Hula's Island Grill

Hands down, one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had! My friends and I originally stopped in for a quick bite and a drink before heading out on the town, but ended up ordering way more than planned. Everything looked too good to pass up!! The menu is massive, and everything we tried was delicious. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the great options, I highly recommend the ahi tuna tacos (or the burger!), the sticky & sweet Kona chicken wings, or the Thai curry bowl! Huge shoutout to our server, Madison, who was an absolute gem. Even though the place was buzzing with activity, she stayed incredibly attentive, warm, and knowledgeable. She gave us amazing recommendations and made the whole experience feel relaxed and fun. Also, the hostess we met that night—didn’t catch her name, was super friendly and welcoming. Wishing her all the best in school and beyond! This place is officially my go-to spot anytime I’m in Santa Cruz. Can’t wait to come back!

It seemed quite fresh. We shared spring rolls and pot stickers and the portions are quite large. Our server was very attentive and sweet. My friends had some other dishes that they really liked including the fish tacos. I do wish they offered a few more dishes that weren't really spicy, since I am allergic to chili in any form. But beyond that, everything was great. Their cocktails are spectacular!

My fiancé and I went for dinner yesterday and ordered the ceviche as an appetizer. We immediately knew something was off. It tasted weirdly sour and almost like queso*. We stopped eating it and had the rest our meal because we had traveled from LA and hadn’t eaten all day. His ahi, which he usually loves rare, was practically uncooked. It was freezing cold in the middle. We hate to complain and never write bad reviews but were super disappointed in our experience. We let our server know that we thought the coconut milk in the ceviche had gone bad and he was very apologetic, but neither the manager or the chef came out to apologize which we thought was odd. The only reason we mentioned it was to prevent other people from getting sick. They did take it off of our bill, but we would have liked some acknowledgment that we were right. We’re not even sure that they tasted it or 86’d it. Now the only reason I am writing this review is because we did get food poisoning and it has definitely put a damper on our vacation. We have been suffering for the last 24 hours and still are. We only had a couple of bites! Again, our server was lovely and it was not his fault so we were bummed that management left it all on him. *For anyone who doesn’t know bad coconut milk can taste cheesy or metallic. Stay safe y’all.*

The atmosphere is fun and welcoming, service is always great, and the food? Easily some of the best in the Bay Area. Every time I visit Santa Cruz, I bring friends or colleagues here — and no one has ever been disappointed. I usually order the Kalbi Ribs plate and one of their in-house cocktails — both are fantastic. Portions are generous, flavors are amazing, and the price is more than fair for the quality you get. Highly recommend. This spot never misses! 🌺🍹🔥

As Baudelaire once said, “Gourmandise begins when hunger is no longer the question.” Sadly, at Hula Island Grill, even hunger remained unanswered. The cocktails, far from any artisanal reverie, tasted like they were poured from the nearest tetra pack and dressed up in vacation kitsch — more juice bar than island bar. I was recommended the ono fish in place of the absent halibut, but what arrived was a dry, overcooked plate that felt more like a resignation than a culinary statement. Broccolini — uncooked, barely warmed, its tough stalks fighting back with every bite. A brief steam, a respectful few minutes of heat, and it could have become something elegant: crisp yet yielding. There was no crescendo, no narrative arc — just a meal that existed, uninspired and unresolved. One leaves not outraged, but simply unmoved. A missed opportunity in a town that otherwise inspires spontaneity and soul.

Everything was excellent but I would like to caution diners that there are paintings that depict some partial nudity. For a place that caters also to children, I feel that this must be appropriately addressed, as my young son was intently staring at one such piece of art. Otherwise, the food, drinks, and service were excellent! We were well attended, and food both arrived quickly and cooked very well! I am a little confused by the Johnny Cakes, though - they are advertised as Jamaican but look nothing like any I've ever seen.

Absolutely amazing. We were during the happy hour, ordered chicken wings and Hawaiian ceviche. Inexpensive and tastes so good. The drinks were great. And we had the Kings crab curry, it was fantastic! Highly recommend. I'm visiting, but if I lived here, I would eat here everyday!

What a treat! Hands down our favorite Santa Cruz restaurant. We love a great Polynesian/Tiki restaurant, but this is tied for best overall, anywhere, in our opinion. This restaurant delivers on location, atmosphere, music, menu, quality of food and it's in the Surf Capitol of the USA. Every dish was perfectly prepared. The menu and nightly features were so interesting, we made hard choices. If this restaurant were nearby, I'd return daily until I tried the whole menu. Seriously, it's probably a great thing for us that this place is over 1000 miles away, and yet we can't wait to try it again.

I love Hula's! So much! I've been coming here for over 15 years Personally I can't get away from ordering a whitefish (whatever is offered at the time) blackened, with the wasabi sauce on the mashed potatoes. But my family has ordered all sorts of things, rice bowls, curry, short ribs... always so good! And I LOVE their cocktails! All the island drinks are so yummy! Hit em up for happy hour for some good deals too!

This place used to make amazing strong tiki drinks, but now they are still tasty but no kick The place sold awhile back and the drinks now have more or less turned alcohol free (IMHO) even when you order a double! The food is great! Their curry bowl is amazing! Come for the food (not the drinks) is my suggestion.

Beautiful hidden gem. Ample parking next door when you pull up. Outdoor seating with heat lamps and when you walk in you will enjoy the Tiki themed ambiance which is gorgeous. We put our name down on the waitlist before we arrived and thankfully there wasn't a wait when they just opened. It does get packed later though so be prepared that there may be a wait. We were a bit surprised that our hostess was also our waitress, because they were short staffed but we seemed to be the only one that had that setup. Food came relatively quick initially. We ordered the shrimp rolls for an appetizer which were really delicious and freshly fried. I would rate that 5/5. Had the ahi tunas which were panko breaded and that was ok. The menu made it sound better than it was. I'd give it a 3/5, it was so so. Then I had the Dukes Luau Pork Plate which was like a teriyaki and pineapple style pulled work with rice and beans. Pretty good I'd give it a 4/5. After our main dishes came, we ordered the Oreo crust pie typically called a Hula pie with ice cream and macadamia. Unfortunately, our waitress started serving in her hostess role and we had to wait almost 30 mins for the slice of pie. However they made up for it with bringing a candle and doing a birthday song with the drum. She also apologized they were short staffed. Overall, I would rate this 3.75 overall and would consider going again!

Interior design reminds me of Hawaii. Lots of indoor and outdoor seatings available. The service was great and our server was attentive. My friends ordered kalbi and I got the jerk chicken. Both dishes were pretty good! The ceviche (cod) and sweet potato were ordered as happy hour items, so they weren't a big portion, but it was enough to share and made us super full. My friends ordered the alcoholic fish bowl to share amongst them and they said it was really strong. Definitely worth the money if you have others to share it with.

Super yummy! Very packed and lively. What a vibe! We were put on the wait list for about 30 minutes as a party of 4. Snagged space at the bar while we waited to get a pre-meal beverage. Everyone there seemed like they were just having the time of their lives. People dressed up, some lovely older ladies laughing together, everyone was having a great time. Even the two bartenders who were moving quickly seemed to be having a good time and did not show any stress on their faces. Color me impressed! Drinks were tasty! Pricey but very standard for these handmade cocktails. Different ice sizes depending on your drink. All were delicious so I ended up ordering a second one even though the first was probably enough to get me buzzing. Food we split the Mac and cheese and cheese because I had to try it with two mentions of cheese. There is quite a lot of cheese. And. I will say I could probably use a bit more of a sharper cheese in the mix. It was all very creamy. I also ordered the poke for myself and this was very good! Great mix of flavors, good sized portion, all delicious. My friends had the Kalbi Ribs and there was so much food! We went home with a full serving of just the ribs, without considering any sides! Mac salad was good. Lots of food, lots of fun and we didn't want the night to end so we ended up splitting a lilikoi (passion fruit) pie slice at the end and it was also delicious! I could barely stuff another bite but by goly we made it fit. You could tell this place is a fan favorite from the street. I will highly, highly recommend this place and try to come back again next time we're in the area.

I thought this tasted amazing however I wish there was more tuna and there was a LOT of rice and it was either undercooked or overcooked, just mushy :( and this was eaten only 10 min after Service was good!

Hula's has a cozy, island-inspired vibe with great service, but the food didn't quite live up to expectations. I tried the jerk chicken plate, and while the chicken was cooked through, it had a "chickeny" taste to it that I didn't not enjoy. The plantains were delicious, though, and I have no complaints there. As for the drinks, they are on the sweeter side, which makes sense since they have a tiki-inspired menu, but it was just not for me. Overall, an ok spot, but the food could use some improvement.

Another great meal before hitting the Boardwalk. You gotta try the Ceviche and Coconut Shrimp Rolls.

Stopped in for a bit and a tiki drink. Wings were good. Drinks were all right ambiance is kinda diner/tiki no super authentic. I believe this place has been here for a while. Bar service was great.

I don't get it.... the food is AWFUL and the service is meh. Visually pleasing, but left with the taste of soap over an hour later. We didn't finish the drinks or the food. We didnt' take the leftovers - ditched it. How can this place get any stars? The pupu kona chicken was dry. Sauce (peanut) was okay, but not enough to temper how dry the chicken was. Chicken was not brined, and tasteless as well. Their premium tiki cocktails are from mixes. The blood orange martini had a tinge of aspirin taste, aka MIX. The mango margarita was the exact same as the lilikoi margarita. They brought the same thing twice. While the rims should of been salted, the drink was salty even through a straw. So basically the super salty margarita covered the flavor of soap that I can't get out of my mouth. It's an after taste once the salt leave. I wasn't the only one to experience this. The ahi tacos smelled like defrosted old fish. Not hot, not cooked. I've had plenty of good ahi elsewhere, so raw doesn't bother me. It was lukewarm and no flavor. It came with 2 tacos and could only stomach a few bites of one. The rice and beans were the only edible parts of this. It's hard to describe the duke pulled pork - it was just not good. Again, went to Hula hungry and couldn't stomach the food. The slaw was off too. The rice was mushy. Then the cheeseburger. Let the picture tell the story. The sweet potato fries were okay. The place was expensive for what it was. I don't understand why it's packed. It wasn't one bad drink or one bad dish. I rarely write bad reviews - but I feel like I have to warn others.

GREAT SERVICE!!! Hector and Madison took care of us they were great. Food was so good!!! We had the Hawaiian ceviche, the wings, and coconut shrimp everything was so good. 10/10 recommend hulas. Desert was one of the bests I've ever had!!

We wanted to check this place out while we were in Santa Cruz, immediately after I saw they make vegan jerk chicken! They also have lots of other marinades you can cook your vegan chicken in as well. It was pretty busy when we arrived, but we put our name on the waitlist while we were on our way, so we didn't have to wait longer than 5 minutes for our table. The restaurant had cute island-type decor, lots of mood lighting (as you can tell from the pictures), but was pretty noisy. For our appetizer, we ordered the Vietnamese spring rolls: tofu, kimcheed cabbage, rice noodles, carrots, basil, & peanuts. I ordered the vegan jerk chicken, which came with fried plantains, slaw, rice, & a Johnny cake. & he ordered the Big Sur Veggie burger, which came with a house made patty with plantains, rice, panko, topped with jack, portabella, & pesto aioli. Everything turned out absolutely amazing & delicious! My only issue, & it was sort of a big one, was when my dish came out & my vegan spidey senses started tingling. The chicken looked TOO realistic... So I took my fork to it, & found a bone inside, & realized this was definitely NOT vegan. If I would've taken a bite into it, I don't know how I would've handled the situation. I'm sure it was just a bit too loud for the waitress to hear me, but that's why I'm a huge supporter of reading back orders to customers. She apologized & brought me back the vegan version on the fly, but slip ups like that can really affect people. Overall, the food tasted good, cocktails were a little too sweet, the restaurant was a bit loud, but we may give it another shot whenever we are back in Santa Cruz.

Stopped by here for dinner before a show at catalyst and was lucky to grab a table in under 10 minutes. Of course we had to start out with a scorpion bowl! A mix of different alcohols that come in this bowl that's on fire. For $36, I think it's a great deal to share with one other person. It's strong yet tasty, and great value for a quality drink. The drink menu alone is worth coming, especially if you enjoy tiki-themed bars and drinks. For food, we started out with their edamame, which was ok. The menu mentioned a spicy Serrano kick, but there was much flavor or spice at all. I think at the price point it's at, it's better to spend a little more to get one of their other appetizers. We split two mains, the blackened ahi sandwich and the Jawaiian jerk chicken. The sandwich came with a big piece of ahi, the bread was amazing and the slaw was good. I didn't get much of a blackened spice blend flavor though. Honestly wish it had more aioli as well. We got a side of their Mac salad, which didn't have much flavor, which was a number bc I love Mac salad. A little extra salt and pepper made it better. Their take on the jerk chicken was done ok, except the chicken leaned on the dry side. The jerk sauce they use though, that was the star of the dish. Super flavorful, hint of spice, but an explosion of flavor. The portion size is quite generous as well. Overall, loved the drinks, thought the food we ordered kinda fell short. Would I go again? Probably, there's so much on the menu, and the drinks alone are worth coming for, especially before attending a concert later in the night.

This restaurant has lovely themed decor and lighting, and an inviting atmosphere with plenty of seating (indoors/outdoors/ bar). The place was pretty busy on Mother's Day around dinner time, but there was no wait for a table for 2, so my friend and I got lucky.  Service was sufficient, no problems. And there was lots to choose from on both the food and drink menu. We tried the pog punch (yummy with housemade pog juice), duke's luau pork plate (all items in this dish were good, we finished every last bite), and trader vic's fish sandwich with a caesar salad. That fish sandwich exceeded my expectations, the combination of spice from the blackened fish and tanginess from the saucy slaw mix was a delectable treat for my taste buds! Great experience overall :)

I stopped by for a drink at the bar while visiting on a casual Saturday afternoon. Sadly I couldn't remember the bartender's name, but he was a cool older dude. My group and I weren't planning to stay for a long time so we all ordered a drink each. The service was quick and the Mai Tai I ordered was made pretty strong which I appreciated! Decent price especially if you go during happy hour

Downtown Hawaiian restaurant with a good vibe and yummy food. Inside/outside seating (with heat lamps). Tried the jerk chicken that came with a Johnny cake, plantains, rice slaw and sauce. Was fun building a variety of perfect bites with the variety of components. Our table also had the barramundi, fish sandwich and salad. Everyone was happy with their choices. Recommend!

I came with a party of 11 for my friend's 21st birthday and we were very well accommodated. Not only was the food delectable and flavorful but our waiter John was such a delight! The ambiance was perfect for our night and the drinks were creative and delicious. You will be transported on your own vacation within downtown Santa Cruz. Thank you John for your amazing suggestions and Hula's for helping us appreciate our little community :) --HAPPY 21ST LYLIA!

We came into Hula's Grill on a Thursday afternoon for a late lunch/ happy hour. Their decor inside is fun and tiki themed, but we opted to sit outside on their patio because it was beautiful out. They have a good happy hour! Cocktails, wine, and appetizers all $8. They didn't have beer on happy hour which was surprise to us. We got a few things off happy hour and really enjoyed the wings and ceviche - definitely our favorite part of the meal! We finished with the pork platter which was okay, we definitely preferred the apps! But overall had a good experience

Celebrating my birthday weekend and this place is one of my favorite restaurant when I visit Santa Cruz. Everyone was happy and positive vibes all around. The service was a little busy, it's bc there's a concert happening around corner from the restaurant. Everything we ate was delicious. The food is always good whenever I visit.

Food & drink: happy hour menu is brief but offers a little variety. For $8 each, we tried the Hawaiian ceviche, Kona Chicken Wings, & Mac & Cheese. - Blue Hawaiian - essentially a blue piña colada, this is extremely easy to drink. A little sweet, a little tangy, it's my favorite thing on the menu! And it comes with a cute flower. A must try. - Hawaiian Ceviche - fresh fish in a very zesty citrus & coconut sauce. Very filling, but a little too acidic for my liking. - Kona Chicken Wings - extremely saucy with a side of spicy cilantro/curry sauce. It's a generous portion of meat with a unique flavor. - Mac & Cheese - I would pass on this entirely if it did not pair well with the chicken wings. Alone, it was quite bland and neither the cheese nor pasta tasted fresh. Service: our server was very kind and knew exactly when to check in on us each time. Ambiance: fun Hawaiian inspired decor with great music. This place gets packed in the evenings! We went on a Friday evening and it wasn't so busy until the end of happy hour, and we went on a Saturday during happy hour and it was pretty much full. Best to arrive on the earlier side if you want to catch happy hour without a bigger crowd. Parking is available right across the street.

Hula's Island Grill is located in downtown Santa Cruz. It was quite difficult to find parking in the area and the likelihood is the parking is metered. I was able to put myself and the husband on the waitlist on the way to the restaurant from the hotel. It was about a 45 minute wait for dinner. Upon entering, you'll check in with the host. There is no lobby to this restaurant so you are either in everyone's way or you can sit at the bar and get some drinks. If the weather is nice, you can wait outside, but we were not lucky. The staff here are very friendly! We were seated at a high table near the bar. One of my complaints, and it's because I'm pretty much a grandma, is how loud it is. I know that it's part of the ambiance of a Tiki Bar, but it can be difficult to hold a conversation. The high tables were also a bit too high for the seats. In terms of food, we got Island Style Poke, Crispy Coconut Shrimp, and Kimo's Broke Da Mouth Burger. The Island Style Poke is definitely more of a Hawaiian style poke as it has less sauce, but I'm not complaining. It was delicious and tasted fresh. The Crispy Coconut Shrimp was also very good. It was crunchy and the dipping sauce was unique. I think it was a pineapple based sauce. My husband got the burger and he thought it was just average. I'm hoping to try different dishes the next time we come here and maybe even sit outside (it was raining when we visited).

Good for the vibes and service but have had better drinks and Hawaiian food. Calamari was a different cut (not your regular rings), well seasoned with a creamier sauce and a tangy sauce on the side. Pulled pork could be slightly fattier, rice was too soft with too much water. Ahi tuna was alright. Wasn't a fan of the mai tai-- too much ice.

While the service was great and the drinks were on point, we didn't find that the price of the meals matched the quality of the food.

Drinks were ok, food was great! We went on a warm day for lunch and it literally felt like I was in Hawaii! There's definitely a lot of fun decor that gives you a taste of Hawaii in California :) The drinks are pretty strong if that's what you're looking for. I was hoping to taste more of the POG juice but my POG cocktail tasted mostly like rum. I didn't get a picture of the ceviche but it was perfection! The wonton crisps and coconut milk really tie the dish together. Ceviche is one of my favorite foods that I am constantly ordering at different restaurants and this was one of the best ceviches I've had! The Chicken Mango Caesar salad was great, it is a large portion and very hearty and flavorful. I'd definitely order this again. . Likikoi pie was amazing! From the graham cracker crust to the tart lilikoi flavor to the fluffy cream ... *chefs kiss*

Honestly, I was expecting more but as-is -- it was ok. Better for drinks than for food. For food, best to pay attention to what the reviews say or the waitstaff suggests. Cheers.

My husband and I came here for dinner July 4th weekend. The place was busy, but you can get on their wait-list through Yelp, which is convenient. I liked the ambiance and decor here--brings back some memories of Hawaii. We tried the ahi poke, abalone-style calamari, luau pork plate, and mac salad. Overall, the food was just okay. The portions, quality, and taste of the appetizers were underwhelming. The most memorable item for us was the poke, which didn't have the best ahi but did have a good dressing/sauce. Service was good. The entire staff was friendly and despite how busy they were, we didn't have to wait too long for our food.

We had happy hour appetizers at first- spiced edamame and fries. Spicy edamame was well seasoned and spiced but not spicy! Perfect for the palette of clientele the restaurant caters to. Fries were sorta okay. Next our party got hula burger and south seas fish tacos. Burger was juicy well seasoned. Tacos had good portion of fish which was well cooked and seasoned. Plate was served with small portion of rice and beans which were delicious. Overall good experience. Definitely will be back for happy hour and to try fish dishes or Jamaican/Hawaiian influenced food. Service was pleasant and well tended.

I remember Hula's being phenomenal in my undergrad days. My previous review largely agrees. Now that I'm an adult or something, I came back for a little dinner date with my partner. $32 for an ahi macadamia nut encrusted fish plate kinda hurt my wallet. It was good, but not $32 good. It was nice reliving the nostalgia, but I don't think I will be back again.

We were seated promptly when we arrived at 5 PM. The aroma coming from the kitchen, made our mouths water and let us know we had chosen the right restaurant .Our waiter was very attentive and patient and came back to the table twice to see if we were ready to order. We had some questions about the menu and he explained thoughtfully with detail. Our food arrived in a very reasonable 15 minutes and was very flavorful. In addition to tasting great, it was just the right amount of food served. The waiter came back at least four times during the meal to see if we were satisfied with the food or had any more questions .

I really wanted to love this place. It's just Meh. Service is great and ambience is wonderful but food is just OK. I had the jerk chicken. It came out cold. My wife had the same dish and was just as cold. The sauce on the side was warm but that isn't how food should come out. The plantains on both of our dishes were also cold. The taste is just ok, definitely not a Jamaican jerk chicken, but good try. The menu says it's spicy ("not kidding") but there is no heat. It's a novel dining experience but unfortunately not a repeat. I enjoyed my Blue Hawaiian drink (double). Very nice.

This is a fun spot with great drinks and fish dishes. I had the blackened wasabi ahi and it was awesome. Also inside it's a fun experience. Worth a stop if you are in town.

Food great, fun atmosphere but service a little slow. Had to ask a few times for silverware for two of our group that were already served..

Really solid Happy Hour ($8 now, but the same flair and excitement you see in the reviews from 10 years ago), fun fish specials (mahi mahi, ono), great service and staff, nice not too strong/direct afternoon sun (and shade umbrellas). If you're looking for a not too sweet tiki drink, recommend the Blood Orange Martini. Love the Molokai Mex(Mezcal, pineapple, lime, habanero). Hawaiian ceviche, calamari, lemongrass fish if you're hungry (or to split).

We had a great time at Hula's! It was definitely busy, but after a short wait we were able to be seated. We got an order of coconut shrimp to split, as well as some fish cakes. Then for the mains we had the pork plate, and the ceviche. The pork plate was definitely the standout, but everything was quite good! You go for the environment for sure, overall quite happy with our experience here.

I LOVED everything at this restaurant. The ambiance is super beautiful. The service was outstanding, food and drinks were excellent! I had the best Ceviche in my life there. I really recommend ordering this. It's very tasteful and it comes with big chunks of fish. The cocktails were absolutely amazing. I really to try everything from their menu. I wish I could go there every week. Their Duke's Lual Pork Plate is terrific. I wanna hug the person that made that food, the pork was very good and the sides as well. This is my type of place and I'll recommend it for everyone that I know.

This is one of my go-to spots in Santa Cruz, especially for happy hour. The food and drinks are both amazing. I usually get their spicy edamame, Mac & Cheese, and wings during happy hour. The food always comes out fairly quickly, and the service is always very good. Their fries and pain killer are also very good. I love the variety of drinks that they offer. There is a parking lot right in front of the restaurant which is super convenient. There is also some outdoor seating and heaters available. Definitely recommend this place!

So good . Casual , chill atmosphere fun cocktails and amazing food . Can't lose. You won't regret checking this place out !

First time here, drinks were good and food was tasty. The poke bowl was alright I have had better. It was a bit different with the cabbage. The fish tacos and mac n cheese were great. The server was friendly and ambiance great, a bit dark overall but good experience.

Been a hot minute since I swung by Hula's, and it has for sure taken a step up in my opinion. This was just a quick stop for a drink, so can't get too into the weeds on food options, portions, and prices. But what I can vouch for is that this is a great spot to get some tasty libations. There is beer and wine, plus a full bar. Though let's be honest, you're almost certainly coming in here for the tropical cocktails. The Mai Tai is very good, of course. But what surprised me on this visit was a selection of "lightly spirited" drinks. These certainly weren't non-alcoholic, just lower in potency. I really appreciated this option, and it is something I wish I'd see more cocktail bars do. I'd recommend trying the Kamehameha, as it was quite delicious. Service was also exceptional, and I'm kicking myself for not getting the names of the bartenders who took care of me, as they were extremely friendly and on point, even during a packed-house sort of evening. I also appreciate how easy it is to walk over to, should you be hanging out in downtown Santa Cruz. So all around, Hula's is a pretty darn fun place to swing by, and I hope it won't be another few years before I can stop in again. Cheers!

Hey there Party People On the road again beating the heat and heading to the beach. Wanted to tap into the Hawaiian vibe boy did we hit the mail on the head with Hula's Island Grill in Santa Cruz. If you want to get your Tiki on this is the place. This place has something for everyone some amazing fish dishes (I'm so not a fish person) as well as killer Burgers and the list goes on. We started with Spicy Edamame as well as Fried Sweet Plantains. The edamame had a nice spice that lingered for just a moment on the tongue. The Plantains were perfectly sweet just kissing the carmelized stage. For the main course I had the Jawaiian Jerk Pork Plate. The sauce had very warm spice notes with clove and cinnamon and heat. The pork was minimally fatty meaning it was just right. I have to comment on the Cole slaw, I'm not usually a fan but this was really good. Hubby had the Mango Chicken Chop chop Caesar. The chicken was seasoned expertly. The dressing had really anchovies, which is a rare thing these days but it added an extra richness and boost of flavor. This is a must stop place to eat drink and do the Hula. Be kind to one another

Love the food and service. Our server Samantha is awesome. Very sweet and accommodating

Visited Hula's for the first time while exploring Santa Cruz. Yelp's waitlist made reservations seamless and there was barely a wait by the time we arrived. Hula's provides indoor and outdoor seating, with glass panels between each party for indoor seating. The food was wonderful and I especially enjoyed the South Seas Fish Tacos! The fish was smooth, fresh, and perfectly moist. Another thing to call out was the curry sauce on the Kona Style Chicken Wings, it was great (not too spicy) and the chicken simply fell off the bone. Lastly, we want to give a special shoutout to Bella for serving us during our visit, you made our night. We will definitely be back and will be recommend Hula's to our friends! Thank you :)

Before Saturday, I had two favorite restaurants on earth, now I have three. I still cannot believe how delicious this place was. The calamari appetizer is literally the best I've ever had. The spring rolls were unique and fantastic. The Poké bowl was insanely delicious. My lady had a fish halibut, which was phenomenal. Then we topped it off with dessert, which is just unreal. It's the best dessert I can remember ever having.

I've been coming to Hulas for years and it is a Santa Cruz STAPLE. I love this place from their delicious tiki drinks to their yummy hulas sauce. They have a gluten free and vegetarian menu which I really appreciate. This is a great spot to pregame bars with their scorpion bowl. It's such a fun vibe as well with all the tiki decorations! The only con is that it can get busy and they don't accept reservations so I recommend coming for an early dinner or being prepared to wait a bit if it's a busy night. Overall it's not too bad if you have to wait though since you can just walk around downtown and come back.

I was in Santa Cruz with my friends and we were looking for some place to eat with food and drinks. HULA ranked on the top list with excellent recommendations from google and yelp so we decided to give it a try. Oh girl, I was absolutely impressed; this Hawaiian Island themed restaurant serves a variety of high quality vegan/vegetarian, gluten free appetizers, entree and their cocktails. Some of the best food we have ever had! Since I am vegetarian and most of the time I struggle with good food but this place surpassed my expectations and tasted like heaven. This place has good indoor ambiance. unfortunately we could not get experience it! We saw one beautiful Hawaiian themed room next to their bar section with mind blowing decor and so asked host if they could accommodate us inside but they couldn't. I still wonder why would not they want to serve us there :( Anyways, our host sat our table in their outdoor dining area.The drinks and food came out quickly and tasted so great. I am sucker of good cocktails and every single one of them were delicious and well balanced with right mixology and the best of presentation. The service was also excellent . Server was sweet and friendly, she suggested everything to my taste bud . This place stand out if you looking for some top notch hand crafted cocktails with very best vegetarian bites. A great place to hangout with your families and friends if you in Santa Cruz .The entire crew is friendly. They could have made our dining experience more enjoyable if they had served us inside the themed dining room. Parking is convenient to get since there is one paid parking spot across the street and also parking is available on the street.

This Hawaiian themed eatery is right in downtown and after a few visits over the years, it was time for me to do a review of our last visit. Here are the food items: Sweet potato fries - excellent and flavorful - some of the best out there Hula burger - as good as it gets - seasoned and cooked perfectly Caesar salad - a unique flavor dressing and one of my favorites Kalbi ribs - good sized portion, seasoned right and juicy Hand cut fries - on the side of crispy and very good Pork tacos - big portion, super tasty and overall excellent Next time we will get a table instead of a booth. Getting in and out of the booth was a challenge due to the ergonomics of the table in relation to the height and width of the immoveable table. The server was excellent as to being helpful, cheerful and efficient. Parking is just across the street and if you are going to the Catalyst, it is a minute walk. Don't forget to pay for the parking or you may have a ticket on your windshield upon your return.

Lovely Fall evening and we head out for Hula's for dinner. Ate outside where they had heater lamps which were just what we needed to be comfortable. We had Fish plate with jerk sauce, ahi Caesar, Mac and cheese, teriyaki wings, and the shrimp egg rolls. Everything was devoured without complaint. I was amazed of how much ahi was in my salad. It was so good! The Mac was creamy and the fish perfectly cooked on the fish plate. Even the egg rolls were stuffed with plump shrimp and had a tasty dipping sauce that was worthy on its own. The service was great with our waiter visiting several times to fill water glasses and take empty dishes away. Overall a good experience. I would have liked to seen more BBQ options or even have a bento on the menu, but we enjoyed what we had.

This is a good place if you're looking for some good tiki bar style vibes in Santa Cruz. The service I thought was really good since the waiter was super attentive and he always checked up on us the entire time. The one thing that caught my attention was the ahi tuna katsu tacos. When I got it, I thought the taco portions were pretty big for two of them. I added avocado as an add-on as well. But man, it was filling. I thought the overall taco was pretty good paired along with their sauce, but I thought the ahi tuna was alright. I felt like I was expecting a fresher piece of tuna, but it was alright. But I guess everything else from the taco made up for it. The sweet potato fries were pretty good too. Overall, this is still a good place to come to any time if you're in the area. I'm just basing this solely on my dish, but everything was else was fine.

Ah, the Santa Cruz institution--an oasis of strong drinks and Hawaiian fare that's kept me coming back for years. This place has been a reliable friend, the kind of spot where you can feel the rum hit before you've even finished your first Mai Tai. The moment they turned Cathcart into a one-way street and expanded the seating into the road, it became the ultimate spot to spend an afternoon getting blissfully buzzed in the sun. The patio may have shrunk since then, but there's still enough room to soak up rays and lose track of time with a tiki cocktail in hand. Step inside and you're transported to another world entirely--dark, moody, and dripping in kitsch. Bamboo lines the walls, hula skirts sway in the dim light, and the vibe is pure escapism. The back area is a great area for larger groups to huddle around flaming Scorpion Bowls, the kind of communal indulgence that makes you feel like you're in a scene from some long-lost Polynesian fever dream. It's not just the drinks that keep you there, though--this is a tiki bar with food worth sticking around for. The menu is a notch above your typical Hawaiian joint, maintaining its authenticity while offering a little something extra. My go-to is the jerk plate, with just the right amount of spice to wake up your senses, while my wife swears by the spare ribs--tender, sticky, and perfect. And for those with a sweet tooth? The lilikoi pie is the final hit of indulgence you didn't know you needed. This is the kind of place where time slows down, reality fades, and before you know it, you're three drinks deep, wondering how the hell you're going to get home. And that, my friends, is the beauty of it.