Luau Larry's

I saw this place in a YouTube video. We didn’t realize it opened after 11 a.m., but luckily we made it just in time for a late lunch or early dinner , and it was worth the wait! The food was fantastic, the vibe was cozy and relaxed, and the staff were incredibly kind and accommodating. Although it’s a small spot, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. It’s a Mexican and seafood restaurant, and we tried the chicken nachos , the chicken was packed with flavor. We also had the calamari with fries, which was fresh and perfectly cooked. The creamy white dipping sauce they served on the side was so delicious we asked for more! We also sampled a few cocktails, and the staff was super flexible. I initially ordered a Bahama Mama but didn’t enjoy it, so they kindly let me switch to the local specialty, Buffalo Milk , and it was amazing. Located right across from the ferry terminal, this place is the perfect final stop before heading back home with good memories and a full stomach. Highly recommended!

We were not disappointed for waiting 30 minutes for a table at all. It was well worth the wait!!! The ambiance in the restaurant is so Vibrant! They have the best music playing. Fish and Chips is a great option! If you order a certain drink.You get a straw hat for free.

We had dinner at Luau Larry’s and we must admit: service was great, drinks were amazing. We ordered a Clam Chowder and it was loaded with potatoes, so many that there was no soup at all. we also ordered a mixed platter and it was ok. Food was nothing extraordinary. Music and location were awesome. It’s a great spot t stop for drinks.

Bright and colorful with a laid-back, beachy vibe — tiki style. It’s a great spot to grab casual drinks with friends and soak in its unique character. The drinks are definitely the highlight — strong, creative, and really well made. The whole place just felt really good — the kind of spot where the drinks hit right and the vibe makes you want to stay a little longer.

Very welcoming and the food and drinks were A+!! 👌🏾❤️ We will definitely come back again! The overall theme for the bar is pretty cool!

Ambiance: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Food: Drinks: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Parking: Cute, local, tiki inspired bar in Catalina. Didn't have any food so didn't rate anything there. The whole area is walkable so no rating there either. Service was fast and the bartenders were great!

Whilst on port during our cruise stop, we had lunch at this place and loved it. We got coconut shrimp, fish and chips and the beef sandwich. Also ordered a pina colada. Food was delicious and generous portions. Nice hip vibe with a cute decor. Our server Vanessa was friendly and attentive. Had a great time! If you are in port, definitely try them out.

It seemed to me as one of the more popular Bars on the island. Always packed and full of people even at closing. Still with the volume of people the bar tenders readily get you your drinks. Im not sure how you get one, but people are there for the Hats. Goodplace for a lively Vibe. I had a mezcal Jamaica which tastes great!

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Festive spot for a casual meal. Some friends recommended that we try the Buffalo Milk here. Buffalo Milk, we recently discovered, is sort of the signature drink of Catalina Island. We decided to try this place for lunch and had a good time. It's a very touristy Tiki-themed place, as the name implies, complete with a "grotto" seating area. It's the kind of place that doesn't let you forget that you're on vacation, dammit! We ordered the following; - Deep Fried Combo for me (good-sized platter with fried clams, shrimp and fish, accompanied by fries and a good cole slaw) - Garden burger with curly fries for the hubby (he said it was good, but nothing extraordinary) - Luau Iced Tea (felt more like an electric lemonade than a Long Island iced tea, but good) - Buffalo Milk (very reminiscent of a Mudslide--delicious but can't say it packed a punch) Our server was very friendly and prompt, although it was quite busy--definitely a pro. We had a nice time; wouldn't be averse to visiting again.

Ramon was a solid help here and delivered on our drinks through a fast food aced order. Solid food. Solid drinks. The man delivered on a great customer experience As far as the establishment, great music, great vibe and really established a great customer experience with the drinks and food. Stop by here and drop some money as they have a great staff.

Every restaurant I went to on Avalon, I ordered the Buffalo Milk to disprove that Luau Larry's Buffalo Milk was the "best" on the island... I could not. Luau Larry's set the bar too high for Buffalo Milk and from now on I cannot enjoy it from any other place. Additionally, we had a great time with the wiki whacker drink and the hat that comes with it. Brings tiki to a whole new level. Most cliche but also most fun bar/grille on the island.

During our SoCal trip, we spent a day in beautiful Catalina. It's always a fun time when we visit here whether staying here a couple of days or just hanging for the day. With that said, one of my disappointments with Catalina is that the dining is only subpar. Only a couple of restaurants I would highly recommend when visiting here. Luau Larry's unfortunately is not one of them. The lively atmosphere here doesn't quite make you forget about the mediocre food this place serves up. Food is no better than getting food at your local Applebees. Hawaiian cuisine is not definitely not really served here. They give their burgers cute little Hawaiian names but otherwise a basic burger. Good on booze here but go elsewhere if you really want some Hawaiian cuisine.

This place caught my attention right away. It's right by the water and it gives a nice dive bar vibe to it. The bartender was very welcoming and provided excellent service. I ordered an ahi plate and it was very delicious. They have a drink called a wiki wacker which comes with a complimentary hat. Also be sure to ask them for Larry

Long story short, we got baited by their sign outside advertising a spicy lobster roll. Despite the fun atmosphere and friendly service, we just couldn't get past the subpar food. The fault likely falls on us, I know, but ugh, I couldn't help but feel disappointed with my meal. The lobster roll was ...literally just that. A roll with lobster pieces in it, with a slice of lemon and side of clarified butter. The "spicy" part was a jalapeno aioli drizzled over it. Note: it was not spicy. With soggy room temperature fries, It was all kinda cafeteria-esque, if I have to describe it in one word. The other people in our group felt the same about their dishes - buffalo burger, fish and chips, onion rings. Not bad, not great, just typical. Service was attentive and friendly, no complaints there. So as the 3 stars says - our experience was "OK". Yelp Adventures 2025 - 7 of ??

What a fun little bar! Sit down, order a Mai Tai, and get into island mode while enjoying the feel of cool ocean breezes and chill. The colorful mural of the island birds sipping on their cocktails is so cute! My kind of place for sipping a cocktail!

If you're going to Avalon, I 100% recommend Luau Larry's! My friend and I were here for the MLK weekend and went in twice! Across both trips, I ordered the Hamburger Aloha O'Lea, a side of onion rings, as well as the Gummy Bear Cocktail, Avalon Sunset, and Ken's Punch. The hamburger was great, especially with the addition of the guacamole and the onion rings were perfectly fried. Out of all the cocktails I got, I definitely loved the Gummy Bear one the best as I had it three times across 2 days. All of their cocktails are amazing though. Service was also really good! Bartender was super nice and everything came out very quickly. We came on a Saturday and Sunday night, and although it does get a bit crowded, worth any wait!

For drinks and food, this is a great option. Although, you can be lost in picking a favorite spot. Good drinks and the Wiki Whacker seems to be the most popular. We had the fried seafood platter which has shrimp, clams and fish with fries. Service was quick allowing for our cruise ship in port. The place does get crowded with a cruise ship but get there early.

Oysters gave me food poisoning. Was throwing up all night. Not fresh at all stay away from the oysters.

Luau Larry's is such a fun and upbeat spot on Catalina Island! The service was amazing, and the lively atmosphere made it a great place to kick back and enjoy the evening. We had a few drinks--while I wouldn't recommend the Gorilla Milk, the Mexican Candy Drink was hands down the best drink I've ever had in my life! The live entertainment really added to the vibe, and the staff made the experience even better. Definitely recommending this place to friends, and we'll absolutely be coming back!

Stopped here for one drink each. I can appreciate the place for what it is, but I just don't think it's my kind of vibe anymore. Super loud and hectic. Place is small and was packed full of drunk people. The drinks were very sweet and that's just not to my liking anymore. The flavor was as expected for tiki style drinks. This place is definitely for the younger crowd. Service was fine, we were helped right away, but we didn't stay long at all.

We were super excited to try Luau Larry's because of its rave reviews and the straw hat but tbh it was nothing special imo. We came here during the off season/feb which was great. Theres not a lot of people, etc. The restaurant is pretty small and service is good. But the food is pretty average. The stand outs were the fried scallops and coconut shrimp. But the portions are small for the price you're paying. The clam chowder was a little under seasoned and thick. The drinks were rather in the strong - not enjoyable side. Good to experience, but I wouldn't return.

Fun! Fun! Fun! On our last night on the island, we HAD to get drinks from Luau Larry's! We already had dinner, so we weren't interested in the food. When we looked in, it was booming with positive energy! There was live music with a guy playing an electric guitar. It was loud, but not loud enough to turn us away. We took a seat at the bar so we could see the bartender in action. It was exciting to watch him mix a variety of concoctions. We HAD to order the famous Wicki Wacker so we could wear the silly straw hats! You can get a sticker instead, but that's boring! Take note: YOU MUST CHOOSE THE STRAW HAT! It's a MUST-DO when you're in Avalon. The Wicki Wacker was delicious and fruity! It has pineapple and orange juice that make it sweet! We also had the Buffalo Milk - very yummy! It has Kahlua, milk, and bananas. I'm sure it had a lot of other things, and it was like a dessert! My man and I enjoyed our visit here on the island, and especially at Luau Larry's!

Service was good Sausage pizza was good size with plenty of cheese but the ahi tuna salad I wouldn't get again as a salad. The tuna was great but the greens were a disappointment for over $23

Horrible Server. The server, Yadira, didn't know her menu. We were asking about the mock tail menu, and told us a drink was 4.50. However, when it came to paying the bill the price was double! So, we pointed attention to this with our server, she said at the beginning "I THINK it was 4.50". She then didn't take any accountability and refused for us to talk a manager. She gave the excuse "that nothings free". Since the beginning of the evening, it was clear she did not know the prices of the drinks (even though there are no prices listed so servers should be well aware). She lacks empathy and any constructive criticism with her job. Whoever the manager/lead/owner is should re-train her.

To quote a Harry Potter expression: Exceeded Expectations! We were debating between here and Buffalo Nickel and decided to come here since it is closer and has more variety on their menu. We had to wait about 5 minutes to get a table at around 7 pm, which is not bad at all. The ambiance is an indoor tiki bar, with shack-like straw decor, some booths and some tables. I liked it! The menu is a mix of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, pizza and salads, with a long list of their signature cocktails. We ordered the clam chowder, the crab cakes, the sausage pizza and the Estrella (a pilsner) and a Spicy Mexican Lollipop to drink. If you order their Wiki Whacker, you get a straw hat or a sticker, which is a cool incentive to order this fairly deadly looking drink by my standards! The clam chowder was excellent! It was thick, not very salty and full of clams, which didn't seem to come out of a can, likely we see with typical clam chowders. The only negative was the potatoes, which could've done with 1 more minute of boiling. This is definitely one of the top clam chowders I have had on the West Coast. The sausage pizza was delicious - cheesy, good bread crust (not too thick, not too thin, not too crunchy, not too gooey), and absolutely delicious sausage pieces. The menu said it is a management favorite and I see why! We got the 9 inch size and we still had 2 pieces left between the two of us. The crab cakes came last on our list and are a reason for giving this place 4 stars instead of 4.5 stars. There was too much breading and the crab meat itself needs more seasoning and a nice spice mix. The coleslaw, the tartar sauce and the oyster sauce accompanying the crab cakes were all great! The drinks were excellent too. I definitely recommend getting the Spicy Mexican Lollipop - it is a primary mango flavored drink with spicy Tabasco and tahini mixed in. It tastes like a mangonada but so much better. The Pilsner was great too. Given its location on the main boardwalk, we expected the pricing to be higher, but it was actually quite reasonable. Service was good and we had fun. We definitely recommend coming here for an evening of food and drinks if in Catalina!

From the outside, Luau Larry's looks like it has a fun tiki bar vibe. We stopped by and had the sausage pizza. I wondered if it was a a frozen pizza that they heated up. My impression was that the place was more of a drinking establishment and the food was an afterthought. Like other reviewers, I noticed that there were a lot of items on the menu that didn't have prices and the server acted annoyed when I asked questions. Service was slow.

First time at Catalina Island came with friends boyfriend surprise me first time at Catalina Island. A little chilly rather than that, the weather was beautiful. We came to get dreams and visited. A couple of friends started at luau Larry. Had lunch there pizza was amazing and we ordered a platter. The workers are amazing. Let me tell you about the Mexican lollipop shots were amazing. Good service definitely will be back.

When i first ate here, it was right after covid, there were limited supplies, different rules to figure out, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. That was about 4 years ago when I had their bison burger that tasted like a bison that had been grazing on trash. But again, it was as different world. And as enamored as I am with the idea of a burger named "haole," as a haole from Maui, i figure i can properly address my latest visit to this quaint spot. My wife and I went in to grab a beer and some chicken wings. Mind you, the menu spespecifically says "CHICKEN WINGS!!" When I ordered i asked the waitress if I could get more flats if possible (I'll explain what flats are later). She said she would try to make sure we got mostly flats. Now, on a different note, ya know when you order chicken wings? Yall Haoles generally expect to get a dozen. Unless you order a half dozen. Wellll...we got 10. Ok, not a huge deal, just kind of random...but they were NINE drum sticks and ONE!! ONE FLAT!! To those who like drumsticks and don't realize that chickens only have two wings and drumsticks are just a corporate way to sell chicken wings to people at a cheaper price despite the fact that drumsticks are LEGS!! Flats are the actual wings. They cost more than drumsticks...which i am willing to pay for. Orrrrr at least just say, nah we can't give you more flats. That still should mean that out of 10 "wings" 5 should be flats. We got one flat hidden underneath 9 drumsticks (again, preference aside, drumsticks are not wings they are an industry gimmick to sell sh!tty meat). This is what I would call a "spite flat." I have never gotten less than half flats in any order at anywhere when ordering wings...in particular when I asked specifically for more flats. When the waitress came back she was clearly already prepping for the conversation and told us that the "cooks" don't ever pick apart which they give out...OK...well that is nonsense having experience in the service industry, and leaving just ONE flat was a blatant "get lost haole" type of move. She offered to give us a new order...of apparently all drumsticks againpror take it off our bill, which she already knew we would choose. I give it one star because yelp won't let me give less, and honestly, the taste of the ONE FLAT, was pretty damn good. But I will stress this; a place that will "spite feed" you, will also do other things to their food. You wanna feel like a "haole" on Maui...or even a "barney?" Then try this place out. But seriously, they need to learn the damn anatomy of a chicken. 4 drumsticks equals 2 chickens. Chickens don't have 4 wings or 4 legs. And don't tell me the cooks don't pick them out...if you had that conversation with them...they probably could've picked them out...and they probably did...and picked out all but ONE. Lucky Larry's has a great spot on the strip.

We had a fantastic time, we had appetizers and a couple of libations, the weight staff was remarkable, this is a great little place to get a few snacks and some cocktails, cheers

Just overall a fun spot with great staff. Perfect for a birthday. My club sandwhich was OK but my son and husband had calamari and steak sandwhich which they raved about.

Love this place. Omar Jonny& gonul are the bestt always come back for them!! definitely the best place on the island I've visited for a fun time! Super friendly and great hospitality from all of the workers Def get the wiki wacker on the menu for a fun experience !

Fun little spot with really great vibe. We had the friendliest server, Jose. But everyone was really sweet and helpful.

Great food, drinks and ambiance. It was great to listen to live music while we dined. The service was excellent!

We had our Wicki Wacked! That should tell you everything. It was a great time. We didn't try the food but the drinks were good. We tried the buffalo milk. The service was cool. The ambiance was definitely good vibes

Was looking for a lively spot while in Catalina and couldn't ignore the lively atmosphere of Luau Larry's. There was live music when we joined and that was really fun to experience, but incredibly loud since we were at one of the closest tables. We were seated immediately in a corner of the restaurant, and ordered the clam chowder and a dirty martini. The drink and soup did not take long to drop off, which was nice, and they both tasted great! The service was the one thing lacking. Our server did not check on us after the food and drinks were dropped off. We were interested in getting some hot sauce and ordering another drink, but we just decided to leave for somewhere else once we had to go get the server. Overall a fun spot but lacking in attentive service!

Fun environment fun staff and food was great nothing fancy or special but just great meals with a view of the water! Definitely would go back!

This place is soooo much funnnn! My friends and I stopped in here because he heard that our first time to Catalina we NEEDED to get our WIKI WACKED basically it's an extremely strong drink! The drink itself was delicious and dangerous. If you are going to get your wiki wacked opt for the full experience.. you won't regret it. Service was fast and super friendly. Never dull moment while we were there!

Luau Larry's undoubtedly has a great, divey vibe! My husband and I came here during the day in off season so it was completely empty inside but I'd imagine that during busy season, this place is popping! The drinks are very sugary and strong, which is what you'd expect from a tiki bar but if you're ok with that, this is a great spot!

Buffalo Milk cocktail was fabulous! I shared the first one since I had never drank one and wanted to try one. The next visit I ordered my own!!!

Love Luau Larry's so much!!! Amazing tiki drinks. Try the Caribbean Breeze and Wiki Whacker!!! Great coconut shrimp and curly fries!!! Really fast service, and everyone was really nice. Can't wait to go back to Catalina and DEFINITELY Luau Larry's!

I like tiki bars. This is Avalon's only tiki bar. Right there, I'm giving it 5/5 and don't think I need to offer any further explanation. Also, there were dozens of different kinds of fruity booze drinks. There's a cool little alcove room in the back that I love to sit in every time I come here. It's fun to sit in there, but the downside is later that night my hotel room is almost always on the opposite side of that common wall so.... It's more fun to be the drunk guest than to listen to them. The drinks were good, the food was surprisingly good too, and the staff are friendly. Also, booze. There was booze. I'm not clear if I've made that point or not yet. Lots of fancy drinks with tropical flavors and then my tongue goes numb. I woke up in the Pavilion's court yard. A deer was standing over me. Don't judge me.

Everything was wonderful! If I ever get back to Catalina, we will go back! The service was impeccable.

The wait staff was great and the oysters were delicious! Drinks were on point too! We tried the Wiki Wacker and a pornstar martini and both were so good!! Will return.

We had a little time before catching the ferry back to home port so we decided to stop by Luau Larry's. The atmosphere is fun and the service was quick. The bartender welcomed us in and said to sit anywhere we would like. We sat in a booth with a view of the water and some people watching. We aren't really into the sweet sugary drinks so we ordered a beer and I wanted to try their swordfish taco. The beer was cold and the swordfish taco was really good !! Great for a light snack! My overall rating is a 3 1/2 but based on the fun tiki bar atmosphere and good service I upgraded it to a 4. Fun place to stop for a cold drink.

It's your typical tiki dive bar. Good drinks and good bar food. Service was decent and the place wasn't so busy, probably cause it was lunch time. I'd imagine this place being crowded at night time. Overall would reccomend :)

Lost two stars for warm bottles of water and the pizza was gross. The swordfish sandwich was good though. We didn't drink as it was noon time when we dropped in for lunch but it looked like a fun watering hole if that's your thing.

The staff were friendly and attentive. The service was quick, and the drinks were okay.

Solid one star. The food was OK however prices are not disclosed on menu. Yes, I overlooked this part but $30 for a lobster roll is insane. All restaurants average the same price range, this place mid at best.

Had the calamari, and the half dozen oysters. Great ocean front establishment, great ppl great food.

The Bahamma mamma was terrible, service was mediocre and the lobster roll is absolutely disgusting and overpriced. $30 for imitation lobster served on a plain slice of French toast not even a roll.

Good place for drinks. Wiki Wacker comes with a straw hat. Didn't try the food. Ambiance is good for a party crowd, especially at night. Service was excellent.

Extremely strong and delightfully chintzy tiki drinks await, with unfairly delicious appetizers: the coconut shrimp was crisp with an excellent sauce, and the crab cake was one of the best I've ever had. Painfully loud jukebox music makes conversation almost impossible and somewhat variable service. Yes you should get the wiki wacker. Yes you should get the ridiculous hat that comes with it. And yes everyone will know what went down as a result. Roll with it.

On our last night on Catalina, we ordered a 16 inch pepperoni pizza for take out to eat at our hotel. Decent pizza with large pepperoni pieces.

Good time! There was a guy playing his guitar and engaging with customers. The food was super good and I recommend the wiki waker. The ambience is fun!

We went here because we didn't want to walk to another location. It was a busy race weekend and this place looked promising. We are super pleased with our meals as hungry athletes. Portion sizes were fantastic. And we knew it would be a wait since it is race weekend. During our meal, on Friday evening, we got some live music played. What a nice way to end our evening.

The drinks are good but Waaaaaay overpriced, beyond LA prices, beyond Catalina prices

The service was amazing! I don't remember our server's name but he was great! The calamari and drinks were delicious! I would definitely recommend to make this a top visit! My wife and I appreciated the ambiance, we loved the music and atmosphere:)