didn't lead us astray, as my fiancé ordered the latter and I was able to try both. Hands down the winner was the blackened wasabi ahi. The mac crusted was crispy, but bland and boring. We ended with sharing the lilikoi pie, Ohana pie and coconut cake which were all tasty and not too sweet. Ohana pie was the favorite, followed by the lilikoi pie then coconut cake. We were a party of 11. Flexible with reservations on the phone. I was made aware if our party was over 15, we'd have to do a set menu. No kids menu, but they have kid friendly items like mac and cheese. They also offer a good amount of plant based proteins. Come for drinks and desserts (and maybe pupus? We didn't order any). The entrees overall were not the strong point, but a-ok.

Friendly service although they said they couldn't seat us till all five of us were present. Just one of us was about 3 blocks away, but then they sat us in a nice shaded area outside. Food was good. Sweet potatoes were really good. So was the poke bowl, blackened sandwich and chicken teriyaki bowl. Spicy edamame and ceviche apps were also good. What I wouldn't recommend is the shrimp tacos. They looked good and were filled with Cajun seasoned shrimp with rice and beans. But it just didn't have much flavor. Overall good experience. About avg $24/person. Would recommend!

Fun gem of a seafood spot with laid-back island vibes! The abalone-style calamari was done just right--lightly battered and served with two tasty sauces. The Trader Vic's Fish Sandwich had a slight kick to it, which we had with the best sweet potato fries - crispy but soft on the inside! Duke's Pork Luau Plate was delicious and we couldn't finish it all, so we took the rest with us--just added a side of rice and it made a great second meal. Service was friendly while we sat at the bar. There's also a speakeasy next door, but we enjoyed the patio with the heaters instead.

5 stars for the Jamaican Jerk Chicken. This dish is perfectly paired with the perfect variety of food to deal with the heat. The Cole slaw has bits of ginger which I have never had anywhere else. Love it. In fact, everything on the plate is delicious by itself. And, the perfect pairing makes this one of my favorite dishes on the peninsula. Ambiance, music and decorations brings me back to Hawaii. Speed of service isn't always spot on. Not sure if it's the layout of the restaurant or the days ratio of customers/server. So, can't attest to the consistency of service time. Today, I had Nelly, who's being trained. She was great!

My friends and I took a day trip to the aquarium and wanted a chill and cool place to have dinner before we head back home. One of my friends mentioned they are here before, so we decided to give them a try. We had a reservation, so we were seated pretty quickly and easily. We also sat during happy hour, which we decided to get a few things to try as well. Blue Hawaiian: This drink packed quite a punch for me. I haven't had a cocktail in quite sometime, and it hit me fast. Still, it tasted delicious and refreshing. Ceviche: My friend got this and I took one bite with a wonton chip. Overall, it was not bad. I'm not the biggest fan of ceviche, but it felt fresh with nice chucks of seafood inside. Kona Wings: I really enjoyed this happy hour dish. A supple amount of wings and the sauce had a nice kick to it. It came out steaming and I thoroughly enjoyed the appetizer. Ahi Tuna Steak Sandwich: This was very delicious. It was recommended to get medium rare and it came out exactly as described. The sandwich worked well together, with the acidity from the slaw balancing the flavors of the tuna steak. The sweet potatoes fries were crispy and the dipping sauce worked perfectly for me. Overall, we had a great time here. Service was nice and the atmosphere was lively. I can see myself coming back here again

My husband and I just spent the weekend in Monterey. We had different plans for drinks and food but drove past hulas and decided to ditch those plans the second we saw tiki drinks. Thank goodness! The second we walked in, we were greeted with kindness from staff and locals at the bar. It's like we found our home away from home! We had such a great time, we came back the following night to eat and we once again had great service and saw more regular locals. Oh ya ! We also stopped by the speakeasy next door and let's just say this was definitely our highlight and just the quality of food service and drinks were amazing. We loved the dim lighting and surf videos and tiki drink cups.this place was the best. Great job guys!

My wife, daughter and I made the 3 hour trip out just to check this place out and honestly we had a pretty good time. I picked up a souvenir tiki mug to add to my collection and we ordered a few drinks and a basket of the house-cut fries. The fries were really good--not crispy, more soft and tender but full of flavor. Perfectly salted too. I wish I could get mine to turn out like that at home but nope--never happens. I had the Dr. Funk and while it was a little sweeter than I usually like, I still enjoyed it. The coconut and banana flavors came through nicely and gave it a fun tropical vibe. The other drinks were good too. The place has a cool island theme--tiki'd up but not in a corny way. Staff was super friendly, very welcoming, and the place itself was clean and comfortable. Only thing I'd change? I kinda wish it was darker inside... those big windows let in a lot of light and it messes a little with the tiki atmosphere. Overall we had a good time. Snapped a bunch of photos, got a new mug for the collection, and left full and happy. Worth the stop for sure

I picked this place because of the wide variety of food, great reviews and that it was a little off the main tourist area. It had a great island feel. Our waiter was super nice and the food was delicious. Really nice big portions too. Can't wait to visit their Santa Cruz location.

This place has quite an eclectic menu, but my waitress was super helpful in talking me through my choices. She was patient with me, giving me all the time I needed to decide while also checking in on me. She also just seemed like a cool person - super personable and easy to talk to, even at the end of her shift. (I don't remember her name but I remember she has really short hair). She helped me land on the Kalbi ribs and oh my goodness were they cooked to perfection. Being from LA, I'm pretty picky about my Korean BBQ, but this measured up. The macaroni salad was a perfect side too. This place has massive portions, so you definitely get what you pay for. Will definitely return next time I'm in Monterey!

Really loved the food here! The spring rolls were AMAZING. We split the two types of tacos. Everything tasted super fresh! The sangria was also pretty good. As an out-of-towner, this was a cool spot that didn't feel extra touristy.

We had the best server, Bryant! Had an overall great time at Hula's. Happy hour was the best time to go to get discounts on food and drink. The best thing I ate was the ceviche, and the best thing I drank was the lilikoi margarita!

After winning Sexiest Man in Hawaii 2008, it was prophesized that the spirit of the Champion of Alola and his excellence King Kamehameha was forever instilled upon my spirit. Henceforth, every time I would step upon the island sands, the dolphins would jump higher, rainbows would appear more colorful, volcanoes would erupt more vigorously, the bees would produce sweeter honey and the hula skirts would rise higher as they swayed a bit more rhythmically. Wait, what were talkin' about? Oh yes, Hula's is an island grill destination restaurant nestled in the trees of the Monterey Bay. Their bringing island vibes and island food to this California destination was a success. The back patio was where the host sat our family since we had a pup along with us and there were plenty of doggo friends there. We had our table switched since the sun was glaringly facing half the table. After a quick switch, I was back to a sour brown sugar lemonade that had me puckering at the tartness. A half cup of water mixed in was exactly what we needed. I tried a bite of the island style poke, which I thought would benefit from some rice or simple tortilla chips. Any starch to go with and highlight the raw ahi, soy, sesame oil, chunks of avocado, onion, and sesame seeds. For my main, I got the korean style beef ribs or l galbi, the wonderful island side of macaroni salad, and a scoop of white rice. I added a spicy sriracha mayo, but was honestly surprised by the little dish of soy teriyaki dipping sauce. A mountain of ribs were stacked in the middle of the plate and there were plenty to share. Service was amazing for this busy time of day. I would recommend this place for an informal lunch or dinner with royal portions.

Food, service and the vibe was full of aloha. Cool tiki bar vibe. Hawaiian decor, vintage surfboards. They are open late. Perfect spot as we pulled into town at 9pm for a late dinner. We had the pork sandwich and pork plate. Mahalo

We had dinner here last night and loved it. The food was really good all around, although I would say their Mac salad is more tangy than I'm use to (this is not a bad thing just a surprise). Our server was a 10/10 all around good vibes and quick to respond. The tables are a little small but it gives it a really homey feel I'll be visiting again. If you don't like tight spaces there is an outdoor space as well.

We're on our honeymoon this weekend and decided to go to Hula's for our first night's dinner. I'm so glad that we did! It was a short drive from our hotel and parking right in front. No wait for a table and they were busy. Our waiter was very friendly and informative of the menu. I asked for a virgin cocktail because I am pregnant, he let me know which ones I could order virgin. I chose the Dr. Funk, it was tasty but it kinda just tasted like orange juice with coconut milk, I could tell though that it would have been delicious with the alcohol, maybe a hint of lime or something would have kicked it up a notch to makeup for the absence of liquor. Ordered the coconut chicken wings and the Mac n cheese! Both were mouthwatering and the highlight of my meal. I ordered the kalbi beef ribs, the beef was good and so was the side of Mac salad, my husband ordered the catch of the day special which was halibut and had it prepared the Jamaican jerk style, the fish was cooked well and the jerk sauce was the best we have ever had, the plantains, ginger slaw, and the weird cornbread thing was not good. I would say that they weren't cooked bad, the flavors were just not for us but I am sure they meet someone's standards. All in all, I would go back to try other things on the menu and for sure come back for the wings!!!

Hula, where the babies go!When we came here for lunch, there were so many couples with babies / toddlers - it was great. The service is good and fast. Food is alright considering it's a non Asian area service Hawaiian food NOTE!!! If you order hot water, they charge you as if it's Hot Tea and 4$ per cup. Outrageous

It was husband's first time in Monterey and this place looked highly rated and was walking distance from our hotel, and we also love Hawaiian inspired food, we so had high hopes for this place. Came for early dinner on a Thursday around 5:30pm, party of 2. Our order: island poke ($16) appetizer with wonton chips (extra $2), I got the ahi Katsu tacos ($23) and my husband got the luau pork sandwich ($21). We also got the ohana pie for dessert ($15). Total was about $100 after tax and tip. This place was popular and very busy on a weeknight which surprised me - we chose to sit outside to avoid a wait, and the inside felt really crowded and claustrophobic. The theming is interesting - it's more "ocean" than Hawaiian but overall very cute , tiki theme Pros: - the ohana pie was hands down the best dish of the meal - definitely come for dessert! It was coffee flavored Marianne's ice cream, with an Oreo crumble crust, hot fudge (which they actually put at the bottom of the pie- very nice touch so it doesn't melt the whipped creme on top). This dessert was perfect size to split between 2 people and was fantastic , very well done. - the poke appetizer was also pretty good - very fresh fish that did remind me of Hawaii - other standouts were the sweet potato fries that came with our sandwich (perfectly done and not over-burnt) as well as my ahi tuna. - the servers and hostesses were all really professional and nice Cons: Unfortunately, a few things fell short that made this experience a 3 instead of a 4 or 5 star. - my husbands sandwich came with a curly hair on the slaw part - but thankfully the waitress saw it immediately after we pointed it out and quickly went to replace it - but unfortunately it meant I started eating my entree before my husband got his food - the luau pork sandwich weirdly had a ginger taste in it? Which kind of ruined the taste because it was really strong - not sure why this choice was made because it didn't feel like a Hawaiian thing? - the rice under the beans that came with the ahi tuna tacos was overcooked - the water glasses used here are small, which is totally fine - but since there seemed to only be one server doing everything in the outside area, it was tough to get refills, which made it tough because I felt pretty thirsty eating salty and sweet food. No fault to the waiters though, they're all clearly working hard. Overall I think maybe we made a mistake on what to order? And maybe that's why Im giving it a 3? Overall for these prices I would have expected fewer misses than above. But I definitely would come back for dessert! The ohana pie made my day.

Skye was the best server we have experienced in Monterey. Absolutely wonderful food, drink, and ambiance.

Ambiance: Nice spot near the aquarium with super solid food choices. The decor was very much Tiki-aesthetic vibes. Service: Good service what you would expect at a good quality restaurant. Food; The Jawaiian Jerk Chicken was very filling and satisfying. The sauce was perfectly balanced with sweet and spicy notes that made the overall dish come together very well. The fish tacos were the best I've ever had. The fish was tender and perfectly cooked. The Hawaiian ceviche was a refreshing and the fish tasted very fresh. The key lime pie had all the perfect components. It was creamy and tangy that left me wanting more.

This place is awesome! My brother and cousin went here first and he ordered a big drink and needed help killing it. So the fam came through to help out. We kind of just walked in and sat ourselves...which is completely our bad but it was kinda dead in the back. Not that its bad that its dead, its only cuz its Xmas weekend when everyone is not out and its cold/rainy or whatever. But the resturant team noticed and nicely communicated to us that we were good and was able to help us out however with drinks and snacks. We ordered some fries and it was coo. We ordered a couple of cocktails, the Painkiller and the Lilikoi Margarita. Both were really good! We ordered doubles too and home girl made it really good and strong in a good way! I forgot her name, but she was super nice and helpful. She worked the backside bar on 12/21 so the business could properly recognize her. I noticed the other cool cups they make for tiki drinks and was just guessing which one was for which, and she was like I can make it in that for you if you want. And we said oh ok we didn't care but that's cool and nice! Would've like to come here for an actual bite but we've been eating all holiday weekend. This was a nice pit stop for a nice drink and then dip.

Was visiting from out of town and coming from San Jose, we have a lot of good food so I had no expectations. We wanted something quick and fast, so we stopped by Hula's for dinner. Jawaiian Jerk Chicken: The chicken was pretty burnt to the point where we had to just take the skin off, but the chicken itself was not dry so that was a plus. The sauce was not it, though. Kalbi: the meat was tender and yummy, but the mac salad was disappointing. The vibes were cute indoors and outdoors, but it was way too dark. The servers were very friendly and kind though.

With essentially all of Monterey's food scene to be explored, figuring out which restaurant to try first felt a lot like one of those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. Do we hit up one of the popular touristy spots? Something on my list of Yelp bookmarks? Or maybe wherever the wind happened to take us? Funny enough - after walking around the area to assess our options, coming to Hula Island Grill ended up answering "yes" to all three questions! While a few others places we saw also piqued our interest, the promise of good Hawaiian food and the lively atmosphere here was too much to resist. Inside, we were surprised by how packed it was on a random weeknight and how well the decor leans into the tiki theme without being cliche. As for the menu, given how it's Monterey, most of their dishes, whether it be their pupus/apps, bowls, burgers, sandwiches, entrees, tacos, salads, or house specialties, feature seafood prepared in various ways, but there are plenty of non-seafood options, too, including short ribs, ribeye steaks, and Jamaican jerk chicken, just to name a few. What's more, the cocktail menu is even more interesting than the food! -- HULA'S MAI TAI - Gold Rum, Orange Curacao, Pineapple and Lime Juice, Orgeat, Dark Rum Float...$12 This may not have been the best mai tai I've had, but it was pretty solid. The orange curacao, pineapple, and lime juice, combined with both types of rum, created a fruity and floral mixture that still had a nice hit of alcohol. -- DR. FUNK - Coconut Rum, Vodka, Creme de Banana, Pineapple, OJ...$11 Just as we sat down, I overheard a nearby table get three of these and I could easily see why. The taste of this was like banana mixed into a pina colada (in a good way), but sweeter and also thinner in consistency. The rum rounded out the flavors quite nicely, though it was pretty subtle. -- CRISPY COCONUT SHRIMP ROLLS with Pineapple and Horseradish Dipping Sauce...$14 Not as amazing as I had hoped for, but not bad either. I liked that the skins weren't super thick and that chunks of shrimp were quite big. However, the filling was also really wet, which might also be why the outside of the rolls weren't very crispy. -- AHI KATSU TACOS - Seared Panko-Encrusted Ahi Steak, Sriracha, Taco Slaw, Sundried Tomato Pesto Aioli...$23 Meh...this was okay. The tuna itself wasn't bad, and the portion was generous, but this was more "katsu" than katsu. Parts of the fish also tasted burnt/dry, but at least the slaw and aioli helped on that front. Funny enough, we both thought this might have worked better just seared without the panko. -- BLACKENED WASABI BARRAMUNDI with Mashed Potatoes, Wasabi Cream Sauce, and Arugula Salad...$27 The tacos may not have impressed, but this one certainly did! The barramundi was cooked perfectly (really moist on the inside) and, between the seasoning and wasabi cream sauce, the flavors were great. As for the sides, both were terrific, especially the arugula. As far as service goes, we didn't have much to complain about for the most part. The hostess who greeted us was friendly and her comment to "not worry about the wait" was spot on (we waited no more than 5-10 mins). Once we were seated, it did feel a little like we had been forgotten about, as it took a bit before our server came by, but it seemed like may have been tied up with a large party, as we saw him fairly regularly after that. We also appreciated how engaging and energetic he was, though a couple of the jokes he made were more awkward than funny. Considering how so many people like Hula's Island Grill, including what seemed like a number of locals/regulars, part of me can't help but wonder if what we ordered had something to do with it. Although the rolls and ahi katsu tacos are two of their more popular dishes, perhaps their ceviche, chicken wings, kalbi ribs, or shrimp tacos would've been better choices. In that vein, I wouldn't be opposed to coming back one day to find out, but if it's about the same as what we had, I'd rather just stick to the cocktail menu.

Fun spot, local motion. Passion fruit margaritas, nice touch. Great outdoor patio space. Spicy edamame rocked, service with a smile. Mac salad just like Hawaiian kind! Aloha

Second time visiting this restaurant. I really like the interior theme of this establishment. There are plenty of options on the menu and the service is quick. However, the food always leaves me feeling underwhelmed. I don't feel as if the food has a lot of flavor

Out of this world!!! I am truly amazed at my experience here, the energy was great, music was awesome and everything this restaurant offered exceeds my expectations. Started the night off with Spicy Edamame and the Scorpion Bowl drink for my table! Such an amazing drink, you have to get it! Main dishes were the Spicy Thai Chicken Bowl & Jawaiian Jerk Chicken, Both were so delicious and had a playful palette. To end off the night right we got the Ohana Pie and omg, I cannot believe how good it was! It's a must have if you're looking to satisfy your sweet tooth. Both the scorpion bowl and dessert are huge!! You can share with a group if you wanted to! I will be back and I look forward to visiting the speakeasy next door!! Service 12/10 Atmosphere 12/10 Drinks 12/10 Food 12/10 Dessert 12/10 If I could rate this 6 stars I would!

This place is great. The HAWAIIAN FISH SOUP was delicious. It arrived steaming hot and both the fish and shrimp were cooked perfectly. I assume they must have put them in almost raw. It was so hot it would have cooked them in a minute or so. The coconut milk base for the soup was delicious with hints of lemongrass. Well done. I truly enjoyed this and will return. Next time I will try their wild mushroom curry bowl. It feels like a tiki bar but trust me this is no bar food joint it is delicious food prepared well. Loved it.

I would go back here in a heartbeat. We went to the Monterey location the first day then Santa Cruz location the second day. Monterey was by FAR better. Our server was great, ambiance outside was sooo chill and the food quality and presentation was much better as well. If I lived closer I would be a regular. Aloha!!

Relative to many options in Monterey, Hula is a little better than most restaurants. I love how the ambiance is like walking into a dimly lit tiki bar. We started off with fantastic drinks - Lilikoi margarita, but I got the virgin lilikoi margarita (ask your server for it) and as a passionfruit lover, I fell in love with the strong passionfruit flavor of the drink. At $6 for the virgin version, it's nice not having to pay through the nose for a virgin mocktail unlike some places who still charge more than $10 for a nonalcoholic drink. We got the Hawaiian ceviche for the starter and the fresh fish, mild spice, and coconut milk worked really well together with the addictive wonton chips. Our server recommended the Jamaican jerk pork plate and the Kingston crab curry so we got them both. I didn't try the jerk pork but my crab curry was chock full of crab and fish so it was a good deal. I could tell they took the time to use fresh crab meat and the flavors had a mild burn to it from the spice but nothing overpowering. The curry portion is really big that it was enough for two meals. We were too full to try dessert but it was a solid meal. Street parking but not an issue if having a later dinner.

The vibe in here is super chill. Everything's decked out in Hawaiian shit surfboards mounted to the ceiling photos of all the boys catching the waves and shit. Lights are low Hella chill. Felt like I was in a Mexican cantina. The food was bomb as fuck. Shit put me and my Homies to sleep. 10 out of 10 would recommend. Good night. Also, Service was on point.

Amazing food. The Kingston Crab Curry is to die for. The spicy edamame were actually spicy and the addition of lemon added a tangy kick to it. I thought the drinks tasted just ok but they were quite strong. Coconut cake was humongous and we shared a single slice between the four of us. Service was a little slow due to it being super busy, so cannot really complain.

Showed up for a late lunch on a Sunday afternoon. There was no AC inside which normally wouldn't be an issue because of the cooler climate of Monterey but we were here on the hottest week we've seen in quite some time. The vibes of this place are super laid back with a Hawaiian diner style. We were seated promptly and our server was friendly and helpful. He showed us the regular menu as well as the happy hour menu, ensuring to point out what drinks were on happy hour. What we ordered: Appetizers for the table - Hawaiian ceviche ($8) This is one of the best ceviches I've had in a long while. It had a kick to it without being overpowering. - Sweet potato fries ($8) I mean... who doesn't love fries? These were good but nothing special. The flavor was perfect but I wish they would have been on the crispier side. I felt like they almost melted in your mouth so if that's what you are going for you'll love these. Entree - Luau pork sandwich ($21) I was most disappointed by my entree because the bread was SUPER soggy and for my side I decided to go with the sweet potato fries (before knowing they weren't my favorite thing). The flavor of the pulled pork was good but I regret getting the sandwich and not the plate. Overall, I'd be willing to come back and try some other options.

I had scoped out all of my dinner options for Monterey and it was a toss up between the typical American seafood joints or Hula's and I'm glad we went with the latter. Arrived at 5:15pm in time for happy hour and made sure to get our order in with our super friendly waiter, Lake! Lilikoi Margarita ($8 for a single during HH instead of $12) Kona Chicken Wings ($8 during HH instead of $13) Jawaiian Jerk Pork Plate Bali Hai BBQ Ribs Wings were very Thai curry-like with a squeeze of lime; falling-off-the-bone delicious! Both the plate and the ribs were flavorful with different sides. My date couldn't decide between regular fries or the sweet potato fries. He finally decided on the sweet potato fries but the server was nice enough to bring us a basket of the regular fries on the house! Both were truly addicting... I ended up eating most of the extra basket lol with no regret!

Very good restaurant for what's being offered in the area. The Kalbi ribs were a 10/10, the crispy coconut shrimp rolls were tasty as well as the ceviche. The macaroni salad was yummy and they didn't put too much mayo in it like most places tend to do. Salt was needed on some of the Jawaiian Jerk dishes. The lemonade was just okay, nothing special! The waiter we had was really good , cute fun, themed restaurant that's a short drive from the aquarium. I will say the restaurant was unreasonably cold , everyone was wearing their big jackets and even some of the staff agreed would be nice to at least bring it to a comfortable temperature. We will definitely be back when in the area.

Quick service, fun atmosphere, cool happy hour menu. I'm not a fan of ginger, so the Cole slaw wasn't my thing.

I always swing by here for their lillikoi pie when I'm in Monterey, but I won't be anymore. My family and I couldn't decide where to eat after the aquarium, so we wandered around the area since it was too early for dinner. I decided to walk to Hula's to grab my pie. When I got there, I noticed that it was not that busy, so figured we could just eat there as well. My husband went to see if there was a wait, and she said 10-15 mins. It was a bit strange, I noticed many open tables, but I thought maybe because we had a group of 6 the have seating is elsewhere. Either way, it was okay since it was still early. It gave me some time to nurse my baby before dinner. While waiting for the table we changed our minds and decided to just order to-go to eat back at the hotel. We looked over the menu and everyone picked what they wanted to order. I went inside to put in the order. There was one person ahead of me putting in their order and paying. As I waited, I noticed more people started coming in. 3 separate parties to be exact. I know because I was suppose to be next to order food, but instead the host kept telling me she will be back after seating each group. That's when it hit me... I thought there were "no tables" available since we had to wait. We should've been seated already since we were technically on the list. Good thing we changed our minds about eating there. I finally got to order: Coconut Shrimp Rolls- mehhh Kalbi x2- decent, but the mac salad is terrible Hula Burger- not good Lillikoi Pie- good, but lillikoi flavor seems light She told me 15-20 mins, so I went to wait outside because it was getting crowded inside. 20 mins past, 25, and 30. I go in to check, but the host said it's not ready. About 10 mins later, a guy comes out with it. I asked my husband, "is my pie in there?" (The main thing I came for). Good thing because IT WAS NOT! He went back inside and had to wait for them to pack it. I guess I should have worried and checked for ALL THE FOOD, not just my pie, because as we were discussing the food and listing them driving to the hotel, he didn't mention my dad's burger. So I asked if there was a burger in the back, and he said there was no burger in the bag. We had to TURN AROUND and go back eventhough were were almost at the hotel. When my husband tells me, "you wouldn't believe what happened." He was absolutely CORRECT! We go back to the restaurant. My husband brings the bag with him and informs them that we are missing a burger from our order. They pull the guy who is packing the orders aside to ask if he's counting the boxes correctly, and he says yes. That's when the lady tells my husband that she has to believe her worker, so she has to charge for the burger since we left with the bag and came back. They wanted to charge us for ANOTHER BURGER which was never in our bag to begin with?! That is ridiculous!!! My husband said he just wanted to cancel everything at that point. What was going to be an early dinner, almost was an on time dinner (if we were seated what they quoted us), turned out to be a late dinner in the end. Even if the food was delicious, after this experience, this place is not for us.

This vegan burger from hit the spot! They have a vegan menu, and the vibe inside is so much fun! We went at night, so it was a bit dark and the photos came out a little discolored, but don't let that fool you - this Big Sur vegan burger with vegan cheese was a tasty burger! Great service as well! (instagram: jax.vegan.eats)

I had the most amazing dinner on Thursday night. Santino's mezcal margarita was flawless and made me feel the elation that the decor hadn't had already. Kellie Craig, my server, went above and beyond what it takes for a customer to enjoy their experience in the cozy nook, this perfect bar, this amazing restaurant. I have NEVER had a bad meal here. In fact, this might be the greatest tasting and perfectly ran restaurant in all of Monterey county. A big thank you to all of Hula's staff for your vision and excellency.

Back in Monterey for another baseball tournament... came back to Hula's for a quick lunch before son's game... Still friendly service and they still have tasty fries, I ate so many fries today that I was full when my actual meal came! Ate a couple of bites and now a big container of leftovers is in the fridge! I ordered the Buddha Bowl- I knew it would come with tofu, peanuts, slaw, and rice... but it also came with broccolini, shredded carrots, jicama, kimchi, jalapenos, and really long stemmed cilantro. Broccolini and carrots were a nice surprise- jalapenos, kimchi, and really long stemmed cilantro not so much. Son had jerk chicken plate which he enjoyed very much... still a great spot!

Always a good time!! Fun drinks and delicious food Service was great Friendly staff

If I could give zero stars, I would. My friend and I ordered the Kingston Crab Curry, and the experience was a complete disaster. My bowl came out full of curry, but my friend's barely had any--just crab and rice. When we politely asked the server why there was such a huge difference, she took both bowls back to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returned with a surprise: now my bowl was missing half the curry, and my rice ball was a mess. Turns out, instead of simply fixing my friend's bowl, they took curry from mine to "even things out." Seriously? The manager came over and casually told us they had combined the curries and split them equally. What kind of solution is that? Why not just add more curry to my friend's bowl in the first place? We asked for extra curry (because, of course, now we both needed more), and they brought us a medium bowl of curry to share... The whole experience was frustrating and unprofessional.

We came here on a Monday night around 8pm. We were in Carmel and were looking for a place with hot noodle soup or Pho. Nothing was open. On Yelp, they had a Japanese restaurant listed that was still open in Monterey, so we drove there. We went there and found out they were closed! We saw Hula's, a block away, so we decided to go there. They were nice enough to take a party of 8, 30 mins before closing. The service was great. They were really nice. The place had a fun atmosphere. You walk in and the bar is right there. There was a big tv behind the bar as well. The portions are good size. I got a Buddha bowl. Unfortunately, I have to say the tofu was really hard and was just ok. Three other people ordered soup. I think it was fish or potato soup. I can't recall what they got but the soup portion was HUGE!!! They all said it was good. It was a long day so I can't remember what exactly they ordered. The food didn't make a big impression on me but I'd be willing to try it out one more time.

Saw food online and the pics look fabulous. Went in person for a later lunch. My sister is vegan, so we like to find a place that caters to both of us. She got the Chik'n sandwich and I got the pork plate. YUMMY PORK PLATE, GET IT. We also ordered a mai tai and blue Hawaiian. Beautiful drinks that were strong! I tried the brown sugar lemonade, but it was a bit too tart.

Great vibes and friendly staff. The food is amazing and we have not been disappointed in multiple visits. Casual vibes with upscale quality and taste! I highly recommend the ceviche starter and the Duke's Luau Pork Plate. The cocktails and coconut cake are also fabulous.

Wait was long for happy hour so go early and order while you wait. Spicy Edamame was great and I used the chilies for my ceviche which made it amazing. The coffee ice cream float was huge and finished in 5 minutes. The tuna was good , but I think it'd be better with grilled white fish which I'll try next time. The vegetarian options were also great and kids menu was reasonably priced.

Visiting Monterey? This restaurant is a great option to get dinner at! We ordered the Abalone-Style Calamari, a side of Macaroni salad, Jawaiian Jerk Chicken, and Crab Curry. Abalone-style calamari was such an interesting twist on the traditional-style calamari. The texture was bouncy and with a nice crisp on the outside, with some lemon-flavored dressing and dipping sauce. The Jawaiian Jerk chicken plate is very filling. The spicy sauce really is spicy, so if you can't handle that much spice, you can ask for it on the side. The spicy sauce also had hints of sweet and spicy modes which definitely complimented the chicken. The Kingston Crab Curry was definitely the star of the show! The sweet dungeons crab and fish paired well with the sweet and spicy curry sauce. The service was also really great. Our server, Jem was awesome! The ambiance was very Tiki-aesthetic vibes. It's a great place to take your family or friends for a nice dinner out in Monterey.

- The staff is very friendly and attentive. - The menu is very diverse and inclusive for multiple diets/dietary restrictions (vegan/vegetarian options available) - The design/atmosphere is very fun/night life-esk. - The food is good but nothing special. It seems like some of the dishes are a strong hit or miss across the board. I was a bit disappointed with the vegan chicken but the tofu and some of the curry sauces were great!

Our server was Scott. He's so sweet and fast with getting our orders. We try to come here every year for our anniversary because the outdoor scenery is beautiful and the food and drinks are always a hit. Hula's is definitely my go to when we're back in Monterey.

I had high expectations of this place due to the large number of good reviews on Yelp, and because an employee at a wine shop told us this was a really good place for kids and the food was delicious. Overall it was sort of disappointing. We sat outside and there were a ton of flies so it wasn't the best ambiance (to be fair, I'm sure the flies are out of the restaurant's control, but I did notice a lot more flies here than at other outdoor restaurants we ate at). The service was kinda slow, but I may have had my hopes too high because the wine shop employee said they bring the food out fast so it's great for kids *shrug*. The food overall was underwhelming. My son liked the black beans at least, so that made me happy. My husband got one of the burgers and he just said that it was okay, but he felt like he could make a better burger at home. I got one of the white fish of the day with chimichurri sauce and it was overall pretty decent. The sweet potato fries weren't as crispy as I'd like but they were actually the best fries we had in Monterey during our short trip there (somehow all the fries at other restaurants were thick and bland?!).